Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Wearables
  3. Mobile
  4. Reviews

Griffin PowerJolt for iPhone Review

Add as a preferred source on Google
Griffin PowerJolt for iPhone
MSRP $1,599.00
“The Griffin PowerJolt is a handy way to keep your iPhone or iPod charged while on the road.”
Pros
  • Charges both iPod and iPhone; connect by car adapter or USB; available in black or white
Cons
  • Doesn't charge other cell phones; missing vital wall outlet option

“Why you can trust Digital Trends – We have a 20-year history of testing, reviewing, and rating products, services and apps to help you make a sound buying decision. Find out more about how we test and score products.“

Summary

As any iPod or iPhone owner knows, keeping those sweet little devices charged can sometimes be a daily chore. When you’re on the road, in the car or even stationary, finding a place to plug in can be anywhere from mildly annoying to downright impossible. Griffin has you covered with a quick and easy, dual-function charger – the PowerJolt.

Full Review:

Recommended Videos

The Griffin PowerJolt is a three-piece charger meant specifically for iPod and iPhone charging. There’s the PowerJolt charger that gets plugged into car cigarette lighters (any 12V DC plug in automobiles), a USB-to-Dock Connector cable and a USB-to-mini-USB cable.

To set the PowerJolt up, simply plug it in to a 12V outlet in your automobile, connect the USB-to-Dock Connector cable into the PowerJolt’s USB port, and then connect your iPhone or iPod. If you happen to be using Griffin’s iTrip in your car, you can keep your iPod charging by using the USB-to-mini-USB connector between the PowerJolt and the iTrip.

If you’re mobile and need to connect your iPod or iPhone to your laptop, disconnect the USB-to-Dock Connector cable from the PowerJolt and plug it in to an available USB port on your laptop. You can instantly charge and sync your iPod or iPhone.

That’s it – nice and easy. Two upgrades to the PowerJolt could make this accessory 100% perfect – a flip-out plug for standard wall outlets and the ability to charge other devices, like cell phones.

The PowerJolt comes with a 1-year warranty, comes in black and white, and costs roughly $19.99 USD. It also has a replaceable fuse should a power surge ever cause it to fail.

Te PowerJolt is available in Apple stores, on Griffin’s website and at most consumer electronics retail locations where iPod accessories are sold.

Griffin PowerJolt iPhone
Griffin PowerJolt iPhone and iPod Charger

Bonus Value

If you’ve lost or damaged your original iPod or iPhone USB-to-Dock Connector cable, don’t spend $19 USD to replace it with Apple’s branded cable. For an extra dollar, you can get this Griffin PowerJolt charger, a USB-to-Dock Connector and an extra USB-to-mini-USB cable. That’s a fantastic value!

Conclusion:

The Griffin PowerJolt is a handy way to keep your iPhone or iPod charged while on the road. It allows you to charge via any 12V DC outlet (aka cigarette lighter plug) in an automobile or straight from a USB port on your computer. At $19.99 USD, it’s an easy purchase. We just wish Griffin would have added a wall plug and the ability to charge mini-USB-equipped cell phones.

Pros:

• Charges both iPod and iPhone
• Use in-car or connected by USB
• Doubles as backup iPod/iPhone Dock connector
• Available in black and white

Cons:

• Doesn’t charge cell phones
• Missing vital wall outlet option

Jason Tomczak
Former Digital Trends Contributor
The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is finally ready to dive, and the Watch 9 40mm gets a bigger battery
Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 may finally close the diving gap with the Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra's case and screen.

Samsung’s upcoming smartwatches may have another couple of meaningful upgrades hiding up their sleeves. Newly leaked promotional images suggest the smaller Galaxy Watch 9 will receive a much larger battery than previously reported, while the Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 could finally be certified for recreational diving.

The images were shared by an X account using the @evleaks handle, although the prominent leaker Evan Blass has previously said the account does not belong to him. They appear to be official Samsung marketing materials and reveal a few details that were missing from earlier specification leaks.

Read more
Bose’s next QuietComfort headphones could steal the Ultra’s best features
Bose QuietComfort deal

For the last few years, Bose has been in a slightly awkward position. Its standard QuietComfort headphones have remained an easy recommendation, but they've also felt a little... forgotten. While the Ultra lineup grabbed the spotlight with new features and a refreshed design, the regular QuietComfort stayed the same. That may finally be about to change.

A new leak suggests Bose is preparing a QuietComfort (2nd Gen) model, and if it's accurate, this looks like Bose bringing its mainstream headphones much closer to its premium offering.

Read more
Camera anxiety is changing how young adults party
A BBC report finds Gen Z clubgoers increasingly on edge about being filmed, with the rise of Meta's smart glasses only adding to the unease.
People pointing cameras at a person in a club

Clubbing used to mean losing yourself on a dance floor without a second thought. Now, according to a BBC report, a growing number of young people say they can't fully relax on a night out because they're constantly scanning the room for cameras.

Smart glasses have made the problem harder to spot

Read more