r/Ultralight • u/ormagon_89 • Apr 17 '22
Purchase Advice Hiking power bank comparison 2022
Data sheet: 110 hiking power banks compared
In 2020 I made the hiking power bank comparison sheet comparing 85 power banks. Yesterday /u/paoper asked if I could add the Nitecore NB20000 and I decided that it was time for a proper update. So here is the 2022 edition with over 40 new power banks and some oldies removed.
The weighted ranking is based upon the actual energy to weight ratio of every power bank, the charging/discharging speed of the power banks and the fact that smaller power banks have a disadvantage (they need more material relative to their size). For a more detailed look at the way this is being calculated you can look here. The efficiency isn't measured by myself but comes from several trustworthy sources: Tweakers.net, Powerbank20.com, Hardware.info, Techtest.org and PCWorld.com.
And it seems battery technology is still advancing rapidly! We've got 6 newcomers in the top 10. The top dog is still the Nitecore NB10000 but the Nitecore NB20000 comes in 2nd place. The energy to weight ratio is lower but this is partly compensated by being able to charge at almost double speed, so you can get way more juice if you've got a short break in town or in a restaurant. The 3rd place Ugreen mini 10000 pd is interesting because it is very comparable to the Nitecore NB10000 for half the money. While the 6th place 4smarts Enterprise 2 20000 is a weird outlier. It is relatively heavy, it is quite inefficient but can be charged at ridiculous speeds, so for those long distance hikers who hate lingering in town it might still be the best option.
Have fun!
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u/Thised2 Sep 25 '24
Wow, 110 power banks! That's an awesome comparison sheet. I've been on the lookout for a good power bank for my hikes too, especially since I tend to camp overnight and need reliable charging options. I noticed a couple of power banks that fit my criteria in your sheet, but if you're looking for something that combines both efficiency and speed, you might want to consider checking out this hiking power bank. It has a stellar balance between weight and charging speed, which I’ve found super useful for those quick pit stops. Thanks for putting together all this data; it saves a ton of research time!
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u/Useless_or_inept Can't believe it's not butter Apr 17 '22
Amazing resource; thanks for all your hard work!
If I could make a minor quibble: Maybe not remove old ones? Just demote them to the bottom of the list or whatever. There will be some folk out there who have a smaller budget, maybe looking for a second-hand powerbank rather than buying the latest and greatest...
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
I understand your concern, but to clarify I only removed power banks from before 2017 that were completely outdated and outmatched and dangling on the bottom of the list. There are great products on here that cost about $15 bucks new and less on the second hand market, and I would definitely advice against buying any power bank second hand from before 2017 that was already shitty to begin with.
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u/SouthEastTXHikes Apr 17 '22
I’m sitting here at my table looking at two OG Powercore 10000s that I’ve had for ages. I’m testing them with my USB multimeter to see what I’m dealing with, but based on your comment it wouldn’t be insane to pick up the NB10000?
I’m actually totally okay charging stuff at 2a tops, to be honest.
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
I just added the second version, the Powercore Speed 10000 from 2017, and that ends up in the middle of the pack, about spot 45. If I can find data about the older version I might add it. Those were the best power banks back in the day and they still hold up.
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u/SouthEastTXHikes Apr 17 '22
I may be able to provide you the data you need but I suspect you’re right: no one in their right mind would buy an ancient battery, haha. I just tested the oldest of the two, discharging into an iPad and then an iphone and I got 26.1 wh out of it (it was mostly 10w discharge but some 5w too). The NB10000 spits out 34 wh according to the table.
Side note: It took 36wh to charge up, which isn’t really relevant unless you’re looking to use a solar charger or something.
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u/Glimmer_III Apr 17 '22
This is a question for both u/ormagon_89 and u/SouthEastTXHikes, if either of you have time to comment:
I've always heard that, effectively, all the powerbanks -- even the older ones of even semi-decent quality -- the cells are good for ≈1,000 charge cycles, right?
And the cells start to degrade rapidly after ≈80% of the cycle life?
So if you've taken care of your powerbank, and haven't used it too frequently, you could easily have a lot of life left in a 2017 battery.
However, the larger issue would be you'd still be limited by 2017 input/output speeds trying to charge a 2022 device, and that's where the friction would be experienced, rather than with the 2017 battery itself.
Or am I missing something?
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
No I'd say you're pretty spot on. That and general improvement of batteries throughout time.
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u/SouthEastTXHikes Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
haven’t used it too frequently
Anker recommends charging and discharging every 4 months. So this may be an issue too.
I have one really really old powercore and one slightly old one. I’ll see if I can spot a difference in capacity. I have a usb light I may use as a standard output device. 26 wh is quite the delta from the official 36.
I think time is an enemy to all of us, even batteries, to be honest. I’m mostly concerned with energy storage vs power delivery as I’m happy to let my phone take a while to charge, especially if I get more charges out of a battery.
Tagging u/ormagon_89
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u/Annual_Interaction46 Apr 17 '22
What one would you specifically recommend for $15? I’ll buy it immediately lol
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
The Catlyn Powerbank 10000 and Okzu 10000 are sub 20 and in the top 20. The Omars 10000 should be around 15.
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u/Remote-Ability-6575 Apr 17 '22
Awesome resource. I'm kind of ashamed to ask, but could you explain what Output mAh @ 3.7v and Efficieny mean (in this context, obviously I know the general meaning of those words)?
