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Nov 04, 2024

Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank review: capacious and light, but not built like the best | TechRadar

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank provides a large capacity in an impressively light package, and although the charging performance is fine and the price very reasonable, there are

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank provides a large capacity in an impressively light package, and although the charging performance is fine and the price very reasonable, there are some issues with material quality that mean it doesn’t quite match up to the competition.

Light for its size

Easy to use

Understated appearance

No display

Silicone pad quality issues

Wireless charging iPhone only

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Anyone on the hunt for a power bank will have likely come across Ugreen, a relatively new Chinese brand looking to wrest Anker’s grip on the sector, with its plentiful offerings at budget-friendly prices.

Just like Anker’s wireless power banks, the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is simple and to the point. Two colorways are available: black and white. Every side of the unit is smooth and flat, free from any protrusions or indentations. And the only interface comes in the form of a series of LED lights, indicating battery levels and charging status.

For a wireless power bank with a large capacity, the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is pleasingly light and lean like the best power banks, making it relatively easy to carry around. However, with an iPhone attached, I found it was still too bulky to pocket with ease – although I’ve yet to encounter a 10,000mAh wireless power bank that isn’t.

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank can wirelessly charge the best iPhones thanks to its MagSafe compatibility, offering 15W of power. During my tests, it was able to charge an iPhone 13 Pro from 50% to 100% in under two hours, draining the bank’s battery by somewhere between 25-50%, as indicated by the loss of one of the four LED dots.

Wired charging via the single USB-C port is more powerful at 20W. I managed to charge a Google Pixel 7a from 50% to 100% in just over an hour, with the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank again losing one dot in the process. Charging the bank itself from empty to full took about two and a half hours, which is reasonable, roughly equal to the charging time of the Anker MagGo (10K).

The durability of the charging pad material is questionable. During my tests of the 5,000mAh variant, the pad began to show signs of wear. Since this is the same material, I have my concerns about this model's durability as well. It’s also fond of picking up fluff and other debris, which I haven't found with the materials on other MagSafe power banks, such as those offered by Anker.

The Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank costs $49 / £49 (about AU$72), which undercuts the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) by a considerable margin. However, that bank does appear to have greater durability, owing to its hard charging pad material. Some variants also get a useful digital display, with precise battery levels and charging time estimations, making them an all-round better pick than the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank.

You need a large yet practical power bankFor a 10,000mAh power bank, the Ugreen is surprisingly light and slender. But like all wireless banks this size, you’ll still struggle to fit it in your pocket with an iPhone attached.

You’re on a budgetUgreen seems to be on a mission to undercut Anker at every turn, so if you’re on a tight budget, the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank could be tempting.

You want something durableThe silicone pad doesn’t seem to be the most durable, so you may want a harder-wearing alternative.

You have an AndroidWhile there are MagSafe-compatible cases for Android phones, they still don’t officially support Apple’s standard, so don’t be surprised if the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank won’t charge your device.

Anker MagGo Power Bank (10k)A more feature-rich alternative, the Anker MagGo has 15W wireless and 27W wired charging power, as well as a digital display showing the bank’s battery percentage and estimated charging times. It also comes with a folding stand, allowing you to view your iPhone in landscape or portrait easily while charging. It is slightly heavier than the Ugreen 10,000mAh Magnetic Wireless Power Bank, though, and it’s considerably more expensive.

Lewis Maddison is a Reviews Writer for TechRadar. He previously worked as a Staff Writer for our business section, TechRadar Pro, where he had experience with productivity-enhancing hardware, ranging from keyboards to standing desks. His area of expertise lies in computer peripherals and audio hardware, having spent over a decade exploring the murky depths of both PC building and music production. He also revels in picking up on the finest details and niggles that ultimately make a big difference to the user experience.

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