For those always on the run for days at a time without a power outlet, the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD would probably be the product for you. Long story short, it’s large and it’s fast. Anker has been making a killing with their portable batteries. Not only are they the most competitively priced on Amazon, but they are also highly rated by thousands. I’ve been a self-professed fan for years and am happy to recommend their products to friends and family.
The Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD is on the larger side of batteries. Batteries of this size can be used to power devices like laptops and Nintendo Switches. In fact, Anker has been one of the few Nintendo licensees for Switch portable batteries. Don’t forget that you can also charge up your phone a bunch of times as well. As long as you are willing to lug the additional weight, 15 ounces to be exact, this charger will meet the power needs of your larger devices.
There Is More in the Box
When buying the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD, there are actually 3 separate Anker products included. There is the hulking battery itself, but it also comes with an Anker USB C-C cable and an Anker PowerPort Speed PD 30. People usually take these bundles for granted, but Anker knows that it needed the full set to provide the full experience. We only want the fastest possible charging and that’s what this bundle provides. Altogether, you are looking at a complete charging set for your USB-C device, since you can just turn the cable around and plug it into your phone.
Magic Words = USB Power Delivery
USB-PD is key here and focuses on putting the customer and the environment first. Behind us are the days of the proprietary charger era where you needed a specific charger for each of your phones. We are increasing customer convenience and minimizing waste. USB-PD must be supported by both the battery and the device in order to take advantage of this secret handshake. For one, the spec is only supported via USB-C ports. That sterling USB-C port on your Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD is where it all starts. All the important new devices are starting to support the USB-PD spec including your phone, laptop, and Nintendo Switch.
What About the Oldies?
Your Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD will not leave your older devices hanging. It also includes 2 legacy USB-A ports. One with a charging max of 15 W and the other at 10 W. These USB-A ports support Anker’s PowerIQ spec that negotiates the highest charging speed. Before the popularity of USB-PD, Anker created PowerIQ as a way to “sense” the fastest charging speed of a device. Anker was apparently ahead of its time.
Charging Output
That special USB-PD port on your battery has a max of 27 W. One of Anker’s selling points is that it will charge a MacBook Pro 13.4 2017 fully in 2 hours. Larger Macbook Pro’s actually ship with power adapters that top off at 87 W, but the beauty of the USB-PD spec is that your battery will be able to negotiate the fastest charge without damaging the device. It is a good idea to check the power specs of your device to first make sure that 27 W is sufficient. Generally, most USB-C charging devices made after 2017 can be charged by the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD. This includes iPhone 8 and up, iPad Pro, Google Pixels, and Samsung S9 (long story) and up.
What About My Nintendo Switch?
When you are on the go with your Nintendo Switch, you are going to need this battery. The Switch, when undocked, draws a max of 18 W with the USB-PD spec. The 27 W output of the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 is more than sufficient. Heed the warning though that the power spec of a docked Nintendo Switch changes drastically. The official Nintendo Switch AC charger and dock support an odd max of 39 W. In fact, is it not wise to power your docked Nintendo Switch with anything other than the official Nintendo AC adapter. Undocked, different story. Heed my warnings, since many have already suffered.
How Large Is 19200 mAh Anyway?
As batteries get larger, so does the variance in their capacity. 19200 mAh sounds great on paper, but you are likely not going to get that equivalent charge into your phone due to realistic efficiency. My measurements peg the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD at around 60% efficient using the included Anker USB C-C cord. I measured that I was able to draw 11,579 mAh before the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD was at 1 blinking light (<5% left). This was roughly equivalent to around 6 charges from 20% to 80% on my Google Pixel 3. My perfectionism stumbles a bit at these scant numbers, but such is real life and nothing is ever 100% efficient. See my data above.
Charging the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD
This is where the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD truly shines. Using all the bundled hardware, I was able to fully charge this battery within the advertised 3.5 hours. The input charging spec rates at 30 W which is slightly more than the output max. Odd to think about, but you can’t really complain since you are out the door quicker with a fully charged battery.
The Plus in PowerCore+ means Hub Mode
In an effort to meet all the needs of laptop users, Anker engineers introduced a lesser obvious feature into this product. Since many devices are starting to include only a single USB-C for both charging and peripherals, the Hub Mode was designed to meet the needs of being able to connect 2 USB-A devices to your laptop as well as provide 10 W of power to each.
Hub Mode Instructions:
1.) Press and hold the power button for 2 seconds
The battery will stop charging for 1 second.
The LED indicators will circulate clockwise 3 times and then flash once every 3 seconds. The battery will resume charging and Hub Mode will be enabled at the same time.
2.) Connect PowerCore+ to laptop via the USB-C port.
3.) Connect your USB peripherals to the other USB ports.
Press and hold the power button for 2 seconds again to exit Hub Mode.
Both USB-A ports will operate at max 10 Watts each.
Final Reaction
Overall, my impressions of the Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD is that this is a necessary accessory for those that do not want to run out of power for days worth of Nintendo Switch gaming or laptop use. It packs serious power and utility for on-the-go users at a weight cost of less than a pound. While a 60% efficiency lessens the score a bit, it’s just a notorious reality for portable batteries of this size. Anker stands by all its products, so don’t forget that you are also going to be receiving that great Anker customer service with 100% satisfaction guaranteed. Don’t take my word for it, check Amazon.
The Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD is available directly via their website and also mostly popularly through Amazon.
The post Review: Anker PowerCore+ 19000 PD appeared first on Nerd Reactor.
from Nerd Reactor
0 comments: