Skip to main content

Review: Incipio’s offGRID Express is the most affordable Apple-authorized iPhone 6 battery case

If I had to choose one word to describe how Incipio’s past iPhone offGRID battery cases felt, it would probably be “svelte,” as they were all impressively thin and gently curved. Starting today, Incipio is shipping its first offGRID case for the iPhone 6, and it notably trades “svelte” for “edgy” design. Offered only in matte black, it’s called offGRID Express ($80), and Incipio claims it’s the first Apple-certified iPhone 6 battery case that’s actually available for consumers to purchase. This time, the back is somewhat angular, due in part to a larger battery pack than prior models, and the sides are equipped with the fancy metallic button protectors rival Mophie has only offered in its most expensive Juice Packs.

Incipio’s message is clear: by offering 3000mAh of power at an $80 price point, offGRID Express is practically daring Mophie – and any other Apple MFi-licensed manufacturer – to step up and take a swing at its value proposition. Yes, comparatively unknown vendors are selling cheaper options, and Tylt offers a 3200mAh, Apple-licensed alternative called Energi for $100, but offGRID Express actually matches it in recharging performance for a lower price. It’s positioned directly at consumers who care about both quality and cost, not just one or the other.

offGRID Express follows the same general pattern as Incipio’s prior $80 offGRID for iPhone 5/5s, arriving in a package with a micro-USB recharging cable, a headphone extension cable, a rear and bottom frame with a battery inside, and a wraparound bumper that covers all of the iPhone’s sides. Unlike prior offGRIDs, Incipio doesn’t include screen film or a cleaning cloth with this version, perhaps because the iPhone 6’s curved screen edges don’t look particularly good with film. No one else we’ve seen is including film with new iPhone battery cases, either, and offGRID Express partially compensates for the omission with better-looking and more tactile button covers than its predecessors.

The bumper also provides around a half-millimeter of anti-drop protection for the screen. You attach the iPhone 6 to the Lightning connector, then place the bumper atop the rear frame, snugly sealing them together with little clips on offGRID Express’s edges. Incipio has upped the number of front power indicator LEDs from 4 to 5, changed their color to white, and moved the power button from the glossy front plate to a raised dot on the right side.

If there will be any initial complaint about Express, it’s that the power button may accidentally get pressed in a pocket, but we didn’t find it flimsy enough to activate inadvertently. Similarly, the more angular back turns out to be a blessing in disguise, as it makes the iPhone 6’s back rest flat on a table, rather than rocking around. It’s worth noting that more expensive offGRID models will apparently be compatible with an optional dock; offGRID Express is solely recharged with a micro-USB port on its bottom, found on the opposite side from the narrowly-tailored headphone port hole.

Although it’s not the highest-capacity battery case Incipio has ever offered — there were dual-battery kits with 4000mAh of power for $100 — the 3000mAh offGRID Express has the largest single battery of any offGRID I’ve tested. It promises to deliver exactly one full extra recharge for the iPhone 6, but outperformed that claim, enabling our test iPhone 6 to go from dead to 100% in two hours, then after a partial discharge, up an additional 21% in a quick 20 minutes. That’s 1% higher overall than Tylt’s Energi, which would be a meaningless difference except that offGRID Express has a $20 lower MSRP. That said, offGRID Express takes its time recharging using a micro-USB cable, though notably staying cool to the touch throughout.

I’ve genuinely loved using Incipio’s past offGRID battery cases, particularly the offGRID Pro models, which for $100 have historically included dual batteries that together delivered far more than a single recharge for past iPhones. The $80 offGRID Express doesn’t offer that sort of power, and it’s not as slender as competing lower-capacity iPhone 6 batteries will likely be, but it narrowly beats Tylt’s Energi in performance at a markedly lower price. There will be a lot of new iPhone 6 battery case announcements in the near future, so it’s worth considering all of your options, but I’ve had great experiences with almost every offGRID I’ve tested for prior iPhones. Given its 121% recharging abilities, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend this one.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Comments

  1. nsxrebel - 9 years ago

    Meh, I won’t be buying another battery case until someone makes one with a lightning charge port and passthrough capability.

    • pdoobs - 9 years ago

      This company is claiming to use the Lightning cable to charge the case. First time I’ve seen this. Really cheap but not Apple authorized.
      http://www.amazon.com/iPhone-Battery-ZuZo-External-Protective/dp/B00OHRU0BQ/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top

      • The good and bad reviews and ratings are unfortunately more even across the board, which probably makes this a so-so quality product.

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        I’ve also seen the ZuZo on Amazon, but the reviews has me concerned too, and there is NOT one proper review for it on YouTube or anywhere else out there. I think I saw one video, but it only shows the installation, and maybe it being connected to a power source, but nothing about being able to sync while charging the phone in the case, and on top of that, the video was really crappy.

