If you’ve got a smartphone, chances are good you’ve run out of battery power at an inopportune time. Really anything that runs on electricity has the potential to power down when you’d least expect it, and that can cause a headache. If you travel a lot, chances are also good that you’ve been in a hotel, airport, or other location where the outlets just seem… a bit sketchy. The Belkin Travel Rockstar can handle both of these issues for you, and this full review will tell you what you can expect from your new Rockstar.
Specifications
- Built-in battery pack
- 2A USB for fast charging
- 3000 mAh battery pack for USB charging
- Compact design with collapsible AC prongs
- Dual-outlet charging when connected to AC
- Surge protection for connected devices
- Rated at 615 joules for superior surge protection
- $75,000 Connected Equipment Warranty
- 2-Year Limited Warranty
What’s in the Box
- 1 x Belkin Travel Rockstar
- 1 x Warranty info
- 1 x Instructional diagram
Design
The Belkin Travel Rockstar is a roughly 5” x 2 ½” x 1 ½” plastic rectangle. Four out of the six sides are blue, with a white strip along the front and top of the device. The bottom and sides are relatively plain, so I won’t go into too much detail there.
The top of the Travel Rockstar features the Belkin Man logo, one 2A USB-A input, four LED indicator lights, and a power button. The front features the Belkin name mark, an additional LED with “Protected” listed next to it, and two fully grounded outlets. Around back, you’ll find a foldable 3-prong plug.
Inside of the Travel Rockstar is a 3000mAh battery, and surge protection that will help keep your devices safe when plugged into sketchy outlets. The positioning of the foldable plug on the back also allows you to turn one outlet into two protected outlets, expanding your outlet options.
The design is a bit bulkier than some other battery packs, though the addition of the grounded outlets is definitely outside of most battery packs. The foldable rear plug provides an easy way to recharge the internal battery pack, and just pushing on the very top of the plastic upper housing provides the easiest way to open the plug.
Ease of Use
If you’ve ever plugged in any type of electrical plug, or used a USB cable to charge your phone, you’ve got all of the necessary skills to use the Belkin Travel Rockstar. Probably the hardest part is opening the foldable rear plug, which isn’t too tough once you learn the trick (which I mentioned earlier).
The top USB port can be used to charge your cell phone, tablet, or other small electronics. The front outlets can be used for your laptop, etc. Belkin does suggest avoiding high-draw electronics such as blow dryers or irons, but your laptop or other small electronic devices shouldn’t pose much of a challenge. The LED on the front of the Rockstar, just above the outlets, will light when the surge protector is active and working properly. Under most circumstances you should see this light up nearly anywhere you plug in your Rockstar.
If by some chance your devices are damaged while using the Rockstar in its intended fashion, Belkin does offer a $75,000 connected equipment warranty. Simply put:
Travel RockStar is covered by a $75,000 Connected Equipment Warranty. This means we will repair or replace any equipment damaged by a surge, spike, or lightning strike while properly connected to our surge protector, up to $75,000.
Battery Life
If surge protection weren’t enough, the Belkin Travel Rockstar also features a 3000mAh internal battery. While most larger smartphones or tablets have larger batteries these days, 3000mAh will at least give you enough juice to make it to an outlet in most instances. It might be nice to have a larger battery inside the case, as it’s already a bit bigger than most external battery packs, but most battery packs don’t include two outlets, or the other functionality of the Travel Rockstar.
Price/Value
The Belkin Travel Rockstar has a list price of $59.99, though you can find it on Amazon for $26.99, which is a pretty great deal. You can get 3000mAh battery packs for less, but those packs won’t have the added value of the surge protected outlets, or easy charging via a grounded plug.
Wrap Up
There are all kinds of options available when it comes to external battery packs. The Belkin Travel Rockstar differentiates itself by including two surge protected outlets in a compact package. If you travel frequently and find outlet space in your hotel room or airport at a premium, the Belkin Travel Rockstar can charge multiple devices when attached to AC power, and top off your smartphone or tablet when you’re away from an outlet.
[rwp-review id=”0″]
