Anker PowerCore Slim PD review: Simple, slim, and steady
The Anker PowerCore Slim PD covers all of the bases you want in a power bank. It delivers 18W Power Delivery in a light, slim form factor with very little wasted space. You won’t find USB PD PPS, but it’s hard to argue with the low price tag.
What we don’t like
Limited multi-device speeds
Anker PowerCore Slim PD
The Anker PowerCore Slim PD covers all of the bases you want in a power bank. It delivers 18W Power Delivery in a light, slim form factor with very little wasted space. You won’t find USB PD PPS, but it’s hard to argue with the low price tag.
It’s tough to shop for charging accessories without stumbling across Anker’s products. Case in point, the company offers 30 different power banks in its portfolio. Some offer wireless charging, others deliver 45W speeds, and several even have solar panels and built-in flashlights. Sometimes, however, you just want a simple, slimline portable charger that does the basics well. In this Anker PowerCore Slim PD review, we’ll see if this power bank ticks those boxes.
What you need to know about the Anker PowerCore Slim PD
It’s not the largest or the fastest, but today we’re checking out Anker’s 10,000mAh PowerCore Slim PD. It packs a USB-A port and a USB-C, which top out at 12W and 18W, respectively. Anker’s lightweight power bank measures 149.6 x 68.6 x 14.5mm and easily slips into a
The entire design is plastic, with a circular button on the top to check the remaining charge. Like most Anker products, it relies on a set of four blue LEDs.
Inside the box, you’ll only find the power bank itself, some essential paperwork, and a USB-C to USB-C cable. At a relatively modest 29.99 asking price, we can’t say there’s too much more to expect in the compact packaging.
What’s good?
The key selling point is all in the name — Anker’s PowerCore Slim PD is a great size for travel. It’s similar in size to a Google Pixel 5 and weighs just 212g. Anker kept the overall design simple, combining the charging status LEDs with the button used to check them. The all-over plastic design is relatively smooth, but the textured top panel offers just enough grip when you’re fishing through a backpack.
I think Anker also got the price just right with its PowerCore Slim PD. It will only set you back 29.99, a significant saving over Anker’s PowerCore III Wireless.
The PowerCore Slim PD offers solid charging support, even if the speeds aren’t world-changing. It packs Power Delivery in the USB-C port with Quick Charge 2 and 3 in both ports. You can use Apple’s 2.4A standard for your older devices, and 18W USB-C speeds are good enough for most accessories. Personally, I achieved 17.3W speeds on an iPhone 12 Pro, with a Samsung Galaxy S21 reaching 14.4W — nearly the 15W max you can get without having a charging accessory with USB PD PPS support (more on that in the next section).
What’s not so good?
While the 18W USB-C speeds are usually enough for one device, they won’t keep up when you need to charge multiple devices at once. The PowerCore Slim PD splits 18W between both ports, and I regularly found that the iPhone 12 Pro took the lion’s share. It grabbed between 10.5-11W speeds compared to 7.5-8.5W on the Galaxy S21, regardless of the port.
I also would not turn to the PowerCore Slim PD to charge a full-size laptop. It reached 14.4W Power Delivery speeds for my Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, which isn’t close to the 65W maximum. Overall, it serves best as a power bank for phones and tablets, though that’s true of any 10,000mAh power bank — look for something with a higher capacity.
As I mentioned above, this power bank supports USB Power Delivery, but it does not cover the USB PD PPS standard. That means it won’t get your recent Samsung Galaxy or Google Pixel flagship devices back to speed as fast as others. However, you can’t always get the fastest standards for this price, so this is less of a criticism and more a PSA for anyone with a Pixel 6 or Galaxy S21 phone.
Anker PowerCore Slim PD review: Should I buy it?
If you need a simple, slender power bank with Power Delivery, the PowerCore Slim PD is a great choice. It’s lightweight and small enough to slip in a or backpack, and there are no frills or wasted space. While the 18W top speeds may not be enough for certain USB Power Delivery PPS devices, it’s still a good power bank for most portable gadgets and accessories.
That said, if you’re looking for a 10,000mAh portable charger with a bit more punch, you may want to check out some of Anker’s PowerCore III Wireless (49) which adds a Qi charging panel on top and a handy kickstand to stream your favorite shows. Mophie’s Powerstation PD XL (25) is another worthy competitor. It’s smaller than the PowerCore Slim PD and still supports Power Delivery. If you want the very best 10,000mAh power bank, the Samsung 25W Wireless Portable Battery (79), you’ll be paying quite a bit more, but getting full USB PD PPS support, 7.5W wireless charging, and premium build quality.
