PhotoPower

Backing up a phone usually means Wi-Fi, recurring setup or a monthly cloud subscription. PhotoFast's pitch for PhotoPower is to fold that chore into charging. The maker says you connect an iPhone or iPad (iOS 12 or later) or an Android device (Android 9 or later) before bed, and the device charges it while copying photos, videos and contact information, with no internet connection, repeated configuration or monthly fee required.

PhotoPower builds on PhotoFast's earlier PhotoCube PD and PhotoCube PD + backup devices, which the company says were backed by thousands of supporters. When several devices use the same unit, PhotoPower creates a separate folder for each, according to the maker, so files from different phones stay apart.

Beyond the bedside

The maker highlights a "powerless backup" mode that works without mains power or Wi-Fi: on the road, connecting a Type-C device to PhotoPower lets you offload photos when phone storage runs short. PhotoPower also doubles as a USB 3.2 Gen1 (5Gbps) card reader, which PhotoFast says is 10 times faster than USB 2.0, useful for moving footage to a laptop.

• Supports microSD cards up to 2TB, swappable when full
• 45W fast charging plus an energy-saving Eco Charge mode
• Backup settings, checks and file management via the PhotoFast ONE App
• Compact, foldable design with a folding plug

Choosing a card

PhotoFast recommends a microSD card with at least 2 times your device's internal storage; for a 256GB phone, that means 512GB or more. The company strongly advises using reliable official cards, offered as compatible add-ons through the Kickstarter project, and warns that counterfeit or low-quality cards can cause connection errors, data loss and failed backups.