Apotop Wi-Copy (DW21)
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If there was ever a gadget that I would consider the Swiss army knife of its day, it would be the Apotop Wi-Copy (DW21). From school, to the airport, to the hotel, and back again, this pocket sized mobile device can transfer files wirelessly, act as a power bank for your devices, become your personal cloud storage, and acts as a personal router all without ever utilizing a PC. For $89.99, you can buy the Apotop Wi-Copy and experience true mobile convenience and versatility. Today we will be taking a look at the Apotop Wi-Copy’s functions and performance. Apotop, a brand of the Taiwanese based Carry Technology Co , strives in bringing the most innovative storage and portable wireless products for all mobile users. If you are always on the move and rely heavily on your smart phone and tablet, I highly recommend you check out Apotop products.
Price: $89.99
Pros
- Stylish and Sturdy
- Compact design
- Very Versatile and Reliable
Cons
- Lackluster App
- Price
Specifications
| Wireless Speed | Up to 150Mbps |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11 b/g/n |
| Wireless modes | Router and Repeater |
| Battery | 5200mAh Li-Polymer Rechargeable Battery |
| Security | WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-Mixed encryption |
| Network Protocol for File Server | SAMBA/FTP/HTTP/DLNA |
| SD Standard Support | SD, SDHC, SDXC |
| Wireless Storage Read/Write Performance | 9.05/6.65MB per sec (40MHz) |
| Available Ports | USB 2.0; SDHC/SDXC card slot; Ethernet RJ-45 10/100Mbps; Micro-USB for charging |
| Dimensions | 3.5″ x 2.9″ x 0.9″ (L x W x H) |
| Weight | 6.17 ounces |
Features
- USB/SD Card Wireless File Transfer between iOS or Android devices
- 5200 mAh Power Bank to charge devices
- Simultaneous HD Streaming for up to 5 users from free App
- Ethernet port for use as Hotspot
- Full-Fledged Router Security Features
- Repeater Functionality to extend other Router Signals
- Compact Design
- 1 Year Limited Warranty
Closer Look
Included in the box is an easy to follow illustrated user guide, a 12in USB to Micro-USB, and of course, the Apotop Wi-Copy. Immediately, the first thing you notice is that the Apotop Wi-Copy is made out of a rubberized plastic that encloses the entire product, making it quite sturdy and impact proof. The Wi-Copy enclosure feels nice to the touch, but is a bit of an oil magnet.
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Taking a close look at the pictures you will be able to tell that there is a USB, SD, Micro- USB, and eternity port surrounding the Apotop Wi-Copy. The biggest point of interest is the function switch; the button is safely tucked in for protection and used to set the Wi-Copy to “OFF”, “Charge”, and “Wireless”; the LEDs on the top of the device will indicate what function it is currently in.
Hardware and Setup
The Apotop Wi-Copy was extremely easy to setup. The user guide detailed exactly how to set up wireless connectivity for iOS and Android, how to charge a device, creating a Wi-Fi hotspot with security, and even how to set the device in to repeater mode. Within minutes, I was navigating through my USB drives and was able to open up old photos, stream video, and listen to MP3 files on my android device.
How much can the Apotop Wi-Copy do at once? There are 2 modes the device can be in: Wireless and Charging. When in Charging Mode, the Wi-Copy can only charge another device; it will not transmit a wireless signal and only the USB 2.0 male can be used to charge another device. During Wireless mode, the Wi-Copy transmits its own Wi-Fi signal which a device must connect to. The Wi-Copy is still able to charge other devices while in wireless mode if it is plugged in the USB port. However, other USB devices cannot be read. Amazingly enough, you can charge a device with 2 amp output and wirelessly connect your smart phone or tablet to the Apotop Wi-Copy and still read data from a SD card … now that’s what I call multitasking. The sole purpose of the Micro USB female is to charge the Wi-Copy.
After some testing, I am happy to report that the Apotop Wi-Copy is capable of transfer speeds between 8.5 and 10 MB/s, which was just enough to stream HD video and view high resolution photos. In terms of charging, the 5400 mAH battery was able to charge up my iPhone 5 1.5 times or charge up my Nexus 7 one time before the Apotop Wi-Copy ran out of juice. At 2 amp, the charge rate was decent, not great, but you can’t ask too much more from a small mobile device such as this.
Like many smaller Wi-Fi streaming devices, you must disconnect from whatever router you are on and connect to the hotspot transmitted by the Wi-Copy. The process gets annoying when you constantly have to switch from an internet enables router and the Wi-Copy to access your files; thankfully Apotop added an access point setting so after initial set up the device can connect to an internet enabled router and tether internet onto your other mobile devices. Let’s not also forget that the Wi-Copy can act as a full-fledged router if connected directly via Ethernet.
Software
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Too many times have I seen companies create amazing hardware, but completely shoot themselves in the foot with the software that complements it; the Apotop Wi-Copy nearly manages to keep its head above water with the included software. After downloading the free Wi-Copy App, you are greeted by a purple and gray graphical interface that completely goes against the sleek styling of its hardware counterpart. If you can get over the distasteful look of the software you will realize that usability wise, the Wi-Copy App is capable of doing everything it advertised. On a Nexus 7 I was able to browse the clunky interface without a problem; navigating was simple and intuitive, and all the wireless features such as Wi-Fi tethering and security were accessed on the App via the settings tab. Unlike other Apps for cloud access, the Wi-Copy App did not crash when managing large files; it was quite stable besides the occasional slow down and hiccup. Loading up a large MP4 file on my USB drive and watching it on the Apotop Wi-Copy was no problem whatsoever. The App used Android’s embedded video player to play any media. When dealing with different file formats for video, I was forced to install third party codecs to run the video. Overall, the software is where the Apotop Wi-Copy falls short, the performance is great, but not amazing and it really fails to impress in terms of aesthetics.
Closing Thoughts
What the Apotop Wi-Copy brings to the table is convenience; you’ll have a personal cloud, router, power bank, and a wireless repeater, all in a device that only weights 6 ounces and is about the size of a digital camera. You can buy all what is mentioned above separately and get the same desired functionality using three or four different products. Or you can just get the Apotop Wi-Copy for $89.99. Carry Technologies’s Apotop brand is dedicated to bringing the best gadgets to the mobile consumer and the Wi-Copy is a testament to that. Next time a hotel offers free internet via Ethernet, you can simply connect the Apotop Wi-Copy to the wall and you have a full functioning router. The next time you are on a long bus ride with just a USB, your favorite show and an almost dead iPad, you can count on a the Wi-Copy to keep you entertained. Software aside, the Apotop Wi-Copy is an amazing product that I will always keep by my side incase of a mobile emergency. I can’t wait to see what the Apotop brand brings out next. I would love to see the same device with 802.11 ac, USB 3.0, and internal storage.
