Skip to main content

ChargeCard is a slim iPhone USB charger that fits in a wallet

charge-card
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Detailed extensively on Kickstarter and launched just two days ago, an industrial designer and recent college graduate have developed a thin iPhone charging device that can be slipped into a wallet just like a credit card. Rather than carry around the standard white iPhone charging cable, consumers that own the ChargeCard will be able to slip the thin device into a pocket or purse when on the move.

According to the team, the ChargeCard is about the size of a business card and approximately three times thicker than a credit card. In the middle of the card, the USB stick portion of the charging card swings out from the middle in order to attach to any USB port. That means someone can charge their iPhone at a high definition television or game console like the Xbox 360 as well as devices that typically come with standard USB ports like laptops and desktop computers.

Recommended Videos

chargecard-iphoneIt’s likely that the project will be completely funded within the first 72 hours. At the time of this post, the team has raised approximately $45,000 of the initial $50,000 goal. While the $18 early bird special has already sold out, anyone interested in the charging device can pay $20 and should receive the card during September 2012.

Kickstarter backers can choose between three different colors; black, white and teal on brown. In addition, anyone that wants to contribute $30 to the Kickstarter campaign can get the limited edition “Birds-on-Wire” ChargeCard. Other price levels include the ChargeCard with a name engraving as well as bundles of ChargeCards sold at a discount in case a Kickstarter backer wants to give them out as gifts to friends with iPhones. 

Regarding compatibility with the iPhone 5, the team is unsure if the ChargeCard design will be compatible as Apple is rumored to modify the 30-pin connector design at the bottom of the smartphone. In addition, iPhone users that own a LifeProof case won’t be able to take advantage of the ChargeCard as the case extends to far below the bottom of the phone. Beyond the iPhone, the team is also working on a version of the card that offers a micro-USB connection. This would allow Android and Blackberry users to take advantage of the slim design as well. 

popAnother Kickstarter project related to charging mobile devices recently hit the funding goal this week. Created by a Santa Monica design laboratory called Edison Jr., the POP is a portable power device with retractable charging cords for popular devices like the iPad and Kindle as well as Android devices. With a rechargeable 25,000 mAh battery, the POP is the highest capacity and least expensive charging device on the consumer electronics market according to the company’s research.

Ideal for use at the pool, within a coffee shop or in a remote location, the POP can fully charge up to ten iPhones on a single charge. The retractable cords will extend a minimum of three feet from the circular device and it will come with two additional USB ports for other devices. In addition, five blue indicator lights on the bottom of the device will indicate the remaining battery life.

Mike Flacy
By day, I'm the content and social media manager for High-Def Digest, Steve's Digicams and The CheckOut on Ben's Bargains…
These three iOS 26 beta features are my favorite so far
The Liquid Design lock screen on the iOS 26 developer beta 1 running on the iPhone 16 Pro

For fans of the Apple ecosystem, it’s been an incredible week. Apple’s annual WWDC 2025 keynote revealed a whole new Liquid Glass design that’s unified across all its platforms. Also unified across all platforms is the numbering scheme, with iOS 26 designed to represent the year of release… plus one. 

The new platform doesn’t deliver one of the key things I asked for — multitasking, which is available on iPadOS 26 — but it does bring several new features that make the iPhone far more usable. 

Read more
Will my iPhone get iOS 26? Here’s every supported model
We've got the full list of iOS 26 supported devices - find out if you're getting the new iPhone update
iOS 26 features on a series of iPhone screens

Apple announced iOS 26 at WWDC 2025, and the new iPhone update comes with a fresh new 'Liquid Glass' look and plenty of features - and there are loads of iOS 26 supported devices, which is great news.

And no, you haven't missed a volley of updates since iOS 18 in 2024. Apple has skipped a bunch of numbers, so instead of giving us iOS 19 in 2025, we got iOS 26 alongside iPadOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and tvOS 26. In short, Apple's brought its operating system numbering into line. Nice.

Read more
3 big iOS 19 changes that I hope Apple reveals at WWDC 2025
iOS 19 sample logo.

We’re less than two days away from Apple’s big WWDC 2025 keynote, where the company will reveal new versions of each of its software platforms. One of the biggest changes this year is the expected shift from iOS 19 to iOS 26, with new versions of macOS, iPadOS, tvOS, watchOS, and visionOS also set to follow suit. We're also expecting to see the evolution of Apple Health, including a new AI doctor and Health subscription.

iOS 26, if it is to be named that, is expected to introduce one of the biggest evolutions in design for Apple software since the first iPhone was launched. Inspired by visionOS and the Apple Vision Pro, it’s expected to be a monumental redesign, but I hope that Apple also takes the time to make a few improvements.

Read more