The Poco F3 is the brand’s top flagship for the season, slated to be unveiled later today. In case that’s too much of a wait for you, a new leak leaves little to the imagination.
Poco infamously skipped the Poco F2, and will directly launch the Poco F3 in global markets. There are also rumours of the device coming to India eventually – perhaps as the Xiaomi Mi 11X. Leaksters have got their hands on the official Poco F3 renders, revealing its entire design, colour variants and some of the specs.
Your very first look at the POCO F3 Official Renders!Will be launching with Qualcomm Snapdragon 870 5G Chipset.The design looks like the Redmi K40, as expected. What are your thoughts? #POCOF3 #POCO #PowerMeetSpeed pic.twitter.com/vvVSDbq4X9March 21, 2021
As seen in the embedded tweet above, the Poco F3 will have the same external hardware as the Redmi K40 that was unveiled in China last month. This includes a trademark camera array with three sensors, with two larger ones on the top and bottom, flanking the smaller third one. This is likely to be a high-resolution primary camera, an ultra-wide lens and a dedicated macro camera.
The renders also confirm the existence of three colour variants, which include standard black and white shades, and an interesting third finish that seems to combine multiple textures and shades of blue and a large Poco logo. There’s also 5G branding on the back of the Poco F3, which is a first for the company. Apart from that, the rest of the design is unchanged, with a large flat display that has a punch-hole notch for the selfie camera, no visible physical fingerprint scanner, suggesting an under-display solution and reasonably slim bezels around the screen.
As always, the Poco F3 will be a performance-centric smartphone, powered by the new Snapdragon 870 chipset with 5G capabilities. For the uninitiated, it is an upgraded Snapdragon 865+, with the prime core clocked at a higher 3.2GHz.
Other specifications of the Redmi K40 include a 6.67-inch AMOLED display (Samsung E4) with a 120Hz refresh rate, 360Hz touch response rate, HDR10+ and more. The battery is rated at 4,520mAh and supports 33W fast charging, which is claimed to recharge the device in under an hour.
While there is no word on the global pricing just yet, in China the Redmi K40 starts at CNY 1,999 (~Rs 22,500) for the base variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage.
At the same event, the Poco X3 Pro will also be unveiled, which is confirmed to launch in India on March 30.
Samsung Electronics has claimed that its study showed its Galaxy Buds Pro wireless earbuds could help people with hearing impairments.
The study, published last week in Clinical and Experimental Otorhinolaryngology (CEO), a well-known scientific journal dedicated to ear, nose and throat research, suggested that the Galaxy Buds Pro's Ambient Sound feature could assist those with mild to moderate hearing loss to better engage in conversation with others. The research was carried out in partnership with Samsung Medical Center.
This is of course not the first time that Samsung is claiming that its Galaxy Buds Pro has features to help the hearing-impaired.
Soon after its launch, Samsung came up with a software update that had "hearing enhancements feature", which allowed users to balance the sound between the left and right earbuds.
So, if anyone had hearing loss in their right ear, they could possibly boost the left earbud to create a more balanced soundstage.
But this Ambient Sound feature is a bit different. It is said to amplify nearby sounds by up to 20 decibels. With four levels to choose from, users can adjust and control how they experience nearby sounds.
Galaxy Buds Pro tested along with other hearing aids
The new study assessed the efficacy of a hearing aid, a personal sound amplification product, and Galaxy Buds Pro.
"According to the authors, no other study has yet included true wireless earbuds when evaluating the clinical performance of hearing devices," Samsung said in a press announcement.
It claimed that the study has demonstrated the potential benefit of true wireless earbuds for individuals with mild to moderate hearing impairments. It can possibly improve the lives of 1.5 billion people globally who are currently living with some degree of hearing loss, the South Korean electronic major claimed.
Galaxy Buds Pro can benefit those with mild to moderate hearing loss
(Image credit: Samsung)
The company said the Galaxy Buds Pro, the hearing aid and the personal sound amplification product underwent three key tests: electroacoustic assessment, sound amplification evaluation and a clinical performance evaluation.
