Anker PowerCore+ Mini 3350mAh at a glance
Key specs
Capacity
3350 mAh
12.06 Wh
Dimensions (LxWxH)
3.7 x 0.9 x 0.9 in
9.40 x 2.29 x 2.29 cm
Weight
3 oz / 85 g
Charging technology
Charging time: 4 h
PowerIQ
PBE metrics
Affordability
119.69 mAh/$
Average
336.42 mAh/$
Portability
39.41 mAh/g
1116.67 mAh/oz
Ports
USB Type A
Micro USB
Flight status
Under 100 Wh
Status: Safe
The power bank is safe to take on board. It's under the specified TSA limit of 100 Wh. Read more about taking power banks on planes.
Other features
LED power indicator
Overheating protection
Short circuit protection
Surge protection
Protective pouch
Charging cable
Charging capacity calculator
Use the search bar below and find out exactly how many times can the Anker PowerCore+ Mini charge your smartphone battery
Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350mAh power bank review
The market has recently been flooded with these “lipstick” sized devices and a lot of them are mass-produced and cheaply made. The Anker PowerCore+ mini defies the odds and manages to keep costs down whilst still providing quality components. It comes with its own micro USB cable but if you’re charging an Apple device, you’ll have to use your own.
*Check out the Anker brand page here.
Capacity & Charging speed
The Anker PowerCore+ mini boasts a battery capacity of 3350 mAh. Not bad for a power bank of this size. Internally, Anker hasn’t skimped on the quality of their battery, nor the use of space within. Product performance varies a little depending on the unit, which is a shame. Especially because it’s clear that Anker has done all they can to fit the best technology into the smallest space possible. Their PowerIQ technology also smartly identifies the type of device it’s charging to optimize charging efficiency.
The Panasonic-Sanyo NCR18650BF Lithium Ion cell within is about as good as you can get in terms of cells these days. It’s just a shame that some reports of overheating and efficiency loss tarnish what is probably one of the best lipstick-sized portable chargers on the market.
Look and feel
Although I’m not personally a huge fan of the cylindrical-shaped power banks, they tend to be incredibly popular. In saying this, the Anker PowerCore mini portable charger looks pretty smart and manages to avoid that “tacky” look that some competitors have. On the black model, the surface is finished with a smooth, shiny matte and the lines are slick and tidy. There is a single light located at the end of the device to indicate charge. This is positioned on the same end as both the micro USB and regular USB inputs.
The Anker PowerCore mini Power Bank also comes in a range of colors and finishes to choose from.
Durability & Construction
Taking apart the Anker PowerCore mini reveals some quality wiring and design. They’ve made good use of space to fit all the quality components inside logically. It is a smaller battery and there have been some reports of some people only getting a few months of use out of it. This all depends on how much you use it and can also be affected by a whole range of other factors.
Regardless, contacting customer support will often succeed if you’ve not damaged the unit yourself. Some people also complained of some USB port faults which might be due to the materials used to protect the round face of the unit.
Portability
Well, it doesn’t really get much more portable than this, quite literally lipstick sized. Based on the reputation of the lithium-ion cell inside and the charging capacity of 3350 mAh, this might be the best bang for your buck portable charger around. There are power banks of a similar size and weight that claim to have a higher charge capacity. In most cases, however, you are dealing with substandard cells and are going to have a bad time after a few charges of any device.
If you’re planning to fly, read more about portable battery TSA regulations.
Pros
rue 3350 mAH battery capacity
Incredibly small and light
High Quality Panasonic-Sanyo Lithium Ion Cell
18-month warranty and fantastic customer service
Cons
Slow charging speed
Some battery heat and efficiency issues
Some USB port issues
High cost-mAh relation
Final Thoughts
It’s undeniable that the best features of the Anker PowerCore+ mini are its size and weight, which makes it stand out from others in terms of portability. While it’s true that for a couple of extra dollars you could indeed get a bigger capacity, you’ll be sacrificing comfort and quality. Just remember that a high capacity does not always mean a better power bank.
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