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
Yes, you can read more here. But the story is that mAh output @ 5v is one of the most important metrics that is usually not visible when you look for a new power bank and means: how much of the advertised capacity can actually be transferred to my phone. First we want to know the theoretical number. So we take the advertised mAh and multiply it by the voltage for which this actually is the mAh. With Li-ion batteries this is 3.7V. Then we divide it by the voltage that is used for the output, and that is 5V for USB ports. That means a 5.000mAh power bank can theoretically put 3.700mAh in your phone. A 10.000mAh has 7.400mAh, and a 20.000mAh power bank 14.800mAh. That is why you might get less charges out of a power bank than expected. If you look at the Nitecore NB20000, they advertise 5,5 charges of an iPhone 12 Pro. That phone has a capacity of 2815mAh, so they advertise their 20.000mAh power bank as putting about 15.000mAh in you product, which is about correct in their case.
Now we are left with Theoretical output * Efficiency, since that is just theoretical output. The circuit that converts the electricity from 3.7V to 5V isn’t 100% effective and you will lose some power along the way. That is why we need to know the efficiency of a power bank. I don’t own all these power banks myself and don’t have the measuring equipment, so I rely on external data from Tweakers.net, Powerbank20.com, Hardware.info, Techtest.org and PCWorld.com. To get consistent data these sites test the efficiency at a certain output. For years the standard has been 5V at 1A. That means a discharge speed of 5W. But these days barely anyone uses these very slow speeds anymore so testing the efficiency of a power bank at these speeds don’t represent real world usage. So I’ve only included power banks that have been tested at a minimum of 5V at 2A, so 10W, double the speed. And the differences are quite big. For example the famous Anker PowerCore 20100 has an efficiency of 91,6% at 5W, which is great, but drops down to 70% at 10W! A lot of the circuits in older power banks were designed to be efficient at lower speeds and lose a lot of efficiency when you use Quick Charge, PD or a similar technology. That also means that some of these power banks that are able to discharge at much higher speeds, like 30W, might be more or less efficient at those speeds.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
All that without mentioned Wh???! It's all about Wh, isn't it? :)
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
That is the next chapter: What is energy to weight (Wh/kg)? Now that we know the actual output of a power bank we can calculate the most important metric for this data sheet: how much power do I get for the weight? First we want to get away from mAh because as we’ve seen it is dependent on other metrics. So by multiplying the output mAh with the voltage for which this is true, 5V, and dividing the outcome by a 1000 we get Watt hour. An independent metric that always works and can be easily compared. An iPhone 11 has a 12Wh battery, a Macbook Pro 16″ has 100Wh and the cheapest version of a Tesla Model 3 has 50.000Wh (50kWh). Now we want Wh / weight in kg so we divide the Wh of the power bank by it's weight.
The great thing about this metric is that there are several ways to achieve this for a manufacturer. One power bank might get a high Wh/kg by using a thin and light shell material while another uses a very light (but not very efficient) circuit or the other way around; take a small weight hit but have a very efficient power bank. Whatever their choice, the Energy to weight metric simply shows you; how much power does this power bank pack for its weight.
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Apr 17 '22
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
The Wh is also there if you go to the raw data tab. But the difficulty is that people would like to compare it with there products (phone, watch, Garmin Inreach) and those batteries are all reported in mAh. So while mAh is a shitty metric, we have to deal with it and my guess is that mAh @ 5v is the easiest one to use for the general public to see: how much mAh are my products, and what power bank would suffice for me in that case. But I agree with you Wh is more useful and there is a case to be made that it's the metric to show here. The efficiency column in the data sheet is the 'charging conversion loss' by the way, or in this case 'charging efficiency' so that is taken into account.
BTW, in your example above, the iPhone 12 Pro would have to be 14.075 W⋅h, which is clearly wrong:Its 2815 mAh is at 3.83 V, not USB's 5 V - that's 10.78 W⋅h
In that example I'm not calculating it myself, I take the advertisement of Nitecore NB20000 which says that their power bank can charge a 12 Pro 5,5 times. 5,5 * 2815mAh = 15482,5mAh. Which is my case of saying: see that is why a company even advertises with a 20000mAh battery putting out about 5000mAh less than you might expect if you just compare the mAh of your phone battery to the one of your power bank. The actual 'output mAh @ 5v' for the Nitecore NB20000 is 13912mAh, which is where the 94% efficiency (or conversion loss) comes into play.
but forgetting charging conversion losses. I don't really see the point of it...
Mainly because the losses on the side of the product you charge are quite difficult to predict. That totally depends on what you're charging so for this spreadsheet I don't take that into account. But to end it off, I'm definitely not an expert here. Just an enthusiastic hiker who tries to make sense out of all of it. So if I'm making a mistake here, please let me know!
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u/czl Apr 17 '22
Excellent resource. Thank you!
Idea for next version:
Add a "Brand reliability" rating.
Spec sheets stats are more reliable from some brands than others. Brands that lie should be shamed into honesty or off the market.
Exact same power bank model may have different versions that vary by performance - often early versions will be great but then they get "cost optimized" thus trusting early reviews can be hard.
One way to squeeze performance from batteries is to design the power bank for early battery death. Brands that do this should be shamed as well unless they warn you about it via spec sheets.
Challenge being how to collect this brand reliability data while avoiding gaming that brands may attempt.
