Hi all,
I have a lot of external battery packs. If you're familiar with Anker or even follow them on social media, you'll know they recently had a sale on their new chargers. I was able to get the 15600 and 20100 units for half price. They previously offered Power Users the 10400 unit for $9.99 which I gladly accepted. This review is in no way an obligation to these deals, but I wanted to share my impressions of these. Mostly, this will serve to compare to some of their other (older) products.
My favorite external battery charger to date is the Anker 2nd Gen Astro E5 16000. It's long and slim and fits in my front pants pocket really nicely. It's got a fabulous piano black plastic chassis, and blue indicator LEDs.
The PowerCore chargers all have a soft matte finish that slightly more of a charcoal black. The matte finish is advertised to not leave fingerprints or smudges, but I can assure you, it does pick up the oils off of your fingers. It does have a better grip than the glossy finished units.
A look at the specifications states that the new units have 4.8A output current, which is up from the 3A max that the Astro was capable of. This is awesome if you need to charge two devices simultaneously. I have a Legion USB Multimeter that I can verify that with but haven't done so yet. These chargers also boast PowerIQ tech, which is supposed to deliver the best charge type for your device. There's also protection and VoltageBoost features.
I've always admired Anker's relatively simplistic packaging and graphics design. They certainly do a nice job making you feel comfortable with your purchase decision, with reassurance that if you're not happy, they will make things right. I haven't had a negative experience yet.
Each unit includes a mesh carry bag and a USB cable (3' I think). The 10400's carry bag is a nice fit, but I think the bag included with the 15600 and 20100 is a bit too large for the size of the charger. I imagine this bag was sized to one of the larger chargers and they haven't updated the bags for the new product. I LOVE how perfect the bag fit is for the Astro 16000.
The USB cables are a great inclusion, although I wish they would include their heavier duty 28 / 21 AWG cables that you can purchase separately. I've noticed HUGE charging speed improvements using those heavier cables, especially with the longer lengths. Another point would be that if you're using these chargers with Apple devices (or anything other than Micro USB), you're going to have to source your own cable.
Charging the batteries is a matter of reversing a USB and plugging it into a charger just as you would your phone. LEDs light up with one LED flashing to indicate charge level.
Now, one difference I should point out compared to the Astro is that when these finish charging, ALL LEDs turn off. On the Astro, all LEDs stay on when the unit is fully charged. I prefer the Astro's behavior so you can see it is done charging at quick glance.
Since I've had the PowerCore 10400 longer, I've actually been using it since I got it. It performs just as you'd expect. That said, I find the wider design harder to keep in my pocket. I like the longer narrow build better.
And on size, the PowerCore 15600 and 20100 units appear to be exactly the same. The specifications say that the 15600 should weigh 341g, but according to my non-scientific OXO scale, both weigh 356g, which is what the specs say for the 20100. And the two being exactly the same size, I can't really tell them apart from each other without reading the very fine print labeling. This could be a problem of sorts should I keep them both around... I could easily grab the wrong one. Now, I'm only trading off maybe 2 charges for my Galaxy S6, but I do like to know what I am carrying. Also for reference, that Astro weighs in at 308g, so it is lighter, smaller, and has more capacity than the PowerCore 15600. I'll certainly use these newer units, but that Astro might remain my favorite.
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Thanka for the review.
I would like to know howmuch mah does they really have?
For example xiaomi 16000 mah powerbank has 10000 mah (the rest get lost at the conversion.
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Related
Weighs at only 8.8oz, it pack's 6,000 mAh battery in a small package, enough to charge your mobile phones and more. Perfect for everyday use, longer trips and emergency situations.
initial thoughts on unpacking.
comes in a pretty nice carry case pouch.small compact easy to carry around in your pocket, or bag. comes in many colors such as green apple,bright yellow,red rose,gloss black,and white pure ivory.i choose gloss black.
Features:
high-end Li-Polymer cell batteries with capacity of 6,000mAh (S3 battery is rated as ~2,100mAh)
Two power outputs (1.2A and 2.1A) for two different charging speeds, charging your device while charging the moonstone can be done at the same time.other power banks i have tried could not accomplish these two feats at the same time.
