The people who will benefit most from this device are heavy-duty mobile phone users who use both Bluetooth headsets and laptops, as it enables them to charge both devices simultaneously. I charged a BlackBerry 8800 and an iPod mini at the same time, from their completely dead states to 95% full battery in about 110 minutes, after which my laptop battery died. My notebook battery cycle, or the time it lasts in between charges, is normally around 140 minutes, so charging both devices reduced the battery cycle by just over 20 percent.

Unplugged
The obvious downside to the kwikSynCh charger is that it's so short. The device is meant to be used with a notebook computer, but that makes it less versatile. It's really even too short to be used with a laptop, because you still need a desk large enough for a computer and the two devices; that may not be feasible in a hotel lobby, airport, or mobile locale. To be fair, the manufacturer offers a more wall- or car-outlet-friendly product in its larger, SynCh Universal Sync Charger, but I had some experience with this product in the past, and quite frankly, I have nothing good to say about its retractable cable.

The kwikSynCh is also somewhat awkwardly shaped, and the cords jutting from its central nub are stiff. Though it's easy enough to fold the bottom cord so it runs the same direction as the other two wires and cuts the product's overall length, the cord creases when folded; it's fairly obvious that doing so will cut down the charger's life by eventually tearing the plastic.

Because the mTips are so small, it's easy to imagine them finding their way under a hotel desk or airplane seat; once an mTip is lost, the charger is worthless. It's much harder to lose a full-size power cord, and though that may mean holding on to multiple chargers and bulking up your bag, they always work, without additional components. Serious gadget heads interested in the kwikSynCh charger should carry backup mTips or at least a dedicated Ziploc bag.

Note that the charger doesn't work with every remote device (and in particular it won't charge your laptop computer). According to the company's FAQ some new devices, including certain Nokia and Siemens phones, may not function properly with kwikSynCh.

All Charged Up
MDI's kwikSynCh Dual Charger intends to ease the pain of folks with multiple mobile devices by consolidating multiple power cords into one. The product does indeed eliminate the need for multiple chargers. It could also save money in the long run; buying mTips for new devices is a significantly cheaper proposition than purchasing separate charger units.