EnTech: Developer of first Apple Watch battery strap demos faster charging using hidden port (Video)

Developer of first Apple Watch battery strap demos faster charging using hidden port (Video)

Early this month I reported that accessory makers were planning on tapping into the Apple Watch’s hidden port for battery straps and faster charging. Not only would that allow companies to avoid having to design a solution with the magnetic, inductive charging system Apple is using, it also meant they wouldn’t have to workaround the sensors on the back of the watch.

Now, the company that first announced plans to use the hidden port, Reserve Strap, has posted a video showing faster charging using the port vs Apple’s charger:

The video shows Apple Watch charging slightly faster with the hidden port, hitting around 95% charged when Apple’s solution hits 90%.

At the time of its original announcement, the company noted that using the port enabled it to “achieve a higher charge capacity and quicker, more efficient charging times while also improving durability and eliminating any interference with Apple Watch functionality including taptic feedback and heartrate sensors.”

Today the company told us it’s much further along in the design process with its prototypes. Here’s what the current design looks like:

Reserve Strap is up for preorder for $249 with first shipments coming sometime this fall, and we’re sure this will inspire a number of other accessory makers even though we argued against it.

First third-party Apple Watch magnetic charging cable arrives as accessory makers await official specs

Opinion: The secret Apple Watch port should probably stay hidden… for now

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1. Milorad Ivović says: It’s unlikely that apple can stop the charging pins from working. The worst they could do is be outright nasty about it, and make the watch display an “unauthorised accessory” message, which wouldn’t stop it charging but it would make the accessory practically unusable.
   I think these guys are right to gamble, or indeed call Apple’s bluff on this â€" that said, I don’t think anyone should use that port for anything other than charging (assuming they can work out what else it does).
   Your previous article was 100% spot on. People should be wary of throwing $250 away… but now that it’s sat with me for a while, I don’t think it’s a bad idea for an accessory maker to take that risk.
   Business of any kind is a risk. Accessory makers are all leeching off the greater success of the product their accessories are designed for, and it’s usually a very crowded space. A strong differentiator is not a bad substitute for originality.
   I don’t welcome their challenges though. I’m looking forward to seeing how they expect users to get the port cover off.
   
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   • Milorad Ivović says: I should add also, I don’t think anyone needs to add $250 to the cost of their watch, to get additional battery life which as far as I can tell, nobody needs.
     This direct charging method though, is the only way these guys are ever going to sell anything. They had one idea. If they don’t do this, they have to go back to not having any ideas.
     
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     • pdjhh says: I think, to be fair, there are a lot of iphone charging cases around that people are obviously buying so this is similar to that.
       
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2. Τριαντάφυλλος Καραγιάννης says: now, I don’t think I’m the only person here thinking that it would be a nifty idea if somebody produced a strap that ended in a micro-usb / usb-c port down the other end. This would make charging the Watch a lot more convenient when you’re out and about, than having to carry this mini-stethoscope in your bag, along with your other charging accessories.
   But Apple being Apple, I’m sure they will do their BEST to disable such “functionality” in the next iteration of the hardware.
   
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