Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

The Lowdown

Aukey uses silicon nanowire technology in two of their latest battery packs, the Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh Power Bank (PB-N93) and the Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A). Not only are they extremely portable, but they are also quite powerful.

Overall
5

Pros

  • Includes a 10.5″ USB Type-A to Type-C cable
  • Slimmer and more compact than most power banks of the same mAh size
  • Two USB Type-A ports with one USB Type-C In/Out port
  • 18W PD is available on the PB-N93A power bank as is low-current charging mode
  • Light and small enough for everyday carry
  • For just $3 more, you can get the version with 18W PD

Cons

  • Don’t let the microUSB charging port fool you, as both batteries will charge just fine (and much faster) through the USB Type-C In/Out port

Remember when a portable battery pack that held 20,000mAh was a beast to lug around? Thankfully, those days are over. The 20,000mAh Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Banks are much smaller and lighter than many similar capacity Li-Ion battery packs. Wait until you see what I mean …

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

My contact at Aukey explained how they were able to make this happen:

Thanks to 100% Silicon Nanowire Technology, the power bank could be 50% smaller & lighter compare to traditional Lithium-based power banks. Also, it could reduce heat while working to provide high-speed charging more efficient.

Now, I’m going to have to digress for a moment to admit that I am not 100% versed in battery technologies beyond the ones that I’ve had in my cellphones, laptops, and other mobile devices over the years, which included NiMH, NiCD, Li-Ion, and Li-Po. I had never heard of silicon nanowire technology, so when Aukey told me their new battery pack used it, I had to Google it to figure out what that term even meant.

The long and the short of why silicon nanowire is preferable to traditional Li-Ion batteries is that the silicon nanowire technology helps extend Li-Ion batteries’ life while taking up less room and holding more power without degrading — which is actually a perfect fit when considering an everyday carry portable battery pack. Honestly, it sounds like a perfect fit for cellphones, too, but there may be reasons I’m not aware of why it isn’t being used. Anyway!

Aukey uses silicon nanowire technology in two of their latest battery packs, the Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh Power Bank (PB-N93) and the Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A). Not only are they extremely portable, but they are also quite powerful.

Both of these battery packs can be charged via a microUSB slot on their right side. Since they each also have a USB Type-C In/Out port, you can just use that port instead for up to two times faster recharging. We’ve got both models in; while they are quite similar in appearance (having the same number of ports and being composed of matte black plastic with a textured MC Escher-like cube design embossed on their tops), there are some important differences.

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh Power Bank (PB-N93)

The Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh Power Bank (PB-N93) measures approximately 6.2″ long by 2.9″ wide by 0.75″ thick, and it weighs 11.8 ounces. Inside its box, you’ll find the battery, a 10.5″ USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable, a 24-month warranty card, and a user manual. Set-up is easy, but as is typical with most portable battery packs, you’ll need to have your own power brick to use as a wall charger.

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

There are two USB Type-A ports on the battery pack’s front side, each output 5V/3A. A USB Type-C In/Out port sits to the right, which you can use to charge the battery itself or power your devices at 5V/3A. There is a power button on the left side of the battery pack, and above it are four small white LEDs that display the remaining battery life in 25% increments when the power button is pressed.

On the right side of the battery, there is a microUSB port for charging the battery. Presumably, the only time you would want to use this method would be when you needed to use all three ports on the front to charge other devices simultaneously, as this method would be slower than using the Type-C port for charging.

On the back of the battery, information is printed indicating that its total max output is 15W. So this is a battery that can charge a smartphone with a 4,000mAh battery up to five times, or an iPad mini almost three times. It is not quite powerful enough to charge a laptop, but it will serve you well for most of your everyday carry gear. One caveat is that it is not quite capable of 18W fast-charging for smartphones and tablets that can handle it, but it is still quite powerful.

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

At $44.99, it’s a solid portable battery that won’t weigh you down.

Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A)

The Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A) measures approximately 6.2″ long by 2.9″ wide by 0.75″ thick, and it weighs 11.7 ounces. Inside its box, you’ll find the same items that were in the previous battery’s package — the battery, a 10.5″ USB Type-A to USB Type-C charging cable, a 24-month warranty card, and a user manual. Again, you’ll need to have your own power brick to use as a wall charger.

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

This battery is set up the same as the first one, but with some important differences. This battery has a low-current charging mode, which makes it suitable for charging lower-current devices such as fitness trackers or wireless headphones, and it offers up to 18W PD for fast charging mobile devices.

There are two USB Type-A ports on the battery pack’s front side, each output 5V/3A, 9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A.  A USB Type-C In/Out port sits to the right, which you can use to charge the battery itself or power your devices at 5V/3A,  9V/2A, or 12V/1.5A. Again, there is a power button on the left side of the battery pack, and above it are four small white LEDs that display the remaining battery life in 25% increments when the power button is pressed.

On the right side of the battery, there is also a microUSB port for charging the battery. Again, this would not be the preferred method for charging the battery, as it’s slower than using the Type-C port.

On the back of the battery, the information shows that its total max output is 18W. Obviously, the battery capacity is the same as the first one mentioned so it can power your 4,000mAh smartphone up to five times or your iPad mini almost three times. The batteries are nearly identical unless you look at the information printed on their backs. Again, this battery is not powerful enough to charge a laptop, but it will serve you well for most of your everyday carry mobile devices.

Aukey Basix Blade Series Power Bank Review: Two Pocketable Models with 20,000mAh of Portable Power

At just $3 more than the first battery mentioned, I’m not sure why anyone wouldn’t get this model instead.

So, I’ve given you the measurements for both Aukey batteries, but here’s a visual of how small they really are. Here’s the Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A) in the center of a OnePlus 8T and the (obviously much loved) 12,000mAh Chinese New Year edition mophie powerstation plus XL battery pack that I used to carry everywhere when I was still using an iPhone. Consider that the Aukey has 166% more mAh than that 2017 mophie!

OnePlus 8T next to Aukey Basix Blade battery pack nect to mophie powerstation plus XL

Granted, the mophie powerstation plus XL had a built-in removable Lightning tip on a microUSB charging cable, so it’s hard to dock it for being a little bit wider. But the mophie also cost over twice as much as the Aukey Basix Blade series does now (I bought the mophie in 2017), so I’m not going to count it as a con that cables aren’t built into the Aukey. 😉

If you’ve been looking for a maximum mAh portable battery that won’t weigh you down, the Aukey Basix Blade Series is a fantastic choice!

The Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh Power Bank (PB-N93) sells for $44.99, and it is available on Amazon. The Aukey Basix Blade 20,000mAh 18W PD Power Bank (PB-N93A) sells for $47.99, and it is available on Amazon.

Source: Manufacturer supplied review samples

What I Like: Includes a 10.5″ USB Type-A to Type-C cable; Slimmer and more compact than most power banks of the same mAh size; Two USB Type-A ports with one USB Type-C In/Out port; 18W PD is available on the PB-N93A power bank as is low-current charging mode; Light enough for everyday carry; For just $3 more, you can get the version with 18W PD

What Needs Improvement: Don’t let the microUSB charging port fool you, as both batteries will charge just fine (and much faster) through the USB Type-C In/Out port

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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.