INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank: review

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is a power bank with a large capacity and reasonable power output, capable of fast charging small and medium-sized devices. It cuts a rather inauspicious figure, although it’s sleek enough to stand out from the crowd – especially if you opt for one of the vibrant colorways. Meanwhile, its rounded edges improve ergonomics and portability.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank features a screen for the battery percentage readout and nothing more, which is a shame since its large size would be able to contain more information besides, so it seems like a missed opportunity in this regard. The battery readout is also relatively small, although the digits are at least clear and bright, which makes them easy to read when glancing over from an angle.

It also feels reassuringly solid in the hand, with hardly any flex to the panels. The matte soft-touch material also feels quite premium, while the compact form factor places it alongside the best power banks for portability, given its aforementioned large capacity.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank comes with some handy additional features: there’s a flashlight, which is easily toggled by double-tapping the power button, and an integrated USB-C cable that doubles as a carrying loop.

The latter feels quite durable, despite its thin size. However, the jack is prone to wobbling around while housed in its slot, which had me a little concerned that it might come loose, but it seemed to hold securely during my time with it.

This integrated cable can be used as an output or an input, as can the additional USB-C port. The USB-A port, however, is output only. The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank has a maximum output of 22.5W, which is enough for fast-charging smartphones and other small devices, while three-way simultaneous charging is also possible.

When it comes to single charging, the INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a credible performance. In the process, the battery dipped by 27%, meaning you should be able to get 3-4 charges out of it.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is a fair price considering its high capacity and additional features. It’s also very portable, which is a real boon for travelers. However, the equally capable Anker Zolo is about the same price, and also features an inbuilt cable – although it doesn’t have an integrated flashlight or a digital display.

It perhaps has the slight edge in terms of build quality, though, and offers slightly more power at 30W. But all things considered, the INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is perhaps the more rounded choice in this sector.

INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank review: price & specs

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Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack: review

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a power bank perfectly designed for charging smartphones, tablets, and other small devices, thanks to its multiple ports, 45W of power, and a large 20,000mAh capacity.

It certainly looks stylish for a power bank, with its pebble-like finish adding an element of organic chic. The rather prominent seam between the two panels is a little jarring, though, and detracts from the overall smoothness of the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

It’s also quite large, even for a power bank with this kind of capacity. Some of the best power banks with similar or even higher capacities are smaller than this. Build quality is good – there’s some flexing to the panels, but not to the extent that I’d be concerned.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has three charging ports, all of which are USB-C, which is somewhat unusual for a power bank, as many incorporate other connector types. This may deter users who’d want more versatility and concessions made for older devices in the form of a USB-A port or two, for instance.

However, given the increasing ubiquity of USB-C, I’m quite happy with this configuration. All ports are positioned on one end, which may be a little restrictive for some; a more even distribution around the entire unit may have improved flexibility, but this isn’t a major issue.

Despite its large size, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has no digital display: all you get are four LED dots to indicate the battery life of the bank itself. These are quite small and placed next to the ports, which obscures them from view somewhat.

What’s more, the LEDs don’t activate at all when charging devices, either to indicate charging or remaining battery life (you’ll have to press the power button every time to reveal the latter). This lack of interface is particularly disappointing on a premium power bank such as the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

At least it has super fast charging, and can charge three devices simultaneously. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in about two hours, which is a decent performance.

After charging, all four of the bank’s LEDs remained lit, indicating that at the very least, the battery didn’t deplete by more than 30%, which is impressive and means you should get about 3-4 charges out of it.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is one of the more expensive power banks with this spec, although we have seen it on sale for considerably less. The JUOVI J2621, for instance, is cheaper, but has the same power and capacity, and even has four ports instead of three, two of which are USB-A. It’s similarly hefty, though, which might deter ultra-light travelers.

Ultimately, if you want plenty of USB-C ports in a stylish package, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a solid choice – but perhaps wait for a sale to maximize its value.

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack review: price & specs

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Cuktech 20 Power Bank: review

The Cuktech 20 Power Bank has a high power output and large capacity, designed for charging laptops and similar devices while traveling. As you would expect from a battery of this ilk, it’s quite a handful. It’s thick across its depth, although thankfully it’s not as wide, nor is it as heavy as I was expecting.

