The Tabinistas
Anker 20,000mAH
Power Bank
Review
Does size really matter? Is bigger better?
Find out if it's worth it to carry a 20,000mAH Power Bank or not.
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Quick Breakdown
8/10
The outer shell is smooth to the touch and all of the plugs are on one side, however, it's important to note that because it was so smooth it slid around unless fastened securely. It's got built in temp control and it sports a fireproof exterior, not that I want to see in action but it's nice to know.
6/10
This guy measures out at 3in x 6in x 1in, for reference an iPhone Pro Max is
3in x 6in x 0.5in. That means is guy is the size of two phones put together. If you pocket carry, it's heavy. If you bag carry it, it's heavy. Either way, it's a big boy and there's no easy way to weigh it out.
7/10
Being able to charge 3 devices at the same time is impressive. We wish it had Qi Charging but that brings into question how and where to use versus how many people can use it simultaneously. You would all have to be connected to it but if you can arrange that, it's nifty feature.
8/10
Convenience would be all around use time and this guy as you might find out cannot be carried on all airlines. Luckily, most of the places we fly accept no higher than 27,000mAH making this ideal to travel with families.
8/10
Anker is usually higher priced but this was a reasonable purchase at $49.99 considering it can recharge any single device 3x, whereas most average at 1.5.
8/10
Sporting a more minimalist style, this guy gets points for minimalistic indicators and design. While not a rugged box or uniquely built with LED menus, it's simple making it ideal for every situation.
In-Depth Review
First Impressions
When I first picked up this Power Bank my first thought was, "oh man, this is heavy."
Having worked with iPhones in the past knowing what a 3200mAH needs in terms of space and this mondo sized behemoth definitely looked the part. But given how much iPhones heat up I was shocked when I started to use this thing, it had virtually no heat signature.
We've had the pleasure of testing out this behemoth in Japan, Disneyland California and Arizona, as well as around town in our hometown of Kona, Hawaii. It's really a monster of a power bank and is really well suited to a family or a person with multiple devices that need charging.
Build Quality
The outer shell is super durable, you can't hammer a nail in with it but it does feel very solid. It's advertised with exterior fire protection which we can only assume is built into the shell as there's nothing visible connecting it's presence. There's small processor inside that controls the heat sink, fan and trickle charging portion because there isn't a display to tell you. The indicator lights is broken in to fourths which begs to question if it's showing the battery level in fourths, if that's the case each dot is 5000mAH or 1.5 charges for an iPhone 13.
Be prepared for a bit of a weight when carrying this around. Compared to the Anker MagGo 5000mAH that weighs 5 ounces this big boy weighs a whole pound (16oz to 1lb). That said we suggest lugging this bad boy around in a sling or better yet, a backpack with a specialized pocket like the Lovevook Laptop Backpack.
Utility
This is probably the most textbook example of a larger Power Bank you can get. There are some other battery packs that are able to attach magnetically to your devices, especially iPhones, so you can use them and charge them at the same time. Qi often is not the most efficient method of charging at 5-15w, however this guy charges at 22.5w (max) making equivalent to a fast charger when used with USB Type-C. This speed and power output could charge your iPhone 13 in about 2-2.5hrs, a lot more if in constant use.
So far, the power output doesn't seem to affect multiple devices. In a field test in Kawamachi-Shijo in Kyoto we walked around the shopping arcade for anearly a day and never used the Power Bank more than once per device. Each of us took a turn carrying it around and it wasn't inconvenient at all, it also kept our Pocket Wi-Fi charged all day, better than the supplied one.
Price
Priced reasonably at $49.99 (not on sale) you might be able to find one on sale for as low as $30.99. Usually Anker products do run a little higher than similar off brand products but this is particular Power Bank was a good price. Considering most Power Banks run at $20-25 for 5000mAH, you are getting quadruple the capacity and output for at most $30 more.
Let's say you want to get everyone a battery and there's you, your partner and a child: if you go cheap, 5000mAH battery, $20 each that's $60. With that everyone gets approximately one charge. In the same situation with this Power Bank, you save $10 and everyone gets 1.5 charges, but you have to share. Everything has a trade off but this battery seems to give more than it takes.
Portability
Capacity aside, even this guy will weigh you down. If, like me you will be utilizing the center compartment of you sling for your phone and battery, keep in mind as these things are usually at an angle on your body, will inevitably slide feel weighty.
If you like to carry your battery in your pocket, one even though it doesn't get super hot, it still gets hot. So if that's going to be uncomfortable this might not be the one for you. That said, it is cooler than an iPhone 13 running at max. That said, it's not awkwardly sized, similar to the size of a iPhone Pro Max but double the height which means if you have it in your pockets (guys) with a phone your going to need to tighten your pants.
Convenience
Capacity aside, even this guy will weigh you down. If, like me you will be utilizing the center compartment of you sling for your phone and battery, keep in mind as these things are usually at an angle on your body, will inevitably slide feel weighty. If you're carrying it in a backpack or purse you will most likely never notice the additional weight.
If you like to carry your battery in your pocket, one even though it doesn't get super hot, it still gets hot. So if that's going to be uncomfortable this might not be the one for you. That said, it is cooler than an iPhone 13 running at max. That said, it's not awkwardly sized, similar to the size of a iPhone Pro Max but double the height which means if you have it in your pockets (guys) with a phone your going to need to tighten your pants.
Style
We bought the black and it comes in white as well colors to match every style. I liked that it had two different colors, that could match any style and look super clean. The battery itself isn't much to look at compared to some out there. We do have a cute 3000mAH white generic Power Bank with a cute animated seal face but it's mostly my daughter using it for aesthetics but you can always add a sticker to the Anker if you really want.
Overall, this is meant for function over form. It is nice the ports are all on one side, it makes it easier to position on a table or in a bag to recharge your devices but it will not look terribly cool while performing its duties.
The
Verdict
This is what you came for, Is this accessory worth it?
Well, YES. For all it's shortcomings it finds it's place near the top but not without it's limitations. This is really heavy for some people. If you want a slim profile or magnetic adhesion this is not the product for you. In bag is where it belongs but then you're carrying more weight which could make the bag shift around, or heavy. Even with the huge capacity I just felt like if you don't pass it around you might end up with dead weight. For traveling with multiple devices or people in your party this might be it, if you can share it.
Score Summary
8/10
Equipped with 22.5w fast charging, the ability to share it with 2 others makes this an absolute find if you can handle the weigh and sharing.
Our Opinion
A 8 of 10 is a decent score, brand did not play any factor into this decision. It was priced reasonably at $44.99 on sale this is a great option for those who want a moderately sized bank that won't stir up your finances. That said, if you are looking for something more sleek and portable this is not your option I would stick with the mag options especially if you like iPhones. You aren't going to get more than 10000mAH capacities out of those guys which is good but nothing beats this big boys reliability.
Having used this specific battery for about 2 years I have to say it has definitely held up to the abuse of travel. The material isn't demolished and still holds a charge. It may not be the biggest or the most compact of things we carried around daily but when it came to needing a charge it has been and still is very reliable.
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