When tested with seven different frequencies for sound amplification evaluation, all devices showed an appropriate level of amplification.
In a clinical performance evaluation, which researched changes in individuals' hearing levels both with and without the devices, as well as their ability to recognize words and sentences, the study showed "statistical significance was observed" at 1,000Hz, 2,000Hz and 6,000Hz. Participants in the study had mild to moderate hearing loss, with a median age of 63, it added.
The Galaxy Buds Pro met the major performance criteria -- output sound pressure level, frequency range, equivalent input noise and total harmonic distortion -- in an electroacoustic assessment.
It was also discovered that, when wearing Galaxy Buds Pro, individuals were able to understand spoken words better.
This suggests that along with hearing aids and personal sound amplification products, Galaxy Buds Pro could potentially provide communicative benefit for individuals with hearing loss, and especially for those with mild and moderate loss, the company said.
You know what sucks? A good vacuum. And, finding one that's right for your everyday needs sucks too, especially since there are so many choices across so many different price points.
The main criteria to look for, though, is how easy a vacuum cleaner is to handle and how well it performs on any surface. Even with buying criteria narrowed down to two, it's a hard choice to make. Do you get an upright or a handstick? Should you opt for a cordless or a corded vacuum cleaner? Heck, would a robot vacuum just take care of it all?
A lot also depends on what kind of floors you have at home, whether you need to clean up after kids and pets, and what size home you live in.
Your choice of vacuum cleaner should include features and attachments you're going to need the most, it should be easy to maintain as well, and offer excellent bang for your buck.
So we've handpicked some top vacuum cleaners currently available in Australia, including lightweight cordless models, autonomous robot vacuums and the traditional barrel ones, but big brands and the little ones, across different budgets.
There are plenty of corded vacuum cleaners available on the market that a lot cheaper than the Blizzard CX1 Excellence but you'll be hard pressed to find one as powerful. It employs what Miele calls Vortex Technlogy wherein air moving at speeds of over 100kph ensure it sucks up fine dust or hair that's embedded deep within carpet fibres.
That kind of power is plenty for old, dirty carpets and for a household with pets. And with three tools shipping with the vacuum – and stored on the body of the CX1 Excellence for easy reach – you can clean different surfaces and get into every nook and cranny. You can even reach for the cobwebs on the ceiling with the telescope tube.
With a cord of 6.5m in length, which retracts with a single push of a button (no, you don't need to keep it pressed down), you get a full reach of up to 10m. The wheels move 360 degrees and it can even be stood upright if necessary.
Emptying the large bin is also easy, and you won't need to touch the lid to clean it out either. There's a discreet little button which will release the lid – you will have to push it close though and, if you're finicky, you can wash it out completely.
And where most vacuum cleaners require you to change the HEPA filter after a certain duration to ensure maximum efficiency, the CX1 Excellence has an AirClean filter that lasts a lifetime. There's also a CleanStream fine dust filter that cleans itself automatically, or you can do it yourself with just a press of a button.
The design is also quite sleek. It looks like a futuristic machine, with sharp angles on the sides. And, for the most part, it's possible to snag one for less than its AU$649 RRP from major retailers.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
2. LG CordZero A9 Kompressor (A9K-Aqua)
One-upping Dyson with a powerful vacuum mop
Power supply: Cordless | Weight: 2.7kg | Bin size: 0.44L | Run-time: Up to 120 minutes
Vacuums and mops
Ships with two batteries
Free-standing
Expensive
Unbalanced weight distribution
It's admittedly hard to recommend a vacuum cleaner that costs you well over a grand, but when you factor in the price of the competition and how many more features this LG offers over a Dyson, it makes it well worth the investment.
