Fake capacity power banks exposed, or why you should buy genuine accessories
There’s one thing we can all agree on – power banks are pretty awesome. They store back-up charge in their own, internal battery and let us recharge our phones anytime, anywhere, even when we’re away from an outlet. But not all power banks are created equally. Some are small and light, designed to fit in the smallest of s; others are large and bulky, but hold much more charge. Then there are the power banks that blatantly lie about their capacity. Needless to say, you don’t want to own a power bank of the third kind.
These fake power banks can’t be found in your local BestBuy, that’s for sure. You won’t see them in reputable online stores either. But if you’ve ever searched for a power bank, you might have come across fakes on eBay, its Chinese alternatives, or other places where dodgy smartphone accessories can be found. Most of these are sold without branding, but fakes portraying themselves as genuine brand-name accessories do exist.
How to spot a fake power bank?
Well, using common sense should do the trick. Most power banks hold between 2,000 and 10,000 milliamp-hours (mAh) of charge – the higher the capacity, the larger the physical size of the accessory. The largest models on the market do reach capacities over 20,000mAh, but they’re a rare sight among average consumers due to their size, weight, and price.
Go to eBay, however, and you may come across power banks that supposedly pack 50,000 to 100,000 mAh of charge – an astonishingly large amount – but usually cost next to nothing. These are the fakes you should stay away from. Sure, they almost certainly will work as a power bank, but their actual capacity is guaranteed to be less than what the listing wants you to believe. In fact, if a power bank could really store 100,000 mAh of charge, it would be large enough to require a backpack to be carried around.
We’re not saying that every single power bank that offers lots of charge for little money is a fake. Indeed, there are some good value-for-money offerings, such as the 10,000mAh power bank from OnePlus costing 19, or the 20,000mAh one from Aukey priced at 25 on Amazon. But if a deal seems too good to be true, then it could really be a scam. Do your research before making a purchase.
How bad are those fake power banks anyway?
To answer this question, we spent some 10 on one of those suspicious no-name power banks. (So you don’t have to!) Our unit was supposedly capable of storing 20,000mAh of charge, which was quite a lot – about enough to provide an iPhone 6s with 10 full charges. However, the accessory could barely recharge an iPhone 6s twice before it ran completely out of juice. Clearly, the thing’s actual capacity was much less than the advertised 20,000mAh, so we cracked it open to see what was really going on under the hood.
Honestly, the internals of the accessory didn’t look as bad as we expected them to. Inside we found four lithium battery cells (type 18650, a popular standard) and a circuit board to control the charging process. The cells, however, looked fishy. The most alarming thing about them was the complete lack of labeling: neither their manufacturer, nor their voltage and capacity were stated. We could only assume that they were either old or of low quality, based on our experience with the accessory. In any case, four genuine, high-quality cells of this type should easily hold enough energy to recharge an iPhone 6s at least four times, but can never provide the advertised 20,000mAh capacity.
Conclusion: are fake capacity power banks worth it?
To summarize, fake capacity power banks are looking like a bad deal. The only good thing about them is that they cost very little money – between 10 and 20 in most cases, depending on the model. And yes, they seem to work. But as the saying goes, you do get what you pay for, and what you’re most likely going to get is a bunch of lies – a bank that can hold very little charge for its size, made with lithium cells of dubious quality. If you’re looking for a power bank, our advice is to go for one made by a brand name you can trust. Sure, it might cost a bit more than the fakes, but it is much more likely to give you the performance and features that its manufacturer is promising.
Maxoak K2 50000mAh Power Bank Review
Named after the second-highest mountain in the world, the K2 has one of the biggest capacity of all portable batteries available on the market right now. To put it into perspective, I can charge my recently downgraded iPhone SE 2020 more than 27 times.
While countries like Korea are way ahead when it comes to the availability of Wi-Fi and power outlets in public spaces, digital nomad support is dismay with Starbucks being one of the few reliable options. While I own plenty of great mobile chargers, like the NOMAD Powerpack, this is my first charger designed specifically for laptops.
Since I’ve recently gotten a mobile Wi-Fi set, the K2 is the final piece of the puzzle to give me ultimate mobility freedom. With mobile power and the internet, I can take my work anywhere, anytime.
Style
The K2 has a smooth metal finish that gives it a premium feel, matching well with the aluminum space gray finish of my MacBook Pro. This finish is the only one available for the K2.
