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| (Image: © Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
Who knew that I would be so interested in a power bank screen? What I initially believed to be a gimmick turns out to be a really helpful feature that innovates what would otherwise be nothing more than a large battery. The most precise method of power bank monitoring that I have yet to come across is the combination of the power % and countdown timer for charging/discharging the battery. It's not necessary to know the precise speed at which my gadgets are charging, but it's still fascinating to know, and realizing how quickly or slowly some items may charge has changed the way I think about charging them. This Anker Prime power bank is popular not just because of its screen but also because it features a sizable 20,000mAh battery and a powerful 200W maximum output. Although I own a few power banks, I now always reach for the Anker Prime.
Product Review
Pros
- Two simultaneous 100W fast charging outputs
- Useful informative screen
- Decent battery capacity
- Looks great
Cons
- Boxy design makes it harder to slip into pockets
- Can get hot at high power outputs and cut out
Since they have been available for the greater part of a decade, power banks have shown to be the most practical method of providing your gadgets with a quick charge while you are on the road. Power banks have developed gradually and steadily over time, becoming smaller, more capable, and equipped with ports that can charge quicker. Seldom does something appear that genuinely has the potential to alter your perspective on, say, the least fascinating gadget.
Other power banks have a digital display, usually in the form of a vintage digital clock radio that shows you how much battery life is left. But Anker has gone one step further and included a full readout display with their most recent Anker Prime power banks, which gives you a lot more information than just a battery percentage. Do I really need a complete readout on something that is essentially just a large battery that I plug my phone into while I'm out and about, though, when I can purchase lots other cheaper power banks without a display?
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| Anker Prime power bank next to the Google Pixel 7 Pro for size. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
The specifications of the ANKER PRIME POWER BANK
Product Specifications
Capacity:20,000mAh
Total max charging speed:200W
One port:100W (USB-C 1), 100W (USB-C 2), 65W (USB-A)
Two ports:100W + 100W (USB-C 1 + USB-C 2), 100W + 65W (USB-C 1/2 + USB-A)
Three ports:100W + 60W + 40W (USB-C 1 + USB-C 2 + USB-A)
Time to recharge:1 hr 15 mins
Size:124 × 53 × 48 mm
Weight:544 g
The main features of the Anker Prime Power Bank
There are a few different Anker Prime Power Bank capacities available; the one I'm testing today has 20,000mAh of capacity and 200W of combined output power, which is in the center of the spectrum. Additionally, there is a smaller 12,000mAh capacity model with 130W combined power and a bigger 27,650mAh version with 250W total output available. What you want to charge and how often you want to charge will determine which one is best for you. The larger version is your best option if you want to use the power bank to charge your laptop on a daily basis. However, if you just want to use it to charge your phone or camera when its battery is really low, the smaller version will be easier to carry around.
Considering the 20,000mAh model I now own, the maximum combined output is 200W. The power bank has three ports in total, and depending on which ones are used and in what combination, they may provide a variety of outputs. For instance, if all three ports are used simultaneously, you can get 40W (USB-A) + 60W (USB-C 2) + 100W (USB-C 1). But, while the USB-A is not in use, both USB-C ports may simultaneously output at their maximum capacity of 100W for those who are concerned about having the highest power.
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| The screen displays the percentage of battery remaining, how much battery is left in minutes and hours, and the current output of any connected devices. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
Anker claims that a 100W power bank can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 50% capacity in 40 minutes. The power bank can also fully charge a MacBook Air or an iPhone 14 up to 3.4 times. Additionally, Anker claims that the power bank can be recharged at 100W, which would take one hour and fifteen minutes to fully recharge the battery.
Its screen is the primary characteristic that distinguishes this power bank from others. The power bank has a color display that shows the battery's current percentage, how long it will take to drain at its current output, how long it will take to charge, and the precise output that each port on the power bank is producing at any given moment. Along with the power bank's charge cycles and battery health, the screen can display the battery's current temperature so you can keep an eye on if your power bank needs to be replaced.
Along with a 140W USB-C cable that measures 2 feet and 0.6 meters, the Power bank also includes a soft travel case that has plenty room for both the power bank and the cord to fit in.
