Portable batteries are popular accessories in this age of smartphones, tablets, smartwatches and other battery-powered mobile devices. With a portable battery and the right cable, you can top up your device when it gets low, without having to carry around the charger or scrambling to find an electrical outlet. But what about larger mobile devices — laptops, for example. Or a battery pack that can fully charge a smartphone, multiple times? In these cases, you need something bigger than a pocket-sized battery. I’ve been testing out the Powerstation USB-C 3XL from Mophie, a high capacity portable battery with versatile fast-charge outputs, the ability to charge even a MacBook, and a relatively compact and attractive form factor.
High Capacity Battery With USB-C and Fast Charging
The Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL is a high capacity battery pack. As in 26,000mAh hours of portable power. That’s enough juice to fully charge an iPhone XS (which has a 2,658mAh battery) nearly 10 times. It’s worth noting that the 26,000mAh capacity translates into 94.38Wh, which means this battery pack is safe for air travel in carry-on luggage.
The USB-C 3XL goes further than pure capacity, though. It’s equipped with both USB-A and USB-C charge ports. That USB-C port can deliver up to 45W of power, enough to power a MacBook and other USB-C laptops. Mophie says the USB-C 3XL can keep a MacBook running for an additional 18 hours…
The USB-A port can output 12W, and both ports can be used simultaneously, so you can be running a MacBook from one, and fast-charging your smartphone on the other.
Big (But Not Too Big), Friendly Design
There’s no getting around the fact that this is a sizeable device. It measures 6.6 x 3.7 x 0.9-inches, and weighs 18 ounces. However, it doesn’t look or feel bulky. Mophie rounded the corners, and tapered one edge to make it look a little slimmer. The case is black plastic in a matte finish, but most of that is covered in gray fabric that adds a little style while making it easier to hold onto. That fabric cover also reduces the chances the power pack might scratch something if you carry it in a bag or backpack.
Operation is simple. There is one USB-C port by itself marked with an icon to indicate it is for charging the battery pack. Beside it are the USB-A and USB-C output ports. Plug in a device and the Mophie automatically begins charging it — no need to press a button to initiate the process. There is just a single button. located beside the four small LEDs on the tapered edge, pushing the button lights up those LEDs to show the remaining battery charge.
If the battery pack is charging and you plug a device into its USB-C port, the USB-C 3XL will automatically switch to charging the connected device first, and once that’s completed will resume charging its own battery.
Test Results
I don’t have a USB-C powered MacBook, but I did have the ASUS ZenBook S that I reviewed in December. The laptop charges via USB-C, but unfortunately it requires a 65W charger. When I tried charging it, the USB-C 3XL’s LED lights all flashed to show there was a problem.
However, it did well with my iPhone XS Max, and an iPad Mini. After charging both from zero, the battery indicator lights showed at least half a charge remained. I wanted to try something a little more demanding, so brought the Mophie back to full charge then plugged in my Nintendo Switch. I played Civilization 6 with Wi-Fi on and the screen brightness level set to 75%. Running off the USB-C 3XL, the Switch went for 8.5 hours of gameplay before it started using its own battery.
Recharging the USB-C 3XL itself took most of a day, using the included USB-A to USB-C cable and my iPad charger. Had I used a higher powered charger (the USB-C 3XL can take up to 45W) it would have been considerably faster.
Recommendation
At $199.95 the Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL is relatively expensive, at least when compared to ultra-portable battery packs that hold just one or two smartphone charges. However, it offers a lot of peace of mind, with the capacity to charge a smartphone or tablet multiple times — not to mention the power (and USB-C output) to keep a MacBook or Switch going for an extended session when no electrical outlets are available. Speaking of peace of mind, the USB-C 3XL is also covered by a 2-year warranty.
It’s also attractively designed, small enough to pack easily, and you can safely bring it in your carry-on luggage on a plane. If you need a versatile, high capacity portable battery pack, the Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL is well worth considering.
Disclosure: Mophie provided a Powerstation USB-C 3XL for evaluation but had no input into this review.