To keep the aesthetics simple, all indicators and ports are on one side of the battery.
On the long side, there are standard battery icons to meet industry requirements.
Opposite that side, is the MAXOAK logo.
The entire mobile battery looks sleek and sturdy. The appearance of the K2 takes after the recent trend of laptop accessories and would not look out of place alongside your arsenal of digital products. While the style blends well with my space gray MacBook Pro, what’s going to be drawing attention is its massive size.
While it feels fine to lug the K2 around even in a backpack as compact as the Tortuga Prelude Daypack, it’s when putting it on the table that you are going to feel the magnitude of the device. If you’ve experienced minuscule cafe tables, this should concern you. It’s certainly not a compact companion, but more of a muscle sidekick.
The size is to be expected given the capacity of the battery and won’t be a dealbreaker for most.
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Capacity
This is a 50,000mAh battery and the largest capacity battery I’ve ever owned. mAh is calculated from the voltage (V) and Wh (watt-hours) using the following formula; Wh1000/V = mAh.
To see how many charges your devices can get, simply compare it to the mAh value of your device battery. For most laptops, the K2 will provide more than two full charges.
Battery
It uses a Li-polymer battery which lets you recharge it over a thousand times. Compared to Li-ion batteries, Li-polymer batteries are lightweight and have improved safety but costs an average of 30% more to manufacture.
The battery takes about 6-8 hours to reach a full charge.
Ports
The K2 features one DC20V5A (max 130W), one DC12V2.5A, and four 5V USB outputs. Two of the USB ports are rated at 2.1A, while the other two are 1.0A.
Compatibility
That said, I ignored all warnings and used it with my MacBook Pro anyway. While there is no USB-C port, nor is there an adapter included for USB-C charging, I used a USB-A to USB-C charger to charge my MacBook Pro from the 2.1A USB port.
Technically, the MacBook Pro charges. If you are charging while using the laptop, even if it’s just to watch videos or surf the web, the battery level will go down. For me, it goes down at a rate of about 2-3% per hour on my 2018 MacBook Pro.
I designed a thing.
I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
This is because the 2.5V/2.1A output can only charge at 5.25 watts (W), which is calculated by multiplying voltage with ampere. This is way too low compared to the chargers that come with Apple laptops which are usually at 45W, 60W or 85W.
A word of warning for those who are looking to use this with their Apple laptops. In most cases, using the USB output on the K2 will just result in the laptop not charging sufficiently to sustain your activities. In the worst case, it would cause the K2 to overheat trying to keep up with the laptop needs.
The K2 comes with overcurrent and low-current protection, so it should technically shut down should something like overheating will occur. But, seeing as Apple laptop charging is not supported, it will be at your own risk.
For non-Apple laptops, the K2 comes with a whopping 14 different adapters for almost every brand of laptop.
- 6.01.4/6.544mm for Fujitsu/Sony
- 5.52.5mm for Acer/Asus/IBM/Dell/HP/Compaq/Fujitsu/Toshiba/NEC
- 5.51.7mm for Acer
- 4.81.8mm for HP
- 5.01.0mm for Samsung
- 7.40.6/7.40.6/7.45.0mm for Dell
- Fordell: 7.40.6/7.45.0mm for Dell
- 7.90.9/7.95.5mm for IBM/Lenovo
- 3.01.1mm for Samsung
- 4.53.0mm for HP
- Lenovo (rectangle shape with thread in the middle)
- 4.01.35mm for Asus
- 4.01.7mm for Lenovo
- Fordell: 4.53.0mm for Dell
Suffice to say, apart from Apple laptops, you are pretty much covered.
What (else) is included
Apart from the adapters, the K2 also comes with a black AC charger to charge the device, as well as a white USB-C to Micro-USB cable.
There’s also a protective bag that lets you house the device. It comes with a small zippered in the front for some cables and adaptors.
Usage
While the K2 is relatively heavier and bulkier than most mobile batteries, I felt that it was still within a reasonable weight range to carry around.
While it comes with a protective bag, I often just dump the device into my bag with the charging cable attached.
While some charger requires your to press a button after plugging in to start charging. The K2 charges as soon as it’s connected to your device. There is a large power button on the device which shows you the amount of juice remaining.
This is not a battery for travel. At 185Wh, it exceeds the maximum allowable limit for most, if not all flights. Additionally, the weight of battery would not be a luxury most one-bag travelers can afford.
