Hello!
I recently decided to take my vacation more seriously by making a list of essentials beforehand. Given that I'd be spending most of my time walking around cities and taking photos, I realized I desperately needed a power bank. After browsing online stores, reading reviews, and landing on the Xiaomi power bank, I was excited to see how it would perform.
About the product: One thing that caught me off guard was the time it takes to recharge – I'll get into that later. The device itself is stylish and relatively compact, fitting nicely in my hand, but it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
With the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 2C, you can forget about your phone or other device dying at the worst possible moment. This stylish and compact device is easy to take with you on a trip or a stroll – it'll fit in any bag or backpack.
EXCELLENT FEATURES
Thanks to its increased capacity of 20000 mAh, you can fully charge several smartphones and a tablet. Two USB ports let you charge two devices at once.
FAST CHARGING
The battery's standout feature is its support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. It can fully recharge in under seven hours and charge a phone that supports this feature.
Main characteristics:
Battery capacity: 20000 mAh
Operating voltage: 5.0 V/ 9.0 V/ 12 V
Maximum load (mA): 2400
USB 2.0 Type-A ports: 2
Fast charging: Yes
Battery level indicator: Yes
Micro-USB 2.0 port: 1
Type of USB cable: USB 2.0 Type-A to micro-USB 2.0
Price:
I paid 1500 rubles for this power bank with a discount, and in some stores, you can find it cheaper or more expensive, but that's roughly the average price. In my opinion, it's not worth spending more than that on a power bank.
Packaging:
The power bank comes in a pretty cool box, but it's quite slippery, so be careful not to drop it. The box initially included a plastic cover to protect the device, which is a nice touch.
You can find all the essential information on the box, such as the warranty, main features, and contents.
The box also includes a code to verify the authenticity of the product.
Weight:
This little guy weighs 322 grams, which is not insignificant, considering I always carry it with me. The power bank is surprisingly heavy. While it might fit into a small woman's purse, you'll still feel a bit uncomfortable carrying it. Men are unlikely to feel any discomfort.
It's not super comfortable to hold in your hand, mainly because the surface is slippery.
Design:
The power bank looks sleek, of course. It's white, with no annoying contrasting colors. Minimalist all the way. And it would be great if it weren't for the dust. No matter how many times I wipe it down, there are always tiny dust particles left behind. It's not a huge deal, but it's annoying to feel like you're being a slob every time you touch it. I'm not the only one who's complained about this, so it's definitely a real issue. Unfortunately, the black version of this power bank wasn't an option for me.
The indicator light is a bit awkward. When the power bank is working, the annoying little lights flash. And to be honest, it's hard to tell how much charge it has left. To find out, you have to press the big button on one of its sides.
The included cable is way too short. I find myself constantly having to keep the power bank right next to the outlet.
You'll find a pretty detailed instruction manual in the box, so make sure to check it out. The manual will help you get a handle on how to use and navigate the device.
Charging Time and Battery Life:
I'll start with the fact that the official website said it would take around 7 hours to charge, but in reality, it takes around 8-10 hours. I usually plug it in overnight, and when I wake up, only 3 of the 4 indicators are still lit. If you've only got one outlet nearby, you can actually charge your devices while the power bank is charging – it's a nice little bonus.
It charges devices pretty quickly, taking around an hour to an hour and a half to get my iPhone 7 from dead to fully charged. Of course, you can charge two devices at once, but that will slow down the charging process significantly. I recommend charging devices one by one.
As it turns out, the power bank's capacity is about 20% lower than what's advertised. I can get a single charge out of it to top up my iPhone 7 twice, and I'm left with just enough juice to charge one more iPhone 7. It's a bit of a shame, but it still gets the job done.
So, after buying this power bank, I started thinking about how to transport it properly. I'd heard a bunch of horror stories about power banks getting confiscated at customs, but luckily, a flight attendant friend of mine helped me out. It turns out there are some guidelines for transporting power banks (you can check them out online). If you're only carrying one power bank, you shouldn't have any issues, but if you've got multiple high-capacity ones, it's worth doing some research. I also found out that you can take the power bank in your carry-on, but you can't check it as luggage. If your bag gets searched and they find it, they'll have to confiscate it. Just a heads up that the rules for transporting power banks can vary from country to country, so it's worth checking if there are any restrictions beforehand.
Let me summarize what I liked:
♥ The minimalist design.
♥ It charges devices super quickly – I can charge one device in no time.
♥ You can charge two devices at once.
And what I didn't love:
• The indicator lights are a bit finicky, but that's pretty subjective.
• It's a bit on the heavy side – it wouldn't fit in my purse, and it's not exactly the most convenient thing to carry on a long walk.
So, the verdict:
I think I set my expectations a bit too high for this power bank, so I was a bit disappointed that it only charges my phone about 2.5 times. Don't get me wrong, it's a great device for home use, but for traveling, I'd go with something else. The power bank is a bit heavy, so it's not exactly the most portable thing – it won't fit in a small bag or pocket. For me, convenience is just as important as functionality, so I'm giving it 3 stars.