Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector Review – Perfectly Contained Portable Power

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Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector-002

Any time I know that I’ll be away from an opportunity to charge my phone from a computer, AC, or  DC outlet, I carry an extended battery pack with me along with least one charging cable. Lately I’ve been carrying the Moshi IonBank 5K; it has 5000 mAH, a built in Lightning cable and a built in USB charger.

Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector-003

The aluminum casing on the Moshi ionBank 5K nicely matches my MacBooks.

Measuring 4.76″ long x 2.68″ wide x 0.83″ thick, the aluminum cased IonBank 5K weighs 7.1 ounces. It has a 5V output USB port on the same side as the push button battery level indicator, and it uses Dynamic Power Sharing technology (DPS) “for optimized charging efficiency of 15W maximum across 2 outputs”. The second output is, of course, the built-in 5V output Lightning cable, which is revealed when you slide the bottom of the battery.

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The Lightning cable is not very long — just 3.5″ or so, but it the perfect length for attaching to your phone so it can charge inside a pocket in your laptop bag or purse; you can also carry both in hand without long loops of cables dangling. The presence of a channel near the base of the Lightning cable means that you can slide the bottom back into place when you are using the it, and the cord won’t get pinched.

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The built-in Lightning cable and USB ports are reasons enough to like the IonBank, but the other feature that makes this a winner is the built in self-charging USB cable, which is released when you slide the USB plug out from the side of the battery; there are ridges on the plug to make it easier when doing so.

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At 6″ long, the USB charging cable is a bit longer, which should be helpful when plugging the battery pack into a laptop, wall, or car charger.

Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector-009

Even though it’s largely psychological, it’s a bit bothersome to me that the Moshi IonBank 5K is only 5000 mAh, or a bit more than two full iPhone 5S charges. My biggest extended battery pack, the Moka i6, is 20,000 mAh; it is only a little bit larger (5.75? long x 3? wide x 0.9? thick), though it weighs twice as much. I also have an ANKER 6000 mAh battery that is substantially smaller.  Of course, neither of those other batteries include integrated cables.

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I find it incredibly convenient to have the means to charge my iPhone, iPad, and my external battery pack all built into the same device; carrying the IonBank 5K means two less cables to forget when I am packing, and one convenient package to hand over when I am (inevitably) sharing my charger with someone else who needs a top-off.

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Because there is much to be said for convenience and efficiency, it should be easy to guess which battery I keep finding myself packing.

The Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector is available directly from the manufacturerThere is also a version available with an integrated microUSB cable, so whatever your operating system, there is an IonBank that will work for your mobile device.

MSRP: $89

What I Like: Integrated Lightning cable and USB charging cable; more than two full iPhone 5S charges; 5V USB charger built into the side for sharing top-offs with another device

What Needs Improvement: I do wish that the mAh were higher, but if that means going up a size then it’s not worth it to me

Source: Manufacturer supplied review unit

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About the Author

Judie Lipsett Stanford
Judie is the co-owner and Editor-in-Chief of Gear Diary, which she founded in September 2006. She started in 1999 writing software reviews at the now-defunct smaller.com; from mid-2000 through 2006, she wrote hardware reviews for and co-edited at The Gadgeteer. A recipient of the Sigma Kappa Colby Award for Technology, Judie is best known for her device-agnostic approach, deep-dive reviews, and enjoyment of exploring the latest tech, gadgets, and gear.

4 Comments on "Moshi IonBank 5K with Lightning Connector Review – Perfectly Contained Portable Power"

  1. I assume this will be headed to Barcelona with you for MWC?

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