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Get a 3-in-1 iPhone case for $19.99
The Grabit 3-in-1 not only holsters your iPhone, but also recharges it.
(Credit: Geeks.com)The Grabit 3-in-1 is a belt-clip case. It's a battery pack. And it's a kickstand for easy iPhone viewing. (It may also make julienne fries--I'll have to double-check on that.)
Geeks.com has the Grabit 3-in-1 iPhone holster for $19.99, the lowest price I've seen anywhere.
Alas, shipping will run you a fairly ridiculous $9, but you can save a couple bucks by applying coupon code GEEKBERT at checkout.
The Grabit features a swiveling, spring-loaded belt clip that can pop out to hold your iPhone upright on a flat surface. (It should also do well at horizontal positioning for movies and the like.)
The real trick up the Grabit's sleeve is its 1,050-mAh battery pack, which effectively doubles your iPhone's battery life.
The pack doubles as a rubberized, quick-release holster--one simple press of the upper clip and you can pull the iPhone free.
(If you want to see more and better photos, check out this listing on eBay--where the Grabit is selling for $29.98, plus $5 shipping.)
The only real downside I can see is that the Grabit keeps the iPhone facing outward, making it more susceptible to accidental damage. On the other hand, an inward-facing design would eliminate the kickstand advantages.
Also, there's no mention of iPhone 3GS compatibility, though I'm not sure why. Most other iPhone/iPhone 3G-compatible battery packs also support the 3GS. My guess is this one would work, though it's just that: a guess. (If anyone knows for sure, please say so in the comments!)
This isn't the only product of its kind. Case-Mate offers a similar battery extender/belt-clip case, but it sells for $79.99--and doesn't pull kickstand duty.
For about $27 out the door (with shipping and the aforementioned coupon code), this seems like a pretty sweet accessory for iPhone owners. I'm seriously considering getting one myself.
Rick Broida, a technology writer for nearly 20 years, is the author of more than a dozen books. In addition to writing CNET's The Cheapskate blog, he oversees BNET's Business Hacks. Rick is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not an employee of CBS Interactive. Disclosure. Deals found on The Cheapskate are subject to availability, expiration, and other terms determined by sellers. Follow Rick on Twitter at cheapskateblog.
I ordered this one prior to reading your article! No belt clip, but has a leather cover.
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=108&cp_id=10831&cs_id=1083110&p_id=5866&seq=1&format=2
I ordered a different iPhone charger/case - from the Monoprice web site (link provided above) - more like a poor man's Mophie-brand charger - but for $24 delivered. The Mophies I was looking at were 4X this price without tax, title, and tags (tax and shipping)! It has no belt clip, a stronger battery, an on/off switch, and a leather flap cover. The touch of this case feels like an Incase product (soft rubber) which I like. Works fine so far. I'm going to love it when I go on my trip overseas.
:-)
--> jameshfinkelstein
"I purchased this device a few weeks ago for my 3GS. I don't think it is compatible. My phone worked fine in the device but then when I went to charge the phone both from an Apple dock or directly with a cable it would not charge. I had to turn my phone off and then try to charge it. Sometimes that worked and sometimes it didn't . In the end, the only way to charge it was to sync my phone again."
I just completed an order and http://www.Geeks.com seem to have plenty in stock.
I imagine they restocked the sku??
Good luck!
May use this when the battery is low and need extra juice and not as a regular belt clip holster.
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by jwhiteman101
September 25, 2009 4:04 PM PDT
- i thought this device was very cool when i first got it, but now i have had a couple of days when it hasn't charged. It's hard to tell whether or not it's charging because there are no battery strength lights like on other battery extenders.
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by laustin686
September 27, 2009 9:33 AM PDT
- I also purchased the Grabit and immediately attached it to my iphone it worked just great. That night I hooked the unit and my phone to my recharging cable(although it still had a good charge on it) and the next morning everything was totally dead! My phone had turned itself off in an attempt to preserve itself. I tried to charge it in the unit with no success and I finally revived the phone by recharging it in the alarm clock dock it normally sleeps it with the Grabit hooked to a recharging cable. It took a while but got both up and running. I returned to the packaging to "read the instructions" ha ha ha- no instructions...so what's a girl to do? Is there a way one os suppose to treat this unit? I really like it but I don't know how to make it charge with the iphone in it....Rick did you do any field testing on the charging behavior of the Grabit or do we just wing it? Help me please!
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(30 Comments)has anyone else experienced this problem?