MiLi Power iBox

The iPad 2?will likely last a whole day on a single charge, even with rigorous use. However, for those looking to eke out a few extra hours, a battery case could prove valuable. The MiLi Power iBox ($129.99 list) adds battery life and some protection in a Smart-Cover-compatible plastic shell, but problems with fit and construction hold this case back.

Form Factor and Design Choices
The Power iBox features a one-piece, glossy, all-plastic construction. It feels a bit cheap and flimsy, but still provides some light protection against bumps and scratches for the back of your iPad 2. The Power iBox is compatible with the Apple Smart Cover, which is good since this case is flush with the screen, providing little protection for the glass display. The case itself measures 10.07 by 7.70 by 0.59 inches (HWD) and weighs 12.48 ounces. The case is more than half the weight of the iPad 2, and when combined with the smart cover, makes the whole package pretty heavy.

A thicker hump takes up two-thirds of the back, while the last third is thinner to accommodate the smart cover's folding stand capability. However, the case still alters the viewing angle when propped up by the smart cover, making for a more awkward, nearly perpendicular viewing angle.

There are cutouts for the camera, lock switch, and headphone jack, with chintzy-feeling plastic pieces for the power button and volume rocker. The cutouts make the lock switch and headphone jack easy to access, though the fit is fairly snug on the latter, which could cause problems for headphones with chunkier plugs. The plastic buttons work okay, but feel poorly constructed and are dependent on the fickle fit of the case around the iPad.

Fit, Other Features, and Conclusions
This brings me to my biggest gripe with the Power iBox: The fit was not very precise and made it difficult to get the iPad fully secured inside. The case is one piece, which you slide the iPad into, and then snap down the top corners. It takes a good deal of force to get the iPad in and out of this case. Though it never popped off of the iPad unexpectedly, it was difficult to tell when the case was securely in place.

The Power iBox case extends past the bottom of the iPad 2, where a black band hides four blue LED battery indicator lights, plus a Power button to toggle the flow of juice. The bottom panel houses a micro USB port, which connects the Power iBox to your computer for charging. Once I connected the system to my computer, I was able to charge the case and sync my iPad, but couldn't charge the battery on the iPad itself.

MiLi packed its Power iBox with an 8000mAh battery, which they claim can double the life of your iPad 2. In our tests, however, the Power iBox came up short of that claim, adding only 4 hours, 30 minutes of life. This is still a good amount of juice, but when you consider the added bulk, the poor fit, and cheap construction, the Power iBox just doesn't seem worth the $130 price tag.

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