Conclusion
If you are the type that likes to work on the move and uses a non-Apple laptop, the K2 offers the highest capacity laptop battery you can find.
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Power Banks
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How to Choose the Right Power Bank?
For a longer trip, you may want to choose a power bank with a higher mAh and wattage. Power banks with higher mAh can last for more charge cycles before needing a recharge themselves. This is especially helpful for trips that have a long travel time where you may not have guaranteed access to wall outlets to power your devices.
We recommend anywhere from 20,000 mAh to 30,000 mAh and 65W to 100W for trips with extended travel time. This level of charging capacity helps give you peace of mind during travel (which is already stressful as it is) and guarantees that you will not have to rely on wall sockets for your devices or for a recharge to your power bank.
For a shorter trip, you may not need as much mAh and wattage in your power bank. We recommend a range of 6000 mAh to 10,000 mAh and 20W to 45W for trips with a shorter travel time. These types of power banks hold plenty of energy to guarantee 1 or 2 full charges to your smartphone without needing to be recharged. That should be plenty of power to get you to your destination and within reach of a wall outlet.
Devices are particularly important during business trips. You may need your phone to link up with colleagues and your computer to get tasks done. For that reason, you may want to choose a power bank that has a high mAh to last multiple charging cycles, and that can power a variety of devices.
We once again recommend a 20,000 mAh to 30,000 mAh and 65W to 100W power bank for business trips. It may also be useful in these cases to have multiple power banks dedicated to each of your devices. Our Baseus Blade Laptop Power Bank has a charging capacity of 20,000 mAh and 100W, making it an excellent source of energy for your laptop while your phone is linked up to another portable charger.
When it comes to parties and small day trips, you will not need a portable charger with a huge charging capacity. We once again recommend a range of 6000 mAh to 10,000 mAh and 20W to 45W. Our Baseus Magnetic Foldable Power Bank, with a 10,000 mAh and 20W capacity, is particularly convenient for parties and other outings thanks to its ability to fold up and be used as a kickstand. Easily stored in your. it utilizes a magnetic connection to secure strongly to your device, providing a fast charge without interrupting your device usage.
All You Need to Know About Power Bank
Power banks allow you to charge your devices on the go. With a power bank in hand, you can juice up and continue to use your devices without worrying whether or not there will be outlets nearby to keep you going.
Power banks, also known as portable chargers, operate in a similar fashion to your bank account, hence their name. They act as a storage facility for energy. You can use the electrical energy stored within your power bank to charge your devices anytime and anywhere. This is largely thanks to a special type of circuit contained within the power bank itself that controls the flow of energy.
The process is really quite simple and consists of 3 parts: energy absorption, energy storage, and energy release.
Before you head out on any excursion, whether it’s a business trip, a day out with friends, or any other instance where you may find yourself without ready access to outlets, charge up your power bank through an external power supply like a wall socket. The energy will be stored within the portable charger in a chemical form, ready to be passed into your device at any moment when it is connected to the charger via an output port.
A fast charging power bank is exactly what its name implies: a portable charger that can juice up your devices at a much faster rate than simple wall chargers. These power banks utilize a higher voltage and essentially increase the number of watts being pumped into your device to charge it up more quickly than average.
Wireless power banks are extremely convenient for those who hate traveling around with tons of wires. Rather than getting all tangled up in wires every time you need to charge your devices, simply rely on a wireless power bank. Though they do require a USB to charge themselves, these handy gadgets have the ability to charge your devices through contact alone, with no wired connection required. Battery cases that attach to the back of your phone are one common example of wireless power banks.
To understand the question, we first need to take a look at mAh. The unit mAh is also known as a milliamp hour, and it refers to the charging capacity of a power bank. It indicates how much energy can be transferred from your power bank to another device over time. And, of course, the higher the mAh of a power bank, the more energy it can provide.
Today’s average smartphone has a battery capacity of 2,800 mAh. With that number in mind, let’s break down the charging output you can expect from these common types of power banks:
- 6000 mAh: 2 full smartphone charges before power bank recharge required.
- 10,000 mAh: About 3.5 smartphone charges before a power bank recharge is required.
- 20,000 mAh: 7 full smartphone charges before power bank recharge is required.
- 30,000 mAh: Nearly 11 full smartphone charges before a power bank recharge is required.
