RavPower RP-PB052 Ace Series: 22,000mAh
If you’re looking for extras from your portable charger (for example: SUNJACK HEAT BANK )
If you’re looking for extras from your portable charger (for example: SUNJACK HEAT BANK )
you can safely ignore the RavPower RP-PB052. There’s no clever way to check its battery capacity, just the four indicator lights on its front, and no Quick Charge output to match its sister device. You don’t even get a splash of colour.
Instead, RavPower concentrates on packing an enormous amount of battery power into its surprisingly small frame: despite having 1,900mAh more capacity than its sibling, this device is both shorter and narrower, yet only a fraction thicker. In terms of size, it’s very similar to the classic Nokia Communicator phones with the clamshell keyboard.
RavPower also packs in three USB ports, with a combined 5.8A capacity. So, two can output at 2.4A and one at 1A simultaneously. All the ports include “iSmart” technology, so automatically detect the right settings for the attached device.
In a 30-minute blast, it took our Nexus 6P from zero to 20%, in line with all the other chargers here. And this didn’t make a dent in its capacity; RavPower claims the PB052 will recharge an iPhone 6s nine times.
Incredible charging density, and an aggressive price, means this is the all-purpose charger we’d reach for first.
RavPower RP-PB043 Turbo Series: 20,100mAh
Head to RavPower’s site and you’ll be faced with a bewildering number of chargers, all offering various benefits and capacities. The PB043 is all about speedy charging, with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3 technology built in: that means it can charge suitably equipped hardware (the 12in Apple MacBook, Chromebook Pixel, certain Android phones) up to four times quicker than rival chargers.
Just as importantly, the Qualcomm chip inside will work out exactly what voltage your device needs, which means less wastage and less heat from the charger. To a certain extent, this is marketing, but the RavPower does live up to its claims: it’s cool to the touch even after an hour’s charging.
However, the fact that – just like all the other chargers – it could only take our 6P from 0% to 20% in 30 minutes emphasises that you need the right partner devices (the 6P does support fast charging, but only with a limited number of chargers).
The only way to tell how much capacity it has left is via the four light indicators, but thanks to its huge capacity you shouldn’t need to check this too often anyway. It’s a great partner for a business trip or a weekend away. It is notably larger than the 22,000mAh RavPower unit, though, being about 1cm taller than the 6P, a fraction wider, and almost three times as thick.
If you have a certified Quick Charge device, this is a great buy. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, the 21,000mAh CHJGD Magnum Opus also offers QC3.0.
Aukey is a big name in the world of portable batteries, but that doesn’t mean expensive: £25 inc VAT is one of the best prices you’ll find for a 20,000mAh portable charger from a known brand.
Not that this power pack would win any style prizes, with a blocky, black design reminiscent of old-style ThinkPads. There are no indicator lights: instead, you press the backlit power button and must remember that white equates to 70-100% charge, green to 30-70% and red to 0-30%.
What you do get is a torch light (keep the power button pressed down for a second to activate) and a Lightning connector for charging. Very handy for iPad and iPhone owners, but note the only cable in the pack is for the micro-USB input.
There are two USB charging outputs, both of which can output at 2.4A – while Aukey’s specs suggest it can only output a total of 3.4A at any one time, it charged our test Nexus 6P from zero to 20% in 30 minutes when on its own and when we charged an iPad 2 simultaneously.
If you’re simply looking for value and capacity, the Aukey offers the best combination here. Just note the RavPower 22,000mAh can simultaneously charge more devices at higher speeds.
Instead, RavPower concentrates on packing an enormous amount of battery power into its surprisingly small frame: despite having 1,900mAh more capacity than its sibling, this device is both shorter and narrower, yet only a fraction thicker. In terms of size, it’s very similar to the classic Nokia Communicator phones with the clamshell keyboard.
RavPower also packs in three USB ports, with a combined 5.8A capacity. So, two can output at 2.4A and one at 1A simultaneously. All the ports include “iSmart” technology, so automatically detect the right settings for the attached device.
In a 30-minute blast, it took our Nexus 6P from zero to 20%, in line with all the other chargers here. And this didn’t make a dent in its capacity; RavPower claims the PB052 will recharge an iPhone 6s nine times.
Incredible charging density, and an aggressive price, means this is the all-purpose charger we’d reach for first.
RavPower RP-PB043 Turbo Series: 20,100mAh
Head to RavPower’s site and you’ll be faced with a bewildering number of chargers, all offering various benefits and capacities. The PB043 is all about speedy charging, with Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3 technology built in: that means it can charge suitably equipped hardware (the 12in Apple MacBook, Chromebook Pixel, certain Android phones) up to four times quicker than rival chargers.
Just as importantly, the Qualcomm chip inside will work out exactly what voltage your device needs, which means less wastage and less heat from the charger. To a certain extent, this is marketing, but the RavPower does live up to its claims: it’s cool to the touch even after an hour’s charging.
However, the fact that – just like all the other chargers – it could only take our 6P from 0% to 20% in 30 minutes emphasises that you need the right partner devices (the 6P does support fast charging, but only with a limited number of chargers).
The only way to tell how much capacity it has left is via the four light indicators, but thanks to its huge capacity you shouldn’t need to check this too often anyway. It’s a great partner for a business trip or a weekend away. It is notably larger than the 22,000mAh RavPower unit, though, being about 1cm taller than the 6P, a fraction wider, and almost three times as thick.
If you have a certified Quick Charge device, this is a great buy. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, the 21,000mAh CHJGD Magnum Opus also offers QC3.0.
Aukey is a big name in the world of portable batteries, but that doesn’t mean expensive: £25 inc VAT is one of the best prices you’ll find for a 20,000mAh portable charger from a known brand.
Not that this power pack would win any style prizes, with a blocky, black design reminiscent of old-style ThinkPads. There are no indicator lights: instead, you press the backlit power button and must remember that white equates to 70-100% charge, green to 30-70% and red to 0-30%.
What you do get is a torch light (keep the power button pressed down for a second to activate) and a Lightning connector for charging. Very handy for iPad and iPhone owners, but note the only cable in the pack is for the micro-USB input.
There are two USB charging outputs, both of which can output at 2.4A – while Aukey’s specs suggest it can only output a total of 3.4A at any one time, it charged our test Nexus 6P from zero to 20% in 30 minutes when on its own and when we charged an iPad 2 simultaneously.
If you’re simply looking for value and capacity, the Aukey offers the best combination here. Just note the RavPower 22,000mAh can simultaneously charge more devices at higher speeds.