        For fucks sake, it’s 2015 and people still upload less than 720p video?! /rant lol

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        This the “best” “review” I found, and it’s shitty at best.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IiqpEgMOQuE

        And then there’s this shit.

        https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yu9Q8gWi7N0

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        I found what looks to be the same battery generic battery case with a different brand on iLounge. Somebody NEEDS to do a PROPER review of these cases. This one is $40 over at iLounge.

        http://www.ilounge.com/index.php/news/comments/daily-deal-afterburner-iphone-6-battery-case-40

    • Jeremy Horwitz - 9 years ago

      You’ve posted the same thing on at least three reviews now. Why does that matter so much to you? Do you work for a company that plans to sell a Lightning port-equipped battery pack, or are you just holding out for something that hasn’t been available for any past iPhone?

      • nsxrebel - 9 years ago

        My car, although it has bluetooth, unfortunately only uses that connectivity for phone calls (BMW/Mini shortcoming, I don’t have the higher-end audio system). For audio, it uses an iPod 30-pin cable with a lightning adapter that also charges my phone. Removing and placing the phone in a battery case every time I get in and out of my car would tiresome and just plain annoying.

        Even if I did have BT audio streaming, I would still only want to use one cable to charge, and that would be a lightning cable, no need to fumble trying to find the right orientation of the connector. Not only that, but cars equipped with Apple CarPlay also use a lightning cable to connect with the phone and use its functions on the car display.

        So yeah, not having a lightning port is annoying, so I would gladly pay an extra $10-20 to have that feature.

      • I also posted my qualms about those micro-USB connectors. I used to deride Apple for not going with micro-USB when they first introduced the iPhone 4 and that Lightning connector. After all, it was an industry standard, and we all had buckets of 30-pin connectors and accessories, we just thought it was a cash grab.

        Fast forward a few years, and while it’s still a bit of a cash grab, I have to admit that the port on a micro-USB device is much less sturdy and resilient than an Lightning port, and while micro-USB cables are a dime a dozen, it’s the port on the device I’m more concerned about. Because, when it goes, the device goes with it, and no pile of micro-USB cables is going to make up for a dead device.

        So, yeah, Apple, needs to open up that Lightning port certification to include devices that can accept Lightning cables, at least as a passthrough.

    • jxslepton - 9 years ago

      I agree. What’s the big deal? Why can’t they use a lightning connector instead of a micro usb plug?

      • malcolmtucker1 - 9 years ago

        Apple has a very profitable side business in licensing new designs of plugs. They call this MFI or “Made For iPhone”.

        If you dig into Apple’s unaudited financials, in Q2 of 2014 (more current data might be available), Apple booked US$4,573,000,000 in revenue from “services”. Apple states that “Services” include “licensing”, “Made for iPod/iPhone”, AppleCare, and iTunes. It’s difficult to determine the actual value of revenue because Apple lumps it all together.

        On another line item, another $1,400,000,000 is collected from the actual sale of accessories–online and in its stores.

        Remember, these are un-audited numbers, and also revenue Apple collected during a three-month period.

        So yes, switching to USB adapters would make a lot of sense. Apple already pays an annual fee for its USB Vendor ID. (05AC) However, to switch to USB would result in a major decline in accessory licensing revenue–Apple owns the patents to the plugs.

        In addition to that, Apple also requires its Made For iPhone manufacturers to adhere to Apple’s “Supplier Code of Conduct”. That means Apple Suppliers need to hire additional employees to audit, to Apple’s Standards, worker treatment, hours worked, salary and wages paid in Apple Factories. This additional labor adds additional price to “Made For IPhone” products.

  2. farinc - 9 years ago

    After several iterations of iphone battery packs since the iphone 3, why can’t these dummies realize that they need to redesign the case’s opening for the camera so that the flash will work properly. The opening needs to be from one side to the other side for the camera flash to function correctly. Otherwise you have to remove the top part of the battery case every time you wish to use the flash. It sucks.

  3. farinc - 9 years ago

    After several iterations of iphone battery packs since the iphone 3, why can’t these dummies realize that they need to redesign the case’s opening for the camera so that the flash will work properly. The opening needs to be from one side to the other side for the camera flash to function correctly. Otherwise you have to remove the top part of the battery case every time you wish to use the flash. It sucks. And why can’t they make the headphone hole large enough so that I can connect my headphones without having to use an extension?

  4. Jeremy, great review. Two quick questions: is there a version for the 6 Plus? Any idea as to when their docking version might become available? Thanks.

  5. Matt Fitzsimmons - 9 years ago

    Will this battery case, or any battery case, work with Apple Pay? Or will you have to take the case off to use Apple Pay?

  6. paulawood - 9 years ago

    Head phone extension cables have no means of staying with the unit when not in use, VERY good say to lose, $100.00 (whole new battery) to replace. Individual parts cannot be bought. I’ve been trying for 2 weeks. If you want to use head phones to hear directions from head phones under your helmet, you have to take the Incipio off. Defeating the purpose of owning. I think I should have waited for a more friendly system, instead of buying this.