It works, but it’s not always useful. The Hinge is one of a suite of products that aim to keep phones and other devices running while their owners are out and about, but it’s the only one that doesn’t look completely ridiculous when it’s in use. The rest are small boxes with varying numbers of jacks to feed in the power, and while they look fine sitting on a desk, they simply never look cool while you’re out using your phone. Rush Charge is intent on changing that. showing how easy it is to keep using your device while things are attached.
A Stand-Up Charger
Hinge holds your device at one of four angles to keep it handy and useful while it tops up. It’s a good idea that works in both portrait and landscape orientations, even though it can be a little fiddly. The obvious application of the Hinge’s standing-up property is video calls, because as silly as the other Rush Charge devices look in use, making a voice-only call while this one’s connected would be both difficult and a whole other level of “what are they doing?” The company also suggests using it to refer to recipes while you’re cooking, but I’m not really sure that would work.
The Question of Stability
That flip-up jack is part of an issue I had with the Hinge, because with no case on my iPhone 12 Pro, the device didn’t stand up straight. Instead, it rocked back and forth as the weight pushed the plug over. With such a small point of contact to support the phone’s whole bulk, I wasn’t confident I’d be able to swipe on or tap the screen without knocking something over. With my case on (the Apple-made clear one), the phone didn’t charge at all. The company claims the Hinge will work with “most cases,” and I can only speak to the one I own, but it didn’t work. A thinner, silicone protector would probably work better and interfere less with the plug, but I didn’t try one of those, and it isn’t worth the convenience to me to remove the thing every time my phone needs charging. The Hinge can sit at four angles (about 25, 50, 75, or 90 degrees), with the back providing support while the plug holds the phone in place. Some of those definitely felt more stable than others. For example, the 25-degree setting feels super precarious, and if you need to look down at your phone while you’re doing something, you might as well just lay it flat on your desk or table.
It Has the Power
Still, the Hinge’s main value is in powering up your phone on the go, and it does that well. It has a 4,500mAh-capacity battery, which is enough to completely charge almost any smartphone. It wouldn’t have any juice left after, say, charging up the enormous Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, but the Hinge can power up most other devices with a bit to spare. For example, it could charge the iPhone 12 Pro Max, which boasts Apple’s largest phone battery to date (3687mAh), about one and a quarter times. As for charging the bank itself, it conveniently uses the same cable you’d use to charge your phone (that is, the charging port matches the charging plug), so you already have everything you need to get it to work. It takes a couple hours to recharge on its own, but in an emergency, you also can power it up while your device is connected, provided you don’t do anything too intense on your phone. Between the large battery, the stand function, and its portability (it’s smaller than my iPhone 12 Pro, so it’s about as easy to fit into a pocket or bag), the Hinge is a handy device that works well enough to recommend, provided you have the right case and don’t bump it too hard (or at all) when you’re using it.