This makes the Cuktech 20 Power Bank reasonably portable all things considered, although it’s slightly more cumbersome than some rivals with similar specs.

Thankfully, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is still airline safe despite its size, since it falls below the TSA’s 100Wh limit. It’s also useful that this is clearly labelled on the side, so if an agent is ever doubtful, you can at least show them.

Cuktech has tried to inject some interest into its appearance as well, with its two-tone design and translucent front panel, and I did appreciate the linear texture on the sides, which aids grip and feels premium to the touch. However, this is still a rather austere looking brick, albeit one that’s perhaps a bit more sleek than some of the best power banks.

One of the standout features of the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is the screen, which displays various information, such as the battery life and estimated charging time, as well as the wattage, voltage, and amperage for each port in real time. There’s also a handy indicator to tell you whether a port is delivering or receiving power.

Although this information is certainly useful, it’s a shame the display area is quite small. It’s also a shame that given its size, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank only has three ports, as other power banks of this ilk can squeeze in one or two more. Still, at least two of them are USB-C, and both are input and output capable.

The first USB-C port has an output of 140W, whereas the second tops out at 60W. The USB-A port, meanwhile, has a maximum power output of 30W. Despite this, the maximum output doesn’t quite add up to 230W, but 210W – which is still plenty of power for a brick this size.

Charging via all three ports simultaneously is also supported, while an additional trickle charging mode is available for charging low current devices, such as earbuds and smartwatches, which can be activated by double pressing the power button.

It took just under two hours for the Cuktech 20 Power Bank to charge an HP Chromebook Plus, which has a 58Wh battery, from empty to full via the most powerful USB-C port, which is a solid performance. The estimated time given by the bank was accurate for the most part too, closely matching that of the Chromebook’s, although figures went awry at the tail-end of the charge.

The Cuktech 20 Power Bank lost 82% of its charge in the process, which unfortunately means you’ll likely only get one laptop charge out of it, but this is expected given the capacity – and if it did have more juice in the tank, it would likely exceed flight limits. Charging the bank itself took two hours from empty to full in, which is another impressive performance.

When charging the bank itself, it’s a shame that the screen goes off, although fortunately this can be changed in the settings. Also, there’s a handy LED strip running vertically below it that repeatedly fills up to indicate charging, which also looks stylish – for what that’s worth.

I should mention, however, that my first attempt to charge the Cuktech 20 Power Bank failed. After 30 minutes or so, I noticed it wasn’t receiving any charge, despite my cable being attached correctly. I’m not sure if this was because the bank was expecting to deliver an output rather than receive an input, but a simple re-plug fixed the issue. I can also report that I only experienced this once during my testing, so I can only presume this was a one-time glitch.

If you’re looking for another large yet flight-ready power bank, the Anker Laptop Power Bank is a great alternative. It’s slightly cheaper than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank, but it has more convenient features, such as two built-in USB-C cables, one of which can be looped to create a carrying handle. It has less total power than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank (165W), but this is still plenty for many people’s needs.

But if you do need over 200W of total power, in a reasonably portable and flight-ready package, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is a solid pick for charging laptops and the like on the go.

Cuktech 20 Power Bank review: price & specs

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RUGD Power Brick: review

The RUGD Power Brick is a power bank designed for outdoor excursions, thanks to its durable design and useful features. Although its form prioritizes function, it’s not without some interesting and even stylish aspects, and the orange colorway of my test unit certainly made it striking – and hard to lose.

As you would expect, it’s very-well built, too. All panels are solid with virtually no flex to them, while the shock-proof silicone outer rim feels tough.

Despite its ruggedness, though, the RUGD Power Brick is pleasingly small and relatively light, even for one of the best power banks, which makes it ideal for carrying around. It’s just about thin enough to fit in a pocket, although its square shape might make it a little too wide for some.

There’s no interface to speak of, apart from four LED lights to indicate its battery life. It’s a shame, however, that they’re virtually invisible when viewed from an angle, which is inconvenient when you merely want to glance at its status.