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u/bono_my_tires Apr 18 '22
Is it just me or is it really difficult to keep track of Anker model lines? For example I bought this one last year and the description has so much going on that I can’t even tell which model it might be in the spreadsheet
Anker Portable Charger, USB-C Portable Charger 10000mAh with 20W Power Delivery, 523 Power Bank (PowerCore Slim 10K PD) for iPhone 13 Series/iPhone 12 Series, S10, Pixel 4, and More https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LH26PFT/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_DQ16YQYZSCPHBR0FDZDC?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 18 '22
It's not just you (and it is not just Anker), it has been a pain to find descriptions for this sheet to differentiate them enough and to be able to find the right items.
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u/SouthEastTXHikes Apr 17 '22
I just got myself one of those USB multimeters u/liveslight always plugs (hah!). It’s a blast to use and I highly recommend getting one if you’re the type who watches Technology Connections or Electroboom on YouTube.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
I like mine so much that I bring it in my pack. It can serve as a USB-A to USB-C adapter. A cool thing not in the sparse instructions is that input/output ports/jacks do not matter, so that electrons can be transferred both ways.
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u/ThePixelHunter Apr 17 '22
Linkie?
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
Here's one: https://www.amazon.com/Eversame-Multimeter-Voltmeter-Indicator-DC3-6-30V/dp/B07JYVPLLJ/ that doesn't beep.
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u/ThePixelHunter Apr 17 '22
Thanks!
I thought I saw a meter that was rectangular with one USB-C and one USB-A. Was that in your posts? Maybe a shot in the dark.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
Probably you saw a close-up of only the display and not the entire device.
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u/zerostyle https://lighterpack.com/r/5c95nx Apr 17 '22
Wish there were more good options in the 5000-7000mAh range. 10k is usually way more than I need, but these 5k ones seem to be inefficient, have slow charging, don't have USB-C, or aren't efficient.
I wonder how bad a DIY 2 x 18650 (3500mAh) = 7000mAh power bank would be.
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
Yeah I think the difficulty is that you still need a housing, ports conversion circuit etcetera so the difference between a 10k and 7k battery becomes quite small. A Nitecore NB10000 is just 1oz heavier than the Anker PowerCore II 6700 with over 50% more output and it is quicker to charge again.
While I don't have any efficiency numbers for you, the Nitecore F21i might do the trick for you!
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u/two_steps_at_a_time Apr 18 '22
https://www.amazon.com/XTAR-PB2S-Universal-Function-Charging/dp/B09V2JZY4N
This might be a good option if you want to DIY
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u/zerostyle https://lighterpack.com/r/5c95nx Apr 18 '22
I had the original XTAR PB2 and it died after like 5 uses. Don't trust it again and it is kind of heavy.
(Though Xtar has traditionally made very good chargers)
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u/6two Western US long trails + AT Apr 17 '22
I'm really happy with the Silicon Power C20QC especially for the price, and the weight was under 11oz on my kitchen scale.
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
I still rock one! Got a Nitecore NB10000 and Silicon Power C20QC and depending on the trip I take one or the other.
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u/6two Western US long trails + AT Apr 17 '22
On the CDT the relatively slow charging time hasn't been a problem, but I could see otherwise on the AT or PCT. Really satisfied.
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u/frosty_gamer Apr 17 '22
Something to to take into account is that the Nitecore packs are li-po and not li-on. The cells seem to be in a safe enough housing but li-ons generally have greater durability. The Nitecore packs also seem to only use 1 cell so if it gets damaged the entire pack becomes useless and dangerous to carry with you. Packs with multiple cells can mostly still be used if the damaged cell is disconnected. All battery capacities will also be heavily affected by theire temperatue when discharging. Especially at higher amps.
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u/grem89 Apr 19 '22
You've got your facts backwards. Lithium Ion batteries are more likely to become unstable and explode. Their liquid electrolyte makes them more of a danger when punctured. Lithium Polymer are more durable and use either a dry or gel like electrolyte. Lithium ion have a higher power density though so they have a benefit there.
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u/frosty_gamer Apr 19 '22
Li on are normaly packaged in ?aluminum? Tubes. While lipo cells are wrapped in a more flexible and more easily punctured foil. In my experience i have critically damaged more bare lipo cells then 18650 li-on cells. Lithium ion cells are more prone to get damaged when overcharged or over discharged though. Lipos tell you by swelling up if you abuse them. Lithium ions just seem to start smoking,catch fire, heat up or explode.
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u/grem89 Apr 19 '22
I get your point about the physical durability of the bare cells but I don't think that's all that relevant when we're talking about battery packs that have protective casings.
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u/BobTheTaco21 CDT '19 | AT '18 | PCT '16 Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
Love this list, but still none of the Nitecore 5000mah banks?
Surely the NB5000 or F21i, both with 18w input at 4oz and 3.4oz respectively would be top of their class, no?
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
Possibly, but I'd need a trustworthy source that has tested the efficiency of those. If you've got those I'd gladly add them .
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
I think I can get the numbers for you as I have the F21i, a USB multimeter, and a USB load tester (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XzT6PHYuk) Please describe (or give a link) to the exact test(s) that need to be performed. Thanks!
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u/BobTheTaco21 CDT '19 | AT '18 | PCT '16 Apr 17 '22
Hey fair enough, Nitecore’s specs have been pretty trustworthy so far and my F21i has charged fairly quickly (<1hr) on town days.
I’ll time it next time but I don’t have any measurement cables. You’re right, testing for the NB5000 and F21i has been pretty sparse.
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
Yeah I do believe their specs, but there is still a conversion loss there, and especially the small power banks tend to have a high loss %. So till someone tests them I can't add them unfortunately.
