Clutch Charger Review

Hardly bigger than a credit card and with a built-in Lightning cable, this portable charger is designed for a single purpose: charging an iPhone while being incredibly easy to carry. It doesn't have the charge rate to be all that useful for larger devices like iPads, and it isn't compatible with Android or Samsung devices.

Performance Comparison

Portability

Accountable for 40% of the final score for each product, this is the most significant metric of our testing process. Understandably, the Clutch did extremely well, given its tiny size.

This charger is a mere 3.56 inches long by 2.5 inches wide by 0.16 inches thick — roughly the thickness and shape of three credit cards, though it has a slightly bigger footprint. It tips the scales at a mere two ounces, and you can easily forget that it's in a pant or jacket pocket.

It's so easily missed that we worried it could accidentally get run through the laundry. It fits in most wallets and practically every purse without weighing you down.

Charging Efficiency

This round of tests focuses on some of the electrical capabilities of the Clutch. We measured the capacity of each product at the maximum discharge rate and at one amp, as well as tested out any manufacturer claims regarding the number of charges you could get out of each product for specific devices. Regrettably, the Clutch earned an average score in this metric, which is responsible for 30% of the final score.

The Clutch only has a maximum discharge rate of one amp, and we were able to get an actual capacity of 1099 mAh out of it at this rate — quite a bit less than the 2300 mAh claimed capacity by the manufacturer. We also found that this charger got very warm during this test, almost to the point where we were a bit concerned.

The manufacturer also claimed that you can charge an iPhone X to 50%, which we found to be a bit suspect based on our tests. We were only able to increase the charge of an iPhone 11 Pro 35% before the Clutch was depleted.

Added Convenience

For our Added Convenience metric, we looked at all the features and functions that make the Clutch more convenient and user-friendly to use. We awarded points based on if you can charge multiple devices simultaneously, if there is a built-in flashlight, and if there are integrated cables or plugs. The Clutch is pretty limited in its uses, as it can only charge iPhones, so it receives a low overall score in this metric. This rating metric constitutes 20% of the total score for each charger.

This USB-style power bank can only charge a single device at a time and lacks other features like an integrated flashlight. It has a battery level indicator and a built-in Lightning cable, but you'll need a separate micro-USB cable and USB power source to recharge it.

Recharge Time

For the final 10% of the total points for the Clutch, we evaluated and scored how long it took to charge back up once it was totally depleted. This USB charger is one of the faster to charge.

It only took the Clutch about 3.5 hours to recharge — quite a bit faster than most of the chargers in the group but mainly due to its relatively smaller capacity.

Should You Buy the Clutch Charger?

The Clutch is easily one of our favorite portable chargers for iPhone users. Its slim and minimalistic design makes it particularly convenient and easy to carry around, and the integrated charging cable means you never have to worry about forgetting one. It can be exceptionally handy to the iPhone user who always finds their phone close to dying at the end of the day and never wants to be caught with a dead battery.

What Other Portable Chargers Should You Consider?