The lifespan of a power bank may vary depending on various factors, such as quality, build, battery capacity, type of battery, and how the power bank is used. The average lifespan range for a power bank may be anywhere from 1.5 to 3 years or 300 to 1000 charge cycles. It’s important to remember that charge cycles are likely the most accurate representation of lifespan. This is because some may use a power bank more frequently than others, making years an inaccurate depiction of the lifespan that does not factor in usage.
To increase the lifespan of your power bank, remember to take good care of it. Here are a few useful tips to help you make the most out of your portable chargers:
- Do not use a power bank to charge your devices above 80%.
- Do not leave power banks in extremely hot or cold temperatures.
- Do not let your power bank reach 0%.
- Do not bring your power bank in contact with liquids of any kind.
With power banks and other types of batteries, the first thing you need to worry about in terms of wattage is the watt-hour. Watt-hours indicate how much energy you can get out of a battery and the rate at which that energy will be transmitted from the power bank to your device.
The second thing to worry about when it comes to wattage in your power bank is the overall energy capacity. Oftentimes, the wattage of a power bank refers to its maximum charging output. This may be higher or lower depending on how the power bank is being used. When used as a means of gaining energy from an external source, the maximum wattage output may be higher than when it is used as a power bank on its own. So, if you used a dual 45W power bank, you might expect the energy output to reach up to 45W when used as a charging station from an external source and up to 30W when used as a standalone power bank.
If you’re wondering how to charge your power bank, we’re here to help you there too. To juice up your portable charger, simply connect it to an external power source like a wall socket, just like you would with your devices. This will allow it to absorb and subsequently store electrical energy to then be transferred to your device of choice later on when needed.
Review: Crave PowerPack 50,000mAh Portable Power Bank
Power banks that have very high power capacities can provide more than just a power capacity that can charge many devices multiple times over.
These kinds of power banks are also able to charge many devices at the same time and they can also charge larger devices like laptops.
However, as amazing as these kinds of portable chargers are, the “Portable” part of them isn’t exactly as portable as the word defines. Since they have larger power capacities and size capabilities, the equivalent exchange with all that power is that you get something that is large and heavy.
With that said, being large and heavy isn’t that bad when you have so much power that is utilized in such a great way. This Crave 50,000mAh power bank can achieve just that with its power, but the charging portion of the power bank is quite weak. Let’s take a closer look at this Charger Harbor Review.
Similar High Capacity Power Banks:
Power Capacity:
Much like any other power bank on the market no matter how small or large they are, the power capacity that a power bank starts with isn’t what you’re going to receive.
This is because charging the power has to go through a conversion process through the batteries, circuitry, and then through the charging cable to your device.
In this case, the Crave power bank has an average conversion rate, and this is mostly attributed to its capability of Outputting 5 Amps all at once.
As a result, you’re most likely going to be able to charge 3 devices at once with the power bank, which is going to give you a 70% conversion rate. This means that you’ll be able to use about 35,000mAh of usable power. And that’s still a lot of power to use.
The Crave power bank is going to dominate when it comes to charging smartphones because you’ll be able to charge smartphones like the iPhone 6s Plus which has a 2,750mAh battery capacity about 13 times to full power. You can charge the new iPhone 7 18 times to its full power.
Even charging smartphones that are higher up on the battery spectrum such as a Samsung Galaxy S7 with this power bank, you’ll be able to get 11 full charges.
With all that said, just remember that we’re measuring full charges by charge a certain device alone with the Crave 50,000mAh power bank, and no other devices charging at the same time.
DevicesCrave PowerPack 50,000mAh (Output Capacity = 35,000mAh)Phone CapacityCrave PowerPack 50,000mAh Left Over Capacity after One Charge
Output Charging:
There are quite a lot of options to charge using the Crave power bank.
USB Charging:
There are 4 USB charging ports, two of the USB charging ports have a charging speed of 5V/2.1A and the other 2 charging ports have a charging speed of 5V/1.0A.
V/2.1A Charging Ports:
The two charging ports that have a charging speed of 2.1 Amps are the two that you should be using no matter what USB charging device you’re using.
This is because most devices will be able to charge at their fast charging speed with both of these ports. This goes for most smartphones, but this power bank does not feature Quick Charge and as a result, they won’t be able to charge at their max charging speed.
However, these two charging ports are very good for charging tablets as well because you’ll be able to charge most tablets at or at least near their max charging speeds.
V/1.0A Charging Ports:
Both of these charging ports are the ones that are best to avoid because the charging speeds are slow. So the only reason that you’re going to use these charging ports is when you’re charging more than 2 USB charging devices and are forced into using these ports.
