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As a case and battery pack moulded into one relatively slim form factor, Mophie's Juice Pack Air will make your iPhone noticeably heavier and a little less pocket-friendly.

Of course, this is the trade-off for the extra battery life, which is listed at 4.5 hours of talk time or Internet browsing using 3G (it's higher when using Wi-Fi), more than 20 extra hours of audio playback and an extra six-to-nine hours of video. For the most part, these numbers are accurate, except there may be some variations depending on which features you use more than others.

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There are some other trade-offs to note as well. If you use any kind of docking station with your iPhone, then you'll need to remove it from the Juice Pack Air every time, which is a bit inconvenient. And while you can charge, sync and tether your phone when encased, you can only do it with the included cable because of the micro-USB port the Air uses. And lastly, if you want to recharge both the Juice Pack Air and the phone to capacity, it will take at least three hours.

There is a tiny switch at the bottom of the case that turns the Juice Pack into a charger.

Mophie says the Air's battery can handle 500 recharge cycles, the best part of which is that the cycles are based on percentages. For example, if you just want to top up the phone's battery 20 per cent, it won't count as a full cycle, thereby adding some extra longevity.

Mophie Juice Pack Air ($100) is available at Future Shop, Best Buy and Apple Store