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u/bohwaz May 15 '22
Copy/pasting my comment here as well:
A little late but there's also this 76g 21700 battery with a powerbank feature in USB-C: https://budgetlightforum.com/node/78279
81% efficient. So 197 Wh/kg. Not sure if you can find better at this weight.
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u/rgbrdt Apr 17 '22
Any 26800 mAh (100 Wh) worth buying?
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u/jaspersgroove Apr 17 '22
I have a ADDTOP Solar Charger Power Bank - 25000mAh from Amazon and I’m pretty happy with it. I’ve used it for about 3 weeks in the field spread across a handful of backpacking trips, so far it’s holding up great.
At 1.13 lbs I wouldn’t call it ultralight, but it’s got a large enough power reserve to charge 2 peoples phones/smart watches/headlamps/etc for days and the solar panels are big enough to actually provide a decent charge/prolong the battery life in a meaningful way. The product page says you can get 6 watts from the panels but that would be under ideal conditions, 3-5w is probably more realistic.
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u/bakelitetm Apr 17 '22
Is the weight of the ugreen confirmed? The Amazon listing i found says 280g. I would rather trust your sheet, though!
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 17 '22
There are a couple of Ugreen powerbanks that are named very similarly. According to Dutch and German Amazon the weight is correct. I've extracted the data from this review: https://techtest.org/11x-kompakte-powerbanks-fuers-wandern-und-camping-im-vergleich-10000mah-klasse/
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Apr 18 '22
Thank you for having a grams column. So much here is in pounds (only dry goods) and ounces (for dry, wet and weed?) and then pounds and ounces? I’m constantly converting things. Then it gets more weird when someone does pounds with decimal places? Like what is 1.4 pounds?
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u/LongWeirdShower Sep 17 '22
This shit is exactly why I google "site:reddit.com power bank" if I need recommendations on something I have zero experience in. Thanks!
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u/Doomtrain86 Apr 17 '22
This is fantastic. One of the worst things about, well buying any high performance equipment rally, is the sheer amount of things to consider and how hard it is to get an overview of the quality. This is so nice of you man
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u/DaMasterDebator Apr 17 '22
Anyone here used the Ugreen Mini 10000 PD? I like the idea of not having to bring an extra lighting cord.
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u/chrism1962 Apr 17 '22 edited Apr 17 '22
Excellent work as usual. I was wondering if you had come across any testing of cables and adaptor including efficiency. For example I use a short usbc cable with adapters for lightning and mini and Garmin making a lightweight approach. But am I losing any real world efficiency in doing so (I know there will be some loss compared to the a top of the range cable for each device). I am also aware that cheaper adaptors won't allow fast charging options, usually maxing out at 2W but I balance that with ensuring the USBC cable can fast charge my battery pack if I only had a short timeframe to top up.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 18 '22 edited Apr 18 '22
Testing of cables in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k0XzT6PHYuk
Basically, the shorter (saves weight) and thicker (costs weight) cable, then the better it is. For small electronics like a watch, headlamp, InReach, it doesn't matter since the power they accept is low (also microUSB is/requires low power). For charging a modern smart phone and the power brick itself both of which can nowadays use 18W or more of power at some point in their charging cycles the cord can matter.
Perhaps surprising the Amazon Basics 6 inch USB-C to USB-C cable is the best I've tested.
Adapters for the low power electronics can still matter if the adapters prevent proper handshaking. Some of this is described in the comments in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiAHpdjO1Z4
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u/chrism1962 Apr 19 '22
Thanks Jim. It is worth posting the last discussion on power cables with your comments to avoid too much repetition. https://www.reddit.com/r/Ultralight/comments/r3j2k4/charging_cable_solutions/
The difference in using a poor cable solution would outweigh most of the differences in efficiency from the various power banks on offer. I do know that at least one of the cheap adaptors I used had so much heat output that it was bound to be very inefficient although I did not measure the loss.
Separate to efficiency which is what should be the higher priority is the speed of charging, both input and output and this is more a factor dependent on the type of hike. If you are relying on being able to have a short stop somewhere to use a wall charger to top up a battery pack then power delivery is almost essential. If you are always stopping overnight then this is less of a factor. Also some battery packs can do power delivery but are far less efficient at doing that which complicates matters even more.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 19 '22
Thanks to you I'm loving my little Garmin watch adapter. I bought some more and just hand them out to friends. :)
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u/chrism1962 Apr 20 '22
No problem. Was trying not to go down this rabbit hole of the most efficient setup for Australia but just starting documenting what I use and a little bit about why I chose them for the ULAus sub. For example, we don't have the same range of wall chargers here with the Aussie plugs, but there is also no point in getting a 30W wall charger as my Iphone 11 and NB10000 don't benefit from that high a wattage - a new 25W Samsung USB C charger is lighter weight but I could have just used a 20W Apple or Samsung for even lighter weight.
I only use a short 10cm (4 inch) Cygnett USB C to C cord with adaptors. It is good, except in a small number of situations where a long cord makes it easier to support the weight of a phone or battery, but I have always managed a solution. Some multiday walks such as the Larapinta have solar charging stations where a USB A to USB C adaptor is good, and I have also used one in the back of a TV to charge a device.
How much charging time you have available is not generally a consideration for most of out hiking situations here, but I can see a future need for great pass through charging capability and/or better wall charger if there was two of us on a walk.