Compatible with any cell phone, or tablet with micro USB connection, such as Blackberry, HTC, Samsung, Motorola, LG, etc.In theory you could even use it with any usb powered device as long as you have the proper usb cords.
specs below
Input:
DC 5V
Output: USB1: DC 5V/1.2A; USB2: DC 5V/2.1A
Battery capacity: 6,000 mAh
Dimension: 3.2 x 3.2 x 0.4 inches (81.28mm x 81.28mm x 1.016mm)
Weight: 8.8oz (249.476gram)
the moonstone can hold charge for up to 6 months.
charging up the moonstone takes about 8hrs overnight.
cracking it open we find 2 3000mAh slim batteries wedges in series on top of each other.
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this battery is a beast. It packs a quit decent capacity in a small convenient package which is fairly compact and light. Simple to use there is a single button on the top that, when depressed.shows a light bar scale of the charge
I will be updating this thread over the next week with real world results and usage details. myself along with my wife both owning galaxy S3's,as well as a few asus tablets.will have ample different device types to charge and check functionality on.so far it took about 2hrs to fully charge my s3 from 1%. still have 3 bars left on the battery bank out of 4.
bottom line This is a straightforward device - if you're looking for a way to extend your phones battery life while out and about,this does exactly what you need.small sleek and portable. With all of the portable battery options out there, the Moonstone 6000 stands out due to its unique design and valued accessories.The carrying case is a nice touch, and the extra USB cable that can be easily rolled up is even nicer. I highly recommend this battery charger to anyone looking for a small portable power source.
see pics.
not quit sure what the stickers were about or the key. but i figured out the fish is a usb cable wrap. pretty cool.
upon on boxing everything it came with minus the nice draw string felt carry bag.
i got bored after the review. I decided to do some customization to the case after i had it open for the battery pics.so i vinyl wrapped it. so now it looks like he has a tie when it charges. lol
Amazon Storefront: http://www.amazon.com/gp/shops/lepow
current deal on the Moonstone 6000 in Apple Green: Reduced to $29.99 from $59.99
And starting next Monday (11/25) until Black Friday, it will be decreased even more to: $24.99 from $59.99
sample provided for review.
manufacturers would you like your product reviewed? contact me......
$24.99 is a very good price for 6000 mAh battery. And with other goodies, definitely a great value.
Is that usb stick included in there? How about that suction pad, does it work with moonstone attached to it and stuck to a flat surface? I have noticed that shape of moonstone is not flat, more like a pebble. Just wondering if the extra suction pad is intended to secure it to a surface? Also, not sure if you can run free Galaxy Charging Current app (i know its free for Note 2, S4, Note 3, but not sure if you have to pay to use it for S3) or maybe any other apps or read it from your Rom the actual charging current?
vectron said:
$24.99 is a very good price for 6000 mAh battery. And with other goodies, definitely a great value.
Is that usb stick included in there? How about that suction pad, does it work with moonstone attached to it and stuck to a flat surface? I have noticed that shape of moonstone is not flat, more like a pebble. Just wondering if the extra suction pad is intended to secure it to a surface? Also, not sure if you can run free Galaxy Charging Current app (i know its free for Note 2, S4, Note 3, but not sure if you have to pay to use it for S3) or maybe any other apps or read it from your Rom the actual charging current?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually just checked charge. Fast charge placed at 1.13a normal was around 896ma. That's to my s3.says it has adaptive charge to protect phone circuit. I'll try. You tablet tomorrow All the stuff pictured came with it. Ya the suction pad works well. The USB stick is actually a microsd adapter. I'll pot more updates after a full week of testing with it.
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Putting out some good juice today time from 10‰ till full and charge rate. Pretty good.
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This adaptive charging on this bank is sweet
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This is a review of Anker 14W Solar Panel charger. http://www.ianker.com/product/71ANSCP-B145A
My obsession with external batteries started a couple of years ago after a few nasty storms we went through here on East Coast. Nothing is worse than loosing power for a week or more and figuring out how to charge your phone. Around that time, I was thinking how great it would have been to have a solar panel. Just recently, I was actually asked if I'm planning to review a solar charger. Looking around for available choices, I was pleased to see 14W foldable dual-port model from Anker. Though there were other solar chargers on Amazon, none got as many 5-star reviews as this one, so I decided to request a review sample. With a Spring finally in full effect and sun is out - I figured it will be a perfect opportunity to take a closer look at this 14W solar charger. Here is what I found.
