Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank Review
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank is an airline-approved 5,000mAh powerbank with a magnetic connection and USB-C charging. Read on!
Official Specs and Features
Here’s a referral link to the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank product page.
Versions
There’s just one version of the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank, but it’s available in orange, gray, and blue.
Price
All versions of the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank sell for $51.95 and are available here.
What’s Included
- Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank
- Magnetic ring attachment
- Manual and card
Package and Manual
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank is wrapped in this thin plastic baggie. I note this because, as far as I can tell, this is the only place you’ll see all these warnings.
Build Quality of the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank feels solid. The case feels metal and “full” (or “dense”) – filled with power!
The build quality is very good. There’s no disassembly here, but the product feels like a LiPO battery with a solid case.
The branding is subtle!
Size and Comps
Dimensions L-4.02″ x W-2.76″ x H-0.35″
Weight 4.41 oz
Here’s the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank in hand:
And here’s where you’ll use the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank most. On a phone!
It’s a very slim item. Around the same thickness as this iPhone.
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank attaches very snugly with a magnetic connection.
And then it charges (only!) via this USB-C cable. That’s the thing about this Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank – it’s a magnetic-attaching, cable-charging 5000mAh power bank. It is not a “wireless” (or “magnetic”) power bank!
The cable is always attached to the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank itself, with the other end being a USB-C connection.
Power
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank has a built-in 5,000mAh LiPO that can charge at 5V or 9V.
You can see the other specs above, too, but they include the output information – it’ll discharge at 5V, 9V, 12V, and 10V for around 15-20W, depending on which output you’re using.
Charging
The Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank charges via USB-C.
It also supports passthrough charging, which means if the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank is connected to your phone (via its own USB-C cable) and you also have a charger plugged into the USB-C port on the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank, the power will charge both your device and the Pocket 5.
Four LEDs describe the current state of charge.
Four constant blue LEDs: 75-100%
Three constant blue LEDs: 50-75%
Two constant blue LEDs: 25-50%
One constant blue LED: 10-25%
One flashing blue LED: <10%
Charging via C to C works just fine!
User Interface and Operation
There is a single e-switch on the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank.
It’s a black switch and does not do very much. Just connecting (again via USB-C) the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank to a device should start the charging process! You can use the button to activate the power meter, which was covered in the section above.
Testing the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank
I wouldn’t call my testing of the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank comprehensive or “stress” testing, but I’m not really set up for that anyway. What I did test was proof that it’s working, and it does that! I love that this thing does not use magnet charging. I always find that to make my device (and the power bank) too hot! Even if it’s extra hot, it’s more than I want it to be. But with USB-C charging, you don’t have that drawback.
I tested the output at 9V. When the LiPO voltage in the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank gets to a certain level, output switches to 5V. Then it seems to flip back and forth (probably as the battery recovers a bit). I think this is all normal, and the device being charged should negotiate all the voltages and whatever it needs, anyway.
The graphs below show the same data. At the start of this test, I ran the current up to see when and how the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank shuts off. When it shut off, I restarted my device. This shows in the graphs below. All this output seems very normal and sufficient.
Summary and Conclusion
I like the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank specifically because it’s a USB-C charger that connects magnetically. I don’t really like or want magnetic charging or the drawbacks and hassles that come with it. I also love that the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank is orange! Overall, the Nitecore Pocket 5 Power Bank works well, and I’m pleased with it.
What I like
- USB-C port is good for quick charging and discharging
- Very simple to use
What I don’t like
- The cable doesn’t detach from the device itself.
Notes
- This content originally appeared at zeroair.org. Please visit there for the best experience!
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Thank you for another amazing review
How will you compare the user experience of this vs those Nitecore NB Air or NB Plus?
It feels like the NB series are still slimmer but this orange guy here has magsafe for quickly attaching it.
I’d like to know your thoughts on which fits your pockets more during charging and walking
It’ll probably come down to how you carry the device being charged. If you have a snug pocket and the power bank is snugged up to the device *anyway* then the magnetic connection probably won’t matter. But if you’re going to be holding the device while charging or your pocket isn’t tight enough to generally keep them together, the Pocket 5 is a no-brainer.
I like all 3. I like the Pocket 5 the best (*except* that the cable is built in on it. It hasn’t been a problem, but it’s been my least favorite feature.)