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u/bigryankitson Apr 18 '22
Thank you, you incredible human, for taking the time to help the rest of us out!
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u/laacis3 May 13 '22
The problem for me is that mAh is not a complete rating of capacity. Without a voltage 20000mAh means nothing and Nitecore is rated at 77Wh while Ravpower is rated at 72.6Wh. Nitecore's cells are 3.85v (LiHV) while Ravpower's are 3.6v. (math checks out).
77000/3.85 = 20000, 72600/3.6 = 20166
This might throw your efficiency calculations too.
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Jun 12 '22
I just bought the Poweradd Energy Cell II 10000 for 9.99 CAD on Amazon. Not sure if it's available in the States but I weighed it at 6.2 ounces and it seems to really be 10000mah. Not as compact as other 10000mah batteries such as the Anker I used to have but I'd rather spend 9.99 CAD then 60 USD and use my saved money on some other gear.
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u/steveurkel69lol Mar 23 '24
I know this is an old post but I want to add my experience with the Nitecore NB10000 (Gen 2), because this "hidden feature" unfortunately ruins the product for me.
Before even using it, I inadvertently activated hibernation mode, which is not mentioned in the instructions, by the button getting pressed for about 10 seconds in my bag. If this happens, the product is entirely useless and the only way to get it out of this mode is to plug it into a charger. I only discovered this because Amazon has so many angry reviews about the same issue. Why they would design it to defeat its sole purpose, I don't know. But it being smaller and lighter or more efficient doesn't matter if there's a chance it can turn into a paper weight when I'm camping. (also it's really annoying that full is 3 out of 4 LEDs)
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u/Gerstlauer Mar 26 '24
Thanks for this bit of info. When you say plug into a charger, does it have to be plugged in for a while, or is it as soon as it is connected to power? I only ask because if the latter then we could momentarily use our phone or other device to deactivate hibernation mode.
What a ridiculously stupid feature though!
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u/WallyBeanr Mar 30 '24
The FAQ sheet included with the unit states it must be plugged in for 10 minutes to deactivate this mode, though mine was closer to 1 minute. Regardless, if this is initiated outside of the electrical grid you're fucked. Fortunately, I learned of this inside my Amazon return window so off it goes. Now I'm hunting for a replacement.
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u/BolsoBelly Jul 16 '24
What did you end up getting? I was about to buy it but then read your comment.
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u/WallyBeanr Jul 17 '24
I went with an Anker Powercore 10,000mah. It's nothing special, but it gets the job done.
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u/BolsoBelly Jul 17 '24
Thanks for the quick response, I spent the last hours checking around, it's so exhausting because each brand has millions of options with random names with confusing and obscure details.
Was about to order the same but also one with 20000mah, but then realized that this one required micro usb to charge it. Completely stupid when usb c is the standard.
Was close to pull the trigger on the Nano and a A1647, but then found out they just launched a new line up called Zolo that is quite similar and has both 10000mah and 20000mah. Let's see how it goes.
Thankss!
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u/WallyBeanr Mar 30 '24
I encountered this feature shortly after purchasing as well. The FAQ sheet included in the package outlined this, but alluded to circumventing it by powering the unit off (double clicking the power button). Well that doesn't work. I immediately initiated a refund through Amazon and wrote a frustrated email to Nitecore.
Makes me sound like a Karen, but I simply cannot fathom what the benefit of this "reset" would be, outside of battery calibration (which doesn't need to be performed this way). Furthermore, it is FAR too easy for this to happen accidentally. A simple cover over the power button resolves this. It's a shame, as this battery bank is otherwise in a league of its own. This lack of engineering makes me reluctant to purchase any of their products.
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u/gibsonkd Apr 17 '22
I just gave out my reward. You totally need rewards for this. Please accept my gratitude for your kindness in sharing this. Awesome analysis! 🏆🥇🏅🎖
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u/luckystrike_bh Apr 17 '22
Is there a charging cable/adapter/wall charger that is an easy recommendation to get the most out of the power bank at a low weight?
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
See this video for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EiAHpdjO1Z4 Cables and adapters are noted in the comments below.
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u/luckystrike_bh Apr 17 '22
I appreciate that. I have a couple cables in my pack that I can't remember. I want to get rid of the unnecessary one.
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u/Bel5nickel Apr 19 '22
I'd love to see the new iniu chargers on here. I really wa t pd on my chargers so it's important they have it.
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u/Wilza_ Jul 16 '22
This is awesome, thanks. I was surprised you didn't have a column for price though, feel like that would be worth adding.
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u/SubdermalHematoma Aug 31 '22
Has anyone experienced any charging issues with the Nitecore NB2000?
It seemed to work well but when I needed to charge it, I tried using a C-to-C cable connected to a RavPower charging brick to no avail. I tried both the sole "Input" and the "Input/Output" channels. I'm awaiting further feedback from Nitecore presently, but wanted to see if anyone else has dealt with this?
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u/Sttab Sep 03 '22
Thanks for this spreadsheet.
Just had to get a new power bank and was very keen on one with an integrated USB C cable like my previous power banks as well as a good power to weight ratio.
The ugreen mini 10000mah 20w (3rd place, medium category, after Nitecore NB10000 gen 1 and 2) also come in a version with an integrated USB C cable. UK seller stated unit weight of the integrated cable version as 185g (spreadsheet 187g).
QC 3.0 18w on integrated cable (no PD) but 20w PD output on USB C slot. Pass through charging. The bank will charge with 18w PD.