However, convenience is restored thanks to some handy features, such as the integrated hook on the outer rim, to which you can attach the included carabiner. There’s also a giant flashlight that takes up the entire back panel, and provides plenty of luminescence.

Activating the flashlight is a little laborious, as it requires holding the button for too long, rather than a simple double-tap. What’s more useful, though, is the ability to make the light even brighter by tapping the power button once on, and make it flash with a further tap for an SOS signal.

The RUGD Power Brick features one USB-A port and one USB-C, both hidden under a flap on the outer rim. This flap can be a little awkward to pull out, but it at least offers sufficient protection for the ports. However, the string that attaches the flap to the body doesn’t feel particularly strong, making me doubt its ability to withstand repeated or more vigorous tugs.

What’s more, there’s only one flap for both ports, leaving one port exposed while using the other, which is something of an oversight given the RUGD Power Brick’s commitment to providing the utmost protection.

Both ports provide 18W of power, although only the USB-C port has input capability for charging the bank itself. Simultaneous charging is also supported. It comes with a charging cable, although I would’ve welcomed a C-to-C connection rather than C-to-A.

The RUGD Power Brick managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just under two hours via the USB-C port. That's not a particularly impressive performance when other banks are capable of charging it in about 90 minutes.

This RUGD Power Brick lost one of the four LED dots in the process, meaning you should get about two or three full charges from it, which aligns with its 10,050mAh capacity. Charging the RUGD Power Brick itself from empty to full took two and a half hours, which is acceptable given that aforementioned capacity.

For those that don’t require an all-proof design, the RUGD Power Brick doesn’t exactly represent good value, considering its lack of ports and middling capacity for the price. But if you’re someone who frequently battles the elements, the RUGD Power Brick should make for a practical and hardy companion for keeping your smaller devices topped up.

RUGD Power Brick review: price & specs

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Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review

Right, strap in everyone, this one’s a real mouthful… the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a single port, USB-C charger that will get the vast majority of modern handsets fighting fit in no time.

Of course, this isn’t going to be the best at juicing up one of the latest MacBooks or Chromebooks, for instance, due to its 25W output. But that’s OK. After all, this model is really for those that just want to charge their phone or wireless headphones on the go, say. And that, reader, is a purpose this model serves well.

I tried charging up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and it reached 100%, starting from 0% in just under 80 minutes – the kind of speed I’d hope to see from the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Of course, this model won’t be able to unlock peak performance on a phone like the Honor Magic 7, which can manage 100W wired charging, but most iPhones and Samsung handsets will be able to fast charge with this Belkin plug.

It’s also worth noting that this charger never got too hot when bringing my phone back to life. That’s thanks to its use of PPS technology, which ensures dynamic power delivery. It's also worth noting that this model only supports 20W charging for iPhone, though you may find that’s plenty for a rapid rejuvenation of power.

Beyond performance, this charger is a bit of a mixed bag, though. Build quality is solid and there’s a nice textured finish to the outer casing, but I still didn’t love this charger’s design. In honesty, it’s a little bit bulky for a 25W charger, especially compared to models like the Anker Nano USB-C 30W or UGreen Nexode Mini 30W.

Also, its prongs slide down, but they’re not fully foldable – something I always like, as it enables me to simply slot the charger into my pocket when out and about, without the fear of being poked in the side.

Pair that with the lack of USB-C cable in the box – at least for the UK variant I tested – and the $19.99 / £17.99 / AU$29.95 feels reasonable rather than cheap. Especially when the models I mentioned above are priced very similarly, but are more compact, attractive and powerful. And, all in all, I can’t help but feel there are better value options available for the money. So, even though the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a steady performer, it can’t quite top the best of the best single-port alternatives.

Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review: Price & specs

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VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank: review

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is a basic power bank with a high capacity and versatile port selection, catering to various charging needs on the go.

It adopts a functional aesthetic, but looks smart enough. The large, shiny screen adds some interest, as does the linear texture of its bottom half, which also provides some useful traction when holding it in the hand.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is quite thick and long, although considering its large capacity, this is to be expected; it still isn’t much bigger than many of the best power banks with the same battery size. It’s reasonably heavy, though, so combined with its dimensions, this isn’t a battery you can easily pocket.

