Function over form: Mophie's new power bank goes all-in on USB-C

I'll give credit where credit is due: Mophie makes excellent ability banks. While they're typically on the pricey side, the manner and build quality often brand upwardly the difference.

Nonetheless, the company's latest products, the 'Powerstation PD' and 'Powerstation PD XL,' eschewed that high level of style and the stunning looks of past models for something more practical.

The terminal Mophie portable charger I used was the brilliant red Powerstation with Lightning connector — which, as I noted before, but works well for iPhone users. The biggest drawback of this ability banking company was the lack of USB-C ports.

However, the new Powerstation PD goes to a higher place and beyond solving this problem. Not only does information technology offer a USB-C port, but information technology too supports the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) standard and supports up to 18W charging from both its USB-C and USB-A ports.

In other words, it can fast charge phones that can handle up to 18W of power, like most new Pixel, Galaxy and Apple phones.

Go your cables in social club

Mophie Powerstation PD XL with cable

To take advantage of the fast charging, yous'll need a compatible telephone, a supported USB-C cable, and the power bank. The USB-C port acts equally the power bank's charging port too, so it'southward worth having something that volition charge the Powerstation quickly as well.

If y'all're using an Android device, you probably don't have much to worry nearly. Chances are, you've already got a USB-C cable and a fast-charging brick. Plus, the Powerstation PD comes with a short 28cm USB-C to USB-C cablevision yous can bear with you lot to connect the power banking company to your phone.

iPhone users, on the other paw, will have some initial difficulty with the Powerstation PD. First off, you'll need a USB-C to Lightning cable, which will run you $25 if you go through Apple. However, some third-party options are starting to show up that aren't every bit expensive.

You'll also demand a UCB-C charging brick or a USB-A to USB-C cable to use the Apple power brick that came with your iPhone. What'south worse, that ability brick will charge the Mophie slowly considering information technology only outputs at 5W.

Apple'southward 18W USB-C adapter costs $39, simply once again, y'all can find lower-price alternatives from other brands. Regardless, iPhone owners picking up the Powerstation PD should look an boosted price to go the correct cables and chargers.

We gained USB-C, but what did nosotros lose?

The first thing yous'll notice about the Powerstation PD is it doesn't look similar other Mophie batteries. While changing up your expect isn't necessarily a bad thing, I feel the Powerstation PD is a step back for Mophie.

Gone are the lovely colours, excellent build materials, and generally solid craftsmanship of by products. Instead, the PD is all plastic, with a low-cal grey band around the sides and a textured black plastic on the front and back.

The textured plastic isn't bad — it feels squeamish in hand and looks decent, simply information technology doesn't compare to past models. Even the last Powerstation featured an aluminum front end and back plate. Plus, the PD only comes in one color: dull grey and blackness.

Colours aside, at that place'due south one other issue with the Powerstation PD's plastic trounce: if you grip it with whatsoever force, it will creak and shift. Once more, this isn't necessarily bad, but in a premium product like the Powerstation PD — and considering Mophie'southward by products — information technology'south disappointing to see this level of quality.

Withal, it'southward not all bad news for the Powerstation PD. It notwithstanding sports a side button that lights upwards LEDs to indicate accuse level, something I quite bask near the Mophie batteries.

The Powerstation PD is also impressively modest for the amount of charge information technology holds. The regular size comes in at 6,700mAh while the PD XL is 10,050mAh. Additionally, the Powerstation PD is calorie-free, which is one benefit of its plastic exterior.

A great Mophie, and okay portable charger

Mophie Powerstation PD and PD XL

Despite its shortcomings, the Powerstation PD is the best Mophie power bank you lot can buy right now. What it gives upwardly in style, information technology makes up for in functionality. I, for one, would take the PD's USB-C and fast charging over any of the fancier power bank offerings.

Unfortunately, exterior of the Mophie ecosystem, the Powerstation PD doesn't fare too. It's an expensive power banking company, clocking in at about $80 CAD for the vi,700mAh version and $105 for the 10,050mAh model.

That'southward a lot of money for a portable charger, and when you consider there are options out in that location for less than $70 CAD with xx,100mAh chapters — double that of the PD Twoscore — it chop-chop becomes hard to justify.

This is where that premium argument would typically come in. In my story nearly the Powerstation with Lightning connector, I noted that the premium price of the power bank was justifiable if y'all cared deeply well-nigh the style of your portable bombardment, or if you were heavily invested in Apple's ecosystem.

There's no such saving grace for the Powerstation PD. iPhone users will need extra cables to brand this power bank work, making it less than ideal for them. Android users volition be good to go out of the box, merely the build of the PD doesn't do enough to prepare it apart from the competition.

Canadians volition feel an extra burn equally well, equally Mophie'due south website only offers U.Due south. pricing (I converted the above prices based on the exchange rate at the time of writing). Eventually, the Powerstation PD will come to Canadian stores, but for now, you'll have to buy online, which means you'll pay shipping too.

None of this is to say the Powerstation PD isn't good. It's a swell portable charger, and at the right toll, it's an excellent pick. All the same, I'd contend that the current price isn't the right price for what the Powerstation PD offers users.