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Power
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Portability
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Features
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Value
Summary
A great quality power bank with incredible value. While not as portable and sturdy as the Anker PowerCore 10000, the Anker Astro E3 arguably has the slicker looking design and comes with two charging ports.
- Slick smartphone-esque design
- Great power capacity and quick charging times
- Two ports for simultaneous charging
- Some compatibility issues with older devices
- Not as robust as newer Anker devices like the PowerCore 10000; some users experience issues with the durability of this device
The Astro series of Anker are their earlier generation powerbanks. They have new product lines nowadays like the PowerCore and PowerCore+ series, but the Astro’s are still extremely popular due to their cool design and quality. Earlier this week we reviewed the Anker Astro E1 and were extremely impressed by the neat little device. The Anker Astro E3 Portable Charger is the bigger version and has almost twice the capacity. Let’s take a look at it in this review.
Design and Portability
The design of the Astro E3 is very slick and it looks like a regular smartphone but just slightly thicker. It has a glossy black coating and a power button on the spot where the home button would be on a smartphone. It measures 5.4 x 2.6 inches and is 0.6 inches thick. Even though it’s not as compact as the Anker PowerCore 10000, it’s slimmer and arguably has the cooler looking design.
It’s very portable and can be slid in your pocket if needed. However, it is quite heavy for a portable charger and weighs 8.2 ounces, which is almost as heavy as an iPad mini. It’s not particularly heavy, but noticeable when carrying in your pocket and therefore best to carry in a bag. Just like all other Anker powerbanks, this one also comes with a nice travel pouch to keep the device from scratching when carried with you.
Features
The powerbank has a power button that can be used to show how much charge is still left in the tank. This is indicated by four stylish blue LED battery indicators that surround the power button on the left and the right.
Like all Anker devices the Astro E3 is equipped with PowerIQ. Which means the ports have the ability to detect your device and provide it with the most efficient charge. This is a very nice feature and it makes sure the devices your charging are charged as quickly as possible and also as safely as possible. The outputs have a current of up to 3A. Which means you can also charge tablets and other big devices at very high speeds, and also – thanks to the dual charge ports – charge two devices simultaneously.
The powerbank also has multiple safety features that make sure both your device and the powerbank are protected against damage. It has short circuit prevention, high efficiency overload and many more protection functions. However, weirdly some users have experienced problems with the power bank itself defecting over time. So there might be some durability issues with the components here.
Another flaw of the Anker Astro series is that it’s not compatible with older devices like the iPad nano, iPod Classic, Hp TouchPad and some Asus tablets. If you own one of these, a Jackery powerbank might be a better alternative for you.
Power
Of course the power is its most important aspect. The Anker Astro E3 has a battery capacity of 10,000mAh which is enough to charge most smartphones at least three times. It manages to charge a Samsung Galaxy S3 almost four times. It can also charge most tablets once. However, big tablets like the iPad 4 can only be charged about 75 percent. Which is still good, but if you’re looking for a dedicated power bank to charge tablets it’s best to take a look at 20,000mAh power banks like the Anker PowerCore 20100.
The Anker Astro E3 has great battery retention and even after months of long use still has most of its power left. Also, the Astro E3 recharges pretty quick when it’s empty, at least for a power bank of this calibre. It has a 2A input so it recharges in roughly 6 hours with a 2A wall charger. However, there’s no wall charger included so you’re going to have to use your own wall charger or charge it via PC if you don’t have one. They are very cheap though and you can get one here on Amazon.
Conclusion
Even though the Anker Astro E3 is a great powerbank with impressive power and efficiency, I like the Anker PowerCore 10000 just a bit better. It’s more portable, feels so much easier to carry around, and is a lot more durable than this one. However, the Astro E3 is a top notch device as well with incredible value and two charge ports for simultaneous charging. So if you prefer its looks and dual charge abilty over the PowerCore 10000, the Astro E3 will definitely not disappoint you.
Check the Anker Astro E3 10000mAh Power Bank on Amazon- iPod nano
- iPod Classic
- HP Touchpad
- Dell Venue 11 Pro
- Asus tablets
- Some GPS and bluetooth devices
Measurements: | 5.4 x 2.6 x 0.6 inches |
Weight: | 232g (8.2oz) |
Charging ports: | 2 (3A max) |
Smartports: | Yes |
Compatible with: | iPhone, Android, tablets, cameras etc. (most micro USB devices) |
Pass through charging: | No |
Qualcomm Quick Charge: | No |
Battery indication: | 4 LED lights |
Flashlight: | No |
Power capacity: | 10,000 mAh |
Total max output: | 3A |
Time to charge itself: | 6 – 12 hours |
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