I was pleased to see that no matter how big or small a product Anker sells, it still arrives in an environmentally friendly packaging. Once you take it out of the box, you can really feel it's hefty weight, almost 1.7lb. Unfolding the charger revealed 4 solar panels, each one about 6" x 9". Everything was packaged inside of foldable rugged construction made out of heavy polyester canvas material. The solar panels were not removable and stored inside of individual pockets covered by heavy duty clear PET plastic screen material. A lot of thought went into the design to make sure the construction is durable for outdoor use and the front of the panel, which supposed to be exposed to a sun, will remain undamaged in direct heat. As a matter of fact, once you unfold this solar charger, you will find an extra fold with a dual output USB port and a velcro pocket where you can store your smartphone or external battery to keep it away from the direct heat. It actually came very handy when I left my phone outside charging and was able to keep it out of the direct sun light inside of this pocket.
Without a doubt, this is a very compact foldable solar charger, but how does it perform in the sun? Unfortunately for a few days when I was testing it, I wasn't able to take advantage of a full direct sun (cloudy). From the spec of this charger, it can supply 5V with a combined 2A between both ports. It's definitely possible and I've read plenty of reviews with people who were able to get maximum charging speed. In my case, the first test didn't yield the greatest results because I was sitting in a shade and was only able to get 300-400 mA of charging current. The next day I was able to get better results with 800 mA of charging current, though it was still a bit cloudy outside. I'm pretty sure in a direct sunlight I will be able to get a much higher current reading. So my plan is to continue testing and posting my updates.
Overall, this was my first Solar Charger experience, and I found it to be very impressive. Of course, the big limitation is finding a perfect sunny spot to take full advantage of maximum charging speed. But even if you are stuck in a shade or the sun is down already, you can still get enough charging current to boost your smartphone or tablet battery. With a very competitive pricing and backed up by 18-months warranty, this solar charger can come very handy in a lot of places where you're away from the power outlet.
Here are the pictures.
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Which app do you use to check the charge current?
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Galaxy Charging Current "Lite" - it's for Samsung phones only. But you can also use this tool I reviewed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2451375
Thanks! Now I am sure I am tuned in. I use also the Galaxy Current lite.
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Hi all,
Continuing on my new found hobby of tech reviewing I wanted to share with you my thoughts on some Poweradd products I've recently got my hands on.
Unboxing
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The powerbank comes in a fairly well packed black box with a few product details on the front and back. On the font it lists
Quick Charge with no memory effect
USB charge
High capacity
easy operation
safety protection system
The last one - safety protection system - is really key for me seeing as im planing on plugging in my £500 smart phone and my tablets and camera into this thing so im putting a lot of trust in it and that makes me feel a bit more at ease!
Not wanting to go on too much about the packing, but it does feel like a really well made packet that the powerbank comes in that really just added to the feel of high quality, it didnt arrive in just a plastic bag with no instructions so i do feel safe trusting my valuables to it!
On the back of the packet it lists a few more details, it uses a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 10,000mAh (37Wh)!. The weight is listed as 8.68 ounces with a +/- 0.35 ounce variance. I was a bit disappointed not to see any promises of how many recharge cycles this thing would last for written onto the box.
Ok so lets open this thing up finally!!
inside the box is just the powerbank, a Microusb lead and a small set of instructions. Little disappointed that there isnt a little pouch or something to keep the thing in as you see with some of the Ravpower powerbanks. Also the Micro USB lead felt excessively long at about 1m I use these things in my pocket to charge my phone in my pocket so the extra cable felt a little excessive but on the plus point it does reach the outlet on the floor so not too worried about that.
The powerbank its self feels quite chunky (1.26 inches thick) but its sturdy. The weight is noticeable and isnt central in the small box, feeling like the majority of the battery is down the bottom end. It fits into your hand quite snugly. The body is made from a thick feeling strong plastic with a a textured body making it easy to hold (although giving my camera a nightmare to foucs on the body! ) I've tried to get my fingers into any gaps in the body to try and pry apart to do a bit more of a teardown and it feels like basically it wont come apart without destroying it so it does feel very well put together.