Anker’s PowerCore Slim PD covers the basics with a USB-A port and a USB-C port. 18W Power Delivery should cover most phones and accessories, and the power bank is sized just right for life on the go.
Anker PowerCore Metro Slim 10000mAh Powerbank
Light and compact with a sleek exterior design, PowerCore Slim 10000 is designed to go where you go.
Equipped with Anker’s world-renowned PowerIQ technology to deliver a tailored, optimized charge.
MultiProtect Safety System
Superior Safety
Anker’s MultiProtect provides surge protection, short circuit prevention, and many more advanced safety features to give you peace of mind.
Trickle-Charging Mode
Provides safe and optimized charging to low-power devices such as Bluetooth earphones and speakers. To activate, press the power button twice or hold for 2 seconds until the LED indicator turns green.
High-Speed Charging
Charge phones, laptops, tablets and more at high speed with Anker’s PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology. Qualcomm Quick Charge not supported.
Recharge Your Way
Choose between USB-C or Micro USB recharging.
Universal Compatibility
Works seamlessly with a wide range of USB-C phones, tablets, and more.
The Anker Advantage
Join our family of over 50 million happy users, and change the way you charge.
Specs
Battery Capacity : 10000 Milliamp Hours
Dimensions : 5.87 x 2.68 x 0.55 inches
The Slim and Compact 10000mAh Portable Charger
Anker 313 Power Bank (PowerCore 10K) is incredibly slim and light for its large capacity. It can charge a phone up to three times and most tablets once. Weighing just half a pound, it’s only slightly heavier than a baseball and is designed to fit comfortably in your palm or ; perfect for work or traveling.
Advanced Charging Technology
Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies combine to ensure the fastest possible charge up to 2.4 A. Does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge.
Trickle charging is designed to provide optimized charging to low-power devices such as earphones, Bluetooth speakers, and other accessories. To activate, press the power button twice or press and hold for 2 seconds until the LED indicator turns green.
– USB-C cable, Lightning cable, and AC adapter not included.
– When the trickle-charging mode is on, the last LED light will remain green, regardless of battery status.
– The two input ports may not be used at the same time. The USB-C input port has no output function.
– Compatible with 12” 2015 MacBook (USB-C cable required), iPhone XS / XS Max / XR, Android smartphones and tablets (including the Nexus 7), and other USB-charged devices.
You may join our official Group to know more about us and stay connected.
Review: Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 Power Bank
Most high capacity power banks these days tend to use some sort of fast charging tech like Power Delivery or Quick Charge. The more common fast charging tech that they use is Power Delivery as it’s useful for charging smartphones and laptops. It’s quite rare for a power bank to have a USB-C port for it to only be used as an input port to recharge the power bank.
However, that’s what this Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 power bank features. The USB-C port can only be used as an input port. So let’s see if that’s a good or bad thing.
Power Capacity:
Going by the name, you probably know how much power capacity this power bank has and that would be 20,000mAh. A good amount of power for charging smartphones we would say that a 20,000mAh power bank may be more fitting for charging a smartphone now than a 10,000mAh power bank. This is because most smartphones have larger batteries. A few years back, smartphones with 3,000mAh batteries use to be considered as having large batteries.
Now we’re to the point where smartphones are going even higher. The new Samsung Galaxy S20 has a 4,000mAh battery, the higher-end S20 has a 4,500mAh battery and the highest end S20 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery.
Even the iPhone, the phone that almost always had a small battery due to its great battery management now has a large battery, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max using a 3,969mAh battery.
With all that said, this PowerCore Metro Essential can charge most phones to full power about three to four times. Charging tablets that would have a 5,000mAh to 7,000mAh battery can fair about two full charges from this Anker power bank.
You won’t be able o charge tablets with this power bank as it does not feature USB-C Power Delivery charging.
Output Charging:
Okay, so when you see a USB-C port on a power bank you likely think that it’s an output that you can use to charge your smartphone or laptop. That’s not the case with this Anker power bank.
