Whether you’re searching for the perfect angle, the best vacation snap for social media, or spending an evening out with friends and just want to capture the moment, the JETech Battery Free Selfie Stick is a versatile, compact device that supports a range of needs. We spent a week toting this little gadget around, testing its design, portability, and ease of use.
Design: A lightweight build
Not much larger than a smartphone, the JETech arrives with a warranty card, instruction leaflet, and the battery-free selfie stick itself. Folded down, it’s a mere 7.2 inches, but is easily extendable up to 28.7 inches. It can hold a smartphone with a width ranging from 2.4 to 3.3 inches. Equipped with a 270-degree rotating head, you can easily find your most flattering angle. The JETech Selfie Stick is also very lightweight, weighing only 4 ounces. Its compact nature makes it incredibly versatile, easy to store in a purse, tote, or coat pocket, and the battery-free feature means you never have to worry about running out of a charge.
Setup Process: Quick and simple, but double-check your frame
We simply pulled back the clamp and nested our smartphone into the rubber-gripped frame to secure it, plugged the 3.5 mm cable into our smartphone’s headphone jack, and then launched the camera app. iPhone users will be ready to point and shoot by pressing the shutter button on the non-slip handle. Some Android users may need to download the Camera 360 app through the Google Play Store. It’s a free camera app offering a variety of filters, stickers, and effects, although you will need to endure the occasional advertisement. Avid users may find that paying $4.99 a month for the ad-free VIP service is worthwhile. With our Samsung Galaxy S8, setup was a breeze. We were up and running in moments, and better yet—we didn’t need to use the Camera 360 app some Android users may need. Instead, we could choose whether to rely on our native Camera app for our selfie needs or use the Camera 360 app. Although this may not be true for all Android users, it was a pleasant surprise for us. One caveat is that if the phone doesn’t nest into the frame at a perfect 90-degree angle, it’s possible for it to fall free from the selfie stick when jolted. You’ll want to be careful to ensure your phone is tucked securely into the frame’s rubber stoppers to ensure optimal safety.
Price: A Great Value
JETech Battery Free Selfie Stick vs. Fugetek FT-568
Competition between selfie sticks is fierce, with a multitude of features offered. The main competitors for a wired selfie stick in JETech’s price range are wireless Bluetooth selfie sticks. Among those, there’s one competitor that stands apart from the pack—the Fugetek FT-568. Unlike the JETech, Fugetek offers Bluetooth connectivity instead of the battery-free wired connection that the JETech supports. Fugetek’s battery life is excellent, able to last up to 300 hours on standby, and the selfie stick feels much more durable than the JETech thanks to its sturdy aluminum alloy frame. It’s also compatible with GoPros, camcorders, and DSLR cameras. One drawback to Bluetooth, however, is that it can drain a phone’s battery faster. It also takes a few minutes to set up versus a wired connection which can simply plug and play. The Fugetek’s durability also comes at a price as the Fugetek is a hefty 9.6 ounces, over twice the weight of the 4-ounce JETech. While this may not seem like much on paper, it really adds up once the selfie stick extends to its full length of 49 inches. The Fugetek generally retails for just shy of $20, so the price point is competitive against the JETech’s price range. Users just need to decide which they value more—the sturdiness of the Fugetek or the portability of the JETech. The JETech Battery Free Selfie Stick is a user-friendly gadget that packs a punch for the price. Between its 270-degree swivel frame, extendable length of up to 28.7 inches, collapsible length of 7.2 inches, and its battery-free connection to one’s smartphone, it has excellent features to suit your needs.
