Review: AUKEY USB C 10,000mAh Power Bank with 18W PD & QC 3.0 (PB-Y22)

The AUKEY USB C 10,000mAh Power Bank is the next review I have on the docket today, thanks to the good folks at AUKEY. This particular power bank is future proof, with the utilization of USB Type C being used to charge this peripheral. That being said, this power bank can be used to charge any device you may carry, whether you carry a smartphone or Type C compatible device. Included with the PB-Y22 is a USB Type C cable, user manual, and a 24 month warranty/product replacement information.

The PB-Y22 is compact, but has a significant weight to it, which shows that this power bank is well built and sturdy. However, it does not fit comfortably in my front or back jeans pocket in the event of carrying it around during daily use. There are four ports on the device, including one input for lightning cables, one micro USB input, one USB C input/output port and the traditional USB output port for quick charging and USB PD. The PB-Y22 also includes a tactile and responsive power button, which in turn shows the LED indicator on the front of the power bank, showing the amount of juice available in the device.

USB PD, or USB Power Delivery, is a new charging standard which allows users the ability to charge a wider range of USB C or USB PD-compatible devices.

While the PB-Y22 is compatible with iOS devices, it is better utilized with USB Type C compatible devices, namely the items I used during the course of my testing period, my 2016 MacBook Pro with Retina Display (13-inch, with Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports) and iPhone XR, 256 GB in Black. Included with my MacBook Pro is the standard power brick and a USB Type C cable (or Thunderbolt cable) to charge the notebook computer. The PB-Y22 is a compact, lightweight and clutter-free alternative for MacBook Pro users like myself who, at times, are in a rush and don’t necessarily want to carry the ridiculously long USB C cable and power brick. Although using the PB-Y22 and the included USB C cable does reduce the amount of space in your travel bag, the cable’s length does not offer much wiggle room, which forces the user to have their MacBook Pro stationary while it is charging.

Using the PB-Y22 with my iPhone XR is pretty self explanatory. Utilizing the quick charge port with a standard lightning to USB cable, the charging capabilities of the PB-Y22 were very impressive. After heavy use of my smartphone, the battery life was at 70% by the end of the day. Connecting my iPhone to this power bank, it charged my iPhone XR to full capacity in less than 50 minutes. Even though this was a small sample size, the amount of time needed to top off my phone battery was sufficient to justify making this power bank my daily driver in my EDC (everyday carry). The only caveat, as with all power banks, is the need of extra cables to charge devices that are not USB C compatible. It would be great if a USB C/Lightning/Micro USB cable was included, allowing the user to seamlessly switch between power sources.

In conclusion, the PB-Y22 is a compact and hefty power bank that will tick most of the boxes for potential users looking for an affordable and reliable USB C compatible power bank to charge their devices. While it is best suited for USB C, the PB-Y22 will work seamlessly with iOS devices. At the MSRP of $32.99 (via Amazon), this is a great, mid-tier power bank for consumers who commute daily and need an external charger that will offer great value and features for the price. #TEAMTECHKEY

Treat yourself: AUKEY USB C 10,000mAh Power Bank

Review: AUKEY Graphite Lite Q 10W Wireless Fast Charger

The Graphite Lite Q 10W Wireless Fast Charger (or the LC-C6 for the sake of this review), is twice the capacity of the previous wireless charger I reviewed over a month ago: Review: AUKEY Graphite Wireless Charger (LC-C6). This version boasts the same features that its’ predecessor carries. So much so, there isn’t much to detail or discuss in this review. AUKEY has proven time and time again that they manufacture quality products at a fraction of the cost in comparison to their more expensive counterparts.

Included in the box is the LC-C6 (10W version), a 3ft micro-USB cable, a multi-language user manual and the typical safety and warranty information. This particular version of the LC-C6 is at 10W, as I stated earlier, which will equate for quicker charge times for smartphones that are compatible to 10W Qi enabled devices. In terms of size, the 10W version is exactly the same as its’ less ‘beefier’ counterpart, which is impressive due to its very slim and light form factor. With this version, it is best suited for those consumers who recently upgraded to newer devices, such as the Samsung Galaxy S9/S9+ or the Apple iPhone XR/XS/XS Max (I recently upgraded to the iPhone XR).

The biggest difference between the 10W and 5W is the charge time. While the 5W was impressive in terms of charging speeds, the 10W version of the LC-C6 saw a significant boost in charging. In my previous review, I recorded an estimated time of 4 hours, 27 minutes in charging my iPhone 8 Plus from 10% battery to a full charged. With the 10W version and testing with my iPhone XR, this particular test would not be as accurate. With the iPhone XR, with a full day’s use, the battery life only dwindled to 84%, with a significant amount of usage dedicated to streaming music on Spotify, checking Twitter and browsing the internet. Once I placed my device on the charger at the same time as my previous test, the total time spent charging was 1 hour, 6 minutes. If this product was sent to me at a later date, with my smartphone well worn and travelled, the test would be more indicative of typical smartphone use.

 

In conclusion, the AUKEY Graphite Lite Q 10W Wireless Fast Charger is a reliable and affordable Qi-compatible fast charger for consumers have upgraded to more resilient smartphones that can support up to 10W of output. At $16.99, the slight bump in price in comparison to its 5W counterpart is completely justified. It truly feels as the most logical step up when upgrading to latest Android or iOS device. Many thanks to the good folks at AUKEY for sending me this device for review. #TEAMTECHKEY

Treat yourself: AUKEY Graphite 10W Wireless Fast Charger