Nitecore NB10000 Powerbank Review
I have today the new Nitecore NB10000 Powerbank, a lipo pouch cell, allowing a very flat, rectangular (phone like!) size and shape.
Price
These go for 59.95 at NitecoreStore.com. This is a referral link.
Short Review
For my personal use, this is likely the powerbank I’ll carry. It’s very small comparatively and works well. There has been some discussion about the capacity, specifically vs cylindrical cell power banks, but I can say that doesn’t trouble me. This powerbank works well. Is it the most power-dense powerbank? I don’t know about that.
Long Review
Key Features
Capacity: 10,000mAh 3.85V (38.5Wh) Rated Energy: 6,400mAh 5V (TYP 1A) Input: USB-C: 5V⎓2.4A / 9V⎓2A Output: USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A USB-A: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A Dual Ports: 5V⎓3A (MAX) Dimensions: 121.9mm×59mm×10.6mm(4.8” ×2.32” ×0.42”) Weight: 150g±3g (5.29oz±0.11oz) Accessories: USB Charging Cable (USB-A to USB-C)
Manual and Packaging
If you’re into peeling (and who isn’t into peeling) then this device might be worth the purchase price just for these peels.
Both sides have this much to peel.
Build Quality and Durability
The NB10000 (four zeros – every time, four zeros) is a cool little powerbank. It’s flat, about the size of a cell phone (almost identical in fact, to my iPhone 7/iPhone SE – more on that later). It’s heavy, which gives a bit of a feel for the density of the guts.
Of course, the next thing to notice is the carbon fiber panels on the front and back. I think it’s real CF, so I think it’s very neat and I love that aspect of it. That said, when peeling off the sticky cover sheet, these tend to lift just a bit. Once that cover is peeled though, they don’t raise at all and aren’t a concern for me. Additionally, the product literature claims that the frame itself (which you can see below as the “edge” pieces) is also carbon fiber!
The front and back are exactly the same.
One of the long edges has the item specifics – possible inputs and outputs, and also the capacity: 10,000mAh – which is from where the name is derived.
The non-port end has some molded naming, too. The term “Energy Brick” isn’t overused, but it’s on this end, and in the manual too.
The port end has three things. A button, a USB-A port (out only), and a USB-C port (in and out both).
Overall the build quality externally seems great, and I’m pleased with what seems to be a very simple design.
Size
Dimensions: 121.9mm×59mm×10.6mm(4.8” ×2.32” ×0.42”) Weight: 150g±3g (5.29oz±0.11oz)
This is a great size. The other powerbank I routinely use is the Nitecore F4, which I like because it runs on cylindrical cells, which can be interchanged and manipulated. As far as utility, I strongly prefer the NB10000, because it’s easy to hold together in one hand with a phone or other device.
Power
Nitecore provides a cable for use with the NB10000. It’s a USB to USB-C cable and is intended for charging the powerbank.
I’d probably rather there be a USB-C to USB-C cable included since the NB10000 does charge via the PD specification. Here are the in specifications:
Here’s charge graph, at 5V. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to trigger 9V input. I’m not sure if that’s a failing with the device or my setup (more likely my setup, I’d guess). Charge at 5V happens at over 2.5A, which allows a full charge time of under 2 hours.
And here are the out specifications:
USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A USB-A: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A Dual Ports: 5V⎓3A (MAX)
Each test includes a 2-minute extra graph, which tests the max current output I was able to see. The full graph demonstrates the NB10000 outputting power at the claimed current.
You’d expect to see a USB-A 9V here but again I was unable to trigger 9V when working with USB-C.
The NB10000 needs around 0.13A draw on the USB-C to stay active. Below 0.13A and the output will shut off.
The USB-A port does have a minimum draw, but it’s below what I can test. Somewhere under 0.08A. At 0.08A, the port seems to stay on.
However, there’s a “Low Current Mode” available. Holding the (only) button triggers LCM, and is indicated by a white led to the far right of the blue indicators. (Far right, as viewed when the words on the ports are properly facing the user.) Here’s an image showing both with and without the white indicator (and also blue indicators, which show the present charge level of the NB10000).
It seems like this mode is only for the USB-A port, though, and when it’s being used, the USB-C port seems completely deactivated. (That’s right, deactivated.)
User Interface and Operation
There’s just one button on the NB10000 and really it’s not needed for much. It does do some things though, one of which was mentioned just above (turning on Low Current Mode by holding the switch until one the rightmost indicator turns white).
Clicking the button activates the device. Clicking it again does not turn it off though – it’ll just time out for that. Timeout looks to be about 30 seconds.
