Singapore has no shortage of inventors and entrepreneurs. iSMART, a local startup, has come up with COLLAPXI, a UVC Sterilizer with multiple functions, and is now open on Kickstarter for crowdfunding. They contacted me to let me review the COLLAPXI so that I can share my experience using it.
COLLAPXI is designed by Daniel Tan, Business Development Director of YTS Services Marketing. He is a winner of Production Innovation Excellence Award Winner at 2019 Singapore Gifts & Premium Show, and a Master Advertising specialist with Promotional Products Giftware Association USA. He believes in creating innovative products that will solve the problem in users’ daily lives and creating multi-functional products that could help reduce the amount of products users have to rely on to execute their daily activities. He is also the founder of iwantCUSTOMGIFT which aims to produce innovative and creative products for people from all walks of life.
Here is a list of what COLLAPXI offers to the user:
- 250nm UVC Sterilizer in a collapsible box with 5-min auto-off timer
- Handheld UVC Sterilizer
- 5W Qi Wireless Charger
- 10000 mAh Power Bank with built-in cables
- Angular Phone Stand
- LED Torch or Night Light
Personally, I like the idea of a multi-function product, because it increases the chance of me using it and not becoming a white elephant. A UVC Sterilizer in a fixed box like Lyfro means I could only sterilize things that I can fit in it. And while it also has a wireless charging pad on it, I had to plug it to a wall socket. Plus, it’s bulky and takes up space. So, I have kept it away most of the time and taking it out occasionally to use it.
The COLLAPXI is a smart design where all the electronic components are fitted into the size of a power bank that can be removed from the sterilizer box. This removes the reliance of a wall socket, but also means you free away from just disinfecting items in a box.
The user can also hold the power bank and turn on the UVC to sterilize on any surface of any size. Disinfecting computer keyboards and headphones are now possible with the COLLAPXI.
To improve ease of use, the power bank comes with built-in USB-C and Lightning connectors plus a micro-USB adapter that also has a place to store on the device. Not to limit user with built-in cables, there is also a USB-A female port which supports 2.4V fast charging. To top it up, it also supports 5W wireless charging compatible with any Qi wireless products.
As if that is not enough, COLLAPXI also includes 2 white LED to illuminate objects directly, or you can make use of the sterilizer box with a translucent wall to diffuse the LED, turning it into a night light.
To allow COLLAPXI to be carried around conveniently, the box can be collapsed like an accordion, but strong enough to support a mobile phone without collapsing. The bottom plate is secured by magnets with a mirror surface top to reflect light inside the box to increase effectiveness.
It turns out that the COLLAPXI is a lot more useful than I had thought. For instance, having a removable bottom plate means I could sterilize masks and leave the strings outside so that I can lay them flat and expose more areas to the UVC light instead of cramping. I could also position the sterilizing box without the bottom piece over surfaces like keyboard, effectively in a tent mode, so that I don’t have to hold the UVC manually.
And since almost everyone carries a power bank in their bags, getting the COLLAPXI means you can carry out additional essential functions without increasing the number of physical gadgets.
Verdict
The COLLAPXI is definitely going to be a very useful product to own. I think the most important benefit is space-saving: I get to carry around a sterilizer and a power bank without the bulk. I can use the sterilizer as a handheld as well as in an enclosed box, again without the need to buy separate products.
Support this product at Kickstarter from S$95. Campaign closes on 13 May 2021.
Likes:
- Performs multiple functions without having to carry separate products
Dislikes:
- Kickstarter campaign ships only from August 2021