The only output ports that you can use to charge your devices are the two USB-A ports. Neither of the USB-A ports uses Quick Charge. The ports have a 5V/2.4A (12W) charging speed, and if you’re using the two ports at the same time, the max output is 3 Amps (15W).
So if you have an Android smartphone that is Power Delivery or Quick Charge compatible, just know that this power bank will not be able to fast charge it. The same is true for iPhones that are Power Delivery compatible. It only features standard charging.
Input Charging:
The recharging part of this PowerCore Metro Essential power bank is somewhat more interesting than the output charging. That’s because two input ports can be used to recharge the power bank, but they can only be used one at a time.
One is the USB-C input port and the other is a Micro-USB input port. Either of the input ports recharges the power bank at the same 12W recharge speed. It would have been helpful to have a USB-C input port charge the power bank faster as it’s a USB-C port and in general it’s more powerful than the Micro-USB input port.
Size and Weight:
The size of 20,000mAh power banks a few years ago use to be quite large, but that has changed drastically and we’re to the point where 20,000mAh power banks are about the size as 10,000mAh power banks. This power bank has a length of 6.2 inches, a width of 2.9 inches and a thickness of 0.8 inches The power bank is about 8 ounces.
So even with its 20,000mAh power bank, you’re still able to place this charger into your
Functional Components:
If you’ve ever used an Anker power bank before, then you know what you expect here.
The charger automatically starts charging when you connect a device to it. There is a power button at the top and it has four white power indicators to show the remaining power capacity.
Structure and Material:
The build of the charger is solid, except for the top where Anker placed a fabric covering. There is still plastic underneath it, obviously, but it’s pretty cool to have and it adds some grip to the power bank.
Tech:
There is no heating up to speak of from this power bank and this can be attributed to the fact that it doesn’t use any fast charging tech.
Reliability
A 20,000mAh power bank with two USB ports is going to be reliable for basically anyone to use to charge their smartphone.
However, what this Anker power bank is not reliable for is for fast charging your smartphone because it does not feature Power Delivery or Quick Charge
Summary:
It has enough power capacity to charge your smartphone to full power a few times, but it does not feature fast charging tech, and he USB-C port can only be used as an input port to recharge the power bank.
It’s a small power bank for one that features a 20,000mAh power capacity.
The Anker Metro Essential power bank does look different than other power banks from Anker, but with its fabric top, it gives a good grip. The charger doesn’t overheat either, likely because of its lack of fast charging.
The charger will be able to charge your smartphone to full power a few times, but it won’t fast charge it with its high capacity.
Specs for Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 Power Bank:
Conclusion:
Anker’s PowerCore Metro Essential power bank is a great standard power bank that offers a great standard portable charging experience. Just know that you won’t be getting any fast charging, but you’ll still be getting the exceptional quality that Anker has to offer.
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Review
Summary An update to Anker’s popular 10,000mAh USB power bank. This model features 18W USB-C PD, fast charging smaller USB-C devices. And a trickle charge function, perfect for your wireless earbuds.
User Review
- Fast charges iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Google Pixel
- Charges Switch while you play
- Can be recharged by Nintendo Switch AC Adapter
- Fits in most Switch carrying cases
- Trickle charge function for earbuds and small accessories
- Fast charge Switch and iPhone together
- Includes a USB-C to USB-C cable
- Within FAA limits for lithium batteries and flights
- Won’t fast charge Quick Charge 3.0 enabled phones; but does normal charging
- Compatibility issues with some Anker chargers
- Pricy, but does include cable and pouch
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I purchased the product in this review.
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD specs
Tech Specs:
- Ports: USB-C, USB-A
- USB-C Output:
- 18W USB-C Power Delivery 3.0 (5V/3A, 9V/2A, 15V/1.25A)
- 10W USB (5V/2A)
- Apple 2.4A
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD box and contents
Included In Box:
Good For:
- Commute
- Travel
- iPhone
- Android
- iPad Pro (pre-2018)
- Nintendo Switch (handheld)
Estimated Number of Charges:
- iPhone 6/7/8: 2 charges
- iPhone Plus/X/XR: 2 charges
- Samsung Galaxy S8/S9: 2 charges
- Samsung Galaxy S10: 2 charges
- Nintendo Switch: 4 hours of play
First Impression
The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD is a much anticipated upgrade to their popular PowerCore 10000 line. The older PowerCore 10000 offers a USB-A port with micro-USB input. And some variants offered features like Quick Charge and even a USB-C input-only port. The PD model has the same USB-A port but an input/output USB-C Power Delivery port as well. Like most 10,000mAH USB-C PD power banks it is limited to 18W output. But unlike similar power banks, it offers 15V instead of only 9V or 12V. That allows it to charge the Nintendo Switch faster than many of its peers. And gives an interesting, if emergency use only, backup option for some laptops. The new model is longer, likely to house the circuitry needed for its performance levels. The top of the enclosure has a grippy feel but without any visible grooves.
