‘Tinkering Review’ — A Travel Essential: Here’s a New Gadget to Consider!
Translated from the Chinese original.
Introduction
Anyone who has read my earlier articles knows that my must-have travel power bank is the 10,000mAh CIKE Xiao Hong Wan (小紅玩)! It stays compact while supporting a wide range of protocols. Recently, however, I received the CHOETECH B627 10,000mAh 18W two-way fast-charging power bank, and it once again made me appreciate the words “slim and light”…
About the Brand
CHOETECH’s parent company (深圳市迪奧科科技有限公司) is a multinational e-commerce retailer focused on manufacturing smart mobile accessories and on the research and development of power products, batteries, and accessories.
You may not know this brand very well. Its products were initially sold overseas, and it only entered the Chinese market recently.
Unboxing
▲ The front of the box has a product image printed directly on it, making the contents easy to understand and the design more eye-catching. The upper-right corner also states that this is a 10,000mAh power bank with support for 18W PD two-way fast charging.
▲ The outer packaging shows that it has the currently popular USB-C two-way fast charging, USB-A output, and Micro USB input interfaces. Its price is RMB 119.
A Quick Detour
Let me explain what two-way fast charging means. “Two-way” means that the power bank can fast-charge a phone and can also fast-charge itself while it is being recharged. Whether it is storing power in the power bank or charging a device, two-way fast charging is very fast.
▲ This is a pull-out box. Once opened, the CHOETECH power bank is right in the middle, with a Micro USB charging cable underneath. There is no foam protection at all, so the safety of the power bank during shipping cannot be guaranteed. The inner packaging is also far too bare-bones. It was a little disappointing.
▲ There are many similar power banks, each with its own design. The CHOETECH power bank can sometimes look like a brick, but its edges are rounded, the matte finish feels very smooth, and it is comfortable to hold. The clean design is also very easy on the eyes.
▲ The back of the power bank lists the product specifications:
B627 lithium-ion battery energy: 10,000mAh/3.7V/37Wh. Rated capacity: 6,200mAh (5V/2A TYP)
Input: Micro USB: 5V2A, 9V2A. USB-C: 5V2A, 9V2A
Output: USB-A: 5V3A, 9V2A, 12V1.5A. USB-C: 5V3A, 9V2A, 12V1.5A
▲ There is a button on the side of the power bank. Press it to check how much charge is left. Its thickness is about the same as an iPhone 4S.
▲ I measured this power bank at 211 g. 10,000mAh power banks are generally around the same weight, but it still has a weight advantage over the CIKE Xiao Hong Wan.
Putting It to the Test
▲ Using a POWER-Z KM001C, I checked the output protocols on the USB-C port. It showed support for USB-C, CC1, and PD3.0. The A port also supports multiple fast-charging protocols, including QC2.0/3.0, AFC, and FCP. Compatibility is good, with a maximum output of 18W.
▲ I used a USB-C-to-USB-C cable to charge the power bank, and the charging indicator turned green.
The Verdict
This power bank gave me a pretty nice surprise, although it does have a few flaws!
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The color options are too conservative. There is currently only a black version. I wonder whether a white or other color version will be released later.
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Only the USB-C interface supports fast-charging protocols; the USB interface does not. Hopefully fast-charging protocols will be added in the future.
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It could certainly be lighter. I believe keeping it under 200 g would greatly improve the user experience.
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The button’s molding and finish are a little rough.
For a power bank at this stage, it has still done quite well. This will become another essential item for my travels…
All right! That is everything about this useful gadget. Thank you very much for reading this far. This article is mainly about my personal experience with this power bank. If you think it was worthwhile, follow, share, and recommend it—your support is my biggest motivation for writing!