Unveiled just last month, Anker has released a new collection of hardware ahead of Apple’s move to USB-C for the iPhone 15. The new phones have officially arrived with this universal port, and today we’ll be taking a hands-on look at them. and something that is now an integral part of my everyday carry. Meet the new Anker Nano USB-C power bank.
Hands-on experience with the new Anker Nano USB-C power supply
Anker’s new line of Nano chargers comes at the perfect time to give iPhone 15 users new USB-C hardware to switch to. While we’ll be exploring the entire line and how it stacks up against Apple’s latest new phones in the coming weeks, the accessory I’ve been dying to get my hands on is the new Nano Power Bank. This 10,000mAh portable battery has a fairly compact form factor and combines three different ways to charge your device.
On the side next to the USB-A slot is a USB-C port. The real star of the show, however, is the built-in USB-C cable, which lets you charge your shiny new iPhone 15 at 30W speeds while always being on hand. There are also some other new features that we’ll look at below, but the question is whether the unique form factor will bring the $50 price tag. I will answer one too.
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Here’s a more detailed look at the specification:
Use the built-in USB-C cable to charge smartphones, tablets, and laptops, as well as recharge the power bank itself. Boost your battery up to 50% in just 45 minutes or charge your iPhone 14 battery up to 50% in 30 minutes. Feel light energy on the go with 10,000 mAh capacity. Through careful selection of materials and manufacturing methods, the outer casing is made from 80% post-consumer recycled plastic, intentionally reducing its carbon footprint.
Taking 9to5Toys
Anker sent me the entire Nano collection right before the iPhone 15 launched on Friday, and the first accessory I used was the new Nano Power Bank. The moment I saw it in the press materials ahead of the launch last month, I knew I had to have it. Now, almost a month and many walks later with a new battery in my bag, I’m ready to talk about it.
I wasn’t particularly excited about the move to USB-C, but now I’m starting to see the appeal. This is due in no small part to new accessories hitting the scene: the Anker Nano USB-C power supply was the perfect accessory that completely sold the Switch on me.
From the very beginning, the form factor immediately caught my attention. It fits comfortably in my hand and is much smaller than I expected for a 10,000mAh capacity. There’s a fairly typical plastic shell surrounding the body, but the rugged feel keeps it from feeling too cheap. However, hanging off the side is the included USB-C cable, which is fully integrated into the charger. This is not an additional accessory or something that can be removed, but part of the entire package.
That’s exactly what the USB-C does in the name Anker Nano USB-C Power Bank. The cable can power your gear with 30W of power and also do double duty to charge the internal battery. So, not only can it connect to your gadgets without the need for an extra cord, but it can also charge itself using a USB-C wall adapter. There’s also an additional USB-C port for charging devices or the internal battery, as well as a USB-A slot to complete the I/O.
What easily sets it apart from everything else on the market is something we’ve been seeing a lot from Anker lately. The company has been building small displays into all of its chargers lately, and now the new Nano USB-C power bank is the latest to get this capability. This specification is very interesting to read, but in practice it is very useful – especially with something so small.
Having a screen where you can just take a quick glance to see the power levels is a real lifesaver. I like that it tells you how charged it is and that the battery shows the exact level. In the past, I’ve hastily grabbed power supplies that say they have three out of five dots on their power LED, only to find that they have far less charge than I had hoped. This shows the exact amount of charge remaining as well as the time remaining on the current output.
Anker is back with another power supply that is undoubtedly one of the most unique. Everything from the size to the charging technology to the built-in screen is different from what we’ve seen from the company in the past. And not only Anker himself! Check out any other brand; you’ll be hard-pressed to find anything that has the same feature set as the new Anker Nano USB-C power bank. That makes it worth the $50 price tag in my book. At home I’m still totally sold on MagSafe, but while I’m on the road, Anker has for now convinced me that USB-C is really all it’s cracked up to be.