Compared To Similar Power Banks
are from Amazon Product Advertising API, last updated on 2023-06-25.
Device Testing
Check with your device’s manufacturer to verify which charging standards it supports.
USB Power Delivery Quick Charge 4 Phones
- Apple iPhone 8/X/XR/XS
- Essential Phone
- Google Pixel
- LG ThinQ/V30
- Razer
- Samsung Galaxy S8/S9/S10
- Samsung Galaxy Note 8/9
- Xiaomi Mi 8/9
- ZTE Axon Pro 9/10
Using an iPhone 8 for testing we find USB PD phones will fast charge over the USB-C port. iPhones will need to use a USB-C to Lightning cable, not included. Android phones can use the included USB-C to USB-C cable.
For older iPhones, the USB-A port supports Apple 2.4A. An older, but still functional fast-charging standard. Older iPhones (4-7) can fast charge using USB-A. Newer iPhones will charge ~15 minutes faster using USB-C.
Quick Charge 3.0 Phones
- HTC
- LG
- Motorola
- Nokia
- Samsung Galaxy
- Sony
- Xiaomi Mi 5/6
- ZTE
Using a Moto G6 we confirm no fast charging support for Samsung, Motorola, or Quick Charge enabled Android phones. Both USB-C and USB-A ports provide ~10W, which is a normal charge.
Nintendo Switch
The Nintendo Switch charges near its max rate, up to 14W. The Switch won’t draw as much current as it could, which is 18W. This is due to a shortcoming with the Switch itself. But it is more than enough to charge while you play.
The PD protocol negotiation with the Switch is most typical. It connects at 5V and moved up to 15V after negotiations. There isn’t a reset to 0V before the change, though. Current steps up once the 15V connection is made. The Switch showed no issues with charging during any testing.
USB-C Laptop
Using a 13-inch MacBook Pro for testing we can see the charger’s max 18W output. It isn’t enough power to ideally charge any USB-C laptop. But it will work in a pinch. It can charge a laptop while asleep, giving it more run time.
If you want a power bank for your Switch and laptop this isn’t it. You’ll want a power bank with 30-45W output. And with more capacity.
Trickle Charge Mode
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD in trickle charge mode
Trick charging is for low power draw devices. The most common being Bluetooth headphones and fitness trackers. Some draw so little power that a portable charger misinterprets it as being done charging. The portable charger shutdowns, not having charged the accessory. Trickle charge mode forces the portable charger to stay on, but at a reduced output rate. This allows the low power accessories to charge. Without draining the portable charger too much.
On the PowerCore 10000 PD, you can turn on trickle charge mode by pressing and holding its power button. The blue LED dot closest to the button will turn green, indicating trickle charge mode is active. It will stay active for a couple of hours. Or until you press the power button again.
Not Compatible With Some Anker USB-C Chargers
The first production run of the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD had a “charging system updating issue.” This resulted in known incompatibility with three Anker USB-C wall chargers:
Anker had a note about the incompatibility on the Amazon product page. But many didn’t see it and the issue came up in the reviews. And on Anker’s own online community.
Product listing notes for the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD
In mid-May, we learned Anker had corrected the problem. And currently produced versions of the power bank no longer had the issue. We know the version sold in Canada is the updated version as of May 15 (probably earlier). But Anker continued selling the older version, with the issue, through the US Amazon store.
As of this review, the issue has been resolved by Anker. But I couldn’t tell you how to identify a fixed unit. Nor can I tell you when Anker will stop selling/run out of the initial units with the issue.
My Testing Results
I purchased the PowerCore 10000 PD in mid-March. So I expect I received one of the models with the issue. So I tested it against an Atom PD 1. As well as a list of compatible Anker charger. And an AUKEY and ZMI charger.
