In today’s digital world, keeping your electronics charged is a challenge for even the most prepared individuals. While battery packs can be helpful, they’re cumbersome, and users need to remember to keep them charged as well.
Uvolt is an analog watch which is designed to charge phones using solar power. What sets it apart from standard battery packs is that the power reserve fits seamlessly along the watch making it look more like a fashion accessory rather than a clunky piece of plastic.
The power reserve combines a custom circuit with a high-density lithium-ion battery. The device also has an integrated Lightning port for Apple devices, Micro USB or USB-C for Android devices, and it can also go completely wireless. The watch is covered with a sheet of anti-reflective mineral glass, while the watch hands have a minimal width to maximize the performance of the solar panel. One of the more notable features of Uvolt is the fact the bracelet is filled with batteries to add more capacity and recharge the reserve.
Uvolt is rated to provide five hours of talk time, three hours of internet browsing, and three hours of video streaming. It can be fully charged in 45 minutes using the included wireless charger, or in one sunny day via solar power. It has a battery capacity of 600 mAh, and an output/voltage current of DC 5v / 1,000 mAh. The solar panel is sized 37mm x 37mm x 1mm and has an efficiency of 21%.
The cabled power reserves have a discharge time of around 30 minutes while the wireless power reserve is around 45 minutes. It’s worth noting that there’s approximately 30% energy loss with the wireless power reserve.
So far the makers of Uvolt have raised over $72,000 towards their goal of raising $100,000 via crowdfunding. The estimated shipping date is June 2017 and pricing for the device starts at $119. In addition to crowdfunding the company has received resources through Centech and District3 which are two hardware accelerators.
Each Super Early Bird purchase includes a Uvolt watch, a power reserve of the user’s choice (Lightning / Micro USB / USB-C / Wireless), and a wireless charger. The suggested retail price for the device is $199, and it comes in four different colors: black, white silver, and rose gold.
