Lenmar ChugPlug MacBook power back-up

When Apple updated the MacBook Air in 2013 it went for extended battery life in a big way. At a pinch you can get 12 hours from a single charge.

While that’s enough power to get through a long working day, there are always times when you need more. That’s the thinking behind Lenmar’s ChugPlug.

The NZ$180 ChugPlug is an integrated backup battery that gives you up to four hours more battery life.

Integrated back-up power

It is integrated in the sense that it slips smoothly into the power chain between a wall plug and the MacBook’s Magsafe power socket. Each end slots directly into the pull-apart power unit. Lights tell you when there is a full charge.

Later, when you’re out with your MacBook Air away from power outlets, it connects to the computer to boost the battery.

It delivers about one-third of a full charge to the computer — that’s about four hours in normal use.

There are lights to tell you if it is fully charged and a button turns it off to save power when the back-up battery isn’t in use.

ChugPlug not plug-ugly

ChugPlug is nicely designed. It doesn’t look out-of-place with Apple hardware. Some back-up batteries look like they belong in a steampunk laboratory.

It’s a handy and elegant way of solving a problem facing mobile MacBook Air owners.

In testing it worked exactly as promised.

I took the ChugPlug on a recent overnight trip to Sydney. On the way the airport security staff gave it a double take — clearly they hadn’t seen one before — another passenger asked me where I got it, so chalk that up as an indication there’s demand for this kind of hardware.

Carry that load

The only real drawback is the ChugPlug is big and heavy compared to the Air. It weighs 500g, my 13-inch MacBook Air weighs 1.35kg, so it adds about 40 percent to the weight.

It measures 225 x 72 x 27 mm. I often carry my laptop in a lightweight leather case. The ChugPlug is too big for this bag and its a challenge for my leather satchel. I ended up needing to use the backpack when taking it out for the day.

ChugPlug is simple idea, well-executed. If your work or lifestyle means you spend long stretches of time away from power sockets, the size and weight is a small price to pay for the convenience of more power.