Amazon’s power banks are exploding; here are 3 good ones that won’t
Through Amazon’s AmazonBasics brand, the company has been able to offer consumer electronics at extremely affordable prices. The products typically shun flashy branding and unnecessary features to provide a no-frills, low-cost option for those who can’t pay a premium for certain things.
But perhaps QA is one area we have to start questioning with AmazonBasics items, what with the company needing to recall about 260,000 power banks due to risks of fire and burn.
The recall was announced by USCPSC, the government agency responsible for investigating, reporting, and handling recalls as it pertains to defects which threaten the safety of the public.
Here’s the full description of which batteries are affected:
This recall involves six versions of AmazonBasics’ portable lithium-ion battery chargers/power banks: 16,100 mAh; 10,000 mAh; 5,600 mAh; 2,000 mAh with micro USB cable; 3,000 mAh and 3,000 mAh with USB micro cable. The rubberized or metallic power banks are black and rectangular. They measure about 3 inches long by 1.4 inch high by 0.9 inch wide.
The power banks were sold with or without a USB charger cable and a carrying pouch. The AmazonBasics logo is printed on the front of the unit. Product ID number B00LRK8EVO, B00LRK8HJ8, B00LRK8I7O, B00LRK8IV0, B00LRK8JDC or B00ZQ4JQAA is printed on the back of the unit.
The USCPSC says Amazon is contacting all known purchasers of the battery, though you’re also encouraged to call Amazon for a return and refund on your own if you happen to have one. You can call toll-free at 855-215-5134 from 8AM to 5PM Eastern Monday through Saturday. If online is more your speed, you can submit your details at this link.
With that, you’re probably immediately in the market for new power banks. The good news is that there’s a crap ton to choose from, and while few quality ones come close to those AmazonBasics price tags, they’re still affordable enough to fit within a modest budget given you save a bit. Here are three good power banks we recommend checking out.
Anker PowerCore Series
Anker remains one of the best options for battery charging needs (among the billion other things they’re into). The company’s PowerCore lineup offers a nice mix of quality and function, while also being sleek, unassuming battery packs that can fit snugly into your pocket or favorite bag with ease. PowerIQ tech ensures your devices get the juice they need at fast, steady, and — most importantly — safe charging rates.
Those who just need a reliable road mate to keep their smartphones topped off can opt for a 10,000mAh pack, big enough to charge your smartphone a few times over. There’s also the ridiculous 26,8000mAh pack if you have a little more gadgetry to power.
RAVPower
RAVPower is one of the brands we don’t have a second thought in recommending. Their namesake is inspired by their craft, after all, and that love for it shows in their power banks. Take, for instance, this top-rated 20,100mAh power bank which offers Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 3.0 and USB-C compatibility for newer devices, or this massive 32,000mAh unit with enough charging speed to get even the loftiest tablet batteries to full in a relatively short amount of time. And smart charging safeguards ensure it won’t ever serve up more than your devices can handle.
Jackery Titan
Jackery’s power banks deserve mention as a line of tried and true batteries made with premium backbone. The Titan series packs all its smart, fast charging goodness into an aluminum shell, something you won’t often find in its price range. It’s not even that the aluminum does anything to make it any better than its competitors, but it’s just nice, and lets us know this company is serious about quality in every facet.