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Power
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Portability
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Features
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Value
Summary
The mophie Powerstation XL is expensive, but you're paying for a namebrand and a quality power bank that will give your smartphone up to 4 charges, and has 2 outputs so you can charge 2 devices simultaneously.
- High quality device as we are used to from mophie
- Dual output and enough power capacity to charge your average phone up to 4 times or tablet once
- It’s smaller than other powerbanks with same caliber power
- Doesn’t live up to its “can charge your smartphone 8 times” claim
- A bit heavy, also slightly too thick for your pocket
- Expensive
Power capacity: 12,000 mAh
Outputs: 2 (1A and 2.1A)
Weight: 363g (12.8oz)
Time to charge itself: 4 hours
Compatible with: Tablet, iPad/iPhone, Android and other smartphones, digital camera etc. (any micro-USB supported device)
Mophie is a name brand when it comes to portable chargers and it definitely shows in the price tag. Let’s take a look at the mophie Powerstation XL in this review.
Design and portability
Having XL in the name might have you think this power bank is a pretty big device, but it’s size is actually not too bad and it measures at 4.52 x 2.8 inch and is not much bigger than a deck of cards. However, it is quite thick at almost 1 full inch, so it probably won’t fit in your front pocket and definitely not in your shirt pocket. It’s also quite heavy and weighs almost a pound. Compared to other power banks with similar power and dual output, it’s still relatively compact though. The IOGear gearpower GMP10K for example is more than twice as big.
Mophie products are always nice to look at and the Powerstation XL is no exception. It has a black matte finish on the top and bottom and aluminum on the side which gives it a premium quality look. Mophie definitely scores some points here in the looks department. The powerstation XL is available in white or black, and the white version is considerably less costly than the black version.
Features
Feature wise the mophie Powerstation XL does alright for itself. Nothing out of the ordinary, and definitely nothing wrong with it. It’s equipped with dual output so you can charge 2 devices at the same time. Any device that supports micro USB will do. You can charge your smartphone, GoPro, smartwatch, camera, tablet and more with this power bank and it charges at a nice speed thanks to the 2.1A output. It also has 4 green LED battery indicators to show how much charge is left in the power bank. The input to charge the power bank is in between the USB outputs and you’re gonna have to charge it via PC or laptop as it doesn’t come with an AC adapter.
Power
Let’s get one thing out of the way first: 8 charges, what? That is a very bold claim. An average smartphone battery has a capacity of 2500 to 3000 mAh, so 8 charges is actually more than 20,000 mAh, and that’s even without taking lost efficiency into account. So no, there’s no way you’re gonna get 8 smartphone charges out of this thing. The mophie Powerstation XL has a power capacity of 12,000 mAh, which is enough to charge your average smartphone 3 times, maybe 4, and your tablet a bit more than once. Which is not bad at all, but the 8 times charge claim is a bit misleading.
The mophie powerstation XL has one 1A output and a 2.1A output. The 2.1A output can be used for tablets and charges at a nice pace. When the powerstation XL itself runs out of steam, it takes around 4 hours to charge, which – compared to other same caliber power banks – is pretty good.
Conclusion
The mophie Powerstation XL is a great quality power bank and mophie does not disappoint. It’s an expensive powerbank, but you’re paying for a name brand with quality and reliability. The weird claim that it can charge most smartphones up to 8 times is a bit misleading, but if we overlook that part, the mophie Powerstation XL has some nice features, is compact for the power it offers, and will help you out whenever your big or small device runs out of battery.
Check mophie Powerstation XL prices on Amazon
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