Nifty ‘Female Friendly’ USB Chargers And Phone Cases

The phone accessory market is such a crowded and competitive place that finding a way to stand out is a challenge. So, when a company finds a way to do it that’s both inclusive and clever, we had to write something. 3SIXT (360, geddit?) has cracked this tricky chestnut by launching a line of ‘female-friendly’ phone accessories which are both clever and useful.

The first is a combination compact mirror and USB battery. It sports two 3.6-inch circular mirrors, one of which has white LED lighting. It comes with a 3000mAh battery. Also on offer is an equally discreet, but just as clever, widget that looks just like lipstick but is in fact a 2000mAh USB battery. Last but by no means least is a leather clutch case designed to hold a Samsung S9+ as well as credit cards and cash.

Where USB batteries are typically big, ugly and take over what little free space is left in most women’s handbags, these USB battery gadgets reek of good design and are subtle, space saving additions.

The clutch case is likely to be well-received by many a well-heeled female smartphone user given that the S9+ is crafted out of glass and won’t bounce when dropped unless in a protective case. My wife’s handbag is a bit of a Tardis – I’m sure it contains lost Himalayan hill tribes – so being able to put cash and cards in the clutch case equates to far less handbag clutter.

Sporting a wrist strap, attached to the clutch case with a tasteful rose gold fitting, the clutch case also has a pink inner lining. There are three credit card slots and a pocket for stashing cash. The S9 attaches into a magnetically detachable case and the entire ensemble provides more than enough drop protection for the glass encased body of the S9+. In short, it provides an attractive alternative to lugging both a purse and phone around, especially when handbag space is limited.

The 3SIXT compact case feels solid. On its side are four blue LED charge indicators, a micro USB and a standard USB port. Its hinge feels super sturdy, and the magnified mirror on its inside bottom is matched with a standard mirror on the inside of its lid. For makeup application purposes the LEDs surrounding the bottom magnified mirror are likely to be more than adequate. In the hand, it feels chunky but not much more so than a typical compact mirror, so it should fit into any purse or pocket with ease.

It’ll fully recharge most smartphones in around two hours. At a pinch it’ll also charge larger devices such as iPads, although its 3000mAh capacity battery means that it typically won’t be able to fully charge them.

The Lipstick USB charger is also subtle. Short of picking it up and having a close look, you’d be hard pressed to tell that this wasn’t a handheld cosmetics applicator but a portable USB charger. Its 2000mAh battery won’t fully charge most flagship phones but can supply enough juice to keep you going. Like the compact charger, it sports both micro USB and full-sized USB sockets to accommodate most charging cables.