Kanex’s $99.95 GoPower Watch is a convenient gadget for powering up your Apple Watch and iPhone on the road while avoiding cable clutter. It’s — as best I can tell — the first cordless charger for Apple’s smartwatch.
The GoPower Watch can charge both the 38mm and 42mm models. It uses the same inductive charging connector that comes with your Apple Watch. You must press the button on the side of the charger to start power flowing to the watch. The button is surrounded by a ring of four blue LEDs that indicate how much battery capacity is left. The GoPower Watch charges over micro-USB, with a cable included. There’s also a USB port for recharging other devices. I do wish that a model with a Lightning port were available, however. For some folks that will be a major drawback.
With a 4,000 mAh battery capacity, the GoPower Watch can charge you Apple Watch up to six times before it needs to be recharged. Or you can use it to fully recharge an iPhone 1.5 times (based on use with an iPhone 6S).
Naturally, you’ll have to charge the Kanex device itself before hitting the road. And if you’re traveling for several days, you may need to recharge it. Since the GoPower Watch enables pass-through charging while connected to a power source, your Apple device charges first, then the Kanex gadget recharges itself. At 3 x 3 x inches and weighing under five ounces, it’s easy to pack for traveling. Smart charging technology provides your devices with the right amount of power for a charge. Built-in surge protection feature helps protect your Apple gadgets.
Apple Watch users may find it invaluable for road trips. However, if like me, such trips involve taking an Apple smart watch, iPhone and iPad (as well as a MacBook), a multi-device recharger such as the ChargeHub X5 is more practical.
Apple World Today Rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★