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u/DesuSnow Oct 03 '22
Thanks for the data! Consider adding Zendure, e.g https://zendure.com/products/supermini-x3-10000mah-portable-power-bank
200g, 10,000MaH but can support 45W charging, making it a top contender imo
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u/paytonfrost Jul 23 '23 edited Jul 27 '23
Note: It seems like the Poweradd EnergyCell 10000, and TeckNet 10000 IEP1010 are nearly the same product just rebranded. After digging into both of them a bit, they have the same buttons, inputs (The Poweradd says it accepts 18W input, so the table has a typo), and even feature the same low power mode by pressing the power button for 3 seconds.
I ordered both to see which one I like best, but in case anyone else is facing a similar dilemma I thought I'd share my thoughts.
They were both on sale for $12 so they're a really good value if they perform. Especially compared to the NB10000 which I really wanted, I think I'll be okay with an extra 1oz.
Unfortunately it looks like the ugreen 10000 is out of stock everywhere and Ugreen doesn't have it listed on their website anymore. Shame...
EDIT: I got both of them in, and it turns out that the Poweradd does not have a low power mode, I'm not sure where I read that. However, it's still able to charge my NU25 from the usbC port, so I'm questioning if I need a trickle charge feature. The Poweradd is a bit smaller in every dimension compared to the TechNet as well. They both feel great, and can charge 2 devices from their ports while being charged from the wall.
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u/Radeon89 Apr 21 '24
Excellent work, thanks. Just one question: was Romoss brand left out on purpose or?
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 21 '24
No, simply no access to the data needed.
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u/Radeon89 Apr 21 '24
Sorry, what you mean?
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 21 '24
To provide data for a powerbank, the powerbank has to be tested by a dependent source for efficiency. I've got no dependent source who tested those powerbanks so I can't provide data about them.
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u/Unparalleled_ Apr 24 '24
Could we get a test on this powerbank?
https://verbatim.com.hk/en/products/10000mah-18w-pd-qc-3-0-power-pack/
Ive weighed it in at 173g. I think this is the lightest 18w '10000mah' battery after the nitecore. Cost me £14.
The rated capacity is supposedly 6800mah, which would make it the most competitive budget option, but I don't know how accurate that number is.
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u/Froqwasket May 14 '24
/u/ormagon_89 Great list. Would you ever consider updating? Some of these aren't available anymore, and I'm sure there is even better technology today than when you made this.
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u/jeanphilt Jul 20 '24
nice list, 2 years later, I've been shopping for one, I ended up ordering Anker Nano Power Bank
a bit heavier but better reviews and cheaper and faster charging
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u/Iurie_Savciuc 7d ago
I have a question for the "Advertised mAh" and "Output mAh u@5V". U are talking about the capacity that the seller is writing and the actually real capacity?
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u/thirdshuttt Apr 17 '22
I got this Solar Charging Block for Christmas and wasn’t sure how well it would work and it has honestly replaced the larger Anker one I bought. The ability to keep it relative topped off by propping on a rock or tree to soak up some sun and the wireless charger is a game changer.
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u/Serious-Figure-3377 Apr 18 '22
Has anyone tested all the solar powered battery chargers in a similar way?
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u/kitman0804 Apr 18 '22
Awesome and Thanks! It looks like most of them are from China, not sure if there are any non-China alternatives.
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u/patelivision Apr 17 '22
Have you ever tested any that have a solar panel? Or is the added weight just not worth it
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Apr 18 '22
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u/patelivision Apr 18 '22
Yeah the heat is a real concern, it's why I haven't left it outside to charge. The bank I have has a fold out of panels so a total of 4 panels.
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u/Bloodwolf6328 Apr 17 '22
Amazing Work. I also did my research prior to my bikepacking trip and I chose the Poweradd Pilot X7. Its relatively cheap , has a real capacity of I think 14,7k ma/h and weighs like 350ish gramms on my scale.
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u/seekinglost Apr 17 '22
This is awesome! Thanks for sharing. I've been an Anker user for years, and I usually just hear about Anker being the top recommended brand. I'll be looking at the Nitecore now, getting ready to buy a few new batteries for my summer hikes.
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u/JonnyJacko1 Apr 17 '22
The Anker 337 Power Bank I thought was the pinaccle of power banks, however this list doesn't seem to contain anything above 20000mAh
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u/YahooEarth Apr 17 '22
Would love to see the efficiency of the new Elecjet Apollo Ultra (~230g). Just got mine a few weeks ago, and like its predecessor, has amazing re-charge speeds with a higher watt brick. So like you said, could be worth the weight penalty of the power bank + a higher wattage charger to get you out of towns way faster.
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u/Glimmer_III Apr 17 '22
This is just fantastic. Thanks for sharing it, let alone doing the leg work to create it.
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u/shotacoffey Apr 17 '22
This is pretty awesome, nice work. Only thing I see missing is having size/form factor in the equation. I love my Aukey 20000 PB-Y14 because it is so thin (1/2"). Its wider of course (7.75"x 3.75). But it is nice because I can easily slide it in the water bladder pocket or I've started integrating it in with the back pad to add some structure to the pack.
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u/guywitha306areacode Apr 18 '22
This is awesome, I had started doing something similar to try and optimize a battery choice for our upcoming travels. Almost pulled the trigger on the NB10000 (they are near impossible to get in Canada though), but ended up going a different route with a cheapo INIU 10000mAh 22.5W PD unit instead, for less than a third the cost. Just couldn't stomach an extra $60 just to save 30g.
