Review: Anker PowerCore II Slim 10,000 mAh high-capacity power bank

If there is anything slightly less frustrating than running out of power on my smartphone when I am on the go and using it, it is having to recharge it with a creepy-crawly power bank. Why? Because I need to use it at that time and would appreciate it charging up much faster.

Usually, plugging the phone to a standard power bank at that critical moment means some wait before I can pick it up to use, or it means the battery continues to deplete while I am using it. Which is not quite nice. Which is why fast charging power banks have been my preferred since the technology arrived.

The Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh portable charger ticks all the right buttons on paper and I was eager to see how well it would perform in real life. Would it live up to expectations or would it be another product with a lot of marketing hype behind it? Before we proceed, let’s have a quick look at the device’s specs.

Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh quick specs

Here are the key specs and features of this PowerCore II Slim charger.

• Capacity: 10000 mAh
• Output: up to 18W
• Design and Build: Plastic with soft silicon cover on one side.

Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh review: In the box

Opening the box, I found three items –

1. The Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh power bank itself.
2. A short, standard USB charging cable.
3. A travel pouch.

I love the idea behind the pouch. Carrying around a power bank doesn’t have to be a painful experience, as it usually is for me. That extra bulge in the pocket isn’t something I find comfortable or even visually pleasing.

With this pouch, I am able to carry the PowerCore II Slim around conveniently. Even better, my smartphone fits in the pouch along with the power bank.

I do wish that Anker had included a USB-C adapter in the package, as premium smartphones today use USB-C. This product is targeted mostly at owners of such phones afterall.

Thankfully, I own such an adapter and it works with it. Bummer about the colour though. It spoils the aesthetics.

A black adapter that matches the colour of the USB cable would look much better.

I also wish it had two output ports so I can charge two smartphones at the same time, like this:

Not that I often need to charge two phones at the same time, but it comes in handy. For example, my Bluetooth headset or Mifi device might need topping up at the same time I am running out of juice on my phone. You get the picture

Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh review

The Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000mAh is solidly built and has a premium touch to it, thanks to the soft silicone cover on one flat side. Its slim profile is also a plus for me. I don’t like bulky power banks. But above all, it performs as advertised.

Charging it up takes about 3 hours, and that is because I used a Qualcomm fast charger (this one also by Anker) for topping it up. With a regular charger, it will take much longer, and honestly, you don’t want to find out. I don’t either. No busy person has that kind of time to waste in 2019. So, if you are buying this, buy a Qualcomm fast charger with it.

When the Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, which supports 15W fast charging, for example, is plugged to the power bank, the phone indicates a fast charging session and is charged as fast as its own supplied USB wall charger does.

I also used the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh power bank to top up the Redmi Note 7. The RN7 went from 0 to 35% charge in 30 minutes of charging. That is a little faster than 10W fast charging speed, roughly the same speed that the supplied Redmi charger does.

The robust capacity of this portable charger also means that I can top up my phone twice with some juice to spare.

So how much does the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh power bank cost? The price tag is a little heftier than the average power bank with its specs. It will set you back by ₦12,000.00.

Some will balk at this, but it does offer more value than the competition and seems a fair price. If you own a premium smartphone, this is the kind of power bank to use with it for peace of mind.

And that brings us to the end of my review of the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh power bank. But don’t stop here: Anker has an offer for you.

Special Discount on Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 mAh portable charger

Anker Nigeria is offering a 5% discount on your purchase of the PowerCore II Slim, as well as other Anker products. To get the discount, use the coupon code ANKERMM at checkout when you order HERE.

If you have any questions about applying the coupon code or questions about placing your order, call 09096553079 for assistance.

Author: Mister Mobility

Master storyteller and founder of Mobility Nigeria, Mister Mobility, has used and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.