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My Favorite Portable iPhone Charger From Anker Is Down to Just $35 at Amazon Right Now

The Anker 622 MagGo snaps nicely onto the back of my iPhone, and at just half an inch thick, it’s ultra-compact. Plus, it’s up to 22% off as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale.

Like most people, I’ve come to rely on my phone for pretty much everything — from driving directions to work communications, weather, news and more. So the last thing I need is for my iPhone’s battery to run out of power at just the wrong time. Luckily, ever since I bought this handy magnetic charger, that’s never been a concern. It’s so portable and practical that it now goes everywhere I do.

The Anker 622 MagGo is a small slab of battery with a few features that make it an ideal on-the-go accessory. Right now, you can get one for as much as 22% off as part of Amazon’s Big Spring Sale. That brings the price down to as low as $35. It comes in a variety of colors, and all of them except for Interstellar Gray are down to $35. For me, it’s more about power than color, but if you want to snap up a battery pack that complements your phone, you can choose from Buds Green, Dolomite White, Lilac Purple and Misty Blue.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Here’s why I’ve stuck with this little charger for so long

Have you seen people walk around with a loop of cable hanging from their pocket to their phone? I’ve been there and hooked that loop on too many chairs and table corners. Never again. The ring of magnets in the Anker 622 MagGo aligns with the MagSafe magnets in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, latching securely and charging without wires.

It’s also compact — a little backpack feeding power to the phone while you’re holding it or have it stashed in a pocket, even a jeans pocket if your fit isn’t too tight.

Those features alone would have convinced me, but the Anker 622 also includes a fold-out back flap that props up my iPhone and can also hold the phone in its wide orientation for StandBy mode. With a power adapter such as the Anker Nano Pro (not included) and a charging cable, I’ve taught long classes with the phone angled to help me keep track of the time without checking my watch.

Essential Anker 622 MagGo specs

Here’s what you need to know.

  • Battery capacity: 5,000 milliamp hours
  • Voltage: 1.55 volts
  • Output: 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time.
  • Input: The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device.
  • Size: 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch
  • Weight: 5 ounces
  • Included: Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable
  • Warranty: 24 months

MagSafe-compatible charging

I’ve owned several battery chargers, and each one has some sort of compromise. They’re bulky. They require a cable. They charge wirelessly but don’t include a magnet to keep the phone in place, so it’s hard to maintain that connection. There’s always something.

The Anker 622 is half an inch thick and snaps onto the back of my iPhone using the MagSafe-aligned magnets. I don’t have to turn it on to start charging — power flows as soon as the connection is made.

Now, this isn’t the highest-capacity (5,000 mAh) or fastest portable charger. That’s fine. What I usually need is a way to eke out a few more hours of battery life on my iPhone. I can typically get a full top-off of my iPhone 15 Pro.

Making a stand

The other appealing feature of the Anker 622 MagGo for me is its built-in stand. Honestly, it doesn’t look like it should work well: It’s a fabric-covered set of plastic pieces that lie flush against the case, folds in two places and attaches to the back of the unit with a magnetic strip when extended. Yet I’ve had no problems with the stability of my iPhone 15 Pro or even the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max size.

This also lets me use standby mode by turning the iPhone to landscape orientation (the magnets are strong enough to hold the phone in place) when it’s on a table or desk.

Smart port placement matters

The charger gets its juice from a single USB-C port, which is positioned on the edge of the case, not the bottom. That means you can replenish it while the stand is open — many chargers’ ports are stuck on the bottom.

That USB-C port also acts as a charger for other devices when you plug in a cable, such as when your Apple Watch needs a boost.

How the Anker 622 MagGo compares to similar power banks

Before getting the Anker 622 MagGo, I carried an Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which doubles the battery capacity, includes a USB-A port and charges wirelessly but without magnets to hold the phone in place. That meant if I didn’t use a cable, the phone and charger needed to be stable and level; too often I’d find the iPhone slid off its wireless perch and not charged. It’s also larger and heavier. I still use it, but it’s the power bank that goes into my carry-on suitcase as a backup charger.

Since I’ve owned this Anker 622 MagGo, the company has released a few updated models. The $55 Anker 633 (currently on sale for $40 if you clip the on-page coupon) packs 10,000 mAh into a slightly thicker brick, includes a USB-A port in addition to USB-C and has a metal kickstand for resting the phone upright.

You can also consider getting the chunkier Anker MagGo Power Bank that delivers 10,000 mAh and follows the same idea of compact magnetic charging and a convenient kickstand. Its main appeals are faster 15-watt magnetic charging and Qi2 compatibility, plus a small display on the side that reports the battery capacity and an estimate of the remaining battery in hours.

For more smart buys, check out this amazing multitool and a portable TV that can go anywhere. You can also find our complete roundup of the best deals from Amazon’s Big Spring Sale event. And if you happen to be gift shopping, check out our roundup of the best gifts for grads and best Mother’s Day gifts.

