Belkin has announced the Stage PowerGrip, a DSLR-style ergonomic grip for iPhone photography, a phone stand, and a magnetic battery pack that doubles as an extra wired charger for other devices. It is scheduled to be released in May, and pricing information will be announced later.
The PowerGrip is an odd-looking accessory until you see it attached to a phone. It’s clearly designed to evoke the look and feel of a traditional camera. It features Bluetooth pairing and allows you to take photos with the iOS camera app by activating the “shutter button” on the top of the grip.
In addition to that, PowerGrip has a built-in retractable USB-C cable and 10,000mAh battery for charging other devices. It provides 7.5 watts of wireless charging for a connected iPhone, and a small LED screen on the front shows how much battery power is left. Belkin says it will be available in powder blue, sandbox, fresh yellow, black, and pepper (dark gray, almost black).
Belkin’s take on this is similar to others you can find on Amazon, most of which are from brands with alphabet soup-like names. Apple sells one version of this concept called ShiftCam ProGrip. Like Belkin’s device, it adds a physical shutter button to your phone and doubles as a charger, but it costs $149.95. Belkin hasn’t announced pricing for the PowerGrip, but assuming it’s cheap, it might be worth a look for anyone interested in iPhone photography.