The A9 Kompressor (specifically the A9K Aqua model) is not only a powerful vacuum, it's also a pretty effective mop as well. In fact, you can do both at once if you want and save time. And don't be fooled by its regular-sized 0.44L bin. It can fit 2.4 times more dust and debris in there thanks to a compressor (which gives the range of vacuums its name).
With two batteries in the box – each with 60-minutes of fade-free power – you can clean a large family home in one go. Better yet, while you're using the machine with one battery, you can charge the other. There's also no need to wall mount the handstick as its charging dock is free-standing, making it great for renters.
The only downside to the LG is is uneven weight distribution that makes it feel heavier than it is.
Power supply: : Cordless, battery | Weight: : 4.3kg | Bin size: : 420ml | Run time: : Up to 3 hours
Mops and vacuums
Built-in camera
Whopping 3-hour batter
3-4 hours charging time
Expensive
The main reason to get yourself a robot vacuum cleaner is so you can either put your feet up and get something else to do all the hard work for you, or so you get more time to do more important things – or perhaps both. And that's exactly what the T8 will do, and do way better than most other robot vacuum cleaners.
There’s not much we can fault with this little droid: it vacuums, it mops – although mopping isn't as good as you may like – can be controlled via voice assistants, and can also double up a basic security device.
There's a camera onboard the T8 which allows the bot to 'see' the obstacles in its path. When it's not cleaning, that camera will provide a live feed of where the T8 is going in what Ecovacs has labelled its 'patrol mode'. There's also a little speaker onboard that allows you to send messages to people in other rooms, or look in on your pets at home while you're away.
It's truly something different, but all this innovation doesn't come cheap. Yet, with three suction modes, the T8 is powerful enough to keep carpets clean as well, and it automatically knows not to go on rugs if the mopping plate is installed.
It maps really quick and its obstacle avoidance is best-in-class, as is its battery life. You'll get up to three hours of runtime per charge, and that's enough to clean a large home once over, or a smaller space a couple of times in a row.
With so much going for it, the Deebot Ozmo T8 AIVI is definitely worth the investment, particularly when you realise you get so much more time for yourself.
Power supply: : Cordless, battery | Weight: : 5.9 lbs / 2.6 kg | Bin size: : 0.54L | Run time: : Up to 40 minutes
Cheaper than Absolute model
Powerful suction
Fantastic attachments
Battery drains fast on highest setting
Expensive for an older model
The new Dyson handstick vacuums like the V10 and V11 range are pretty expensive. So, if you're after a more affordable one, the V8 Animal Extra is a great alternative. Admittedly it still costs a pretty penny but you do get a very capable sucker (pardon the pun).
The V8 motor, although aging, spins at up to 110,000rpm to create a powerful suction that's better than the Absolute model. The other difference is the additional tools you get – the Animal Extra ships with a total of five tools, while the Absolute model has only two. And yet this version is AU$100 cheaper than the Absolute.
It does have a Max and Powerful suction modes, but the higher you go, the more it will eat it into the vacuum's battery life. Which, we have to say, is a decent 40 minutes if you run it on its default standard setting. While that won't quite be enough for a large family home, it should take care of smaller spaces.
It's also easy to handle while cleaning ceilings, and quickly converts into a smaller handheld option for cleaning cars or furniture upholstery.
(Image credit: Future)
5. iRobot Roomba i7
An innovative Roomba if you have the money to spare
Power supply: Cordless / battery | Weight: 7.28 lbs / 3.3 kg | Bin: 500ml | Run time: 75 minutes
Excellent navigation
Digital assistant integration
Extremely pricey
Recurring cost when bought with i7+ base
iRobot is arguably the most popular robot vacuum brand in the world. Most people would have heard about a Roomba at some time, and they're getting smarter by the iteration. The i7 range has two models – both are identical in every way, with the sole exception of a self-emptying base available with the i7+ model.