It feels quite solid overall, although the screen doesn’t feel the most durable or premium; and despite its large area, the actual display itself is quite small and sparse, severely underutilizing its allotted space: only the battery percentage is displayed, with no other interface features beyond this, apart from a small green symbol to signify charging, which is helpful.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has four ports, divided into two USB-A outputs, one USB-C combined input and output, and one micro USB input. Three-way simultaneous charging is also possible. Given that the USB-C port outputs the most power (20W compared to 18W for each USB-A port), it’s a shame that the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank only comes with a USB-A-to-C cable, rather than C-to-C.

It took just over 90 minutes for the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank to charge the 4,385mAh battery in my Google Pixel 7a completely via the USB-C port, which is a decent performance. The bank lost about a quarter of its battery life in the process, which should mean you’ll get about 3-4 charges from it, which again is commendable.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has a claimed charging time of eight hours from empty to full, thanks to the 18W input capability. Based on my tests, this figure appears to hold true.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank represents good value considering its relatively low price compared to other power banks of this size. However, there are some that perhaps represent better value, such as the JUOVI J2621, which is only slightly more expensive, and despite having the same capacity, it has over double the power.

It also features two USB-C ports, but on the downside, it’s bulkier than the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank. But considering neither is practical for pocket carry, this is somewhat of a moot point, and ultimately means that the JUOVI may be a better alternative in this case.

VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank review: price & specs

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UGreen Nexode RG 65W review

If the joy of getting back up to 100% charge isn’t enough for you, then you simply have to check out the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. This cheerful charging robot will get your laptop, phone or tablet back to fighting fit with a smile, thanks to its LED display and accompanying emoticons.

And this charger will get not one, not two, but three devices back to 100% in no time. That’s because it has three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. You can get up to 65W in single-port mode, 45W and up to 20W (using USB-C Port 2) in duo mode and 45W plus 7.5W in the remaining slots when tri-port charging.

In terms of actual performance, this model does very nicely too. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro and Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 speaker. Despite using all three ports, the UGreen Nexode RG 65W ensured my phone – which has a 4,700mAh battery – hit full charge from 0% in just under 80 minutes. That’s the sort of speeds you’d expect to see from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Smart temperature monitoring also ensured that this lil’ robot never got too hot either.

This model will display one of three emojis depending on charging status. Closed eyes on standby, smiling when fast charging and a blank expression when trickle charging or achieving a full charge. These are all pretty fun, but not quite as emotive as the faces you get on the UGreen Uno 100W. That said, this more chibi 65W model still has a load more character than most charging plugs.

The charger’s general build quality is strong. It’s pretty weighty, though thanks to GaN technology, you still get a highly compact model. The prongs aren’t foldable – something I typically like from a wall charger – but there are some feet that you can slot the charger into when it's out of use. That’s not only a neat design quirk, but a practical addition if you want to slide the charger into your pocket without getting poked by its prongs.

Given its solid power output and charming display, I’d argue that this model is very well priced too. It has a list price of $49.99 / £34.99 (about AU$80) but can regularly be found on sale for less than $40 / £30. Given the Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W is typically $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$89.95 and has no display, that’s an excellent price.

It’s worth noting that the price may vary depending on which color option you get, though. I tested the standard Black variant, but if you want to spice things up, you can grab this model in either Cyan or Purple – the latter is adorned in a small purple bow.

All in all, this is another great, charismatic charger from UGreen that I can recommend to anyone. It may not include a USB-C cable in the box and the emojis aren’t as captivating as the 100W model’s, but the triple port configuration, power output and LED display make it well worth its already modest list price.

UGreen Nexode RG 65W review: Price & specs

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Baseus Blade Pro power bank review

While an excellent power bank for many reasons, the Baseus Blade Pro really stands out for its skinny form factor, combined with a large 20,000mAh (74Wh) capacity and beefy 100W (20V, 5A) output. There are very few such power banks that can slot into a laptop sleeve, yet still offer fast charging, making this my favorite option when traveling light.

I also think the Blade Pro is a great option for phone charging if you need to do multiple top-ups, and the slim form works well in a backpack too. That said, at 13.4 x 13.4 x 2.0 cm (5.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches), it's definitely too large to fit in most pockets comfortably. The exception to this is bulky winter wear, and I have used it to power a heated jacket in icy weather when traveling.

