Power capacity: 10,000 mAh
Outputs: 2 (1A and 2.4A)
Weight: 215g (7.58oz)
Time to charge itself: 6 hours
Compatible with: Tablet, iPad/iPhone, Android and other smartphones, digital camera etc. (any micro-USB supported device)
Amazon and trust are two words that go hand in hand. Several years ago they started their own brand called AmazonBasics and offer a variety of products in different categories. The brand is known to deliver quality products for relatively low prices. In this review we’ll be taking a look at the AmazonBasics 10,000 mAh Portable Power Bank.
Design and portability
The convenience of the Amazonbasics Portable Power Bank (like GOAL ZERO VENTURE 30 SOLAR KIT ) starts with the unboxing. It comes in an Amazon certified “frustration free” package that makes it easy to unpack, and not cause the usual frustration that most hard to open plastic packages bring with them.
Out of the box the Power Bank measures at 5.6 x 2.8 inch and with a thickness of 0.6 inch is the slimmest power bank we’ve seen to date. It’s about the size of an average smartphone, but thanks to its slimness it fits in your pocket more easily than most shorter but thicker power banks. With 215 grams, it weighs under half a pound and is as light as it gets for a dual slot power bank.
Both the USB outlets are on the top of the power bank which is great. This might seem like a minor thing to mention, but having them on top is much better than having them on the side. If the outlets are on the side like on the Aibocn 10,000 power bank, you can’t keep it in your pocket comfortably while charging your device. If you’re buying a power bank for Pokemon GO use, it’s especially handy to have outlets on top like this AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank has.
Design wise, the AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank looks pretty basic. A power bank doesn’t have to look flashy, so we won’t go into much details here. The casing is not made of cheap plastic and feels sturdy. It does however scratch quite easily, but thanks to it’s dark color you won’t see it that much.
Features
Just like it’s looks, the features are also pretty basic. It has a power button you hold for two seconds to start charging, and four LED indicators that show how much charge is left in 25 percent increments. The two USB outlets are marked with two and one lightning bolts respectively. One is a 1A outlet, the other is a 2.4A outlet, for a total of 3.4A. This is more than it’s competitors the KMASHI and Aibocn have, as they only have a total of 3.1A.
There’s overload protection built in the power bank so you won’t damage any batteries, and prevents the power bank from overheating as well.
The included micro USB cable to charge the power bank is only one foot long. Not that it matters that much, but having a slightly longer cord would make it a bit more convenient to charge.
Another thing that is included with the AmazonBasics power bank is a carry pouch. Nothing special about it, it’s a simple carry pouch and does what it’s made for. It’s a nice addition that makes it just that a bit more portable and easier to take with you.
Power
Like mentioned above, the AmazonBasics Portable Power bank has a total output of 3.4A distributed over two outlets. This high amperage makes it charge your devices pretty quick, and thanks to it’s 10,000 mAh power capacity can do it multiple times. Any micro USB supported device can be charged with the power bank. Take a look at how many times you can charge certain devices to get an idea of how much capacity is has:
- iPhone 6S: 4.75 times
- iPhone 6: 4.5 times
- iPhone 6S Plus: 2.3 times
- Galaxy S6: 2.8 times
- iPad Mini 4: 1.8 times
- iPad Air 2: 1.1 times
As you can see it definitely does alright for itself in the power area. If you want more power, there’s also a 16,000 mAh version so you can charge even more (it’s also slightly bigger though).
If the AmazonBasics Power Bank is empty it takes around 6 hours to charge again. This might seem long, but other 10,000mAh devices like the KMASHI MP816 and IOGear Gearpower GMP10K take 8 hours and 12 hours to charge respectively. So in comparison, the AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank charges quite quickly. Only the Aibocn Power Bank charges quicker.
Conclusion
Amazon delivers, just like we expected. They managed to create a very decent quality power bank and offer it for an attractive price. Although a very small percentage of users started noticing defects after months of use, most users seem unanimously happy about the quality. Another great advantage about AmazonBasics products is that you can deal directly with Amazon for warranty and replacement. For some, this might just tip the scale and make them buy this one instead of some foreign brand. In our opinion, the AmazonBasics 10,000 mAh Portable Power Bank is one of the best portable chargers in the 10,000mAh range.
