Leef iBridge at a glance:
- USB and Lightning connectors
- Available in 16GB, 32GB, 64GB, 128GB and 256GB capacities
- Price: £37.99 (16GB)
- Website: www.leefco.com
Anyone who uses an iPhone or iPad will likely come across the same problem sooner or later: as the device gets older and fills up with apps, music and photos, it will slow down and become less usable. But while Android owners can plug in microSD cards to expand their storage, Apple users have no such luck, resulting in a never-ending hunt for old files to delete.
Help is at hand, though, in the shape of the Leef iBridge. This is essentially a memory stick with a standard USB plug at one end and a Lightning connector at the other, so you can use it to store files and free up your phone’s memory. Available in capacities from16GB (£37.99) to 256GB (£278.99), it’s about the closest Apple users can get to the USB B on-the-go memory sticks that Android users take for granted. The main difference is that its contents can only be accessed from the phone using Leef’s Mobile Memory app.
For photographers, the most obvious use is to store photos, which is as simple as plugging the drive into your computer and copying them across. When you next attach the iBridge to your iPhone or iPad they’ll show up in the app’s photo viewer module. The catch is that they can only be displayed chronologically; there’s no way to separate them into albums. Supposedly, this is to provide the most Apple-like experience, but I think offering a more advanced mode in the app would be useful.
Leef iBridge – key features
Curved design
The memory stick tucks neatly behind your device when plugged in.
Protective cap
This covers the USB and Lightning connectors when not in use.
Mobile Memory app
This app is designed to give easy access to photos, movies, music and documents.
Leef iBridge – our verdict
Aside from this one small (and potentially fixable) gripe, the Leef iBridge is a well- thought-out device. It’s simple to use and the clever design tucks neatly under your hand when it’s in use. It’s a great accessory for iPhone and iPad users.
SCORE: 4.5 out of 5
Leef Mobile Memory app
This app offers much more than just viewing media. You can set it to automatically back up all your iPhone photos and contacts to the iBridge device, or copy stored photos back across to your iPhone. Pictures can be viewed in high resolution and easily shared by email or to social media. There’s even a camera module for shooting photos directly to the iBridge itself.