The Blade Pro has two USB-C ports that can each output 100W, though if both are used at the same time, they're limited to 65W and 35W respectively. The two USB-A ports can do 30W (12V, 2.5A) or 27W at 9V, 3A. While charging three devices is totally fine, plugging in four means all ports are limited to just 5V output, which results in much slower charging, and won't charge most laptops.

Charging the Blade Pro via either USB-C port happens at up to 60W and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach full capacity. With a 65W or higher charger, the power bank also supports pass-through charging, so you can charge the power bank and another device at the same time. This means you can plug the power bank between your laptop and its USB-C charger, and charge both at once without needing to swap any cables once it is done.

You also get a low-current charge mode for smaller accessories like headphones (which stops the power bank from turning off when charging devices that only need a little bit of power), along with a fantastic display that shows the voltage, current and remaining runtime while charging.

At 440g (15.5 ounces) the Blade Pro is quite lightweight for the size, but the flat shape means it's slightly larger in total volume than the smallest power banks with comparable capacity. In my opinion, this is more than offset by the slim design, which makes it feel much less bulky.

I conduct comprehensive testing of power banks to make sure they can meet the manufacturer's claims, as many don't actually do what they say they will. Overall, the Blade Pro gives excellent results that earn it a place in our best power banks guide.

The 20,000mAh (74Wh) capacity is enough to bring typical laptops back to a full charge (or at least hit 70% for those with large batteries), or charge a phone three to four times over, depending on the model.

In testing, when outputting the full 100W for a sustained period of time, the Blade will slow down the charge rate to make sure its cells stay healthy long term. In our real-world testing with a high-power 100W laptop (which typically averages slightly under 100W), this protection feature didn’t kick in.

That said, with sustained high output, the Blade Pro does generate some waste heat (which is totally normal), so you'll get the best performance if it's not left in a bag when charging a laptop. If you’re just charging a phone though, it stays very cool and can be tucked away.

The only other things I can fault the Blade Pro for are that it tends to pick up scratches easily, and after months of pulling it in and out of my bag, it has lost one of the little rubber feet.

If buying the Blade Pro, keep in mind that it is often sold for as little as half the list price when on sale, and is generally much cheaper than the prices listed below.

Also watch out for the older (non-Pro) Blade model, as they look very similar. The older Blade is a great power bank (and a good buy if discounted), and it has the same features and outputs as the Pro, but be aware it’s larger overall and uses an older cell chemistry.

All in all, no matter which model you go for, the Blade Pro is ideal for slipping into a bag to charge a laptop and other devices.

Baseus Blade Pro: Price & specs

Baseus Blade Pro: Test results

If all these numbers don't mean much to you, I have included scores out of 5 for each test result so you can see how it fared at a glance.

At phone-charging rates (20W / 9V / 2.22A), the Blade Pro delivers an outstanding 91.55% of its rated capacity. At 20V and typical laptop charging rates, performance is even better, hitting 93% of the rated capacity.

During testing under a sustained 100W (20V, 5A) load, the Blade Pro will usually renegotiate the output at 65W (20V, 3.25A) once the remaining capacity drops to somewhere between 50% and 30%, mainly to manage heat. At these higher sustained loads, efficiency takes a noticeable hit, and around 54.7Wh (76%) of the rated 74Wh ends up being usable.

This might seem like a concern, but it isn't a problem for normal use. But if you do need a power bank that can output the full 100W for the entire capacity, then consider a model like the Anker 737 or the ZMI No.20 – both of which can sustain their full output.

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Also consider

The Baseus Blade Pro is one of the best slim yet high output power banks available, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different.

How I test power banks

I get hands-on with every power bank I can, and perform extensive testing in both the lab and real-world scenarios. Using equipment like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I check charge voltage, protocol support, and log capacity tests.

Each power bank is also tested with real devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and more, as well as connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand rough, everyday use.

All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings.

Want to know more? Read about how we test.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W review

OK, let me take a deep breath… the Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W… whew… is a two-port model that can get your phone and a second device back to life in no time. That is if they’re not too power hungry.

