When packing for a day out, three things are always taken: my phone, iPad, and an extended battery. I’m not always near a power source, so planning how I’ll top-off my gadgets is my (slightly obsessive) concern. Until recently, I was carrying the MiLi Power King, but now my go-to battery is the 20,000 mAh Moka i6. Here’s why …
As the picture shows, the MiLi Power King is quite a bit bigger than the Moka i6. The 18,000 mAh Mili measures approximately 8.25″ long x 3.5″ wide x 1″ thick; it weighs a little over one pound, and it has one USB port along with a proprietary port for the assorted (and in most cases outdated) device adapters that come with the set. Make no mistake about it, though, for the power it packed, I considered the MiLi’s size and weight a fair trade.
So imagine my surprise when I got an email that Moka had a battery which crammed 2000 mAh more into a smaller package. In contrast, the 20,000 mAh i6 measures approximately 5.75″ long x 3″ wide x 0.9″ thick, and it weighs 14.1 ounces; it also has two USB ports and no special adapters, which makes sense with most mobile items using readily available microUSB, miniUSB, 30pin Apple USB or Apple Lightning USB cables.
The Moka i6 is available in either black or white, and it is composed of shiny plastic. The package includes a soft carry bag, which makes it that much easier to toss inside my gear bag or purse without worrying about scratches or dings.
The i6 is Moka’s highest capacity charger, and it includes 1.0A and 2.0A USB ports located on opposite sides to allow two devices to be charged simultaneously; the USB ports are labeled on the back side of the battery so you’ll never wonder which is which.
There are four charge indicator lights on the same end; pressing the power button on the left will cause them to light up and display the battery’s remaining charge. This brings up the one thing that I will definitely miss on the MiLi — the battery percentage meter that actually showed a numeric value. I really, really wish that Moka had included one, but they likely saved some costs by not doing so.
There is also a flashlight feature, which is activated and turned off with long presses of the power button.
In stark contrast to the MiLi, the Moka i6 includes no cables. That makes sense to me, because Moka has no way of telling which devices I’ll be charging.
As Dan showed in his review, the MiLi includes a wall-charger power brick that is nearly as large as one that might come with a smaller laptop; in contrast, there is no power cable is included with the Moka. It charges via a microUSB port marked IN next to the flashlight; I’ve been using my HTC One’s microUSB charger plugged into my MacBook Pro, which works just fine.
The Moka i6 uses an advanced power management feature to ensure that there is no overcharge. This extended battery is extremely easy to operate, and other than having to make sure that I don’t accidentally press and hold the power button for too long (which activates the flashlight), I’ve had no issues with it.
Obviously I’m concerned about carrying enough supplemental power when attending events like CES or MWC, but a battery like this also makes sense when traveling or any other time I am out for the day. I can wholeheartedly recommend the Moki i6; it is priced well, and it packs an extremely powerful charge.
MOKA Dual Output Portable Chargers are available from Amazon.
MSRP: $124.95
What I Like: Enormous battery capacity in a small and light package; two USB ports for simultaneous device charging; built in flashlight; uses a micoUSB cable to charge, so no power brick; surprisingly well-priced
What Needs Improvement: I do miss the Mili Power King’s numeric battery percentage display
Source: Manufacturer supplied review unit