The Roomba i7, even when bought on its own, is frightfully expensive, yet we can't leave it out of this round-up. It's got one of the smartest navigation systems on a robot vacuum and it cleans a lot quicker than most advanced models. It's perhaps the only robovac that uploads maps of individual rooms in a house to iRobot's servers. This smart map can take a few tries to complete but once done, you can tell the Roomba to clean any specific room via the app.
If you've got smart speakers with with Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, then you'll be able to control the i7 with a simple voice command. And, if you can spare the coin for purchasing the Clean Base (which is essentially the i7+ model), then you won't even need to worry about emptying the i7's bin. Only when the Clean Base is full – perhaps once a month – you'll need to empty it. However, the Clean Base uses bags which become an additional ongoing cost.
There's no question that Dyson's manoeuvrable and endlessly convenient stick vacuums are incredible, sporting powerful suction and a modular design that allows for a number of area-specific attachments – all without having to worry about pesky cables getting in the way. However, cordless vacuums do have their caveats.
Getting a limited amount of vacuum time from a battery that takes hours to charge can be extremely frustrating, and there are times when you may require a more powerful and heavy-duty vacuum solution. Cordless models are often pretty darn expensive, too.
If you share these concerns, Dyson's Cinetic Big Ball vacuum may be a terrific alternative, offering the same quality cleaning experience that the company's vacuums are known for, while avoiding all the usual annoyances that make inspire people to choose a cord-free option.
Most vacuums will tip over as they're dragged along the floor — not the Cinetic Big Ball, with its ball-shaped design that has been perfectly weighted to roll back into place whenever it falls down — it's a neat example of Dyson's knack for finding solutions to problems that have plagued these kinds of products for decades.
Another advantage over cordless vacuums: its suction power leaves them in the dust — literally. At 250 air watts, the Cinetic Big Ball is even more powerful than the new Dyson Cyclone V10, which offers around 150 air watts of suction.
Taking into consideration that you can now pick up a Dyson Cinetic Big Ball for under $500, and what you have is a highly-recommended alternative to Dyson's pricier cord-free options.
Power supply: Cordless | Weight: 3.1kg | Bin size: 0.6L | Run time: Up to 45 minutes
Powerful suction
Great on all floor types
Feels heavy when using
Loud
Once the leading name in vacuums, Vax is still going strong today and its Blade 2 Max 40V vacuum more than proves it. Easy to use, and delivering excellent results on different floor types, the cordless Vax Blade 2 Max 40V offers powerful suction and long run-time for a great price.
It has bright lights on the floor head, so you won’t miss any dirt, and a good-sized bin for a cordless machine too, meaning fewer bin-emptying interruptions when cleaning. The Blade 2 Max is easy to use, but it's let down by how heavy it feels in the hand – your arm may not be able to hold out for as long as the battery.
The Blade 2 Max delivers great cleaning results on different floor types, and it's no slouch when it comes to tackling pet hair; however, it's far from the lightest-feeling or quietest cordless cleaner out there.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
8. Miele Triflex HX1 Cat & Dog
The first cordless Miele, but without any compromises
Power supply: Battery | Weight: 3.7kg | Bin size: 0.5L | Run-time: Up to 60 minutes
Very versatile
Quiet
Heavy as a handheld
Bin may be small for some
There's no denying Miele is one of our favourite vacuum cleaner brands, with plenty of powerful suckers that we've featured at top spot on this list. They've all been the traditional barrel vacuums, but the German brand finally has a cordless handstick as well.
The Triflex HX1 series handsticks convert easily from a cordless stick cleaner to a handheld to an upright, and can handle any job you throw at it – even dry pet food. There are three power settings to choose from and you'll get up to 60 minutes of run-time between charges. While the vacuum cleaner only ships with a single battery, additional batteries are available to purchase separately, and that could give you the same advantage as the LG A9 listed higher in this list.
That said, there are plenty of tools in the box, so you'll be able to get to any nook and cranny at home, and handle any surface – floors, upholstery, carpet, no problem. There's even an LED light on the main motorised cleaning head to help you spot dirt in those dark, nasty corners. This cleaning head also features floor sensors, so it automatically adjusts suction power when it detects different surfaces.