Clicking the button also displays the charge level of the NB10000. There are actually four indicators, with one being dedicated to being white for Low Current Mode. The other three are blue. Here’s how they display charge level.
Conclusion
What I like
- Nice small device
- Good USB-A and USB-C output
- USB-C input for charging is great and works well at 2.5A (@5V)
- 18W output for various voltage levels
- Low Current Mode is thoughtful, for those users who have the need to charge very small items
- I love all the carbon fiber
NITECORE NB10000 GEN2 Ultra Lightweight Carbon Fibre 10,000mAh Power Bank
The NITECORE NB10000 GEN2 is an ultra lightweight carbon fibre energy brick with 20W output and a weight of 150g. It is the World’s most compact and lightweight 10,000mAh Power Bank.
Capacity: 10,000mAh 3.85V (38.5Wh)
Rated Energy: 6,400mAh 5V (TYP 1A)
Output: USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2.22A / 12V⎓1.68A
Dimensions: 121.9mm × 59mm × 10.6mm (4.8″ x 2.32″ x 0.42″)
Accessories: USB Charging Cable (USB-A to USB-C)
| State | Express | Standard |
| VIC | 1 business day | 2 business days |
| ACT, NSW SA | 2 business days | 3 business days |
| QLD TAS | 2 business days | 4 business days |
| NT | 4 business days | 6 business days |
| WA | 3 business days | 5 business days |
Description
Capacity: 10,000mAh 3.85V (38.5Wh)
Rated Energy: 6,400mAh 5V (TYP 1A)
Output: USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2.22A / 12V⎓1.68A
Dimensions: 121.9mm × 59mm × 10.6mm (4.8″ x 2.32″ x 0.42″)
Accessories: USB Charging Cable (USB-A to USB-C)
Brand
Nitecore
Nitecore, founded in 2007, is particularly known for their power supplies. Aus Power Banks stocks a variety of Nitecore products, ranging from generators and solar panel kits to small power banks. Our collection of Nitecore products allows you to choose the product that is the most applicable to your needs. Our range will have you equip for all situations; whether you are going on a long camping trip or just looking for a power bank to put in your bag. These products are high quality and made from durable materials, meaning that they will last you many trips and adventures and you will get a lot of use out of them. All Nitecore products come with a full 2 year manufacturer warranty which warrants the product against any manufacturing defects.
Reviews
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Nitecore NB10000 Review
Not a normal item on the blog, but an interesting one at that! Nitecore also makes portable battery power packs in addition to flashlights. NitecoreStore.com offered to let me have a look at their new super thin carbon fiber trimmed 10,000 mAh battery pack that sports both USB-C and USB-A connections. Take a look at how it compares to two other popular charging packs below!
What’s in the Box?
- Nitecore NB10000 Energy Brick
- USB-A to USB-C Charging Cable
- Instruction Manual (10 Languages)
- Warranty Card
High Level Specifications
| Input | USB-C: 5V-2.4A / 9V-2A |
| Output 1 | USB-C: 5V-3A / 9V-2A / 12V-1.5A |
| Output 2 | USB-A: 5V-3A / 9V-2A / 12V-1.5A |
| Power Cap | 38.5Wh |
| Water Resistance | IPX5 – Protected against low pressure jets of water from all directions, limited ingress permitted (According to RainfordSolutions.com) |
Feature Overview
- 10,000 mAH Capacity Lithium-Ion Battery (not user serviceable or replaceable)
- USB-A Discharging Port
- USB-C Charging/Discharging Port
- Mode/Status Button
- LED Indicator Lights
- Low Current Mode
- Carbon-Fiber Front Back Scales
Supported Charging/Discharging Protocols
Per the included instruction manual/sheet, the NB10000 supports a multitude of charging protocols. Some of these are pretty standard ones like Quick Charge (QC), Power Delivery (PD) and of course Apple Samsung Fast Charging. However, I’ll be honest, I had no idea what BC 1.2, MTK PE (Pump Express) and PPS Output were. It also seems that FCP, AFC, SFCP are Huawei specific charging protocols. I’ve included some links to those protocols if you would like to learn about them. Additionally, while researching some of these charging technologies, I stumbled on an integrated circuit that may be used in the NB10000 as it lists all of the following protocols specifically. Here is a link to that document if you are curious. Warning: It’s extremely technical
| Protocol | Input/Output Support |
| QC 2.0 3.0 | Input Output |
| PD 2.0 3.0 | Input Output |
| Apple Samsung Fast Charging | Output Only |
| BC 1.2 PPS Output | Output Only |
| MTK PE 1.1 2.0 | Output Only |
| FCP / AFC / SFCP | Input Output |
Specification Comparison
Where the NB10000 differs from most other battery packs is how thin the unit is. With its thin Lithium-Ion (it may be lithium polymer) battery, its able to come in at under half the thickness as my two comparison units. Its thinner than my Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max in a basic silicone case. The carbon fiber scales are a nice addition for appearance purposes. With Nitecore using carbon fiber, they are able to keep the NB10000 thin and provide additional protection to this power pack.