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| You can change the settings for screen brightness and timeout using the button on the side of the power bank. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
BUILD & HANDLING OF ANKER PRIME POWER BANK
With a 20,000mAh capacity, the Anker Prime Power Bank weighs 544g, which means you will definitely feel its weight in your backpack. The power bank's boxy shape—possibly to accommodate the screen—prevents it from fitting into jacket or bag pockets as readily as some other, thinner power banks. Though it is a fingerprint magnet, the glass front housing the screen is quite lovely. I won't attempt to damage my sample, but I'm curious to know how resistant it is to fractures. Overall, the design is really great; it feels expensive and very strong.
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| The Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank has three ports totaling 200W of output. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
The button that controls the screen is located on the side; it is sizable, indented, simple to locate without looking, and has a satisfying click. After turning on the screen with a single push, you may navigate through the four menu panels and scroll through battery information with another single press. This button also allows you to change the screen brightness and screen timeout, so you won't be spending much time doing this. You can hold it in to enter the settings, click once to change them, and then hold it in again to exit the settings. It's a pretty straightforward solution.
Along with the power bank, there is a lovely plush travel bag with a drawstring closure. The cover fits the power bank perfectly and has enough room inside for a few charging cords. The provided cable is one of Anker's standard plastic cables—not its more elegant braided or bio-plastic ones—but it does the job and, more crucially, has a 140W capacity, which means it can easily handle the power bank's maximum output of 100W.
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| The power bank is controlled by a single button on the side. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
Performance of the Anker Prime Power Bank
The Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank has performed well; at its maximum capacity, it could last for just over 28 minutes. However, drawing so much power continuously wasn't simple, so in most situations, you won't utilize this power bank to its maximum capacity. The good news is that, when charged with an Anker 100W wall charger, the power bank indeed recharged in the 1 hour and 15 minutes that Anker said. This means that, if you're pressed for time and need to get out, you can swiftly recharge the power bank.
I never let my phone run out of battery since it's a scary idea, but I was able to use the fully charged power bank to top off my Google Pixel 7 Pro four times, from roughly 20% to 100%. If everything went according to plan, I could easily operate my phone off this power bank for a whole work week while out and about. Normally, I would simply top up a bit while on the move and charge at the wall later. Small amounts will sustain you for some time when using a laptop, according to the same idea.Although the main purpose of power banks is to just keep you topped off, you might want to check into the finest power stations if you want to use them for longer periods of time to power your gadgets.
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| Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank next to the Google Pixel 7 Pro. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |
When the power bank was being used to its fullest, it did shut off once or twice. I believe that the battery's maximum temperature is 60ºC/140ºF because of heat. Although it did require nearly the whole battery capacity and 40 minutes of continuous 100W demand to attain this temperature, people in hotter climes may experience more frequent power outages.
The Anker Prime's screen, however, is truly the star of the show. Yes, that is the simplest method I have ever seen to know how much battery is left in the power bank and how long it would take to recharge. However, it is not actually necessary for a functioning power bank. I felt a lot less worried about running out of electricity to fully charge the batteries in my devices thanks to this and the useful information about how quickly your devices are recharging. I was also able to better plan when and how long I needed to charge. The output that is being shown is equally eye-opening since it shows you how many of your favorite devices actually charge very slowly and how many of them continue to use power even when they are fully off.
VERDICT ON ANKER PRIME POWER BANK
Although the Anker Prime power bank provides the simplest power percentage and countdown timer for charging/discharging the battery I have tried so far, is an informative screen really necessary? It's also interesting to see exactly how quickly my gadgets are charging, and I can use that information to plan ahead and allow my slower devices a little more time to charge.
Not only does the Anker Prime power have a screen, but it also has a strong 20,000mAh battery that I was able to use for several days at a time, recharging my laptop and phone in small spurts. Even for brief periods, I was also able to utilize my more demanding gadgets due to the large 200W maximum output and 100W single port output. Though it looks fantastic, the power bank is a touch too bulky to go inside pockets. All in all, I'm rather impressed, and I believe the Anker Prime power bank has made a permanent residence in my luggage.
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| Anker Prime 20,000mAh Power Bank. (Image credit: Gareth Bevan / Digital Camera World) |