Moving round the powerbank there are 2 USB outlets on the top and a Micro USB inlet. The 2 USB outlets have 1 dot or 2 indicating the amount of juice they supply from the powerbank and also meaning that you can charge 2 devices at once!
USB1 is rated at 5V, 1A
USB2 is rated at 5V, 2.1A
the 2.1A slightly confused me as most devices are 500mA, 1A or 2A, not sure why the extra 100mA was felt needed and it made me feel a little nervous charging my S4 which is rated 5V, 2A (I wasnt worried it would explode but i just want sure about the long term effect on the battery.)
The input Micro USB is rated at 2A (yay) meaning you can charge this thing up pretty quick as 10,000mAh will take a while to charge on 500mA PC USB.
Moving round to the side there is a single button which can be used to show the amount of power in the device. There are 4 blue LEDs on the front to signify levels of charge. A little disappointed that there is no LED light option as you get on some of the powerbanks which can be handy when fumbling in the dark as I often find myself when camping!
So thats the product!
In summary:
Positive points
+Massive capacity
+2 USB ports with different rating
+can charge 2 devices at once
+2A input so quick charge
+Feels well put together
+uses micro USB (long live the standard cable!)
+LEDs to show battery capacity
Negative points
-feels a little chunky, im ok with the weight given the capacity but the thickness almost excluded is from jeans pocket storage
-no LED torch
-USB lead supplied is a little long
-weight is off center - a minor point really but makes it feel end heavy to hold.
-No supplied storage pouch! Feels like PowerAdd missed a trick with supplying a cheap little bag to make this feel like even more of a premium product.
-The USB cable supplied is charge only so cant be used for data, feels a little mean
Overall im fairly happy with this and it feel rugged enough for my camping trips away or to be slung in a backpack and not worry about it coming apart or breaking.
My Score out of 5:
:good::good::good::good:
Hope everyone found this useful. I'll upload a video review shortly when i get my camera working. Feel free to ask me any questions.
:good: nice and conplete review, pity nobody has taken notice
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Hi all,
Continuing on my new found hobby of tech reviewing I wanted to share with you my thoughts on some Poweradd products I've recently got my hands on. This review is about the Slim 2 powerbank with a 5,000mAh capacity.
Unboxing
The powerbank comes in a fairly well packed black box with a few product details on the front and back. On the font it lists
Quick Charge with no memory effect
USB charge
High capacity
easy operation
safety protection system
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The last one - safety protection system - is really key for me seeing as im planing on plugging in my £500 smart phone and my tablets and camera into this thing so im putting a lot of trust in it and that makes me feel a bit more at ease!
Not wanting to go on too much about the packing, but it does feel like a really well made packet that the powerbank comes in that really just added to the feel of high quality, it didnt arrive in just a plastic bag with no instructions so i do feel safe trusting my valuables to it!
On the back of the packet it lists a few more details, it uses a Li-Ion battery with a capacity of 5,000mAh (18.5Wh)!. The weight is listed as 4.41 ounces with a +/- 0.35 ounce variance. I was a bit disappointed not to see any promises of how many recharge cycles this thing would last for written onto the box.
Ok so lets open this thing up finally!!
Inside the box is just the powerbank, a Microusb lead and a small set of instructions. As with the other powerbank (Pilot C), the Micro USB lead felt excessively long at about 1m I use these things in my pocket to charge my phone in my pocket so the extra cable felt a little excessive but on the plus point it does reach the outlet on the floor so not too worried about that.
The powerbank its self feels nice and sturdy and is a nice feel in your hand. It isnt too heavy and has a nice matt plastic finish around the sides and top. The shape is a slight hexagon with gentle corners making it easier to hold. The thing felt very well put together, and from the weight it feels like the battery is in the bottom section and the USB circuit is in the top. I kinda have an urge to twist the top off, i've given it a bit of a twist and there is no movement so its pretty well glued in there but I guess this is how it comes apart. Not having a death wish or wanting to be covered in Lithium I didnt try to take this apart...
On the top of the powerbank there is 1 USB outlet and a Micro USB inlet. The USB outlet is rated at 5V, 1A as it the Micro USB input, so if you get one of these do be careful not to plug it into a high amp charger and damage the battery.