Impulse Buys Under $25 That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts

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Technologies

Celebrity Private Jets Can Still Be Tracked Despite New FAA Rules. Here’s Why

The FAA’s move to hide ownership details might not stop those who post private-jet information on social media.

Owners of private jets can now request that their names and addresses be kept private, thanks to a rule enacted last week by the US Federal Aviation Administration, which was signed into law last year. According to the FAA, ownership information wouldn’t be publicly available on its websites.

The new rule appears to be partly in response to social media accounts that post air travel information about celebrities such as Elon Musk and Taylor Swift, which has faced criticism in the past due to privacy concerns. Those accounts had also allowed people to post info in the past on who the biggest carbon offenders in private jet usage were.

An electronic request form has been made available for owners to make their private jetting more private.

However, this may not thwart those who run tracking sites, as reported earlier by The Verge, who say they rely on other sources of information for their reports — not just FAA records. 

Private jet privacy: not much change? 

David Gitman, CEO of Monarch Air Group, a private jet charter company based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told CNET that the FAA’s new privacy control will not prevent flight trackers from posting about the comings and goings of notable people.

«There is no material change,» Gitman said. «The FAA ruling allows the aircraft owner to block the ownership information, not the actual tracking of the aircraft. Most aircraft are not owned by the individual, but rather by a corporation or a trust.»

Gitman said that because high-profile people are often photographed arriving and departing on planes and those photos end up on social media, it isn’t hard to track them. 

«Once an aircraft is connected to a person, it becomes easier to track, as nothing has changed on that side,» he said.

Gitman said private charters like his can make tracking more difficult for trackers because different planes are being used at different times for different customers. However, tracking as a whole isn’t going away. 

«In my opinion, aircraft tracking is a given fact, a modern reality, just like the paparazzi stalking celebrities outside of restaurants,» Gitman said. «Any aircraft movement, from Taylor Swift to strategic bombers, is available online.»

Daniel Findley, associate director at the Institute for Transportation Research and Education at North Carolina State University, said that the FAA move is not likely to affect people in his field or other research areas where flight tracking is done since occupants are not the focus.

«For the vast majority of people who track flights, who owns the plane or who is on it is not as important,» Findley said.

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Technologies

Speed Up Your iPhone Charging With These 9 Smart Hacks

Power up your iPhone in less time using these straightforward charging tips and tricks.

Spring is here, and with longer days and packed schedules ahead, a dead phone is the last thing you need. Whether you’re out enjoying the sunshine, meeting deadlines or powering through school assignments, staying charged keeps you connected and on track. The good news? You don’t have to wait around for your iPhone to juice up.

If you’ve ever found yourself sprinting out the door with only 5% battery, you’re not alone. There are a few quick and easy charging tricks that can get your iPhone powered up fast — no stress, no extra accessories. Whether your phone’s hanging on by a thread or you just need a boost before heading out, these tips will help you charge up in record time and keep going strong all season long.

Looking for more charging power? Check out the best power banks for the iPhone, and if you’re still rocking an iPhone with a Lightning port, here are some of the cheapest fast chargers you can find. 

Don’t Get Burned: Tips to Avoid an Overheated Phone

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1. Juice up with a new charger 

The quickest way to charge your iPhone is with a fast charger: at least a 20-watt power adapter with a USB-C to Lightning or USB-C to USB-C cable for iPhone 15 models or later. As long as you own an iPhone 8 or later, you can fast-charge your phone from dead back up to around 50% battery in about 30 minutes. If you have an hour to spare, you can fully charge it. Even just 10 minutes of fast charging can boost your battery by double digits, so if you’re short on time, always go for the fast charger option.

Apple no longer provides power adapters when you buy a new phone, only the cable, but you can purchase Apple’s 20-watt power adapter from Apple and Amazon. According to Apple, you can also use other compatible fast-charging power bricks, but you’ll need at least a 20-watt brick to fast-charge an iPhone 12 and later.

2. Charge lightning fast wirelessly 

The second-fastest way to charge your iPhone is with Apple’s MagSafe charger and a 20-watt power adapter, but for this to work you must own either an iPhone 12 or later to get the faster 15-watt wireless charging. If your iPhone is dead, you should get to around 30% battery in about 30 minutes of wireless charging.

This doesn’t mean you can use any Qi wireless charger (the industry standard) for fast charging. While the MagSafe charger supports 15 watts, a Qi charger only gives you up to 7.5 watts, which is much slower than a MagSafe and only slightly faster than the traditional 5-watt wall charger. Be aware that magnetic wireless chargers that aren’t MagSafe-certified will also charge at the slower 7.5-watt speed.

3. Stop relying on your computer to charge your phone 

Your laptop might seem like a convenient way to charge your iPhone, especially if you spend most of your day in front of a computer and want to keep a close eye on any incoming text messages and notifications. However, your computer will always charge your phone slower than any wall charger or wireless charger.

