What is it and what do you get?
As you can see, the 2-power XCell 70 is a thin, mouse-mat-sized external battery that ships with a number of tips for compatibility with a large range of modern laptops. Removing the packaging and examining the contents shows us how it all fits together, and we'll take you through the process.
The battery pack measures 179mm x 242mm x 10.8mm (d x w x h), so it's unlike any battery that fits directly into a laptop, which, really, is one of the key features. The thickness, at just 10.8mm, allows you to use it in the same fashion as a tradition mouse mat. The battery surface is smooth but provides a decent base for both optical- and ball-based mice. The XCell 70 weighs in at 520g and should fit into most laptop bags without any problems. What's telling here is that 2-power's XCell is designed not to look like a traditional battery.
A close-up of the top-right portion details the Lithium-Ion Polymer (LiPo) that's used to construct the XCell. LiPo batteries don't require a metal casing and can therefore be constructed to the customer's requirements. That's how and why 2-power has been able to offer a 1cm-high battery that could pass for a mouse mat on first glance.
2-power adds in a handy LED-based system that details the amount of charge left, to the nearest 20%. It's activated by pressing the 'check' button on the right-hand side. A useful, thoughtful measure, obviously.
In terms of power, the sample's capacity is rated to 4100mAh on a 16V output (~66WHr). The overall rating is similar to those found on batteries specified on most ~2kg laptops today, so, in effect, the XCell 70 can, under ideal circumstances, comfortably match the battery life of most mobile-orientated laptops. Dell's new D620, for example, features an internal battery with a 60WHr rating, too. Of course, larger, more-powerful laptops, and we're thinking of chunky desktop-replacement models here, draw more power than the 72W limit and would require a larger external battery.
Here you can see the svelte form-factor of the external battery and an input (charging the XCell) and output (charging the laptop) connections. Handily, there's also a USB port to one side. Note that this is solely for powering devices and does not have any hub-related functionality.
You'll need an charger to power the battery, obviously, so here it is. It's a universal charger, which is important, and can provide up to 72W. The intrinsic beauty of the charger is that, in conjunction with the tips provided with the 2-power XCell 70 package, it can be used as a secondary power supply for your laptop; just install the correct tip and plug it directly in.
