Hey gang, Valkor here. Pepcom/Digital Focus, ranks high as one of my favorite tech events to attend – next to the big show that is CES of course; it’s an excellent opportunity to meet with new companies and introduce you guys to some hot new products that I'd hope you’d like to own. The previous Pepcom outing, 70s Groovy Tech Event, I got the chance to meet with Monoprice, and taken from their about page, they are the makers of “high quality, affordable electronics and accessories”. On hand they were showing off a host of products, and one of those products has entered the Val-Cave – the Select Series 16,000 mAh Power Bank.
The 16,000 mAh Power Bank, isn’t your casual portable battery; sure you could use it for simple, daily charging, but with this much power, you’ll want it for something more than just charging you’re phone as the 16,000 is capable of more – two phones, smartphone and a tablet, two tablets and maybe a portable gaming device (if it has a USB charging option such as the PS Vita). On the outset, the 16,000 is pretty big, pic below related, you get a size comparison with the Xtorm wireless charger as the 16,000 wins in length (as well as capacity). On the face you have your indicator lights, which display when it’s in use and how much of a charge you have left. On the left side are your power button and a button for a flashlight. Yup, a flashlight! Now at the top are your two USB ports and at the center is the MicroUSB port and flashlight. To complete the design, the 16,000 is mainly white with grey accents along the side, which gives it a simple yet functional appearance that meshes well against most mobile devices. To use the pack you simply plug in your device and it automatically powers up, so you’ don’t have to push additional buttons or whatever to power it up.
Let me reiterate that the 16,000 power bank packs a lot of power, plus it's large in size and carries some weight to it. So carrying this pack around with you daily isn’t entirely advisable, however if you’re used to working with multiple devices, this is something you’d need to invest in. It would also come in handy for frequent flyers or to keep at home in case of power outages; it’s hurricane season on my side of the coast, so it’s good to have multiple packs at the ready – or just this very big one! I should also point out that Monoprice has the Select Series in other sizes - 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10k versions are also available.
The Bang:
If you’re in the market for a portable battery pack that packs quite the punch, then look no further because Monoprice has you covered with the Select Series 16,000 mAh. It has enough capacity to power up multiple devices that are close to or on the “E”, plus it charges almost as fast as if you were plugging it into a wall socket. To test out the charging, I worked with my Nexus 6 and kept the phone at 85%, plugging it into the 16,000 or wall outlet; and with each test I’d get the same results, which would take me to from 85% to 94 – 95% each time with either plug in option. That in and of itself is truly impressive because using the Select Series 16,000 gets you up and running than most chargers I’ve tested. Better yet, the results were the same even if I plugged in a second device. Impressive! And once your device is fully charged, the 16,000 power bank shuts off automatically so there’s no overcharging, potentially keeping your device safe from harm. Now for the kicker – the price for all that goodness? 25 bucks! So not only are you getting a topnotch power bank, but you’re getting it at an amazingly affordable price. To put it in perspective, Kensington’s 10,400 portable charger costs 49.99 at retail. With Monoprice’s battery pack, you’re getting a larger capacity, with the ability to charge multiple devices on the quick at half the price. Now that’s a worthwhile investment.
The Slack:
The size and the weight of the pack “might” and I wanna stress “might” turn some people off. And I’d hope not because the benefits of having such a charger outweigh that slight negatives. I'm not even gonna hold it against the company, I'm just putting this info out there so you guys'll know what's up.
Monoprice Select Series 16,000 mAh Power Bank scores an instant win in Val-Cave testing and it’ll make a great addition to anyone’s mobile arsenal of gadgets and accessories. It’s packed with a lot of power to charge multiple devices quickly and efficiently and an unbeatable price. I’d highly recommend it. And out of TOV 5 stars, I’m giving the Select Series 16,000 mAh power bank a perfect 5.
