I’ve made no secret of the fact that the wireless charging on the iPhone X is one of my favorite features of Apple’s current flagship phone. I love having wireless chargers around the house, at my office, and now — thanks to the myCharge UnPlugged 10K — I can have 10,000mAh of wireless charging goodness on the go.
At $69.99, the 10,000mAh battery in the myCharge UnPlugged 10KyCharge UnPlugged is the most expensive and highest capacity battery in the myCharge lineup of UnPlugged batteries. The lineup also includes the myCharge Unplugged 3K for $29.99, the myCharge Unplugged 5K for $49.99, and the myCharge Unplugged 8K for $59.99.
All of the batteries in the UnPlugged lineup share the same design language but, while the UnPlugged 10K delivers 10W of wireless charging, the other batteries in the line only offer a slower 5W wireless charging. Each is a simple slab battery covered in a white, soft touch material.
The battery is surprisingly small for something with 10,000mAh inside. It measures just 2.8” by .8” by 5.8” and weighs 0.4 pounds. Its small size does not, however, detract from the fact that this is a powerful external battery that can keep you charged all day… and beyond.
At one end, the UnPlugged 10K has two USB-A ports for standard wired charging and a micro USB port for recharging the battery. The USB ports deliver an output of 2.4A. That means the battery can quickly charge any device connected to it.
It does not, however, include charging cables other than the USB-A to micro USB cable which is included for charging the battery.
A small, unassuming button on the large, flat surface of the battery turns it on and off. When the button is pressed, anywhere from one to four small LEDs illuminate to let you know how much charge is left in the battery in 25% increments.
The look and feel of the battery is a bit on the simple side. I don’t love the way the soft-touch material feels, but that’s just a matter of personal taste. I do love the fact that the design is simple and unassuming. I don’t need an external battery that calls attention to itself but one that simply works; it does.
Admittedly, $69.99 for a rechargeable battery with a 10,000mAh capacity is a bit on the high side considering the fact that Amazon offers a battery from Anker with the same capacity for under $30. Unlike the Anker battery, however, this offering from myCharge has Qi wireless charging in addition to the two USB ports. That means you can charge up to three devices at a time. Moreover, the wireless charging is capable of delivering 10W of power. That means it is ready to charge Apple and Samsung devices at the quickest rate each device is able to handle.
The location of the wireless charging is indicated by the concentric circles surrounding the myCharge name on the top. Simply placing a phone with Qi wireless on top of the battery starts the charging process.
As myCharge explains:
Extend the battery of your Qi-enabled phone with the Unplugged10K wireless charging portable battery. This 10,000mAh wireless portable charger is not only certified to Qi standard but also meets the Apple and Samsung Fast Charge standard; delivering up to 10 Watts of power. The 10 Watts of powers ensures the absolute quickest wireless charge on the market. Ditch your cables and simply drop your smartphone on the powerbank and charging will start upon contact. Additionally, two USB-A ports allow you to charge up to three devices at a time.
I should note that there is more to this battery than meets the eye. It has smart-sense technology that ensures complete device compatibility. It offers hyper-charging that recharges devices up to 65% faster than many other external batteries. It has “power-stay” technology that allows the battery to maintain a charge for up to 1 year.
Other features include:
- Max-power: maximum power transfer from power bank to device
- High-density battery: the smallest and lightest power bank
- Safe-cell: provides the highest level of battery safety
- Rapid-recharge: power bank recharges up to 50% faster than competitors
- Pass-Through Charging: will charge the power bank and connected device simultaneously
I’m a fan of the myCharge UnPlugged 10K external battery. I love the fact that it doesn’t have a ton of bells and whistles. (I just want my external battery to work). I love the fact that it has a high-capacity battery, but it isn’t too large or too heavy to throw in my gear bag and forget… until I need it. I love the fact that it has rapid wireless charging. I love the fact that, in addition to the wireless charging, the myCharge UnPlugged 10K has two USB ports. I don’t know how often I’ll need to charge three devices at once, but it is good to know that I can if need be.
That noted, I do wonder why myCharge opted to use USB-A for wired charging and micro USB for recharging the battery. After all, it is 2018 and USB-C is rapidly becoming the standard for mobile devices and external battery packs. That small complaint aside, however, I love this battery and am now keeping it in my gear bag. Check it out here.
Source: Manufacturer supplied review sample of the myCharge UnPlugged 10K external battery with rapid wireless charging
What I Like: Large capacity in a battery that is surprisingly small and light; No bells and whistles; Quick wireless charging AND two USB-A ports for wires charging; Lots of tech built in for safe, rapid charging of all your devices
What Needs Improvement: No USB-C ports