Powerbank recommendations?

Merlin5 · 30 Aug 2021 at 21:51

Hi chaps. I'm still with my old Samsung S7 Edge and was wondering what inexpensive, small thin portable powerbank with quick charging you could recommend?

mk17 · 31 Aug 2021 at 09:47

I've used the Anker PowerCore mini to top up when out and about on holiday. They hold a decent charge, and not expensive if you google around a little.

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 10:50

mk17 said:
I've used the Anker PowerCore mini to top up when out and about on holiday. They hold a decent charge, and not expensive if you google around a little.

Thanks. I found it on Amazon for £19.99 but I'm not sure if it's description of high speed charging is the same as quick charge?

'High-Speed Charging: PowerIQ detects your device to deliver its fastest possible charge speed up to 1 amp.'

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 12:41

This is one seems good? 10400mAh and QC 3.0.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Charmast-10000mAh-Portable-Flashlight-Compatible/dp/B07Y231M28/ref=sr_1_8?crid=3MQXOEVPPS0XQ&dchild=1&keywords=quick+charge+3.0+power+bank&qid=1630409420&s=electronics&sprefix=Quick+charge,electronics,218&sr=1-8

Do most people charge their powerbank via USB to their pc or with a wall mains charger?

cheesyboy · 31 Aug 2021 at 13:29

For a brand recommendation, I've had two approx 10k Ravpower power banks for years. One since 2015, the other 2018. Both still going strong, and cost under £15 each iirc.

I use a wall charger to charge them. But it's an old low power, one so they charge slow (I understand that slower charging protects the battery life somewhat, but I might be misinformed!)

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 14:00

cheesyboy said:
For a brand recommendation, I've had two approx 10k Ravpower power banks for years. One since 2015, the other 2018. Both still going strong, and cost under £15 each iirc.

I use a wall charger to charge them. But it's an old low power, one so they charge slow (I understand that slower charging protects the battery life somewhat, but I might be misinformed!)

Thanks cheesyboy. I'm out at the moment and will look up 10k Ravpower later. Does it have quick charge 3.0 and will my samsung phone wall chargers (the standard black charger and the white fast charger) be ok to charge it?

Orcvader · 31 Aug 2021 at 14:31

Amazon unfortunately removed a few of the reliable brands due to review manipulation. Ravpower has worked quite well for me, current 20,000 I have supports both QC 3.0 and USB-PD 15W.

The S7 supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 so any battery bank that supports this standard will fast charge the phone. However I would be tempted to go for a USB-PD one instead as that will be more future proof, and should still provide up to around 10W (5v 2a) of power to the phone.

I charge by the wall but that's because both my multi USB wall charger and power bank supports USB-PD to fast charge it. PC USB ports don't usually provide that much power.

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 15:33

Orcvader said:
Amazon unfortunately removed a few of the reliable brands due to review manipulation. Ravpower has worked quite well for me, current 20,000 I have supports both QC 3.0 and USB-PD 15W.

The S7 supports Qualcomm's Quick Charge 2.0 so any battery bank that supports this standard will fast charge the phone. However I would be tempted to go for a USB-PD one instead as that will be more future proof, and should still provide up to around 10W (5v 2a) of power to the phone.

I charge by the wall but that's because both my multi USB wall charger and power bank supports USB-PD to fast charge it. PC USB ports don't usually provide that much power.

Thanks. I can't find any Ravpower on amazon and they look quite expensive elsewhere.

I'm wondering if you think this one might be worth a punt or too cheap to be any good?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/OKZU-10000...jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

Orcvader · 31 Aug 2021 at 15:55

Yeah unfortunately Ravpower was one of the brands removed.

I'm not sure on those other brands. A quick look at the reviews seems quite positive but there is one review stating it might not be a true 10,000 battery.

Could check out the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, it supports USB-PD 18W on the type C port and 12W on the type A port.

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 16:35

Orcvader said:
Yeah unfortunately Ravpower was one of the brands removed.

I'm not sure on those other brands. A quick look at the reviews seems quite positive but there is one review stating it might not be a true 10,000 battery.

Could check out the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, it supports USB-PD 18W on the type C port and 12W on the type A port.

Thanks Orcvader. Checked out the Anker Redux, price is very decent at £39.99. But it says supports Galaxy S10 upwards so probably incompatible with mine and it also doesn't look very slim or as slim as other powerbanks I've seen.

Orcvader · 31 Aug 2021 at 16:55

Merlin5 said:
Thanks Orcvader. Checked out the Anker Redux, price is very decent at £39.99. But it says supports Galaxy S10 upwards so probably incompatible with mine and it also doesn't look very slim or as slim as other powerbanks I've seen.

That's due to the S10 and upwards supporting the USB-PD standard. Older phones will default to the lower ~10W charging speeds. But as mentioned before USB-PD will be more future proof if you want fast charging.

How slim do you need it? Compared to the other two you linked before, it's shorter than them in terms of length and width, but it is a tad more thicker.

Kainz · 31 Aug 2021 at 18:05

Aukey and Ravpower were removed for the reasons stated already. Sad really as it leaves Anker to dominate. Anker are good but during these times no better than anyone else on the market - even Anker products have recalls and dodgy usb-c cables from time to time.

I personally used Ravpower stuff and I’ve got a collection of 26,000mAH usb c banks that I use for daily stuff. They’ve been around the world with me and are rock solid.

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 20:17

Orcvader said:
That's due to the S10 and upwards supporting the USB-PD standard. Older phones will default to the lower ~10W charging speeds. But as mentioned before USB-PD will be more future proof if you want fast charging.

How slim do you need it? Compared to the other two you linked before, it's shorter than them in terms of length and width, but it is a tad more thicker.

Ah ok so it'll still charge my S7 Edge but at a lower speed. The thickness of other powerbanks I've seen are about 1.4cm whereas the Redux is 2.5cm so almost twice as thick. I get that USB-PD will future proof me, but is this Anker Redux a quick charge powerbank, or in other words, will it charge my phone at the same speed as my Samsung wall quick charger? I know you said my phone is QC 2.0 but I can't see anywhere on the Redux specs saying quick charge. Sorry for my confusion, lol.

Orcvader · 31 Aug 2021 at 23:05

Sadly not QC compatible so it won't fast charge it, but compared to QC 2.0 anyway it won't be that far behind.

Merlin5 · 31 Aug 2021 at 23:13

Orcvader said:
Sadly not QC compatible so it won't fast charge it, but compared to QC 2.0 anyway it won't be that far behind.

Ah right, I kind of thought so. Hmm, thing is, right now QC is the more important thing for me. I'll continue to look for a USB-PD unit with QC and if I don't find one or I find it too expensive, I might decide to forego the future proofing and will probably just go ahead and buy a regular QC powerbank. I'll look for an Anker one since that seems to be the best brand option.

Merlin5 · 1 Sep 2021 at 13:36

I think I'm going to go for this one. Has QC, USB-PD, 26800mAh, very slim and over 3000 postive reviews. I also found an independent review which appears to be honest enough as I know some can be biased. I asked a question on Amazon if it'll quick charge my S7 Edge and was told it will.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B073FJ6Z8D/ref=ask_ql_qh_dp_hza

https://www.chargerharbor.com/review-charmast-26800mah-power-bank-with-4-outputs-and-3-inputs/