"Car charger, wall charger, and airplane charger in one small form-factor." BoxWave offers their VersaCharger (Web Special Price: USD 33.95 w/ Airplane Charging Option), a new revolutionary charger that eliminates the need for multiple chargers.

HARDWARE:

The BoxWave VersaCharger package sent to us included the following: VersaCharger, Airplane Charging Converter, and a 5-piece AC plug adapter set with carrying pouch.

VersaCharger:
The VersaCharger is a compact 2-in-1 USB travel charger that can be used using an AC wall socket or DC car cigarette lighter socket. It can also be used on an airplane seat power socket (turning it to a 3-in-1 device) using the Airplane Charging Converter. It has the following specifications:

AC Wall Input: 100-240 VAC, 50-60Hz
Car Cigarette Plug Input: 12-24 VDC
Charger Output: 5.3 VDC, 0.5 Amps
Size: about 3.0 inches x 1.2 inches x 1.4 inches
Weight: 1.8 ounces

The case of the whole charger is translucent black, letting you see the components (or "innards") inside. The charger includes a removable translucent white protective cap that covers the car cigarette plug part of the charger when not in use.

The car cigarette plug part of the charger has one spring-loaded positive terminal (at the center), and two negative terminals (at the side). Found at the bottom is the retractable AC Wall plug (US Standard) that you lift when an AC input is required, and can be "tucked in" when not in use.

The VersaCharger features an LED lamp that indicates the charging status. A red LED would indicate charging, while a green LED would signify a full charge. The USB port (where you normally attach a sync/charge cable) is found at the end opposite the car cigarette plug part of the charger.

Airplane Charging Converter:
The Airplane Charging Converter features a car cigarette socket on one end, and an airplane charging plug on the other. Using this converter allows you to make use of the VersaCharger in an airplane seat with the appropriate charging socket.

5-piece AC Plug Adapter Set with Carrying Pouch:
The set includes AC plug adapters for the following Standards: US, UK, European, Australian, and New Zealand.

EVALUATI0N:

The devices I used for this review are: Tungsten E handheld, HTC Tanager smartphone, and BoxWave miniSync sync/charge cables for the two mobile devices.

VersaCharger (AC input):
To use the charger as an AC wall travel charger, I just have to lift the AC plug (found at the bottom side), insert it in an AC wall outlet, and it is ready to charge my mobile devices with the aid of appropriate sync/charge cables. When finished charging, the AC plug of the charger can be "tucked in", avoiding the possibility of causing any harm (to you or your things) in case you keep it inside your gadget bag or shirt/pants pocket. Using the AC input method, I was able to charge my PDA and phone anywhere an AC outlet is available. Since the charger has auto volt sensing inputs, I can readily use it on 220 Volts and/or 110 Volts AC wall socket.

VersaCharger (DC input):
To use the charger as a DC car travel charger, I would remove the protective cap, insert the car cigarette lighter plug part of the charger in a car cigarette lighter socket, and it's ready to charge. A nice feature worth mentioning is the dual negative contacts of the car cigarette lighter plug part that provides a stable contact with the car cigarette lighter socket. I tried simulating driving on rough roads (by lightly tapping the charger up and down), and the charger never exhibited intermittent operation. Using the DC input method, I successfully charged my PDA and phone. Since the charger accepts a DC input of 12 Volts up to 24 Volts, it can be used in a wide variety of cars, trucks, and boats that have a 12V or 24V cigarette lighter socket.

Using either AC or DC input charging, the LED lights up green when it is plugged in a power source. The LED becomes red when a device is being charged, and becomes orange when the device is fully (or almost fully) charged. This proves to be very useful in knowing the state of charge of the device you are charging, even without switching the device on.

Airplane Charging Converter:
Unfortunately, I wasn't able to properly test the Airplane Charging Converter. I did not have any scheduled trips that involved riding a plane, so access to an airplane seat was not quite probable. In theory, the converter would be very useful during long plane trips. Trying to pass the time (playing games, listening to an audio file, reading an eBook, or touching up a document) during a long flight usually drains out the battery of our PDA. With the Airplane Charging Converter for the VersaCharger, a low battery handheld would be a thing of the past.

5-piece AC Plug Adapter Set with Carrying Pouch:
The AC Plug Adapter Set would be a must-have item if one would expect to make use of the VersaCharger in foreign countries. The VersaCharger comes with a US Standard plug, so the appropriate plug adapter is essential for you to use the charger in places that deviate from this standard.

CONCLUSION:
The BoxWave VersaCharger is a truly compact and efficient USB charging solution that you can use just about anywhere: in your home, office, car, or plane.

Notable features are: compact size, AC or DC input in one charger, Airplane Charging Converter, 3-way LED status indicator, and great styling.

Target users of this product would be users who extensively use their mobile devices, although it could also cater to any user who needs the convenience of a portable and versatile USB charger.

Special thanks to Candace of BoxWave for providing the VersaCharger review unit.