It does all this without being too noisy. Compared to several other cordless vacuums, the Miele Triflex HX1 is relatively quiet, even at its highest setting.
Apple CEO Tim Cook and Epic Games CEO Tim Sweeney are among the top executives from the companies to be on the witness list in the Fortnite case, court documents show. Apple and Epic Games, creator of the popular game Fortnite, have been in a legal battle since last year, when Epic Games tried to avoid a 30 percent App Store fee by launching its own in-app payment sys...
Donald Trump plans to launch his own social media platform after being banned by major services including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube, a former advisor has said.
With so many shows and movies to choose from on Australia's major streaming services, it can often be difficult to find the best new stuff to entertain yourself with each week.
In an effort to make things easier, every Monday we'll be highlighting the best new shows and movies to watch on Aussie streaming platforms, covering the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Binge, Foxtel Now, Stan and Amazon Prime Video.
Below, you'll find a list of this week's highlights, separated by streaming service, with binge-worthy new shows sitting alongside some great big-budget new movie arrivals – and a couple of oddball left-of-field entries, just for some variety.
The big new shows and movies this week are The Mauritanian on Amazon Prime Video and The Irregulars on Netflix, however, there's a nice selection of other shows and movies landing on Australia's streaming services, too. Here are our streaming picks for the week of March 22-28, 2021.
Disney Plus
The Falcon and the Winter Soldier: Episode 2 (TV series – available 26/3/2021)
Following an action-packed first episode, The Falcon and the Winter Soldier will return on Friday and hopefully bring Sam Wilson (Anthony Mackie) and Bucky Barnes (Sebastian Stan) one step closer to teaming up against the radical terrorist group known as the Flag-Smashers.
Based on true events, the Amazon Original movie The Mauritanian tells the inspiring story of Mohamedou Ould Slahi (Tahar Rahim), a man who spent years fighting for his freedom while being detailed without charge in Guantanamo Bay. On his side are defense attorney Nancy Hollander (Jodie Foster) and her associate Teri Duncan (Shailene Woodley), who must face off against an intimidating military prosecutor (Benedict Cumberbatch).
Based on the stories of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, The Irregulars sees a ragtag group of young and gifted individuals manipulated into solving crimes for Dr. John Watson (Royce Pierreson) and Sherlock Holmes (Henry Lloyd-Hughes) in 19th century London.
DOTA: Dragon's Blood (TV Series – available 25/3/2021)
Based on the worldwide video game phenomenon Defense of the Ancients, DOTA: Dragon's Blood is an anime series which follows a Dragon Knight who becomes tangled in events larger than he could have ever imagined after some encounters with a dragon and a determined princess.
The Great British Bake Off: Season 11 (TV Series – available 24/3/2021)
Look, we won't judge your excitement at the return of The Great British Bake Off – the guilty pleasure show that people watch instead of doing something more constructive... like reading a book (hey, at least it isn't Married At First Sight). Once again, this season sees 12 home bakers take part in a bake off that will put every aspect of their baking knowledge to the test.
skills as they battle it out to be crowned the Great British Bake Off's Best Amateur Baker
City on a Hill: Season 2 premiere (TV Series – available 28/3/2021)
Following an impressive first season with more dropped Rs than a twerking convention, the 'wicked-smaht' Boston-set crime drama City on a Hill finally is back for its second season. Kevin Bacon returns as FBI agent Jackie Rohr, a man who routinely exploits Boston's defective criminal justice system for the sake of his own career.
If you’ve had your eyes on the Apple Watch 3, the prospect of putting this powerful wearable on your wrist has just become a lot more affordable, as eBay will soon be steeply discounting the smartwatch as part of its regular eBay Tuesdays weekly deals.