This model supports 45W single-port charging, or up to 25W via Port 1 and 20W through Port 2 in double-charge mode. That’s enough to activate fast charging on devices like the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which I personally own, but won’t be enough to charge more demanding alternatives – like the Honor Magic V3 or modern MacBook models, for instance – at their maximum allowed wattage.

But if that 45W is going to be enough for you, then you’ll likely be satisfied by performance here. I tried charging the Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Anker Soundcore Space One Pro and my phone got back to 100% from 0% in less than 80 minutes – very impressive. That’s the sort of speeds I’d expect from the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers.

Something that’s worth noting, however, is I did have to use my own USB-C cables for testing. There’s nothing in the box – at least for those of you that, like me, reside in the UK. Sure, it’s not always a given to get a cable in the box, but this would have added a lot of value points for this charger. It is still moderately priced overall, in fairness though, coming in at $34.99 / £29.99 (about AU$55).

Something that was more disappointing for me was the lack of foldable prongs on the UK edition of this charger. If you want to slip the charger into your pocket, it’s impractical to have the prongs poking out. But having said that, this is a super-compact, diminutive model that will easily slot into a bag. It should be able to slot into tight spaces as well, although the ports being positioned on the outward-facing side of the charger does mean that USB-C cables will stick out a bit.

Another thing I picked up on during testing was that this model could get fairly warm when pushed to its limits – perhaps unsurprising given its limited size. It wasn’t getting dangerously hot or anything, but some may wish for the added security of more heat-resistant models like the UGreen Nexode Pro 65W.

But that’s enough moaning. This is a decent looking charger with a glossy white finish. But it’s also available in Black if you want to change things up a bit – that optionality is something I welcome, even if it’s two relatively basic-looking variants. Its solid design, minuscule size and solid performance given power restrictions do make this a tempting option. Of course, it's not without flaws and won’t have enough juice for some of you out there, but if 45W sounds about right for you, this model may well be worth your consideration.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W review: Price & specs

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Belkin BoostCharge Pro GaN Dual Wall Charger 45W: Also consider

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank: review

The Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank is a small power bank with an integrated USB-C cable for added convenience, making it ideal for light travelers. The smart, minimalist looks are welcome too. The Ice Blue colorway I had looked classy, but there’s a Tan variant if you want something a little lighter. Both models are elegant and complement the sleek form of the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank.

In keeping with its uncluttered approach, there’s no screen or interface to speak off, aside from a power check button and four discreet LED dots to indicate battery and charging status. Despite their small size, they’re pleasingly bright, which makes them easy to see at a glance or at a distance.

I also appreciated the small form factor, with its square shape taking up little room. This is all the more impressive considering its 10,000mAh capacity, as not even some of the best power banks this size have such a small footprint. However, it’s thicker than some of them, and while the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank isn’t exactly heavy, it’s not the lightest either.

The plastic material body feels reasonably premium, as it’s smooth to the touch and feels solidly constructed. However, the stress relief for the integrated USB-C cable seems quite flimsy, and I wouldn’t trust it to withstand too many bends or prolonged squashing, so I’d be careful when packing it deep inside a bag. I also wouldn’t use it as a carrying handle, although in fairness, Xiaomi doesn’t mention this as a feature.

Unfortunately, the housing that keeps the jack end stowed away isn’t as secure as I would’ve liked either. It does preserve the perfectly flat contours of the bank, though, as the jack sits flush with the side panel when stowed.

In addition to the integrated cable, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank also has a USB-A port and a USB-C port. Three-way simultaneous charging is supported too, as well as two-way 30W fast charging.

Charging performance is good, as it managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a solid performance.

More impressively, the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank only lost one of its four LED dots, which means you should get between 2-3 full charges of a smartphone out of it. Charging the bank itself takes somewhere between three and a half to four hours, which is reasonable for this battery size.

For the price of £19.99 (about $26 / AU$41), the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank represents good value. Not many power banks with this capacity take up so little real estate, nor have an integrated cable in addition to two extra ports. The cable might not endure as much punishment as others, but for light traveling the Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank should make for a convenient companion.

Xiaomi 33W 10,000mAh Power Bank review: price & specs

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