Diagnostic Port Charging Bands Don't Charge Much Faster After All

Much has been made about the charging potential of Apple Watch’s six-pin diagnostic port, primarily by a brand called Reserve Strap. Recently, the upstart announced the myriad benefits to this method over the stock inductive solution, focusing mainly on increased charging rate. However, as you can see in the video above, that rate is only boosted by about five percent, rendering it something of a moot point. Reserve Strap — and everyone else who tries to make something like this — would do well to focus instead (and entirely) on their product’s other plusses, like allowing for unencumbered use of the Apple Watch Taptic Engine, heart rate sensor, and security activation.

While charging bands have received their share of irresponsible, fear-mongering coverage of late, it looks like the concept is here to stay. The only thing nobody’s explained yet is how consumers are going to get that diagnostic port open in the first place. Luckily, Keaton at TechSmartt demonstrates exactly how to do it: