Wednesday

Former Mophie Employees Launch New Eco-Friendly Charging Accessory Brand ‘Nimble’

A trio of former Mophie/Zagg employees today launched a new accessory brand called “Nimble,” which is aimed at crafting smartphone and tech accessories that are environmentally friendly (via CNET).

Those behind Nimble include Ross Howe (Nimble CEO), Jon Bradley (creative director), and Kevin Malinowski (brand marketing), who were all originally part of Mophie when the company merged with Zagg in 2016. The creators of Nimble say they didn’t mesh with the company following the Zagg merger, and left in March 2018.

Now, the Nimble brand will sell products that are similar to Mophie’s devices, including wireless charging pads, portable battery packs, and charging cables. All of Nimble’s products will be available on Amazon and its own website, but the company is avoiding retail outlets to reduce prices and compete with budget brands like Aukey and Anker, although they won’t be quite as cheap.

Nimble products won’t be cheaper than Anker’s products but CEO Howe says they’re better. “With this model, we can make more premium accessories with premium features that cost less.” It’s something he wanted to do with Mophie but just couldn’t quite pull off.

Nimble products include a 10,000 mAh Portable Charger at $49.95, 13,000 mAh at $59.95, 20,000 mAh at $69.95, and 26,000 mAh at $99.95. Each of these support fast charging for iPhone with 18W power delivery, can charge multiple devices at once, and include a magnetic cable management system that attaches to the bottom of the charger.

The other main product line is a series of wireless charging pads, including the Wireless Pad for $39.95, Wireless Dual Pad for $49.95, Wireless Stand for $49.95, and Wireless Travel Kit for $59.95. These can wirelessly charge an iPhone at 7.5W, but Nimble gives no mention of official Qi compatibility as of yet.

Other Nimble accessories include a Dual USB Wall Charger for $19.95, USB Wall Charger for $9.95, and USB-C Cable 2-Pack for $12.95-$17.95. On the bottom of every product page, Nimble highlights how much the devices would be if sold at retail in its attempt to be as transparent as possible in regards to its pricing structure.

On its “Why We’re Different” webpage, Nimble mentions working only with “thoughtful suppliers” who share its values on workers’ rights and sustainable materials. The company also says it supports eco-friendly packaging, better materials to reduce its carbon footprint, and a “one-for-one” tech recovery project. In regards to that project, Nimble sends a pre-paid return envelope with every device you buy, allowing you to send old or obsolete electronics directly to its e-waste recycling partner.