DC Charging:
There is 2 DC Output charging ports that are useful for larger devices like Laptops and Digital Camera.
V/3A DC Output Port:
These DC charging ports is most useful for charging devices like Laptops and it’ll be able to charge most Laptops at their max charging speeds. With that said, the power bank cannot charge MacBooks because it does meet the charging power that MacBook use to charge.
V/2.5A Charging Port:
This DC port Output lower power than the other charging port but it’s still very useful for charging lower power devices.
Overall Output Charging:
So there is some bad news that goes with this highly capable power bank, and that’s because the charger is only able to Output 5 Amps of power at once.
Once the power bank is Outputting over 5 Amps at once, then it will turn off. This is a safety feature to make sure that the power bank doesn’t overheat and damage itself. Even so, that’s quite a low Max Output that is only going to allow you to charge 3 devices at once at most.
Input Charging:
For a power bank that a power capacity of 50,000mAh, the charging speed is really good. It’s recharged through a DC Input port that can recharge the power bank at 16.8V/2.5A.
So the Crave portable charger can fully recharge within 7-8 hours. That’s not bad at all considering the power capacity of the power bank can last for weeks and all you have to do is recharge it for a couple of hours.
Size and Weight:
With it having such a large power capacity, the size of the power bank is going to match it too. This is because it’s a large and heavy power bank that’s not meant to be held.
It has a length of 8 inches, a width of 6 inches, and thickness is 2 inches.
The weight of the power bank is 1 pound.
So it might be large and heavy, but that doesn’t mean that the Crave power bank is not portable. After all, it’s still a portable power. With that said, it’s still good to take when you’re at work, or the library because you can just set it down and charge your laptop and smartphone without being next to a Wall Outlet.
Also, it can be taken for camping trips or a hike into the outdoors and even though it’s heavy, placing it into your backpack will improve portability. With something that has so much power capacity, it’s very helpful to have long-lasting power.
Functional Components:
All of the functional parts of the power bank are on a single side of the charger.
On the side is where you’ll find:
You must press the power button to begin charging from the power bank.
Structure and Material:
The entire Crave power bank is made of plastic but it’s still built very well, with the plastic being used is very thick. However, we recommend not dropping the power bank because it doesn’t have any shock absorbing properties that are going to save it.
Tech:
On the tech side, there’s quite a bit going on with the Crave power bank using a wide range of safety tech features to keep charging safely.
One of the most useful ones is the usage of Auto-ShutOff abilities. With the auto-ShutOff, once the Max Output capabilities of the power bank have been reached, then it turns off automatically. This can prevent damage to the power bank.
However, we found that it has a low Max Output that could have more potential in terms of getting more out of the power bank.
Reliability
This 50,000mAh Crave power bank is very useful for when you’re either charging USB chargeable devices and Laptops and when you want to charge them LOTS of times over.
It’s the power capacity that is the main attraction here because it can last very long and that means you can rely on a single full charge of the power bank for a long while.
Also, in addition to the charging ports that allow you to charge many devices at once, including Laptops, then we think that this power bank has flawless reliability.
With that said, there are still some unreliable traits that it holds. It’s a very large and heavy power bank that isn’t the best to carry around. Also, with its Max Output limit of 5 Amps all at once, the power bank can at most charge 3 devices at once which makes its other charging ports that aren’t be used, irrelevant.
Summary:
Power:
It has a very large power capacity and many charging ports. The power capacity is high enough that you can charge tablets, and smartphones lots of times over. You can get about 2 full charges for most smartphones. There are 4 USB charging ports.
Although the powering capabilities seem flawless, the power bank can only Output 5 Amps at once.
Design:
It’s large and heavy by nature because of its high power capacity. All of its usable parts are on a single side and you have to press the power button to begin charging.
Build:
Not the strongest structure but it’s still quite sturdy. Just don’t go dropping the power bank because that may very well damage it.
Reliability:
With its high power capacity and lots of charging options, for the most part, this Crave portable charger is very reliable. However, the Low Max Output of power can prove to be limited and so can the size and weight of it.
