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Power
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Portability
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Features
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Value
Summary
Fitted with two charging slots, an amazing size to power ratio, great portability, and enough battery to charge your average phone three to four times, the RAVPower 12000mAh Power Bank is simply one of the best power banks in the 10,000 - 12,000 mAh segment.
- Amazingly compact for a 12,000 power bank, smaller than a smartphone
- Two charging slots for simultaneous charging, with two cables included
- Great value
- Sleek matte black casing
- A bit heavier than it looks
- A few people have complained about the lifespan of the battery. However, these could’ve been faulty units
RAVPower goes neck and neck with Anker and introduces their 12000 mAh power bank for the mid-range segment. We’ve reviewed dozens of RAVPower power banks and were mostly very pleased with the quality and value of their products, so let’s take a look at how the RAVPower 12000mAh power bank holds up against big dogs like the Jackery Giant Premium 12000 and the Anker PowerCore II 10000 in this review
Design and portability
The RAVPower 12000mAh Power Bank is part of RAVPower’s ACE series line up, hence why it looks almost exactly like a slightly inflated version of the RAVPower ACE 6700 Power bank. It has a sleek black design with matte finish, and feels very good to the touch. Also, it comes with a nice mesh pouch so it’s protected from scratcing in your pocket or bag.
For a unit with such a capacity, it’s astonishingly small. Measuring in at just 5.12 inches in length and 2.20 inches in width, with a thickness of just 0.94 inch. It’s only slightly taller than an Anker PowerCore 10000, but less wide. And if we compare it to the Jackery Giant Premium, the RAVPower 12000 mAh Power Bank is much, much more compact. It slides in your pocket as easily as a smartphone, but is even smaller. Do you remember those indestructible Nokia 3310 phones from back in the day? The RAVPower is just about that size, only slightly thicker. It’s probably not as indestructible though.. so don’t throw it around.
On a serious note, the power bank feels very robust. Although it’s made of plastic, it definitely feels like a quality unit similar to earlier RAVPower devices we’ve reviewed. The casing is made of fire retardant UL94 V-0 shell. What this means in layman’s terms is, you don’t have to worry about dangerous scenarios that involve explosions and fire, since the shell is built to withstand intense heat. This UL94V-0 rating by the way – if we may believe RAVpower’s claim – is the same rating for material used in luxury cars from BMW and Mercedes. If luxury brands use it, you know it’s good!
Features
On the surface of the device we find four LED lights that indicate how much battery is left in the power bank, and on the front we find two charge slots equipped with RAVPower’s signature iSmart technology. Meaning the ports will output the ideal amperage to your device automatically, and stop charging when it’s completely full.
What’s surprising is that the power bank has two charge slots. It’s very unusual for a power bank of this size to have two charging slots. The Anker PowerCore II 10000 and the Aukey 10400 Quick Charge 2.0 Portable Charger both miss this much needed second charging slot, so the RAVPower 12000 Power bank has a great advantage over its competitors in that regard.
As we already know, power banks of RAVPower’s ACE series are not equipped with a flashlight. If you like to have a flashlight option on a power bank, the RAVPower’s Deluxe series may be better fit for you.
Power
The RAVPower carries high-density lithium polymer battery cells instead of the regular lithium-ion cells used in most power banks. Lithium polymer batteries are a type of lithium-ion battery using a polymer electrolyte instead of liquid. Now you might be wondering what the heck that means. Generally, lithium polymer batteries are far less likely to leak than lithium-ion batteries, since they do not use liquid. So even though they potentially have slightly less charging cycles than a normal li-ion battery, the non-leaking risk of polymer cells slightly make up for this. Moreover, li-polymer batteries are more resistant to overcharge and do not combust. One downside though, is that they have a shorter lifespan than regular li-ion batteries. It should definitely be mentioned that a few people have complained about the power bank suddenly stopped charging after a few months. We can’t say anything about the durability yet, so we’ll be reporting back here in six months to announce if it still works.
Onto the battery capacity. As you already know, the power bank has a battery capacity of 12,000mAh, which is incredibly high for such a compact unit. It charges an iPhone 7 almost five times and a Samsung Galaxy S7 three times. With an output of 2.4A and its iSmart technology, it also charges at very decent speeds. It should be mentioned that the power bank does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge. So even if your phone has the Quick Charge functionality, the power bank will just charge it at regular speed. However, the RAVPower still is relatively fast and charges most smartphones within one hour and forty minutes. Furthermore, the RAVPower doesn’t boast enough power to fully charge an iPad Pro, but does handily juice it up to about 80%, which is very impressive for such a small power bank.
Simultaneous charging is a breeze as well. There is no reduction in charging time noticeable when charging two devices at once. The smart charging ports make sure your devices get the most efficient charge possible.
With an input of 2A, the power bank will be charged within seven hours, provided that you use a 2A wall charger. It’s not included with the power bank, so if recharging the power bank quickly is important to you, make sure to get a 2A wall charger if you don’t already have one. Charging it with a 1A charger takes roughly twelve to fourteen hours.
Conclusion
After having reviewed dozens of RAVPower devices, I can’t say that I’m surprised by the amazing value this unit brings. It has one of the best size to power ratios on a power bank I’ve ever seen, is fitted with two charging slots, cased in a sturdy shell, and is simply an excellent power bank in every way.
Check prices on AmazonTechnical Specifications
Measurements: | 5.12 x 2.2 x 0.94 inches |
Weight: | 330g (11.3oz) |
Charging ports: | 2(2.4A max per port) |
Safety features: | Overcharge protection, short-circuit protection and more |
Compatible with: | iPhone, Android, tablet, digital cameras etc. (most micro-USB devices) |
Pass-through charging: | Yes |
Smart charging: | Yes, iSmart technology |
Qualcomm Quick Charge: | No |
Battery indication: | 4 LED lights |
Flashlight: | No |
Battery capacity: | 12000 mAh |
Total max output: | 3.4A |
Total max input: | 2A |
Time to charge itself: | 7 – 14 hours (depending on wall charger used) |