HyperX ChargePlay Clutch Mobile Review

Human Made

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Penned by Kody Wirth

Kody is our expert Destiny 2 and shooter genre writer. He lives in Oregon.

Reviewed by Benjamin Barr

Mobile gaming continues to grow leaps and bounds. We now have the likes of Fortnite, Call of Duty Mobile, and the critically acclaimed Apple Arcade to distract ourselves whenever we need to kill time. But even though the games have improved, one vital piece hasn’t: battery life. 

Thankfully, the good folks at HyperX are looking to change all that (and take on mobile gaming comfort, to boot). Introducing the HyperX ChargePlay Clutch for mobile. The Clutch is a docking system for your phone, complete with a removable battery pack and ergonomic grips for mobile gaming.

At first glance, it looks like the perfect accessory for the avid mobile gamer. But does it actually live up to the HyperX name, or is it just another overpriced USB charging station?

Unboxing

Keeping with HyperX tradition, unboxing this phone docking system was short and sweet. All that’s included is the Clutch, the removable 3000mAh battery pack, a Type-C USB charging cable, and a quick start guide. 

The design of the Clutch resembles that of a hybrid Xbox One controller. The overall aesthetic is very minimal and sleek, with HyperX opting for a simple design that doesn’t reinvent the look of controllers.

Possibly the nicest feature is the LED status system on the back of the battery pack. It retains the minimal style of the rest of the device, but provides enough visual clarity to show precisely how much battery you have left at a moment’s notice.

It was nice to see that the Clutch retained the overall quality HyperX is known for. But would the looks translate to effective gameplay? As usual, I booted up Fortnite on my phone and got to work.

Performance

The first win for the Clutch was how easily I was able to insert my phone. My iPhone XS Max quickly slipped into the adaptable frame and felt like a natural fit, even with the case on. This alone resonated as a unique design choice compared to similar devices, like the GameSir F4 Falcon, which focus on smaller size over ease of use.

The one tradeoff is that the grip is a tad large for transporting. Additionally, I was a bit disappointed in the quality of the grip itself. It felt like slippery, cheap plastic that became somewhat uncomfortable after just 30-minutes of gameplay. 

Given its $60 price tag, I was hoping that a premium grip material would be present. Sadly, it left much to be desired in the comfort department.

Moving back to positives, the Clutch combined with the battery pack is surprisingly light. Another great feature? The slits set into the side of the grips – these made plugging and unplugging the charging cord a breeze. 

At full charge I got around 4 hours of extended battery out of the pack, and it seemed to have plenty of juice left. I’ve been charging my phone off and on since, and the pack has yet to die. I’d let you know how much juice it can provide, but HyperX, unfortunately, left that info out of the instructions.

One thing to note for iPhone users is that you will need to switch out the provided charging cord for a lightning cable to charge your phone. Not really an issue and more of a slight annoyance.

Overall, the HyperX ChargePlay Clutch is a reliable add-on for mobile gaming. Though it lacks real comfort, the Clutch makes up for it with an inspired charging system. Starting at $59.99, this device is probably best for avid mobile gamers or casual players seeking a solid battery pack.

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