Specs of the Crave PowerPack 50,000mAh:
2 – 5V/2.1A USB Ports
2 – 5V/1.0A USB Ports
1 – 20V/3A DC Output Port
1 – 12V/2.5A Charging Port
- Input: 16.8V/2.5A Via DC Input
- LED Power Indicators: 4 LED Dotted Power Capacity Indicators
- Size: 8 x 6 x 2 inches
- Weight: 1 Pound
Conclusion:
The Crave 50,000mAh power bank is perfect when you’re going to be away from a stable source of power for a while because it has the power that can last for days, weeks, and possibly a month.
Even though it has 4 USB charging ports, what takes the cake is the usage of DC Output ports that can charge Laptops.
Even with all of its grandeur it still has its setbacks with not having a higher enough Max Output of power and it’s important to remember along with its high power capacity, also comes its large size and heavyweight.
Review of the Crave PowerPack 2 – 50,000 mAh PD Battery Pack Charger
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Cons
If you want to travel freely with your electronics, there’s no replacement for a good portable power bank. We’ve reviewed several of them in the past, and there are plenty of good options on the market. But most power banks are designed to be used with cell phones. This only makes sense, since cell phones are the electronic devices we use the most.
But in recent years, more and more laptop manufacturers have started using USB Type-C for charging. This development hasn’t come in a vacuum. It’s come about due to the development of power delivery (PD) technology. Whereas standard USB can deliver 5 volts of power, PD ports can deliver as much as 18 volts. The wattage can also be considerably increased, as much as 60 watts. This means you can charge much more powerful devices quickly and efficiently. Keep in mind, though, that this requires a PD-compatible cable. A standard USB Type-C cable simply isn’t up to the task.
Today, we’ll be looking at one of the most powerful PD-capable power banks on the market. The Crave PowerPack 2 (Model CRVPP102) has a capacity of 50,000mAh, more than just about any other power bank. This incredible capacity allows you to charge just about any device. Just to use a single example, the MacBook Pro 16 has a capacity of 8,818mAh. A smaller power bank, even a very powerful one, won’t be able to charge it more than once or twice. But how well does the Crave PowerPack 2 actually perform compared to other power banks? Let’s take a closer look, and see what it has to offer.
Overall Design
The Crave PowerPack 2 is a bit beefier than most power banks. This is only to be expected, given the capacity. It measures 8.2 inches long, 5.4 inches wide, and 1.3 inches thick. It’s also a bit heavy, tipping the scales at just over 4 pounds. Needless to say, this is not a.sized unit. That said, if you’re already carrying a laptop bag, you shouldn’t have any issues with the added weight. It’s not that heavy.
The case is constructed from a rugged anodized aluminum. It has a black satin finish, which looks professional in just about any setting. On the top, the words “Crave PowerPack” are printed in white. You’ll find the same writing on the side, along with the model number. Both ends of the unit have rubberized plastic padding, rather than aluminum. While the PowerPack 2 does not have a shock-resistance rating, these pads should absorb some damage. We haven’t seen any reports of failure do to everyday bumps and bangs. One thing you should be aware of is that the PowerPack 2 is not water resistant. This is generally the case for larger power banks. Treat it the same way you would your laptop or your smartphone, and keep it dry.
All of the power ports are located on a single end of the case. This makes it easy to connect all your devices, without any tangled cables. On the far right, you’ll see two USB Type-A ports. The tabs inside the ports are bright blue, which makes it easy to know which way to orient the plug. Next to those, you’ll find a pair of USB Type-C ports. The ports are plain black, but this shouldn’t be an issue since USB Type-C cables are reversible. Each port has a different capacity, which we’ll talk about in a minute. However, they’re all clearly labeled in fine white print. Next to the power ports, there’s a row of four tiny white LED lights. These indicate the current status of the battery. Finally, on the left, you’ll see a simple power button. Tapping the button will activate the LED lights and enable charging.
In addition to the PowerPack 2 itself, you also get a few accessories. First off, you get an 18-inch PD-capable USB Type-C cable. This can be used for charging your devices, as well as the PowerPack 2 itself. There’s also a PD-capable DC adapter. This ensures that you can charge the PowerPack 2 as quickly as possible. Finally, you get a simple drawstring carrying pouch. The pouch isn’t terribly protective, but it’s enough to prevent scratching while you’re in transit.
