Stand and deliver (power)

When my iPad first arrived, I used it mostly as a couch computer, surfing the web, posting to Twitter, and playing the occasional round of Plants vs. Zombies—essentially using it as a substitute fun machine for my MacBook, which was relegated to work tasks like writing stories and paying bills. It wasn’t until the recent holiday travel season that my iPad saw any substantial use as an entertainment device. But of course playing a bunch of video saps even the iPad’s considerable energy stores, which made an external battery essential for long flights and multi-day trips. The Stand from HyperMac packs in a hefty 40-watt-hour battery, which gives your iPad more than 1.5 times its built-in capacity.

HyperMac’s Stand charges your iPad while holding it in either portrait or landscape orientation.

But more power is only half the Stand’s story. It also serves as a sturdy base for propping up your iPad for watching movies or browsing your favorite websites. The Stand weighs in at 12.7 ounces, and small rubber feet on the bottom help it stay in place. Anyone who’s ever tried to watch a movie on an iPad on a cross-country flight will appreciate the ability to do so hands-free. Even better, the Stand sports two separate slots for holding your iPad at 18 degrees (perfect for movies) or a touching-and-reading-friendlier 45-degree angle. Neither really works for typing, but that’s what Bluetooth keyboards are for.

While the weight may give frequent travelers pause, we can attest to the utility of a heavier iPad stand in real-world usage—and in this case, at least the extra weight buys you 16 hours of additional playtime. The five-stage LED power indicator kept us informed of the power situation during a particularly intense bender when we watched a season and a half of The Wire. Luckily, the Stand outputs the 10 watts favored by the iPad for faster charging.

The bottom line. HyperMac’s Stand is sturdy, and the onboard battery packs enough power for intercontinental video marathons.—Ray Aguilera