We’ve reviewed our fair share of battery packs and battery cases over the years, but this is the first time we’ve reviewed a battery pack and smartphone camera grip in one. The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi is a super handy battery pack and smartphone camera grip.
When the company first pitched this product to me I was skeptical about its actual usefulness. But I have to admit, after using the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi for a few weeks, I’ve found it to be useful in a variety of ways. Read on for the full review of the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi…pronounced (ADD-ON-IT).
Specifications
The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi has the following features and specifications:
- Product Dimension: 120.6 x 82 x 43.9 mm, Weight: 129.6 g
- Material: PC+ABS/Silicone Rubber
- Battery Capacity for Wireless Charging: 3,000mAh
- Battery for Wireless Charging Input: USB Type C
- Connectivity: Bluetooth v3.0 and above
- Device Size Compatibility: 4.5″ or larger smartphones
- Width range: 58mm – 85mm Max. depth: 10mm
- OS Compatibility: iOS 5.0 and above; Android v4.3 and above
- Colors: Black and White
What’s In The Box
- Adonit PhotoGrip Qi
- Mini Tripod
- Carrying Pouch
- Neck Strap
- USB Type-C cable
- Manuals and documentation
Design
At first glance, the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi looks like a point and shoot camera missing the lens and important bits, and that’s basically what it is. This thing is literally shaped like a camera grip, but it clamps on to your smartphone.
It’s a very simple design. You have the clamps that hold your smartphone in place. There are 4 rubber pads on the back of the PhotoGrip to protect your phone from the plastic surface. There are more rubber pads on the clamps to protect the sides of your smartphone. I do have to point out that one of those clamp pads has started to peel up just a bit on my review unit.
Around the front of the unit is some branding with a textured rubber on grip part giving it a non-slip feel. On the top is the shutter button, which is removable, so you can activate the camera while you’re not behind it. There is also the charging button which activates the Qi wireless charging.
On the bottom, you’ll find the USB Type-C charging port, very well done Adonit! Also on the bottom is the 1/4 thread for your mini tripod, but you can also use any 1/4 tripod with this device. Of course, the 3,000mAh battery is built into the device. The whole unit is very well made, except that peeling pad does have me worried. It’s made of durable plastics and is pretty lightweight.
Overall, the design is spot on with a premium look and feel to the materials used. My only issue is that peeling rubber grip part. For now, it hasn’t gotten really bad, but I’m not sure how well it will hold up after months of use.
Performance
I have to admit, I wasn’t so sure that the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi was going to be something useful. I mean, with most flagship phones having optical image stabilization, there’s no need for something to hold your smartphone steady. I didn’t really see the need for a tripod either. I went in with some skepticism.
Once I opened up the PhotoGrip Qi and started using it, I was pretty quickly convinced that using the PhotoGrip to simply hold my smartphone to take photos was very ergonomically comfortable. While it’s not that bad to hold a smartphone without it, it’s just so much more comfortable having that grip. Plus, it actually does help you to better steady the camera.
Another great feature is the tripod and the remote shutter. The shutter button is removable and works via Bluetooth. You just pair it like any Bluetooth device and you’re ready to go. The button turns itself off after a period of non-use. Simply push it once to activate and it will pair to your phone.
The nice thing is that you can set your phone up with the included tripod, take the shutter button with you and get selfies from just about any angle. Or you can take photos with you and your family or friends in them. It’s really a great and convenient feature.
I also love that you can set the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi on its side into portrait mode. While I would advise against tapping on the screen in this position, it is nice to be able to stand it up that way. The included tripod is also very sturdy and well-built.
The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi has a 3,000mAh battery pack built-in. The nicest thing about that is that it is wireless. Most flagship phones these days have Qi wireless charging and that is how this works. When you clamp your phone into the PhotoGrip Qi, you just simply push the button at the top to start the charging process. It’s really a handy way to keep your smartphone charged while taking video and photos.
Overall, the performance of the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi is great. At first, I didn’t think any of the features would be worth it, but there’s a lot of conveniences here which I think many users will appreciate.
Battery Life
The 3,000mAh battery isn’t enough to fully charge a Galaxy S10+ or an iPhone Xs Max, but it’s enough to give you some extra when you need it. I’d say that if you tend to run your smartphone battery down by midday, the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi will at least give you enough juice to get you through the rest of the day.
But what it really does well is that it keeps your smartphone juiced up during those times you’re heavily using your camera. It does not have fast charging but it charges at a decent rate. Overall, I think it would have been nice to see 5,000mAh inside this unit but they probably would have had to make it a bit thicker and heavier. As it sits, I think it’s a good size battery and the price point reflects that.
Price/Value
The Adonit PhotoGrip Qi is priced at US$59.99 and I think that’s a fair asking price for all the features you get. Even though the battery is slightly smaller than I would have liked, having that shutter button, tripod, and battery pack in one is really nice and adds a lot of value.
Wrap Up
I was really impressed with the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi. I don’t think it’s a solution for everyone, but I do think those who are looking for something like this are going to love it. Combining a battery pack, remote shutter, and grip is really a great idea.
*We received a sample of the Adonit PhotoGrip Qi for the purposes of this review.
Last Updated on February 3, 2021.
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