TP-Link PB50 10000mAh Power Bank Review

90980680-AD38-42BA-BBF3-FAF5D0018162Smartphones and tablets have changed a great deal in the past few years, and that change has been accompanied by significant changes in how we use them. These are no longer just tools to read email and send texts; today’s mobile devices are our camera, social media sharing tool, music streaming device, mobile video consumption tool, and much more.

Although most devices have significantly improved battery life these days, many of us still find them running low on power as the day goes on, and if you don’t have easy access to power outlets that can cause problems. To solve that issue, many vendors have started offering portable battery packs and mobile charging solutions to keep us up and running as our power needs increase.

The TP-Link PB50 Power Bank is one such solution, and in testing has proven to be an excellent way to solve the mobile charging problem, according to the unit they sent us to check out.

The PB50 is a compact and well designed product. It measures 5.5 x 3.1 x 0.76 inches, roughly the width of an iPhone 7 Plus while being slightly shorter and a bit thicker, while weighing only 281 grams (.6 lbs) so it won’t add much weight to your bag.

It features dual USB-2 ports to support full speed charging of up to two devices simultaneously and is able to intelligently charge multiple device types (up to 2A) by using a custom chip designed to recognize the connected device and deliver the maximum charging speed required for iOS, Android and other USB devices.

D9941CB6-A1F1-4D04-AFA2-438A11A14DB0The PB50 is built around a lithium polymer 10000mAh battery from LG which features nano ceramic coating and a high degree of ventilation, improving battery durability and heat resistance while protecting against short circuits, over-charging, and over-heating. The battery is designed to retain its original capacity after 500 charge cycles, ensuring a long lifespan, and provides users with a long-lasting solution that powers their devices when they need it. Recharging the PB50 is done using the included micro-USB cable which can be connected to either a USB port in a laptop or a wall power adapter.

Total available device recharging time at 1A is 9 hours 32 minutes, while 2A allows for 6 hours 8 minutes, making charging quick and easy. In testing, I was able to charge a completely dead iPhone 6 to 100% in 1 hour, 55 minutes. An iPhone 7 Plus was charged 10% in 18 minutes.

A fully charged PB50 should be able to recharge a typical iPhone or iPad 3-4 times between charges, and the unit holds its own charge very well, so you don’t need to worry about your charger being dead in an emergency. The charge is sufficient that you can perform many battery draining activities such as video streaming or mobile games while maintaining your present level of charge.

44E47373-6A02-41CD-8B04-7D14AE3B65C3The PB50 is coated in a smooth matte-black finish with a silver cap on the connection end, and features a 4 stage smart LED indicator that shows recharging progress and how much battery is left. Due to its compact size, the PB50 fits easily in a bag (or even a pocket) and can be carried with you without issue. I’ve been using the PB50 for a few weeks now and it’s become a permanent addition to my bag. I’ve used it many times to give my iPhone and iPad batteries a boost, and it’s worked very well.

The TP-Link PB50 10000mAh Power Bank is covered by a 1 year limited warranty and is available at Best Buy, Amazon.ca and other electronics retailers with an MSRP of $59.99 CAD.

If you are looking for a great Christmas gift for the mobile device user in your life at a reasonable price, you may wish consider the PB50 as an option under the tree.

What do you think? Does the TP-Link PB50 10000mAh Power Bank sound like a product you may consider? Let us know in the comments.

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