4. Benchmark Results

We tested the performance of the N-Charge Power System in conjunction with the Fujitsu Lifebook S2000. In order to guarantee replicable, realistic measuring conditions, we used Mobilemark2002 as a benchmark for the battery run time. All measurements were conducted at a constant display brightness (around 100 cd/m²).

We conducted a total of three measurements: one using just the power supplied from the notebook's standard battery (43Wh), one with the VNC-130 and a final round whereby the combined capacities of both batteries were available as a power supply.

Summary

The N-Charge Power System is a convincing product, both in terms of its universal design and requisite performance. While we were "only" able to achieve a maximum battery run time of 8.6 hours with our test notebook using the internal battery as well as the external, high-capacity battery simultaneously, the maximum 10 hours claimed by the manufacturer should be easily attainable in conjunction with a notebook "requiring" less Power than our test device (17.7Wh).

We think the $300 price tag is totally reasonable for this high-capacity battery. That's because the device-specific "high-capacity batteries" offered by notebook manufacturers usually only feature maximum power of 50 W-65 W yet cost up to $200. And, their use is generally limited to a single notebook model or a specific line of models at best. But unlike them, the solution from Valence can be used universally thanks to different adapters.

The one huge disadvantage of the extra battery is obvious the second you pick it up: at 1.35 kg, the VNC-130 weighs as much as an ultra-portable notebook. If that's just too much ballast for you, you might elect to go with the smaller VNC65 model with half the capacity. It has the same physical dimensions and weighs 0.89 kg/1.076lbs, but at $200, it offers no better price-performance ratio than an extra, device-specific battery.