Tech Up! Anker PowerCore 15600 Review

The Anker PowerCore 15600 comes from the relatively young Chinese company, Anker. Over the course of the past decade, Anker's reputation has grown through the Amazon Marketplace to becoming one of the most reputable companies for producing mobile peripherals, such as power banks. The Anker PowerCore 15600 is definitely a product that strikes through with quality and confidence, right down from the packaging to the construction and build of the product. This is most likely down to the fact it has a rugged double layer shell, which helps its impact resistance. Nonetheless, it would be wise to take care of the device even if it is sturdy. The matte finish further enhances the quality proposition by ensuring that there is a lack of grubby fingerprints. To further avoid this, the packaging also comes with a nylon mesh protective carry bag that helps protect the device from any unwanted blemishes or scratches while on the move. Out of the box, the Anker PowerCore 15600 comes half charged, but charging it using the provided USB cable via either 2A/5A mains charging will see the battery go from zero to full in approximately 5-7 hours. The unit itself does not have a display on it but does have four blue LED lights indicating a level of charge.

At 376 grams, the PowerCore 15600 is no feather. If anything, it is about just over twice the weight of modern day smartphones, which can make it difficult to be considered truly portable, and at 16.6 centimetres long it is hardly suitable for most pockets. Despite this drawback, taking the PowerCore 15600 on the move in a backpack or bag can be most useful, and could be ideal for long travel situations where using a mobile or tablet to listen or play content is the difference between sheer boredom and being fully entertained. Better yet, with two USB ports, it is possible to charge multiple devices at once. Not only just two devices at once, but with a powerful 4.8A output it charges most devices at full speed by utilising its PowerIQ technology, which determines how much power each connected device can handle and push the highest possible amount of juice into it safely.

There are certainly a large number of power banks on the market in 2019, many of them from Anker, as well, but with many cheaper Li-ion battery packs out there, what sets the Anker PowerCore 15600 aside from the rest? The reliability, it's 18 month warranty, and the fact it can charge devices at such a faster speed than other comparable units, which during the review process saw it charge modern day smartphones, such as the Huawei P20 Pro, iPhone X, and iPhone 8, from flat to 100% in under three hours. There are easily four complete charges of higher end smartphones contained within, which is ultimately useful for all occasions. The PowerCore 15600 fluctuates in price but be sure to keep an eye on the Anker Direct Amazon vendor, as sales do happen from time to time.

7/10

Very Good - Bronze Award

There is no denying the fact that Anker's reputation for ensuring device safety is unparalleled with up to four full charges on modern day smartphones in 2019; it can be a very practical accessory. On the flip side, there are more powerful, cheaper, and lighter power banks than the Anker PowerCore 15600 on the market. Despite this, it is hard to not recommend the device due to its reliability, sturdy build, and ergonomic design, which is fit-for-purpose.