Battery Performance Capacity
Now that we know how the PowerPack 2 (Model CRVPP102) is built, it’s time to talk about its best feature: the battery. As we already mentioned, it has an impressive capacity of 50,000mAh. This is more than enough to meet just about any need. That said, there is one downside to this capacity. The TSA limits the capacity of batteries on airplanes to 100 watt-hours. By comparison, the PowerPack 2 has a capacity of 185 watt-hours. If you want to fly with your power bank, you have two options. First, you could apply for a waiver. This is, frankly, a pain in the neck. Unless you absolutely, positively need to fly with a power bank this size, you’ll want a smaller alternative. In that case, consider the Jackery Supercharge 26800 PD Power Bank. This is a smaller power bank that meets TSA standards, and still offers PD capability. On the downside, it will only charge a single laptop.
By contrast, the PowerPack 2 can charge up to four devices simultaneously, including two laptops. Let’s run through our four power ports. The far left port is an 18-watt port. This will power most smaller laptops while you’re using them, and will recharge any USB Type-C laptop. The next port provides a whopping 60 watts of power. This is sufficient for charging any laptop on the market, even while it’s in use. Next, there are a pair of USB Type-A ports. These won’t be capable of charging most laptops, at least not while they’re in use. However, they’re perfect for smartphones. They use Quick Charge 3.0 technology for blazing-fast charge speeds. You can charge an iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S8 in less than an hour. And you can charge them to 80 percent in about 40 minutes.
One thing the PowerPack 2 doesn’t offer is wireless charging. With this many features and options, who can blame it? If you need a Qi charger, check out our review of the iWALK Qi Wireless Portable Charger Power Bank. It’s a small, portable Qi charger that attaches directly to the back of your smartphone.
For charging the Crave PowerPack 2, you have a couple of options. First, you can use the 60-watt port, which will charge the battery fully in about 4 ½ hours. Alternatively, you could also use the 18-watt port, but it’s not a good idea. Using this port, the battery will take as long as 15 hours to charge. Make sure you’re using the faster port, and you shouldn’t have any issues. Keep in mind that the PowerPack 2 doesn’t allow for pass-through charging. This means you can’t charge the power bank at the same time as you charge your devices. But with as much capacity as the PowerPack 2 offers, this isn’t a major concern for most people.
Compatibility
As we mentioned, the PowerPack 2 is primarily designed for charging laptops. It’s compatible with just about any laptop on the market. Make sure your laptop takes a USB Type-C cable, though. Otherwise, you’re going to run into some issues. With that being said, Crave does offer an adapter kit for older, barrel-style laptop charger connections. In total, you can charge up to 4 devices simultaneously. For laptop purposes, this is generally limited to 2. However, some smaller laptops accept Quick Charge 3.0 charging. Check your manufacturer’s specs to see what yours can handle.
In addition to charging laptops, you can also charge your smartphone or tablet with the PowerPack 2. For this purpose, it offers excellent performance. With Quick Charge 3.0 technology, you won’t have to worry about charging speed. And with the 50,000mAh capacity, you get more than enough power for multiple charges. For example, the battery in the iPhone X has a capacity of 2,716mAh. This means you can charge your iPhone more than 18 times. Similarly, the Samsung Galaxy S8 has a capacity of 3,500mAh. This works out to just over 14 charges with the PowerPack 2.
The Crave PowerPack 2 is big and bulky, as you’d expect from a power bank with this capacity. But what if you need a smaller, more portable power bank, you’re going to need to accept less capacity. One excellent option is the iWALK Link Me 4. It’s a USB Type-C charger that attaches directly to the bottom of your phone. But with only 4,500mAh of capacity, it’s only good for a little more than one charge.
Final Verdict
At the end of the day, how does the Crave PowerPack 2 (Model CRVPP102) stack up to other power banks on the market? To begin with, the total capacity is just about unparalleled. With 50,000mAh, you’re not going to have to worry about running out of juice. But it also has a whole lot more to offer. To begin with, the 60-watt port is as powerful as a PD port comes. It provides enough power to run any laptop on the market, even the biggest monsters. And the 18-watt port is relatively powerful, too, sufficient for charging smaller laptops while they’re in use. Throw in a pair of USB Type-A Quick Charge ports, and you can power just about any device imaginable.
Of course, the PowerPack 2 is not without its flaws. It doesn’t offer pass-through charging, and it’s too powerful for easy air travel. These are minor complaints that come with the territory, but they’re worth considering. The PowerPack 2 is also not water-resistant, but that’s expected with most larger power banks. That said, it has a big, beefy design and can handle significant abuse. It’s also attractive to look at, with an intuitive, simple design. All in all, you’re looking at an ideal choice for anyone who needs an incredibly powerful power bank.