Tomorrow (March 23, 2021), you’ll be able to score an Apple Watch 3 for just AU$199. While details are yet to confirm whether the discount will come on the 38mm or 42mm version of the device, the low price means you’ll save at least AU$100 on the Watch 3.
The deal is exclusive to eBay Plus members, and if you haven’t signed up, you can get a 30-day free trial of the service and still be eligible for this excellent offer.
This incredible deal will be launching on Tuesday, March 23 at 4pm AEDT, and stock will be limited to just 300 units, so you’ll need to be ready and waiting to snap one up when it becomes available.
The Apple Watch 3 is the oldest model still on sale, and several newer models have since been released, including the latest Apple Watch 6 and Apple Watch SE. But that said, the Watch 3 offers great value for money for those who don’t need all the bells and whistles of the newer and dearer models, while still delivering good battery life and fantastic fitness features.
If smart wearables aren’t your thing, eBay will be delivering more than just an Apple Watch deal. There’ll also be a massive discount on the DJI Mavic Mini, so you can get the drone for AU$299 – less than half its AU$599 retail price.
This drone deal will also be dropping at 4pm AEDT on March 23, with a total of 500 units available to eBay Plus subscribers.
For any tech lover or frequent traveller, a portable charger is a must-have accessory. There are loads of models available, and the latest all support fast charging. For the real road warrior, many power banks will also charge a USB-C laptop.
For best performance, the power bank needs to match your USB fast charge spec. Don’t worry though, any non compatible devices simply charge at normal USB speeds. Apple and many Android devices support the USB Power Delivery (PD) protocol (as do most USB-C laptops), while many other devices use QualComm Quick Charge (QC 2.0/3.0). Fortunately most new power banks make it easy and support both PD and QC fast charging. You can also get power banks with built in wireless charging. Keep in mind that PD charging uses USB-C only, while Quick Charge is usually via standard USB ports, though often is also available on USB-C.
We recommend a power bank with at least an 18W output, and a 10,000 mAh (37Wh) capacity. This is a great size to carry with you, and will take a dead phone to full charge twice over. 20,000 mAh power banks start to get too bulky to slip into a pocket, but are often the best value. Laptops on the other hand usually need 45W or more to charge at a reasonable rate. One thing to be aware of is that power banks over 100 Wh (27,000 mAh) need permission from the airline to be taken on board and over 160 Wh (43,000 mAh) is a no go at all.
Keep in mind that fast charging needs a compatible cable (most power banks come with one), and many extra long or older cables will not allow your device to charge at full speed.
How we test
There’s plenty of no-name power banks out there with dubious specs, so we make sure to thoroughly test all the power banks recommended here. Our regime involves multiple full discharges of each power bank to test the rated capacity, as well as to see how efficient the electronics are. We also make sure they can properly fast charge at the advertised output for a sustained period of time. To make life easy, we sum up our results into an efficiency score out of 100%. Keep in mind a lower score is not necessarily a bad thing, if the power bank itself is cheaper to compensate, and all our recommended models are great deals in different ways.
Best portable chargers in Australia at a glance
Xiaomi ZMI PowerPack Aura 20K QB822
Romoss 50W PPD20
iMuto Smart Power X6SPD
Kogan 10000mAh 18W PD
Xiaomi ZMI Power Bank Pro QB823
Cygnett ChargeUp Reserve 20K
BlitzWolf BW-P12
(Image credit: TechRadar)
1. Xiaomi ZMI PowerPack Aura 20K QB822
Sleek and powerful
Very affordable
27W output
Too big for a pocket
The Mi QB822 is our favourite affordable power bank right now. It’s pretty slim and light, has a tough plastic shell, plus a big 20,000 mAh capacity. It outputs 27W using Quick Charge or Power delivery on USB-C, which is a step above the 18W power banks and great for those with more capable devices. It comes with a USB-C cable, has a digital capacity readout, and can be charged via USB-C or MicroUSB. The two USB ports do Quick Charge at 18W, and overall it managed an excellent 88% efficiency rating. What’s not to love?