But I did find one odd thing. Across all chargers, the power draw while at 0-25% was half as much power as it should have been. All four chargers showed a lower draw rate during that time. And all four chargers should a jump up in charge rate after 25%.
Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1 – Listed as incompatible
My Atom PD 1 worked with my PowerCore 10000 PD. There was a single occasion where it connected at 5V rather than 15V. But I couldn’t replicate that result.
Anker PowerPort Speed PD 30 – Listed as compatible
Even though it is listed as a compatible charger I saw the same reduced charging rate below 25%.
AUKEY PA-Y18 18W PD
The AUKEY charger is 18W, but with only 12V power profiles. So we expect it to charge the power bank slower overall. But we still see a lower power draw from 0-25%.
ZMI PowerPlug Turbo
The ZMI charger is 45W, more than any of the other chargers tested. And yet again we see a lower power draw from 0-25%. That strongly indicates the issue is with the power bank.
Conclusion
The compatibility issue Anker and others have discussed could be intermittent. Or not on every single unit from the original production run. A partial failure rate would warrant the note from Anker. If you check reviews on Amazon you’ll see others who report issues.
The lower power draw at 0-25% is the reverse of how lithium batteries are normally charged. The power ramps up at low levels and drops off as the charge completes. Here we see a very obvious jump up in current somewhere after 25% charged. Consistent across all chargers tested.
Power draw jump after 25% charged
The slower initial power draw doesn’t appear to impact total charge time. Anker claims a 3.5 hour charge time with a USB-C PD charger. During my testing, the total charge time was a bit over 3 hours.
If you have one of the listed incompatible Anker chargers then you may want to wait. The fixed version will be out at some point, if not already. But without Anker making an announcement we won’t know for sure when. If you plan to use a different USB-C charger then you should be fine. But do a charge test and make sure it works okay before your return window closes.
Summary
The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD is a worthy successor to the original PowerCore 10000. Anker could have made it like most other 18W USB-C PD portable chargers. Supporting 5-12V only. But the inclusion of 15V support allows it to charge the Nintendo Switch faster than its peers. Not to mention more device friendly and future proof.
For the Nintendo Switch, it charges in handheld mode fast. But not as fast as larger portable chargers with 15V support. The Switch underdraws a bit due to the less than 2A current. This is a Switch issue, not a portable charger issue. It will charge while you play. And charges a sleeping Switch at the best possible rate. It will not power a docked Switch.
Its 18W USB-C PD will fast charge Power Delivery supporting phones and small tablets. It can even fast charge the Switch and an iPhone at once. The 2018 iPad Pro will charge as well as with its own charger, but it can charge faster. Lack of PowerIQ 2.0 means no fast charging for Quick Charge enabled Android phones. But they will charge at normal rates. It isn’t made for laptops, and won’t work with certain models that demand a minimum output. But for MacBooks and others, it’ll help in a pinch. Just not for long.
Its known incompatibility with one of Anker’s newer and popular chargers is a letdown. Anker has acknowledged the problem and taken steps to correct it. But they also opted to keep selling the versions with the issue. Their customer support has been responsive to issues and negative reviews. But if you buy you need to test it with your own charger and make sure everything is to your liking.
About Anker
Anker has U.S. based support (web, email, phone) and an 18-month warranty. They are a beloved brand within many USB-C communities.
Bottom Line
The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD fills a niche of good output options in a compact design. It outperforms similarly sized power banks with the Nintendo Switch. And is equally great for iPhones and Google Pixels. It costs more, but not that much more when you account for the included USB-C cable. But if you want to use it with an Anker USB-C wall charger test it as soon as it arrives.
Buy if you:
- Need to fast charge an iPhone, Samsung Galaxy S8 or newer, Google Pixel, or Nintendo Switch
- Want one package with power bank, cable, and travel pouch
- Need trickle charging for Bluetooth earbuds or fitness tracker
Don’t buy if you:
- Want to fast charge an LG or Motorola Android phone
- Plan to use one of the non-compatible Anker wall chargers
- Already have a USB-C cable and want to save money
You’ll want a USB-C wall charger to quickly recharge this USB-C power bank. Check out the AUKEY PA-Y18 18W PD. It offers the same performance as an Anker 18W charger. But without the compatibility issue. And it is smaller for travel.
Be sure to check the Deals page to see if this or a similar charger is on sale.