Your computer’s USB port, whether it’s a bigger and older USB-A or the newer, smaller USB-C, cannot deliver the same amount of power as any wall outlet can, even a 5-watt power adapter. That’s especially true if you have an older computer with a faulty USB port or an incompatible charging cable, both of which can slow down the charging process further. 

4. Stop using your iPhone while it’s charging 

If you want your iPhone to charge as quickly as possible, try to stay off of it as much as possible. If you’re streaming videos or playing mobile games while charging your iPhone, the battery will charge much slower, so just leave it untouched if you can.

5. Speed up battery charging with this easy tip 

Even if your screen is sleeping, your phone is still working in the background. If you want your iPhone to charge quickly, the best thing to do is to turn it off.

Note that plugging in an iPhone that’s turned off will sometimes power it back on, so plug it in or place it on a wireless charger first, then power it down.

6. Switch to airplane mode if you don’t want to turn off your phone

If you don’t want to turn off your iPhone but still want to help it charge faster, you can turn on airplane mode, which disables all wireless transmission functions like cellular, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, all of which consume power. If they’re off, your iPhone can charge quicker. This way, you can also quickly turn airplane mode off to quickly check on any text messages or phone calls you might be waiting for.

7. Tweak these iPhone settings to charge your battery faster

Do you know all of those tips that help you preserve your battery in the first place? You can use those same features and settings to help your iPhone charge faster if you don’t plan on turning it off.

  • Low power mode: Turn it on to reduce or affect battery-consuming features like 5G, display brightness, auto-lock, background app refresh and automatic downloads.
  • Dark mode: The jury is out on exactly how much dark mode actually saves battery life, but turning it on while you’re charging your iPhone doesn’t hurt, especially if every percent matters.
  • Lower your screen brightness: One of the most power-hungry pieces of any gadget that has one is its display. The brighter your screen, the quicker your battery drains, so turn it all the way down while it charges.

8. Optimized Battery Charging may be slowing down the charge rate

Apple has a built-in tool that helps prevent your iPhone battery from degrading as fast, but this same feature also makes your device charge slower. While the feature typically only slows down your iPhone during long periods of charging, and usually overnight, it still might be worth disabling when you’re charging your phone. Go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health and toggle off Optimized Battery Charging to disable this feature.

9. You might just need a new iPhone battery

In the same settings page where you can disable optimized battery charging, you can also check out your battery’s health. If you see a message, like «Your battery’s health is significantly degraded,» you should look into making an appointment with Apple to replace your battery. A degraded battery doesn’t hold charge as well, so it’ll drain more quickly. A new battery will improve your overall battery life.

You can check out how much it will approximately cost to replace your battery on Apple’s iPhone Battery Service website. The price depends on your service coverage and the make and model: for the iPhone 15 series, the estimate is $99.

For more tips, check out 23 more iPhone tips and tricks you should know and how to get more space when your iPhone’s storage is running low.

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Technologies

Katy Perry, Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez Space Mission Launching in a Week

Katy Perry will «shoot across the sky» with an all-female crew, including Gayle King, Lauren Sánchez, a NASA rocket scientist, a bioastronautics research scientist and a film producer.

Blue Origin, Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos’ space company, is making history by sending an all-female crew on its next spaceflight this month. The American spacecraft company’s 11th human mission, NS-31, will include pop singer Katy Perry, Bezos’ fiancé and former journalist Lauren Sánchez, CBS host Gayle King, NASA rocket scientist Aisha Bowe, bioastronautics research scientist Amanda Nguyễn and film producer Kerianne Flynn.

The mission’s planned liftoff is April 14, with a launch window opening at 8:30 a.m. CDT, depending on weather and other factors. According to the Blue Origin website, the astronauts will ascend toward space at more than three times the speed of sound. Once they pass the line, the crew can unbuckle and float weightless before returning to Earth. 

The mission is part of Blue Origin’s New Shepard program, which has flown 52 people above the Kármán line, the internationally recognized boundary of space about 62 miles above Earth. 

First all-female crew since a Russian solo flight in the ’60s

The flight will mark the first all-female crew since Russian engineer Valentina Tereshkova’s solo spaceflight in 1963.

Bowe told Elle magazine in an interview published this week that she’s «been training for and waiting for this moment my entire life.» Nguyen agreed, calling it «a dream come true.»

Reactions among the others varied:

«I have wanted to go to space for almost 20 years,» Perry said during the interview with Elle.

«I had a lot of trepidation — I still do — but I also know it’s very interesting to be terrified and excited at the same time,» King told Elle. «I can honestly say it has never been a dream of mine.»

Blue Origin has taken many notable names up above the Earth before, including actor William Shatner, Good Morning America host and retired NFL player Michael Strahan and Bezos himself.

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