As with most powerbanks, there is a single button which can be used to show the amount of power in the device. There are 4 blue LEDs on the top to signify levels of charge. A little disappointed that there is no LED light option as you get on some of the powerbanks which can be handy when fumbling in the dark as I often find myself when camping!
So thats the product!
In summary:
Positive points
+Good capacity at 5,000mAh and fairly good weight
+Feels well put together
+uses micro USB (long live the standard cable!)
+LEDs to show battery capacity
+small enough to slip in a pocket
+matt finish doesnt feel like it will show any scratches
Negative points
-USB lead supplied is a little long
-No supplied storage pouch! Feels like PowerAdd missed a trick with supplying a cheap little bag to make this feel like even more of a premium product.
-The USB cable supplied is charge only so cant be used for data, feels a little mean
Overall im fairly happy with this and it feel rugged enough for my camping trips away or to be slung in a backpack and not worry about it coming apart or breaking.
My Score out of 5:
:good::good::good::good::good:
For the price it feels like a good buy.
Hope everyone found this useful. I'll upload a video review shortly when i get my camera working. Feel free to ask me any questions.
update please
I got one of these 3 months ago and love it, I plan to pick some more up as stocking stuffers,. You have had yours a lot longer than me. Can you give an update to the product ? Still holding charge working well? thanks
Do the last led stop flashing when the powerbank is fully charged?
It's confusing. Mine flashes forever, as long as it's charging.
Another point is that they claim they can charge up a smartphone twice. I charged my HTC M9 and the charge fell from 4 leds to ONE. It's just mine or you guys experience the same thing?
Thanks!
This is a review of Anker combo battery pack for Galaxy S5 with 2x 2800mAh batteries and a travel charger. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OUA9M1Y/
Since I already reviewed a single replacement Anker 2800 mAh for S5, I will quote parts of my original review in here.
It's not a speculation but a fact - sooner or later your shiny new Samsung battery will start showing signs of aging and reduced performance. It's also a fact that some of us wants to keep S5 slim without extra thickness or weight of the extended battery, and would rather prefer to have a spare one they can charge externally and swap when necessary. Either way, a number of S5 owners will be looking for a replacement OEM battery and that's where the nightmare begins. You can cross out most of the cheap ebay or other on-line retailers, especially those claiming 2x capacity in the same footprint as OEM battery - those are all marketing tricks where often you won't even get the original capacity. Going on Amazon used to be a safe choice, but not anymore. The same ebay sellers list their junk under the brand names and people don't bother to check when looking for a bargain price.
This battery/charger combo from Anker arrived in a sturdy box with two batteries, a travel wall charger, and a nice set of instructions all separated inside of the partitioned plastic tray. Each battery was shrink wrapped, sealed airtight, and actually half way pre-charged. The wall charger is generic re-branded type with a plug that folds flat thus making it convenient for traveling. This charger actually has a dual functionality, to charge a battery (at 600 mA) and to charge any other device connected to external usb port (at 1A). I know this is not the fastest speed, but it's a convenience of been able to charge a spare battery externally outside of your phone. A lot of people prefer not to have a charging downtime when using their phone, and find it a lot easier to just open the battery cover and replace with a spare charged battery.
Putting Samsung original battery next to Anker reveals an identical outline shape in length, width, and thickness. Everything aligns with the same contact spacing, the same capacity and NFC functionality, and the same fitment. The only difference was a water tamper seal sticker on Samsung which is not present on Anker. Regarding the performance, out of the box I didn't see or expected to see any difference in comparison to a stock battery. The battery was recognized, ran cool, and lasted the same amount of time relative to our typical use with a stock battery.
Overall, this battery is not about double capacity or some new extraordinary functionality. It does what it supposed to do and comes in a convenient double packaging with a bonus travel charger. Furthermore, it's from a trusted company that earned its reputation with thousands of 5-star comments/reviews on Amazon over the last 3+ years. I'm not hyping it up, just stating the obvious by searching on Amazon as well as forums in our community. Anker actually has a really good quality control, a great tech support, a very reasonable competitive pricing, and 18-months hassle free warranty. Definitely gets my recommendation!
Here are the pics.
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Awesome thanks for posting this how are they performing !? can you please tell me which case that is that you are using !? it looks pretty good