This quirky, toaster-like gadget charges your phone’s battery in seconds

SWIPPITT:

Swippitt’s innovative system of interchangeable battery packs aims to revolutionize how you power your phone. While a “phone toaster” wasn’t on anyone’s CES bingo card, here we are. Swippitt offers a unique solution to the eternal phone-charging dilemma, promising a future where plugging in your phone becomes a thing of the past. But this convenience comes at a cost.

To clarify, there’s no actual toaster involved. Swippitt—rhyming with “whip it” (apologies if that song is now stuck in your head)—uses a system of swappable batteries that work with specially designed phone cases. The case connects to your phone, much like existing battery cases, and charges it on the go. However, instead of recharging the external battery, you simply swap it out.

The swapping process happens using the Swippitt Hub, the toaster-like device. You insert your phone (case included) into the hub, and it swaps in a fully charged battery while holding onto the depleted one to recharge. The entire process takes just seconds. While the demo unit was a bit noisy, the company assures that final production models will feature better sound dampening.

Each external battery provides an additional 3,500mAh, translating to 50–90% more charge depending on your phone’s battery size. The extra power can immediately recharge your phone or remain on standby until needed. An accompanying app allows you to customize settings, like capping charging at 80% to preserve battery health or scheduling charging times.

Swippitt’s modular design makes it compatible with any phone for which a case is available, allowing one hub to serve multiple users and devices. At launch, cases will be available for iPhone 14, 15, and 16 models, with Samsung Galaxy S series cases expected by the end of 2025. According to Padraic Connolly, Swippitt’s CEO and founder, the system is designed with scalability in mind, accommodating future phone size changes.

The real appeal of Swippitt lies in its promise of a hassle-free charging experience—never having to plug in your phone again. However, this convenience comes at a premium: the hub, including five batteries, costs $450, while a phone case with an additional battery is $120. The company is offering introductory discounts, including 30% off in January and a $100 CES special, with shipping expected to begin in June 2025.

While you could buy several high-quality MagSafe chargers for the same price, Swippitt’s all-in-one solution might justify the expense for those seeking ultimate convenience. For the rest of us, traditional phone chargers will have to do—at least for now.