Need Some Mojo? (Mojo Refuel Aqua Review)
If the iPhone has any flaws for use aboard a sailboat, top among them must be 1) a lack of weatherproofing, and 2) inadequate battery life when power hungry GPS-enabled navigation apps are being used. Enter the Mojo Refuel Aqua case for iPhone 5/5S from ibattz - a case that provides practical solutions to both of these flaws and turns the iPhone into a made-for-the-cockpit beast.
The market is flooded with waterproof, weatherproof iPhone cases, so that feature unto itself is not enough to make the Mojo Refuel Aqua stand out. In fact, if that's all you're looking for, you might be able to find a better or at least cheaper all-weather iPhone case. But the Mojo Refuel's trump card is found in the word "refuel". This waterproof case comes with an integrated 2200mAh battery which essentially gives your iPhone a full extra charge (2 times the standard iPhone's battery life). That's right, a fully waterproof case that doubles your phone's battery life...making it excellent for cockpit navigation.
Let's talk more about the "waterproof-ness" of this case. It's certified to the IPX8 standard, meaning it's suitable for continual water submersion. The manufacturer specs claim protection for submersion up to 10 feet (3 meters) and my own testing can't refute that claim. I plan to use the case more in-depth (pardon the pun) this summer for some underwater photos and pool tests, but for now my kitchen dunk test will have to suffice. The Mojo Refuel Aqua is also shockproof, snow proof, sand proof and maybe about as close to childproof as it can be, though my kids would welcome the challenge.
The protection for this case essentially comes from a thick textured rubber skin that seals neatly around a rigid plastic frame. I was skeptical at first, but after performing the initial dunk test without the phone inside as the directions recommend, I felt reasonably confident that my expensive iPhone was ready for a dip. After messing around with the iPhone in the case and dunked in a glass container for 15 minutes at time, I couldn't detect even a hint of moisture in the case or any lens fogging. All of the iPhone's switches and buttons functioned correctly with the case installed and sound/voice quality remained good during a test call. The only minor annoyance I noticed with the case installed is that the plastic screen protector gave a tiny bit of screen distortion, but touchscreen function remained good.
How about the battery that makes this case stand out among all the other waterproof cases on the market? Simply put, it works as advertised. Just dock the battery (essentially a rear shell) with the iPhone and then install the rest of the case and your battery life is doubled, or the phone will recharge if it's not already at 100%. Charging is as simple as plugging in the standard Apple Lightning cable after opening the waterproof access port. There's also an access port for headphones.
My biggest gripe with the Mojo Refuel Aqua? The initial installation isn't intuitive and the instructions are actually packed inside the closed case, so you're left on your own to figure out how to open the case to access the instructions and install your iPhone. It's easy once you know the trick - use a fingernail to gently pry the bottom of the black rubber case away from the gray plastic frame below the home button. But if I didn't tell you that, you'd look as silly as I did poking around the case and cursing the lack of instructions (sorry kids!).
Clearly this isn't the least expensive option for a weatherproof iPhone case, but for about $110 you also get a mega battery boost (addressing one of the iPhone's negatives, in my opinion) and the standard silver Mojo Refuel bumper in case you ever want the battery pack installed without the bulkier waterproof case. Speaking of bulk, the waterproof case definitely adds size to the iPhone, but the added weight seems inline with what you'd expect by adding a second battery.
So there you have it - the Mojo Refuel Aqua turns the iPhone 5/5S into a bonafide cockpit companion for cruisers who demand rugged gear that's energy conscious. You'll see more about this case on SFLF since I've got lots of watery videos/pics planned for our summer adventures. Heck, you may even see the ultimate test...the Mojo hitching a ride on the kite cam rig!
Ready to get your own Mojo Refuel Aqua? Get it here:
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| SFLF aquatic edition (for the fish!) |
The market is flooded with waterproof, weatherproof iPhone cases, so that feature unto itself is not enough to make the Mojo Refuel Aqua stand out. In fact, if that's all you're looking for, you might be able to find a better or at least cheaper all-weather iPhone case. But the Mojo Refuel's trump card is found in the word "refuel". This waterproof case comes with an integrated 2200mAh battery which essentially gives your iPhone a full extra charge (2 times the standard iPhone's battery life). That's right, a fully waterproof case that doubles your phone's battery life...making it excellent for cockpit navigation.
Let's talk more about the "waterproof-ness" of this case. It's certified to the IPX8 standard, meaning it's suitable for continual water submersion. The manufacturer specs claim protection for submersion up to 10 feet (3 meters) and my own testing can't refute that claim. I plan to use the case more in-depth (pardon the pun) this summer for some underwater photos and pool tests, but for now my kitchen dunk test will have to suffice. The Mojo Refuel Aqua is also shockproof, snow proof, sand proof and maybe about as close to childproof as it can be, though my kids would welcome the challenge.
The protection for this case essentially comes from a thick textured rubber skin that seals neatly around a rigid plastic frame. I was skeptical at first, but after performing the initial dunk test without the phone inside as the directions recommend, I felt reasonably confident that my expensive iPhone was ready for a dip. After messing around with the iPhone in the case and dunked in a glass container for 15 minutes at time, I couldn't detect even a hint of moisture in the case or any lens fogging. All of the iPhone's switches and buttons functioned correctly with the case installed and sound/voice quality remained good during a test call. The only minor annoyance I noticed with the case installed is that the plastic screen protector gave a tiny bit of screen distortion, but touchscreen function remained good.
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| Here's what you get (minus the floating lanyard) w/ the Mojo Refuel Aqua |
How about the battery that makes this case stand out among all the other waterproof cases on the market? Simply put, it works as advertised. Just dock the battery (essentially a rear shell) with the iPhone and then install the rest of the case and your battery life is doubled, or the phone will recharge if it's not already at 100%. Charging is as simple as plugging in the standard Apple Lightning cable after opening the waterproof access port. There's also an access port for headphones.
My biggest gripe with the Mojo Refuel Aqua? The initial installation isn't intuitive and the instructions are actually packed inside the closed case, so you're left on your own to figure out how to open the case to access the instructions and install your iPhone. It's easy once you know the trick - use a fingernail to gently pry the bottom of the black rubber case away from the gray plastic frame below the home button. But if I didn't tell you that, you'd look as silly as I did poking around the case and cursing the lack of instructions (sorry kids!).
Clearly this isn't the least expensive option for a weatherproof iPhone case, but for about $110 you also get a mega battery boost (addressing one of the iPhone's negatives, in my opinion) and the standard silver Mojo Refuel bumper in case you ever want the battery pack installed without the bulkier waterproof case. Speaking of bulk, the waterproof case definitely adds size to the iPhone, but the added weight seems inline with what you'd expect by adding a second battery.
So there you have it - the Mojo Refuel Aqua turns the iPhone 5/5S into a bonafide cockpit companion for cruisers who demand rugged gear that's energy conscious. You'll see more about this case on SFLF since I've got lots of watery videos/pics planned for our summer adventures. Heck, you may even see the ultimate test...the Mojo hitching a ride on the kite cam rig!
Ready to get your own Mojo Refuel Aqua? Get it here:
The word "refuel" sucked me right in too! I would love something like this for my phone. Especially since I'm still lacking even just a weatherproof case for my iPhone. Great review!
ReplyDeleteYeah, the battery life of the iPhone drives me crazy sometimes. Maybe I need to stop letting my 8 year old use it for Candy Crush!
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