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Power
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Portability
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Features
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Value
Summary
The Jackery Bar Premium powerbank does exactly what it should and does not only have snazzy good looks, but incredible value for the money as well.
- Incredible value
- Sleek and sturdy aluminum design
- Fast charge speeds
- Pass through charging ability
- Ports and charge cable not the greatest quality, but still decent
Jackery’s devices have been some of the highest rated power banks in our reviews. Their powerbanks are extremely popular and in this review we’ll be taking a look at the highly popular Jackery Bar 6000 mAh External Battery Pack.
Design and portability
Just like the Jackery Giant Premium we reviewed, the Jackery Bar Premium comes in a cool Jackery branded package which makes for a great unboxing experience. Everything looks very premium and judging by the looks, you’d never expect it to be such an inexpensive product.
The power bank is colered in Jackery’s signature orange which looks very stylish, although it’s also available in black and silver. What I really like about Jackery’s powerbanks is that they’re encased in sleek aluminum. This not only gives the Jackery Bar a premium look, but also makes the device more robust than other powerbanks that are usually plastic.
The device is also very small and measures 3.8 x 1.8 inches. It easily fits in any pocket and is as portable as it gets at this level. It’s a bit thicker than some powerbanks and measures 0.9 inches, but is still very much compact and lightweight.
Features
The Jackery Bar has one charge port that can be used to charge most micro-USB charged devices like smartphones, tablets and digital cameras. However, some users have had problems charging devices with iOS 7 and above. So if you own an iPhone or iPad, this is probably not the best device for you. Take a look at the Anker Astro E1 or Zendure A2 for some alternatives.
The max output of the Jackery Bar is 2.1A, which is enough power for just about any USB device including tablets and makes for relatively quick charge times. I’m not sure if the output is a smartport and adapts to a safe amperage for the device you’re charging, but it does have multiple safety features like overcurrent, overvoltage and overcharge protection.
With three blue LED lights you can see how much charge is left in the tank. One light blinking means 0 – 10%, one full light means 10 – 33%, two lights on means 33 – 66%, and three lights on means 66 – 100%. The increments are quite large and it would’ve been nice if there were four battery indicators for a better overview. Or an LED screen with percentage like the Crave Travel Power Bank has.
Like most Jackery Powerbanks, the Jackery Bar also has the pass-through-charging ability. Which means you can charge a device while the powerbank is also charging. One design flaw of the Jackery Bar however is that the input port and output port are lined up very close together. This can make it a bit harder to have both cables in the powerbank at the same time, especially when you have a slightly bulkier USB cable. It’s not a huge flaw, but some users have experienced issues with the ports retracting and bending into the device. This is an issue we also saw with the ZILU SmartPower Basic, and calls for better quality control by both brands.
The Jackery Bar is equipped with a flashlight. It’s not very bright, but can come in handy every once in awhile in certain situations. Another cool extra by jackery is that they have a specialized app you can download on your phone. This app monitors your battery usage, estimates at what times your battery will drain, and reminds you when to charge the device. Even though it’s not a very advanced app, it’s just one of those little extras that give the Jackery Bar Premium a slight edge over competitors in terms of usability.
Power
The Jackery bar is not necessarily a beast in terms of power, but has just enough power for most everyday users. It has 6000mAh which is enough to charge an average smartphone twice, or a medium tablet about 40%. However, nowadays smartphone batteries are getting bigger and bigger, so don’t be surprised if it can only charge your phone once. Smartphones like the iPhone XS and Galaxy S9 are bigger than average and can only be charged once and then some with a full Jackery Bar. It does charge pretty fast though. It manages to charge a Samsung Galaxy S9 in under two hours. Mostly thanks to the 2.1A output and high quality Panasonic battery in the Jackery device.
The input is only 1A though, so recharging the powerbank takes around 6 hours with a 1A wall charger. Like with most powerbanks, there’s no wall charger included. If you don’t have one yourself it’s best to buy one, as charging it via PC or laptop takes literally twice as long. They’re pretty cheap though here on Amazon.
Conclusion
The Jackery Bar is definitely one of the more stylish portable powerbanks I’ve seen so far. Its aluminum orange casing gives it a premium look, and makes for an impressive eyecatcher. The input port, output port, and the included charge cable are not top notch quality, But that’s to be expected at this price point. And Jackery more than compensates this with quick charging power and nice extra functionality like the pass-through charging feature, flashlight and app.
Check Jackery Bar Premium 6000 mAh External Battery Charger prices on AmazonTechnical specifications
Measurements: | 3.8 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches |
Weight: | 150g (5.3oz) |
Charging ports: | 1 (2.1A max) |
Safety features: | Overcharge, overcurrent, overvoltage and 6 more (see all on Amazon) |
Compatible with: | Smartphone, tablet, digital camera etc. |
Pass through charging: | Yes |
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0: | No |
Battery indication: | 3 LED lights |
Flashlight: | Yes |
Power capacity: | 6000 mAh |
Total max output: | 2.1A |
Total max input: | 1A |
Time to recharge itself: | 6 – 8 hours |
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