With the announcement of the SKY Battery Base from Ninety7 and now the Battery Shell from Mission, it is clear that companies see an opportunity to improve the experience of Amazon Echo 2 by making it more portable…
Mission Accessories is a company that got its start in 2014 making power cables for the Fire TV Stick, Chromecast, and Roku. Instead of focusing on making their own devices, it is focused on improving the experience of the devices that most consumers already have in their homes.
Mission Accessories’ power cables allow users to power their devices directly via the USB port located on the back of their TV, enabling them to ditch the clumsy looking connection to the AC adapter plugged into a wall outlet. This may seem like something that is very simple, but simplicity is the point. Mission Battery Shell is yet another way the company aims to simplify a beloved device while also a couple of features.
The first thing you will notice about Mission Battery Shell is that it does not significantly change the form-factor. It makes it a bit taller, but it still looks like an Amazon Echo. The installation is quite elegant, users simply remove the decorative shell that comes with their Amazon Echo 2 and then slide it into the Mission Battery Shell.
Mission Accessories President Brian Wengreen states, “The Mission Battery Shell basically turns Echo 2 into equivalent of the original Amazon Echo Tap but with the higher-performance audio and updated near-field microphone array that are available with the Echo 2.”
In the company’s press release, it takes a moment to assure customers that it went through “rigorous testing” to ensure that the Battery Shell fully compatible with Amazon Echo 2. Although not specifically mentioned, I certainly hope that the batteries were also rigorously tested considering news coverage of defective batteries that have plagued consumer electronics over the past couple of years.
According to Mission Accessories, users can expect 6-10 hours of battery life. The rugged version of the Mission Battery Shell offer additional protection to the their Amazon Echo 2. A Vex™ silicone pad on the bottom to prevent slippage and a Real-Shield™ hard shell in case the device is dropped.
The company touts that the Mission Battery Shell supports the full range of audio tones while in portable mode thanks to its 30 Watt Mega-Boost Regulator.
The Mission Battery Shell available for purchase in black or white from Amazon or directly from Mission Accessories and is priced at $49.99. Charcoal and sandstone color options will also be available in the future, but are currently labeled as coming soon on the company’s website.
FTC: 9to5Toys is reader supported, we may earn income on affiliate links
Subscribe to the 9to5Toys YouTube Channel for all of the latest videos, reviews, and more!
