20000 mAh Dual-Port Battery Pack (AVANTEK) |
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External batteries are becoming indispensable to anyone on the go, given the amount of portable phones, tablets, mp3 players, Bluetooth headsets and speakers, and other devices that require charging via a USB connection. So I was happy to be given the opportunity to test this new AVANTEK model. Among a vast number of competitive options, this battery pack immediately caught my attention due to its sheer power: 20,000 mAh is a lot of juice when you think that some smaller ones start at 3,000.
You can recharge up to two devices at the same time via identical USB 5V charging ports. Operating with Smart technology, each port is capable of assessing the correct charge for your device up to 2.4A, and providing it at maximum speed. |
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The makers stress that this portable battery will not overcharge, and that's an excellent feature as it removes the uncertainty about which port to use on models that offer a choice. Between the two ports is the micro input for recharging the power bank (cable included) and a small LED flashlight operated by an On/Off switch (two short presses). The same switch (long press) shows the approximate level of charge of the battery by means of four blue LED indicators. The manual is in English (very well written), German and Japanese. Also provided is a USB-to-wall outlet plug.
External batteries are really handy to use when away from home. Just plug in your dwindling portable device, using its own cable, and you're back in business. My battery pack already had some charge, about 50% I would say, based on the LED indicator. It recharged my Kindle (which was flat out of charge) in a very short time, actually a little faster than charging from a wall outlet and the power bank stayed cool during charging. |
The power bank itself took about 5 hours to reach full capacity from around 40% when plugged into a fast USB wall charger. This product has a solid air of quality, it's easy to carry as it is really quite compact (although it is typically heavy), and has been invaluable during long car trips and when away from home. Top build quality and excellent performance. Well done, AVANTEK!
Solar Power Charger/3000 mAh Battery Pack (Levin) |
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A really rugged emergency battery pack with integrated solar charger, this accessory was clearly designed for use outdoors, camping, biking, fishing, in the rain, in adverse conditions. It is very portable, lightweight and shockproof.
It utilizes a highly-efficient solar panel which charges a power bank at the back. A nicely-tactile silicone rubbery material encloses the solar panel and battery and seals the USB in and out ports, excluding dust and water. The unusual feature of this solar device is that it can also be recharged via a conventional 5V USB connection to either a pc or a wall charger. |
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The first charge took maybe six hours on a fairly sunny spring day, but I think the unit might have been partially pre-charged. It seems to hold its charge brilliantly, so I only top it up when needed. One thoughtful feature is the slit at the top which allows hanging. It makes it possible to charge it on the go; for example, it could be secured to a knapsack or bicycle. There is a test button which shows the remaining charge in four increments. The little LED light also indicates whether the sun is strong enough for charging.
When used as an emergency power bank, away from civilization, the smartest way to use this is to charge fully from an outlet and use the sun to refresh the battery as needed. This little device deserves top marks for build quality, clever design and flexibility. Sample received for evaluation and review purposes. |
Xtreme 18200 mAh Power Bank (RAVPower) |
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Power banks have become a must-have item for anyone who uses portable devices, and there are lots of good ones, but what distinguishes this one is its large storage capabilities and excellent build quality. 18,200 mAh is a lot of power when you consider that the smallest ones start at 3,000. You can recharge up to three devices at the same time. The three 5V charging ports are rated as: standard 1A, iSmart 1.5A max, and iSmart 2.4A max. Smart charging means high efficiency and speed. Included are two USB micro cables, and a clear instruction manual in six languages.
When you portable device runs out of juice and there isn't a power supply handy, all you need to do is connect it to this power bank using the device's own cable, or one of the supplied ones. An ON/OFF switch operates a useful flash light and turns on the display, but is not necessary for charging as this begins as soon as the portable device is plugged in and stops automatically upon attaining full charge. I was pleased to see safety features such as overcharge protection. |
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My battery pack came already charged, 87% according to the readout. This is a very useful feature: a small LCD screen displays the current power left so that you don't need to guess when it is time to recharge it.
As soon as this power bank arrived, I took it out of its box, and plugged my Kindle into it. A couple of hours later it had been charged to 100% from 15%. The power bank storage had gone down from 87% to 76%. I found that impressive. With some portable phones, you get even better results. The time elapsed was also comparable, or a little faster, than charging it from a power outlet. The power bank remained cool during charging. The display turns itself off after 15 seconds of inactivity. I haven't tried this yet, but when my laptop goes flat, I will see if this monster can recharge it. My sample arrived wrapped in plastic and I did not see a storage pouch as mentioned. This product is well made, solid, easily portable (despite its weight), and should prove invaluable when travelling, or away from home. Sample provided for review purposes |
