Why You Can Trust CNET Tylt Energi 10K review: Power to spare, and share, in a pretty package.
This battery pack couples generous capacity with a simple, tasteful design.
Battery packs are far from exciting, but a reliable source of backup juice can mean oh so many precious hours of Piano Tiles on that long haul flight. And of all the options available, the Tylt Energi 10K stands out: its 10,400mAh rechargeable battery can charge your smartphone several times over, it can feed power to up to three devices simultaneously, and it looks pretty smart to boot -- all for a palatable $99.
Tylt Energi 10K
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
You'll have to trade a hefty package for that power -- and the Energi 10K doesn't show off with any extra features like a flashlight -- but I'd prefer it over the many smaller, cheaper, and more versatile battery packs available. Indeed, if I were feeling especially generous (or packed my usual assortment of gear), I could use the three USB charging ports sitting on the battery pack's front edge simultaneously. Even better, one of those ports actually doles out twice the amperage of its siblings -- it's design for the hefty power needs of tablets, which would otherwise charge at a snail's pace. Those features make the Energi 10K a great choice for anyone who needs a lot of extra power on the go, but it's equally useful if you just need the occasional charge for your phone.
A simple package
The whole package is just shy of an inch thick and weighs in at about 290 grams, or just under half a pound. That's heavier than some battery packs you'll find, but it isn't onerous by any stretch, and right in line with the capacity. The Energi 10K is also kind of attractive, for a battery pack -- there's only so much you can do with a black plastic slab, but the blue band running along the center is a nice touch (also available in gray). The aforementioned USB charging ports sit on the front lip, alongside a micro-USB port for charging the battery pack. Their placement keeps them nice and accessible, and while the ports are labelled "iPhone /
," rest assured that all of your devices are welcome.The only other discernible feature on the Energi 10K is a little square button on the left side, flanked by a green LED whenever the battery pack is on. Press it to reveal five LED dots running along the side. Those give you an estimate of how much power you're still packing; when the lights go out, you're out of juice. A little green LED will remain illuminated whenever the battery pack is on. Press and hold the button to shut it off off -- it'll also turn itself off after 10 minutes.
Power to spare
In my tests, the beefy 10,400mAh battery was more than enough to service a smartphone (like my Nexus 5 ) several times over, and could top off three phones at once with a little juice to spare. But my 3rd-generation iPad's (relatively) gargantuan 11,560mAh battery took the Energi 10K from somewhere near full capacity to flat in about four hours, while taking the iPad's battery capacity from 8% to 69%.
That's actually pretty good, but highlights how that LED readout can get a bit risky -- the five LEDs only give you an approximation of how much capacity is left, so it's tough to gauge how long the thing is going to last. That said, you'll run into this caveat with just about any battery pack on the market. Maybe someday battery packs will spit out their estimated remaining capacity with actual numbers. Until then, you'll just have to get a feel for your capacity by getting out there and using it.
But here's my favorite feature: the Tylt Energi 10k supports pass-through charging, which means it's capable of charging other devices while it's being charged. That's something I don't actually see on too many batteries. It's only available once the battery pack has been charged to at least at 50% capacity, but that'll still be incredibly handy if you're low on outlets and have several devices you want topped off. It'll also be useful because the battery takes a whopping six hours to reach full capacity. If you're planning to take a long trip or just suspect you'll need a bit of extra juice, you'd better top up the night before.
The Tylt Energi 10K's biggest fault (besides that indecipherable logo) lies in its simplicity. But that's okay: most of the battery packs I've come across try to do something extra, whether it's tacking on a lackluster flashlight or baking in some proprietary charging cables. The Energi 10K works with the wires you already have, and will charge anything USB-friendly you can throw at it.
Conclusion
A quick search on Amazon and the like will reveal cheaper battery packs, and you can certainly find larger capacities if you need more juice. But $99 is a solid price for the Tylt Energi 10K. It might not offer much in the way of extra bells and whistles, but the beefy capacity, ability to charge several devices at once, and that pass-through charging support make it a great deal.