Although batteries are getting bigger and chips are getting more efficient at using them, anyone who needs to work on big, powerful devices like a 16-inch MacBook Pro is still going to see that dreaded low-battery signal every now and then.
A portable charger is a life-saver in that case, and if you’re constantly working on the move while chewing through energy-intensive software or streaming videos in 4K then having one is pretty much a non-negotiable. The market for portable chargers is already huge, but Anker may have just upped the standards with its new portable PowerCore 24K GaN charger which houses a meaty 24,000 mAh battery.
Don’t worry too much about what 24,000 mAh means. Just know that it’s more than enough to hold plenty of charges for most devices, and then some. It’s also capable of fast-charging (and being fast-charged) at 140W, meaning it can easily charge up a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 0% to 50% in just 40 minutes. According to Verge, this ambitious way of using the Anker PowerCore 24K GaN charger is accurate, as long as you’re using Apple’s MagSafe to USB-C cable – which you should have if you’re a MacBook Pro owner.
It’s a big promise from Anker, and could easily outgun just about every other portable battery on the market. The PowerCore is possible only now because it meets to new USB Power Delivery 3.1 standard set by The USB Implementers Forum, specifically designed to pump out more than the previous maximum of 100W from a single USB-C Port. This battery can now support 140W of power out of either of the two USB-C ports, while there’s also a USB-A port capable of 18W charging – which is impressive enough.
RELATED: iPad Air 5 Review: Perfectly Fine If You Don’t Need The Pro
Given The PowerCore 24K may be the new standard for nomadic power users moving forward, Anker has had the good sense to include a smart display on the battery so anyone can easily visualise info like which devices are drawing how much power, how much power is left in the battery and how long the battery will take to recharge.
All of a sudden, that 10,000 mAh portable charger you’ve been carrying around in your backpack doesn’t seem so impressive, does it?
Anker has already sold out of the PowerCore 24K battery but restocks are expected soon. Considering it’s only US$150 (~AU$211) you can be sure these will be very popular.
