'Mophie powerbank kept my devices fully charged on a remote holiday'
There's nothing worse than getting off a long-haul flight, nearing the end of a work day, or out with friends and realising your phone has run out of juice. This is where power banks come in as a staple tech accessory for many.
I've used these nifty gadgets for years and had many different brands, from Anker to Belkin and a cheap £5 one from Amazon. But in the last few weeks, I've been testing out the newest range from Mophie, and it immediately beat the ones I've tried before.
A long battery life, super fast-charging, and accessible ports - these are some of the standout points from Mophie's limited edition PowerStation collab with Red Bull Racing. I used three models while on holiday in Canada; the the £79.95 Powerstation Plus, £54.95 Powerstation Plus Mini, and the £39.95 Powerstation 5K - and there was a clear winner.
A long-haul flight and days spent ticking off the tourist hotspots, which for us meant popular lakes and hiking around the Canadian Rockies. It was a no-brainer to try out the Mophie collection when I knew it'd be 10-12 hours gaps each day before I had access to a charging point.
All three offer a solution to ensuring that your devices never run out of juice, and there are hours of battery life tapped into the devices. Starting at £39.95, I found myself picking up the smallest Powerstation 5K the most as we headed out each morning.
Before I get into the main review, below is a snapshot of my favourite features. Plus, the few I wasn't so keen about.
What I loved:
Powerstation Plus and Powerstation 5K: Accessible ports made it easy to switch between iPhone and Samsung charging
Powerstation 5K: A small design, most suitable for carrying around
All three models: A long-lasting charge
All three models: Charged mobile and camera quickly
What I didn't like as much:
Price: Above some rival brands
Powerstation Plus: Has great speeds but is heavy to carry around, and its size is restrictive.
How long does the Mophie PowerStation take to charge?
Its ultra-portable size made popping into my crossbody bag or hand luggage easy, and light. Despite needing a charging cable, which some may see as a downside, I kept my phone hooked up to this throughout the day and it was really convenient - the whole point of a portable charger.
Then there's the bigger Powerstation Plus Mini, which my partner used for his Samsung phone. This has the same size battery as the model I was using above (a 5,000mAh battery), and for that reason, it was reliable with speed and charge. However, compared to the Powerstation 5K I used, it was heavier.
A Mophie powerbank for Samsung and Apple iPhone users
A model for all devices - be it a phone, tablet and camera at once, the most expensive £79.95 Powerstation Plus is the one to pick - with a 10,000mAh battery and multiple different ports. This hefty powerbank also has built in USB-C and Lightning cable ports.
A perk is that it's built for blended tech households like ours with a mix of iPhone and Android devices. However, its size and weight (which felt even heavier when carrying it around on hikes on holiday) are downsides.
Alternative power banks for a budget price
For me, the main reason the PowerStation 5K stood out among the other was the quality for price, at less than £40 for a 5,000mAh battery. In contrast to this, while of great quality, the other two models (the Powerstation Plus and Powerstation Mini) are expensive.
Alternatively, this is where shoppers can find models with cheaper prices. One that looks good is the £29.98 Anker Power Bank, available from Amazon. This is geared for iPhone users with USB-C ports and even ports for AirPods.
Another cheaper option is the BelkinBoost Charge, for £16.99, plus it has a battery to match the price of Mophie's most expensive (out of the one's I reviewed) £79.99 Powerstation Plus model - with a 10000 capacity.
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