Devices that plug into your car's charger port / cigarette lighter and provide a USB connector are nothing new. Nor are devices that have two USB ports. But until CableJive shipped me a free review sample of its new PowerPortz product, I never knew that it was possible to have four USB ports coming out of a single car charger port. It turns out that most cars can handle this just fine, even if you are using all four ports at one time, and even if all ports are providing the full 2.4 Amps of power that most iPads can handle, not just the 1 Amp used by an iPhone. So that's what PowerPortz is: a way to add four USB ports to your car — perfect for any road trip with the family, or for anyone who wants to charge a bunch of devices at once.
The front portion of the PowerPortz has a fairly standard plug for your car's charger port, and the front portion has two USB ports. In my car, I use that end to power both my iPhone and a Bluetooth device that lets my iPhone send audio to my car stereo. Of course that second port in the front could also be used by someone sitting in the passenger seat, especially if you have a newer car with Bluetooth built-in.
A six foot cord is attached to the front part of the PowerPortz, and at the the cord is an extension pack with two more USB ports. The idea is that the cord goes between the front two seats so that folks in the back seat can use it. The extension pack can just sit on the back seat, or you can affix an included detachable clip to the seat-back pocket, and attach the extension pack to the clip.
Note that this product only gives you USB ports. You use your own USB-to-Lightning or USB-to-whatever cables. The total output of the PowerPortz is 9.6 Amps (2.4 x 4) and 48 Watts.
I've been using the PowerPortz for about a month, and it works great. Over Labor Day weekend, my family of four drove to the beach. With the PowerPortz, my wife and I were able to keep our iPhones charged in the front, and the kids were able to use plugged-in iPads in the backseat. Nobody had to worry about a device running out of power.
I've also used the PowerPortz several times when I have driven my kids to the park to play Pokemon Go. That game really drains an iPhone, but the PowerPortz gave my kids USB power in the backseat to get more charge on the way there and to recharge after we were done at the park, all while I was using the two USB ports in the front of the car for my iPhone and my Bluetooth system.
I like that this product uses an extension pack that reaches the backseat. That way, the kids (or adults) in the backseat can plug and unplug without bothering the person who is driving. I see on Amazon that companies like Anker and Aukey sell similar products in which all four USB ports are on the plug itself. I suppose the advantage of those products is that when you are not using all four USB ports, you don't have to worry about that six foot cord. But for me, the advantages of using an extension pack accessible in the backseat outweigh any inconvenience of having a cord go between the front two seats. Indeed, with those other products, if two people in the backseat are using USB power, then you will have two USB cords running between your front seats. The PowerPortz has a small Velcro strap on the cord that you can use to wrap it up.
If you want to have more USB ports in your car, the PowerPortz by CableJive works great and is inexpensive.
Click here to get PowerPortz from CableJive ($19.95).
Click here to get PowerPortz from Amazon ($19.95).
