This $70 energy financial institution simply ensured I will by no means purchase an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

Final summer time, I crossed the pond to discover one in every of my high bucket-list

travel
locations: the island of Nice Britain. My expertise was marked by action-packed days of sightseeing, pictures, pub crawling, and…low battery life warnings.

You see, I made a essential error

before setting off on vacation
: I did not put money into a transportable battery financial institution. Sadly, energy retailers aren’t precisely plentiful whereas within the midst of a hike to the highest of Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh, and my

iPhone 15 Pro’s
battery merely could not sustain with the facility drain of fixed picture snapping and GPS utilization.

The second I returned from my journey, I instantly started to analysis transportable battery financial institution choices. There are a ton of

excellent solutions on the market
— together with from common corporations like Anker, Ugreen, and Baseus. Once I heard that OnePlus — the favored Android smartphone maker — was releasing

a MagSafe-compatible external power pack of its own
, I used to be instantly intrigued.

After getting my fingers on the OnePlus Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution 5000mAh and utilizing it for a while, I can safely say that the corporate has crafted the right battery financial institution not just for Android customers, but in addition for iPhone loyalists.

OnePlus Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution 5000mAh

OnePlus’ Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution is a MagSafe and USB-C suitable exterior battery with a smooth design, an aluminum construct, and an LED energy standing show.

OnePlus’ new accent is worthy of consideration – together with if you happen to’re an iPhone consumer

Most of the finest exterior energy banks are fairly cumbersome, owing to the spacious 10,000 or 20,000mAh battery capacities fitted into them. This has the plain upside of offering additional juice whereas on the go, but it surely comes on the expense of an uncomfortable in-hand really feel and lowered portability. Personally, I’ve at all times been a fan of Apple’s technique in its now-defunct

MagSafe Battery Pack accessory
for iPhone: supply a battery that may high up a cellphone from zero to at least one hundred, however make it sufficiently small to comfortably use whereas touring.

OnePlus has opted to go exactly on this path with its new Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution, which provides a 5,000mAh battery capability in a thin-and-light bundle. In some ways, the OnePlus looks like a non secular successor to Apple’s discontinued battery pack, solely higher: it maintains the attributes of a slim design, magnetic MagSafe compatibility, and an understated aesthetic that made Apple’s accent so compelling, however with the addition of USB-C versus the outdated (and proprietary) Lightning port.

The exterior chassis of OnePlus’ energy financial institution is undeniably premium, because it’s machined completely out of aluminum. The unit measures in at a stunning 0.35-inches (8.8mm) thick, and weighs in at a mass of 4.23oz (120g), making for a bundle that may be effortlessly slipped right into a pant pocket, purse, purse, or backpack.

The unit’s single USB-C port is side-mounted, and it provides an enter of 12W and an output of 10W. These speeds aren’t the quickest on the planet, however they’re sufficient to maintain a cellphone juicing up whereas out and about. The magnetic wi-fi charging, in the meantime, maxes out at 10W for Android telephones, and seven.5W for iPhones. Whereas the ring of magnets makes it suitable with MagSafe iPhones (and certainly, the OnePlus 13 with its first-party magnetic case accent), the shortage of

Qi2
assist is disappointing. Qi2 would’ve unlocked speedier 15W charging throughout each suitable iPhone and Android merchandise.

I used to be initially fearful that the unit’s metallic backplate would scratch the rear glass panel of my iPhone 15 Professional — most different

MagSafe-style accessories
use a silicon or soft-padded end to dampen the magnetic connection. In apply, this is not a difficulty within the slightest — aluminum is softer than tempered glass, and thus will not scratch a cellphone underneath regular utilization. I additionally discovered the magnetic connection itself to be moderately stable, and so I wasn’t fearful concerning the battery sliding round and creating pointless friction.

Associated

5 things I appreciate about the OnePlus 13R, the new mid-range runner-up

Whereas not fairly as flashy as its higher-end OnePlus 13 sibling, the mid-range 13R nonetheless packs a punch in additional methods than one.

Past Qi2, the one factor that is lacking is a pink colorway

OnePlus missed the chance to supply its new accent in signature pink

All in all, the OnePlus Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution 5,000mAh is a superb answer for topping up whereas away from house. Sarcastically, with the present

lack of Qi2 magnets built directly into Android
smartphones, OnePlus’ new accent works extra seamlessly with an iPhone than, say, a

OnePlus 13
with out its further magnetic case.

Charging speeds might be quicker, but it surely’d have been greater than adequate for after I was at eight % battery life close to the highest of Arthur’s Seat. The most important criticism I’ve with what OnePlus has crafted is completely beauty: there is not any pink choice. The product is simply obtainable for buy in a single silver gray colorway, which is a bit on the boring facet in my view. OnePlus’ signature model colour is shiny pink, and the corporate missed the right alternative to make its new battery pack visually placing.

For $70, the OnePlus Slim Magnetic Energy Financial institution is not low cost. There are a ton of different choices on the market, lots of that are extra inexpensive and supply further options like a kickstand and a devoted LED show. For my cash, nevertheless, the premum metallic construct and shockingly slim design of the OnePlus is the best way to go — it will be one of many first objects I pack into my journey bag when it is time to cross the pond as soon as extra. For those who’re nonetheless holding on to an Apple MagSafe Battery Pack from 2021, then OnePlus’ new energy financial institution is compelling sufficient to function an honorary second-generation product, simply with out the fruit brand in tow.

This machine was offered to Pocket-lint by OnePlus.

Associated

The compact OnePlus 13T won’t release in the US

OnePlus sadly has no plans to launch its new compact cellphone within the US, Canada, or Europe.