| Nitecore NB10000 | Anker PowerCore 10000 | Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux | |
| Length (mm / in.) | 12.2 / 4.8 | 90.7 / 3.25 | 104.0 / 4.0 |
| Width or Thickness (mm / in.) | 59.5 / 2.3 | 62.3 / 2.4 | 52.4 / 2.0 |
| Height (mm / in.) | 10.7 / 0.4 | 22.0 / 0.8 | 25.4 / 1.0 |
| Weight (gram / oz.) | 150 / 5.3 | 181 / 6.3 | 185 / 6.5 |
| Low Charge Current Capability | Yes | No | Yes |
| Output Ports | USB-A USB-C | USB-A Only | USB-A Only |
| Input Ports | USB-C | Micro-USB | Micro-USB |
Recharging and Advertised vs. Tested Capacity
As you notice with all battery packs, they are sold primarily based on the capacity of the pack. We kind of just take it for granted that we are getting the capacity that we are purchasing. In most cases, I believe that we get mostly what we pay for, but looking at the chart above, the Nitecore does provide users with capacity closer to the advertised capacity than the two Anker units.
I fully discharged the NB10000 and documented its recharge capacity with the Makerhawk USB Power Meter UM25C three times.
I used multiple devices to discharge the NB10000 until its’s battery indicator was showing low and the NB10000 would not turn on to charge anything. Speaking of the battery indicator, the NB10000 has an illuminated mode switch which has four indicating LEDs mounted within. Three of the 4 LEDs are blue and are used to indicate the power level while the unit is being charged or if it’s charging a device. In my opinion, the LEDs are hard to distinguish from each other. They are slightly blurry if you will. The fourth LED is a white one and is used to indicate if the NB1000 is using low current mode. I’ll talk about that next. Regarding the three blue LEDs, if all three of them are illuminated, the NB10000 is at roughly 100% capacity. If 2 are illuminated, roughly 70% capacity. If 1 is illuminated, roughly 30% capacity. If the NB10000 is extremely low in power level, a single blue LED will blink.
Briefly mentioned above, the NB10000 has a low current charging mode. A low current charging mode is an important feature on battery packs now days. Small devices like headphones watches do not have large capacity batteries. With some battery packs, when the low power device being charged gets close to full, the current draw is so low that most chargers turn off. The NB10000 will do the same if you do not enable low current mode. To turn on low current mode, simply press and hold the mode switch until the 1st white indicating LED illuminates alongside the blue power level indicators. The white LED will stay illuminated while you charge your device. One thing to note is that low current charging mode is enable until you disable it. Therefore, before you charge your phone or larger device, disable the low current charging mode by pressing and holding the mode button until it turns off. For visibility, the NB10000, leaves the low charging current white LED illuminated at all time when in low current charging mode.
Nitecore does not provide you with a charging block. However, I used this RavPower 3.4A/17W charging block that provides 2.4 Amp output per port for nearly all my testing. You can use the included USB-A to USB-C charging cable. Additionally, you are welcome to use a USB-C power block and a USB-C to USB-C cable to charge the NB10000 as well.
10,000 mAh! That must be a magic number for folks as there are so many portable power packs available from many manufacturers that promise 10,000 mAh capacity. The capacity is basically how much juice is stored in the power pack that can be transferred to your phone, headphones, nearly anything powered by USB. I happen to have two relatively new and only used a few times portable power packs that advertise 10,000 mAh capacity. Below, I’ve detailed out a physical comparison between the Nitecore NB10000, Anker PowerCore 10000, and the Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux. If you take a look at the table below, you will see “Tested Full Charge Capacity”.