(Image credit: TechRadar)
2. Romoss 50W PPD20
Great value
Power Delivery and Quick Charge
50W output
Slightly bulky
Lower efficiency
A big 20,000 mAh battery for a bargain price makes the Romoss 50W PPD20 one of the best value power banks on the market. It supports both Power Delivery and Quick Charge on the USB-C port, and Quick Charge on the two USB connections. Even better, it will output up to 45W via USB-C, and 50W total, which is enough for many laptops. It charges quickly too (at 45W), so can be topped back up in a hurry. The Romoss power bank tested at a decent for the price 78% efficiency rating. It also has a handy percentage display that shows exactly how much charge is left.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
3. iMuto Smart Power X6SPD
High output fast charging
Great bang for buck
Large capacity
Large and heavy
No Quick Charge
The chunky black and gold shell on the iMuto Smart Power covers an extra large 27,000 mAh (99.9Wh) battery - the biggest you can take on a plane. It only supports PD spec fast charging via the USB-C input/output, but is rated for 45W and can handle topping up a laptop. The dual USB ports don’t have any fast charging, but the total output means you can charge multiple devices at once all at full speed. The power bank managed a solid 82% efficiency rating during testing, and had no trouble outputting the full 45W.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
4. Kogan 10000mAh 18W PD
Simple and affordable
Affordable and slim
18W PD and QC fast charge
Lower efficiency
Compact and black with a metal shell, the Kogan 10K power bank is a great basic option. It’s quite slim and weighs in at a pocketable 276 grams. With a 10,000 mAh (37Wh) capacity and 18W PD and QC charging, the Kogan power bank is ready for almost all phones. It has dual USB ports, plus an USB-C input/output that handles both PD and QC fast charging. Handily it also has a second Micro USB input, which means you can charge using whatever cable is handy. Our testing gave it a reasonable 77% efficiency rating and it happily sustained 18W fast charging.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
5. Xiaomi ZMI Power Bank Pro QB823
Sleek and powerful
Massive 65W Power Delivery output
Excellent efficiency
Higher price
Overkill for phone charging
The Mi QB823 is a compact, aluminium clad slab of power bank goodness. While not the very cheapest, it is lighter (438 grams) and smaller than many other 20,000 mAh power banks, yet can output an impressive 65W via PD USB-C - enough for most laptops. It also supports up to 45W Quick Charge on USB-C, as well as the two normal USB ports. The QB823 achieved an impressive 94% on our efficiency test, which means more of the available power ends up in your device. If you need high power charging across a range of devices, this is a great choice.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
6. Cygnett ChargeUp Reserve 20K
Big power in a small package
Compact and lightweight
18W PD and QC charging
Somewhat expensive
Limited USB ports
While more expensive for the capacity compared to some of its competition, the Cygnett power bank is one of the smallest and lightest 20,000 mAh (74Wh) models we have tested. The sleek purple plastic shell makes it very easy to slip into a small back, or even a pocket. It weighs a paltry 351 grams and feels not much bigger than most 10,000 mAh models. The power bank outputs and charges at 18W (PD and QC) via USB-C, or provides 18W QC charging using the single normal USB port. It also managed a better than average 85% efficiency, and had zero issues providing sustained fast charging.
(Image credit: TechRadar)
7. BlitzWolf BW-P12
Very affordable
Great bang for buck
Slim and light
No USB-C cable in box
Smaller capacity
Sometimes you just want a dead cheap power bank to chuck in a bag and forget about. Blitzwolf might not be a brand you are familiar with, but the BW-P12 is a capable little 10,000mAh that is both slim and very lightweight. It does Quick Charge and Power Delivery at 18W via USB-C, and just the former via the two USB ports. Handily it charges via Micro USB or USB-C, and has an easy to read digital capacity display. The BW-P12 has a decent 78% efficiency rating, and will happily charge most devices once or twice over.