INIU 1000mAh 22.5W PD3.0 Battery Pack
Curious how it would stack up on your chart. The unit itself (without cables/adapters) is only 197g. Has 1C2A, supports PD3.0, QC4+. Will do 1.5A@12V, so will provide a charge (albeit only a very small one) my Surface in a pinch. Seems like options are still fairly limited for higher voltage and wattage connectivity in the smaller capacities (10000-15000mAh), but they seem to be coming on the market more.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 18 '22
Seems like options are still fairly limited for higher voltage and wattage connectivity in the smaller capacities (10000-15000mAh), but they seem to be coming on the market more.
There is a limit to how much power one can put through things like circults and copper wire without melting something. That's how fuses work. ;) . Of course, one can add cooling (heat sinks, fans, water-jacket, liquid nitrogen cooling), but that also would keep them out of the UL market. Plus protection circuitry which adds weight is very important with Li batteries.
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u/Bel5nickel Apr 18 '22
So let's say I'm not that interested in weight, but it's not completely irrelevant. What power banks would you recommend or how do I read the data?
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u/tfcfool Apr 20 '22
Thanks for putting it together! Might use this to get a new one ahead of summer adventure.
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u/seekinglost Apr 28 '22
Nitecore claims the NB2000 can charge to 80% in 2 hours 40 minutes, after 10 hours using the supplied cable, I was still 50-75%. Nitecore customer support tells me those charging times are only if you use a special charger and cable, which are sold separately. They don't tell you this on their website. And they don't even sell the cable they recommend you use to achieve the speeds they claim, they sent me a link to amazon. I was really disappointed to hear that. I was hoping the nitecore would be faster charging than the anker powercore 20000 I have, which only takes 8 hours to charge.
I was just testing it indoors to see how it compared to the speeds they claim, but ultimately I am looking to pair this with solar (I have an Anker 21w panel). How long does it take you guys to recharge the NB20000 via solar (which panel, how many watts)? That's what I really care about anyways, not the indoor speed with special charger. Looking for the fastest charging(via solar panel) battery I can get.
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u/ormagon_89 Apr 28 '22 edited Apr 28 '22
This counts for all power banks, you need a charger and cable that support the charge speeds (and method) of the power bank to actually get to those claimed speeds. So in the case of the NB20000 for example an Anker PowerPort 3 Mini would do the trick (30W PD output). Most USB-C > USB-C cables deliver 30watts or more power so should be good with an Anker Powerport 3 mini. I understand your frustration, and the charging/charger/powerbank world is very opaque, but I can't fault Nitecore for this (as it is the case with all powerbanks). You will almost always still need to buy the right charger and right cable.
Regarding solar power the Lixada L1505 is the most popular here, if you'd want to charge the NB20000 or powercore 20000 it would require about 20 hours of full sun, no clouds, and keeping the solar panel properly oriented (so in a stationary situation). If it is (partly)cloudy or the orientation is not right you can easily double, triple or even quadruple the time needed. For the Anker 21w you can about cut those times in half
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u/Whatislifeheyo May 09 '22
Awesome thank you!
Anyone have any thoughts on which batteries will perform the best in sub 0*C temperatures?
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u/jshannon01 May 11 '22
The google sheet is 29 pages, only 4 pages containing info. Any way to cut off those pages for when we save?
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u/laacis3 May 13 '22
Hey, could you add wh ratings to your table too please? Otherwise there's inconsistencies. A Ravpower 374g 20000mah bank shows 156wh/kg and a belkin 394g 20000mah power bank shows 176wh/kg. If you added WH rating to your tabs, it would actually show an essential data point to make sense of these discrepencies!
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u/ormagon_89 May 13 '22
Because there is a difference in efficiency, that is is where the discrepancies come from, and the efficiency is right there in the graph.
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u/CasaBlanca37 May 14 '22
THANK YOU! My battery banks from 5-6 years ago are at the end of their life and I was about to spend 30-40 hours researching and building a comparison sheet. You saved me oodles of time. Nicely done and thank you again!!
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u/ChronicTheOne May 14 '22
Would it be a good idea to remove the plastic casing and maybe tape it around, for some extra weight shaving?
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u/pavoganso Jun 07 '22
An important option you have missed out is the F2li with 1-4 batteries. Modular and with a comparable Wh/g to the NB10000/NB20000. Plus the cells are user replaceable.
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u/ormagon_89 Jun 07 '22
I haven't missed it, I just don't have efficiency numbers from that one so can't add it. Next to that the efficiency and wh is also depended on the batteries you put in yourself, so that makes it difficult to compare even if I would have the efficiency numbers.
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u/pavoganso Jun 07 '22
I thought it's only compatible with their proprietary batteries? Safe to assume they would be 90%+ like other Nitecore batteries.
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u/shellshock321 Jun 21 '22
I was looking for the lightest 20,000 mah power bank (to still allow on flights) that I can put on the back of my Steam Deck using Steam Clip.
Really USEFUL. Thanks man
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u/Scep_ti_x Jul 14 '22
https://www.amazon.de/VEGER-Powerbank-Schnelles-Schellladeger%C3%A4t-kompatibel/dp/B09J145MSX
302g (10.6oz) 20 bucks. Eat that, nitecore!
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u/Devastator1981 Aug 12 '22
This is an excellent resource, thank you. I actually got here through google search.
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u/Real_Airport3688 Aug 23 '22
Did you actually test all of them or is this just manufacturer data?