| Device | Charge Attempt | Advertised Capacity | Tested Full Charge Capacity | Testing vs. Advertised Capacity | Duration (Hour:Minutes) |
| Nitecore NB10000 | 1 | 10,000 mAh | 8,681 mAh | 86.8% | 3:57 |
| Nitecore NB10000 | 2 | 10,000 mAh | 8,968 mAh | 89.6% | 4:04 |
| Nitecore NB10000 | 3 | 10,000 mAh | 9,035 mAh | 90.3% | 4:03 |
| Anker PowerCore 10000 | 1 | 10,000 mAh | 8,300 mAh | 83.0% | 5:17 |
| Anker PowerCore 10000 Redux | 1 | 10,000 mAh | 8,418 mAh | 84.1% | 4:57 |
Most Lithium-Ion batteries have a minimum discharge voltage to prevent damage to the batteries. I believe that the minimum discharge voltage can be a factor with regard to not able to obtain a full 10,000 mAh capacity on these units. However, many factors can play into battery capacity. Specifically, the minimum discharge voltage, quality of the battery cell, the temperature the batteries are stored in, the age of the batteries, and how many times you’ve recharged the batteries all affect battery health and ultimately your battery pack’s capacity. This document provides folks with a wealth of knowledge on Lithium batteries and factors that affect their performance/life/capacity.
The Nitecore NB10000 came out on top with a best test of obtaining 90% of advertised capacity. It charges quicker than the Anker units as well.
Charging My Phone
I also wanted to test the NB10000 with something everyone could relate to, so I just used my phone. The only piece of special equipment I have is my USB power that I mentioned above. I’m using an Apple iPhone 11 Pro Max. Its stated capacity is 3,969 mAh. Per the iOS operating system, my battery health is roughly 90%. 90% of 3,969 mAh is 3,572 mAh. Assuming that I’m able to utilize roughly 90% of the NB10000’s capacity, I should be able to able to charge my phone twice.
I discharged my iPhone until it turned off and would not turn on. I plugged the phone into the NB10000 using an Anker USB-C to Lightning cable. After 17 minutes, the phone charged to 30%. After, 30 minutes, 54% charged. After 50 minutes, 81% charged. The phone was full at roughly 94 minutes. The NB10000 is showing 2 blue indicating LEDs after fully charging the iPhone.
While charging, I did notice that the NB10000 gets warm. I was able to measure 111 degrees on the surface of the device. Although, I forgot to take a photo. The NB10000 may be sacrificing battery longevity for speed of recharging devices. Keep the unit properly ventilated while charging to ensure proper cooling. This will help keep the battery health the best possible.
After the initial discharge, I connected the NB10000 back up to the power block and recharged and monitored the power with the USB power meter. The NB10000 recharged fully in 2 hours 32 minutes. The USB power meter stated that it took roughly 4,951 mAh to recharge the NB10000. There is some amount of capacity sacrificed to charge the phone.
Now that the NB10000 is fully charged again, I depleted the battery in my iPhone again. I wanted to see how many consecutive charges I could squeeze out of the battery pack. I connected the charger to my phone and again, it took roughly 95 minutes to fully charge. Over the course of the next few hours, I depleted my battery on the iPhone again to where it would not turn on. I connected it back to the NB1000 and was able to recharge my iPhone to 79% over 45 minutes.
So, after all the testing, I was able to squeeze 1.8 charges out of the NB1000 for my iPhone 11 Pro Max.
What I Like
- Advertised vs Tested Capacity – The NB10000 has the highest percentage of useful capacity vs. advertised capacity of the units I tested.
- Low Current Charging – This feature is important to have if you desire to charge your headphones and small electronics.
- Thinness Weight – Its lighter and thinner than other similar capacity units.
- Auto On/Off – I like that the device automatically turns on and off when you plug in a device to charge.
- Charge Multiple Devices at Once – You can charge multiple devices at once with the USB-A and USB-C ports.
What I Don’t Like
- Length/Height – While the NB10000 is thin, its quite tall.
- Power Level Display – The indicators are hard to distinguish from each other and are blurry
- Gets Warm – The NB10000 gets warm when charging devices using the fast charge protocol. I think that this may degrade batteries over time and reduce the overall capacity.
Warranty Info
Nitecore provides a 1-year warranty on the NB10000. During the first 15 days after purchase, you will be provided with a full replacement though your local dealer/place of purchase. After 15 days, the NB10000 will be repaired free of charge. Nitecore also states that even after 1-year, they will repair the light for only the cost of the replacement parts.
Nitecore also offers you the chance to extend your warranty by 5 months by registering and validation your product purchase. You can complete this by visiting http://charger.nitecore.com/validation and using supplying the validation code contained on the sticker on the back of the box.
Summary
In my opinion, this is a great portable power pack. 10,000 mAh is enough to get me through a day or two depending on usage. It’s all packaged up in a sleek carbon fiber trimmed case. The tested vs actual capacity test figures are quite impressive as well when compared to the two other units.
