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Nov 14, 2023

ESR Halolock Power Bank Wallet 2023 REVIEW

Expand the productivity of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone with the ESR 3-in-1

Expand the productivity of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone with the ESR 3-in-1 Halolock Wallet/Stand. Enjoy a secure 1200-g magnetic connection with your careless phone or MagSafe-compatible case. Store up to two standard credit cards, ID or membership cards, and adjust the stand for optimal vertical/horizontal orientation viewing. Lastly, maintain power to your device with the 5,000 mAh 5-7.5W wireless battery output or pair with a USB-C to Lightning cable for up to 12W of power.

Packaging:The HaloLock Power Bank Wallet arrived in an attractive 4 1/8 inches wide by 6 3/4 inches tall by 1 inch thick hanging-style retail package. The ESR company name and HaloLock product name were listed at the top of the cover panel, along with a generic Power Bank Wallet descriptor. I liked the addition of the blue-green color within the ESR title/descriptor and the dark blue font/coloration on the packaging. The panel provided five icons/descriptors regarding the wallet's features: 1. 5,000 mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank with Vegan Leather Wallet and Adjustable Stand. 2. Power in a Snap. 3. throng 1200-g Magnetic Lock. 4. Adjustable Stand. 5. Securely holds 1 or 2 cards. In addition to the labeled icons, you will find a small image depicting the wallet/card holder feature along the bottom and showcased an oblique image of the stand/phone along the middle of the cover panel. The image demonstrated the stand feature plus the magnetic attachment to the iPhone. Even though the cover did not specifically mention the details, the MagSafe-compatible iPhone was displayed sans case.

The royal blue right side panel provided the ESR name and "TECH MADE EASIER" slogan, while the left panel listed the #esrgear hashtag and FaceBook/Twitter/Instagram icons. The white-colored bottom panel listed the 2G513 model number, while the turquoise top provided the clear plastic hanging tab. The rear panel ended up being a bit busier than the other panels. The top segment showcased a horizontal iPhone with a vertically oriented Halolock stand. The clear image did a great job of suggesting improved productivity and was a great addition without being redundant. Below the image, you will find a multilingual (EN, FR, IT, DE, ES, PT, RU, PL, NL, KO, JP, SC, TC, AR) description of the icon/features listed on the cover panel (Power in a Snap. Strong 1200-g Magnetic Lock. Securely Holds 1 or 2 cards). Beneath the segment, you will find a well-organized specification/contents section: Size 106x 66 x 16mm, weight 170g, battery capacity 5,000 mAh, magnet force 1200g, USB-C input 12W, USB-C output 12W, Wireless output 7.5W/5W, Halolock power bank, 3 Foot USB-C to USB-C cable. The remainder of the panel displayed information about the product manufacturing (labels, Designed in USA, UPC barcode).

I cut the tape along the top panel and slid the inner turquoise tray from the primary packaging. Within the box, you will find a light blue informational panel, which detailed information about becoming a super user (QR code, 24-month warranty, exclusive access to newly launched products), and a back panel with various products. I removed the panel, then the tiny accessory box with USB-C cable, the clear plastic tray, the instruction manual, and the 6.2-ounce, 2 5/8 inches wide by 4 3/16 inches tall by 11/16 inches thick Halolock bank. I plugged the 40-inch USB-C to USB-C cable between an Anker 511 Nano 3 30W USB-C wall charger and the Halolock power Bank, while perusing the instruction manual.

Each end of the 40 inches long USB-C to USB-C cable had a 1/4 inches long by 5 1/6 inches wide by 3/32 inches thick metallic USB-C prong attached to a 1/2 inches wide by 5/8 inches tall by 1/4 inches thick oval-shaped collar segment. The silver-colored collar was attached to a black neck segment, measuring 7/16 inches tall, and tapered down to 1/4 inches diameter. The rubberized component was connected to the 1/8 inches diameter black-colored rounded cable (37 3/8 inches long). I tested each metallic USB-C prong by grabbing them and bending them forward-backward 25 times. I then gripped the prong/collar and tugged outward. I griped the neck/collar and bent the cable 25 times, and pulled on the jacket/collar section. I gripped the cable, tugged at the neck segment, and then bent the cable forward/backward/side-side another 25 times. Lastly, I plugged each of the prongs into a variety of USB-C wall outlets. The prongs were well-machined and provided a good fit with various wall chargers. The device's cable held up to rigorous testing, and I was pleased with the durability and design. The cable's durability should allow for prolonged utility before breaking down.