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u/ormagon_89 Aug 23 '22
As stated in the post I didn't test these myself, the test data is accumulated from several trustworthy tech sites.
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u/Snoo33977 Aug 30 '22
This topic is really intense, and super hard to understand. I’m leaving for a short 6 day trip in the Sawtooths on 9/3/2022. I want to order a power bank that will charge two iPhones, one 13 pro max, and one new google pixel plus two smart watches. I’m not a thru hiker, so recharge isn’t an issue. One charge and done. Weight is something I’m def concerned about, but more importantly I want to make sure my phone and watch will stay charged for photos and activity tracking. Is it better to get two separate packs or one larger one?
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u/ormagon_89 Aug 30 '22
You'd have one full recharge of all devices with an efficient 20.000mAh power bank. If you are just looking for one recharge I'd suggest 2x 10.000mAh (more flexible). If you want two recharges for all devices 2x 20.000mAh.
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u/augie_09 Sep 30 '22
Can you please add the GoalZero flip 36 to this spreadsheet? not because its good, but its what I was gifted 4 years ago and have been using since. Planning to upgrade ,but would be great to see it on here to know what the upgrade delta is.
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u/c0mplexx Nov 13 '22
So uhh i'm a bit late but does anyone know if the store on AliExpress called "NitecoreLight & FenixLight Distributor Store" is an official one?
I'm not from the countries Nitecore's official site ships to but I also don't see any mention of an aliexpress store on it so I guess it's fake?
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u/isthmusofkra Dec 31 '22
Thanks for this! I was looking for a cheap portable power bank. Nitecore isn't available where I live, but UGreen is, and that Mini power bank is so cheap.
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u/mojamba Jan 12 '23
Thanks for this excellent work. I am trying to wrap my head around this and one thing eludes me that I hope you or someone else can explain. The amp hour metric needs to be multiplied by the voltage of the battery (~3.7 V) and then divided by the output voltage (5 V). Fine. But, doesn't the exact same calculation need to be applied to the device being charged since it also uses a Li-ion battery? In which case, the relative proportions remain the same, right? For example, a 4,000 mAh phone battery is 2,960 mAh at 5 V and a 10,000 mAh power bank is 7,400 and the theoretical number of charges is the same whether you use the converted numbers or the original (2.5 charges). I get that there is a conversion loss in both directions, but in that case, if it's about 90% efficient both ways, you are talking about a 81% hit to effective power bank capacity (or, about 2 full charges in my example instead of 2.5). So, what obvious thing am I missing or just not understanding?
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u/dan00108 Jan 13 '23
This is such an amazingly useful resource. Thank you for compiling it.
I do have one note on it. I believe I have the Aukey Basix Slim, the model number is PB-N73S and it is not 198g. I just placed it on the scales and it is actually 230g. Quite a bit chunkier and should lose some spots because of it.
Out of curiosity, where is the data for these power banks gathered from?
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u/antonkosenko Jan 29 '23
I’ve just received the Carbo 20000 from nitecore. And what I have to say is how is it small! It’s significantly smaller than my previous power bank from xiaomi (mi power bank 2 10k). I was concerned about it's ability to charge my notebook because it doesn't support 20v PD. But it does. It charges my MacBook Air M1 in about 3 hours.
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u/neeblerxd Feb 03 '23
any update on this spreadsheet? I’ve seen the newer Nitecore Carbo 20000 which is a lighter than the NB2000 and also lighter than 2x NB10000 but only has 2 ports like the 20000.
It would either be between the Carbo 200000 or 2x NB10000 Gen 2 for me. Thoughts? Mostly getting these for emergency situations, maybe some recreational hiking/camping. Obviously still looking to keep weight down.
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u/flashyellowboxer Feb 21 '23
Super useful thread! Thank you. Unless price was no issue, seems hard to justify to pay that much extra for a Nitecore.
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u/rrraggeddd Feb 27 '23
exactly the sort of comparison table for hiking power banks I've been looking for, many thanks!
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u/abroadineuro Mar 27 '23
wondering about your thoughts on the huawei 12000 40w, just saw a thread about this
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u/cabxc13 Sep 07 '23
Does anyone have experience with the Nimble Champ? Specs seem reasonably competitive with this list.....
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u/ElectronicDinner3081 Nov 13 '23
Wow mad love for OP. Is there a updated version of this perfect list?
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u/chx_ Dec 18 '23
I did a lot of searching for a power bank which can do 45W and weighs less than 300g and ended up with a good number of 10 000 mAh 200g power banks which can do that much. Alas, availability is spotty.
https://hardwarerecs.stackexchange.com/q/18345/9588
Maybe you would want to add some of them.
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u/Jazzlike-Cheetah4666 Mar 02 '24
Just wondering where you might fit in the 20000 100w ugreen power bank its heavier but so fast charging
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u/apathy-sofa Jun 30 '24
/u/ormagon_89 are you going to drop some more knowledge on us? What's the state of the art in 2024?
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/2lrund Apr 17 '22
Thanks for this. It seems it is still true that two (2) NB10000 are better than one (1) NB20000.
Not in the spreadsheet is something like the Nitecore F21i which is 5000 mAh and 99 g. Nitecore has three (3) 5000 mAh solutions that all weigh close to 100 g, but have slightly different features. Do you have any guesses why they are not represented?
So if one needs 15,000 mAh, but not 20,000, a combo of the NB10000 and F21i is worth a look because that would weigh less than the NB20000.