I think what stands out with the NB1000 is by supporting so many fast charging protocols, you are able to get usable power out of the NB10000 quickly. I feel that a 50% charge after only 30 minutes is quite impressive.
With it’s compact size, it will fit in your quite easily.
If you have this unit, I’m curious of your thoughts. Feel free to comment below and I’ll gladly answer.
Product Links: NitecoreStore.com
Nitecore NB10000 ultralight power bank review
REVIEW – Portable battery chargers can be found just about anywhere and come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and capacity levels. What does it take to stand out in a field with so many options? Nitecore’s answer to that comes in the form of the NB10000 Ultra Lightweight Energy Brick.
What is it?
Nitecore’s NB10000 is a small, compact, high-capacity portable charger that you can easily take just about anywhere you go. With a compact size that is smaller than most smartphones, and enough capacity to charge many of those phones a couple of times, it’s an ideal traveling companion for those who need extra power on the go.
What’s in the box?
NB10000 Ultra Lightweight Energy Bank
USB Charging Cable (USB-A to USB-C)
Hardware specs
Capacity: 10,000 mAh at 3.85V (38.5Wh)
Rated Energy: 6,400 mAh at 5V (TYP 1A)
Input: USB-C: 5V⎓2.4A / 9V⎓2A
Output: USB-C: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A; USB-A: 5V⎓3A / 9V⎓2A / 12V⎓1.5A
Dimensions: 4.8” × 2.32” × 0.42” (121.9mm × 59mm × 10.6mm)
Weight: 5.29oz ±0.11oz (150g ±3g)
Design and features
The NB10000 is made with a carbon fiber reinforced polymer frame, which is often used in aerospace and automotive engineering. This allows the frame to achieve high strength while being lightweight, in addition to protecting the battery cell from drops and impacts. The top and bottom of the power bank are wrapped in carbon fiber sheets, providing further protection and stability, while also providing a neat 3D hologram-like finish that’s fun to look at.
As mentioned earlier, this is a really small battery. Compared to my original 10,000 mAh battery from about 10 years ago, this device is much more able and convenient to keep with me.
NB10000 has an IPX5 rating, meaning it has a bit of water resistance, but I don’t plan on taking it into the shower with me any time soon. Still, knowing it’s protected from the elements in case it starts raining before you get home from your walk or bike ride does provide some peace of mind.
This power bank has three blue LEDs to indicate charge level at 100%, 70%, and 30%. I would have liked to see four or five LEDs just to give a little more accurate picture of the amount of charge, but that’s not a deal breaker. I did find them a little hard to read, though. The LEDs are recessed in the power button, which makes it hard to see how many are lit up without picking it up and looking really closely. That makes it a little tricky to glance from across the room to see its status.
There is also a white LED in the power button which is used to indicate the low current mode. This mode is intended for charging smaller devices like Bluetooth headphones, wearable health monitors, and similar low-powered devices. Pressing and holding the Mode button for a couple of seconds turns on low current mode; pressing and holding it again turns it back off.
Installation and setup
The battery came out of the box with a full charge (or somewhere close – all three LEDs were lit up, indicating a charge between 70% and 100%). After doing some initial testing, it was able to charge my iPhone 11 Pro Max from 54% to 100% in just over an hour using the USB-C output and a USB-C to Lightning cable. It was able to charge my 2020 iPad Pro 11″ over USB-C from 1% to 80% in just over 2 hours before being completely depleted. Recharging the NB10000 with the included USB-A to USB-C cable and an original Apple 12W iPad charger took almost 5 hours. This could be sped up significantly by using a higher power charger, especially if it’s USB-C and PD 2.0 or PD 3.0 compatible.
Most impressively to me, this power bank was able to put out enough current to slowly charge my MacBook Pro 16″ over USB-C. This wouldn’t be very practical because, especially under any kind of load more than simple web browsing or email or office work, it would not be able to keep up with the battery drain of the MacBook itself, but it might be useful for someone with a MacBook Air, a 13″ MacBook Pro, or a similarly small Windows or Chrome OS laptop.
What I like
If you can’t tell already, I really like the compact size and light weight of this battery. Its dimensions and weight are almost identical to the iPhone 4, which is pretty remarkable. The construction is high quality and the design and finish make it fun to look at and easy to use.
What I’d change
The power level LEDs hard to read. It would be nice if there were four or five LEDs instead of just three to give a little more accurate idea of the power level.
Final thoughts
Of all the power banks I’ve used over the years, the NB10000 has the best combination of capacity, size, and weight, making it an easy addition to my everyday carry backpack. I can imagine using this battery for many years to come.