I plugged a Klein tools multimeter into an Anker USB-C charger and a USB-C cable between my multimeter and Halolock power bank to charge. While the multimeter displayed the 8.92V/1.20A charging rate, the LED along the lower segment of the power bank flashed to suggest it was charging. As the Halolock device charged, I turned to the instruction manual to learn more about the device. The accordion-style, multilingual instruction manual expanded from a credit card size to a 24-panel (front/back) informational packet. The first panel provided a helpful QR code setup link and six labeled demonstration/ink-outline drawings of the device/features. Each panel provided the diagram and a labeled instruction in one of fourteen languages (EN, IT, ES, RU, NL, JP, TC, FR, DE, PT, PL, KO, SC, AR). The panels detailed the short press power on, the 3-second long press to power off, the location of the USB-C port, how to insert 1-2 cards, how to open the stand, and the method to use the stand adjustment.

Panels seven through twenty showcased the lower edge of the charger, the LED's, and provided a helpful LED legend (charged, USB-C output, USB-C input, Error) in each language. Each panel listed several important reminders/safety warnings: 1. Only use on a caseless iPhone or one with MagSafe Official case/ESR Halolock Case. 2. Wireless pass-through charging. 3. Max wireless charge rate 7.5W, Max USB-C input/output 12W. 4. No support for wireless and wired charging simultaneously. The system defaults to wired charging. The remainder of the manual provided information regarding the FCC ID, IC, Declaration, product manufacturing information, and an #esrgear panel.

When I started the charging process at 8:30 PM, a single LED flashed at the rightmost edge of the LEDs. By 9:10 PM, the first LED was solidly illuminated while the second LED flashed. This process continued until the device was fully charged by 11 PM. I slid a standard credit card and driver's license into the credit card slot and affixed the stand to my caseless phone. I was impressed with the magnetic grip and leathery surface of the MagSafe attachment point but disliked removing my Catalyst Influence case. The stand could open to 70 degrees and accommodate my phone in a vertical or horizontal position.

To evaluate the power output, I allowed my iPhone 14 Pro Max to charge via wireless power. Starting at 5:13 PM at 23% charge, the phone increased to 32% by 5:28, 39% by 5:40, 45% by 5:50, 59% by 6:14, 74% by 6:43, 77% by 6:53, 82% by 7:12. The battery was fully depleted by the end of the test. With the ~4323 mAh battery of the iPhone 14 Pro Max, I found it interesting that the 5000 mAh battery only provided ~2550 mAh of power to my phone. I recharged the battery over about a 3-hour timeframe and then charged my iPhone via USB-C to lightning. I plugged the Klein Tools Multimeter into the battery, then the USB-C to Lightning cable between the multimeter and iPhone 14 Pro Max. The multimeter displayed 5.12V/1.93A, while my iPhone displayed 61% at 7:52 PM. By 7:56, my phone was at 65%; by 8:16, the phone was at 79%. It reached 87% by 8:32, 94% by 8:49, 97% by 9:05, and 100% when I checked back at 9:30. With 3 LED remaining, I plugged the USB-C to lighting cable into my wife's iPhone 11 and used the remaining charge to get from 12% to 56% power. Despite the superiority of wired charging, the added convenience of wireless charging should not be overlooked.

The ESR Halolock device will add a convenient upgrade to your MagSafe compatible iPhone. I was able to charge through my Catalyst Influence case but found the connection was markedly more secure with the careless iPhone. I enjoyed the stand and the ability to reposition the phone in horizontal or vertical viewing mode. The added weight did not detract from the experience and provided more versatility than expected. At ~$65, I felt that the 5000 mAh battery was a bit underwhelming; I typically prefer my portable power banks to run ~10,000 mAh to gain about 1.5-2 iPhone charges. However, the tradeoff for size provided dual charging options (wired/wirless), credit card storage and a kickstand in a classy design.

Learn more about the ESR HaloLock Power Bank Wallet and follow ESR on Facebook and Twitter.