Yes, you can use the Ixon while it's charging, which is a pretty unusual feature! I may never need it, but I appreciate it. I sometimes carry an external battery, when I expect my phone's charge won't make it through the day. I could use this battery to charge the Ixon, though I don't anticipate needing to do this soon. I appreciate that they made this possible. It took effort, and it wasn't an accident. Most USB charging circuits don't allow it.