TP-LINK, popular for its networking peripherals introduced the TP-LINK PB50 10000mAh Power Bank earlier this year at the CES. It will go on sale in India later this week for Rs. 3,000. Is the power bank worth the price? Check out the review.
Box Contents
- TP-LINK PB50 10000mAh Power Bank in Black color
- Micro USB cable
- Carry Pouch
- User guide
Design and build
The TP-LINK PB50 looks huge from the front, but it weighs about 280 grams, similar to most of the 10000mAh power banks. The body has a smooth matte finish, which is easy to hold in hands offering a nice grip and also prevents the power bank from scratches. It is also not prone to smudges, and you can easily wipe off the dust. You can use the bundled pouch to prevent it from gathering dust. Since the body is durable, it doesn’t require a separate protective cover.
There are four LED indicators on the front that glow in green color. These indicators show the remaining battery left when you are using it, and remaining battery that needs to be charged when it is charging. It doesn’t have on or off buttons and charges devices immediately when they are connected.
There is a small button on the right side. Pressing the button indicates the remaining charge left using the LED indicators. The power bank is 19.3mm thick, which is fine, but it is 139.7mm tall and 78.9mm wide, making it a bit large for a 10000mAh power bank, since there are several compact power banks in the similar range. Even though it might not be compact to fit your tight jean pocket due to its shape, it can easily fit it in your cargo pants or you can carry it in your bag.
It has two USB ports, one with 5V/1A output and the other port offers 5V/2A output. It takes in 5V/2A input. The company says it will take about 9 and half hours to charge the battery fully using a 1A charger once the power bank is completely out of juice. We used a 2A charger to charge it in about 6 hours completely, as it promises, which is good. Sadly you cannot charge devices when the power bank is charging since there is no output when it receives input. This might be a disadvantage for some.
The power bank has a metal finish on the top and bottom. Even though it is shiny, the metal surface is not prone to scratches.
Performance
The 10000mAh power bank can charge even an iPad since it offers 2A output. It also automatically recognizes the device you plug and offers ample amount of power required. This is more useful if you are charging accessories like a Bluetooth headset. Power lost during voltage conversion is a common problem in power banks. TP-LINK doesn’t reveal the charging conversion rate for the power bank. I was able to charge the Motorola Moto G 3rd Gen’s 2470mAh battery close to 3 and half times, so the conversion rate should be about 85 to 90%. It has Lithium polymer batteries from LG. The power bank doesn’t get heated even after hours of usage. It has 6 set of safety features and it has recharge life cycle of up to 500 times, says the company.
Conclusion
Priced at Rs. 3000, the TP-LINK PB50 10000mAh Power Bank is priced a bit high compared to other 10000mAh power banks available in the market, but the pricing is good compared to the US and UK markets, where it is at least Rs. 1000 higher. The TP-LINK PB50 is a good buy at this price, especially for its durable body, stylish design and the ability to charge two devices at a time.
Pros
- Stylish design
- Solid build quality
- 1A and 2A USB ports for charging two devices at a time
Cons
- Slightly bigger for a 10000mAh power bank