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Anker PowerCore 10000 Review

The PowerCore 10000 is a bare-bones charger that gets the job done but lacks any extra features to make it more convenient to use
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Price:   $26 List | $20 at Amazon
Pros:  Fairly compact given its capacity, available in multiple colors
Cons:  No integrated cables, only a single USB port
Manufacturer:   Anker
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Feb 18, 2020
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60
OVERALL
SCORE

RANKED
#7 of 15
  • Portability - 40% 8
  • Capacity - 30% 5
  • Added Convenience - 20% 3
  • Recharge Time - 10% 7

Our Verdict

While the Anker PowerCore 10000 couldn't clinch one of the overall top spots, we don't think it's a bad charger by any means. This run-of-the-mill USB charger is fairly petite given its capacity, with more than enough juice to fully recharge most devices a handful of times. It does lack all the extra convenience features, like a built-in wall plug, charging cable, or flashlight, that the top models have but it would be a solid option if you want a typical portable charger and only need to charge one device at a time.

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Our Analysis and Test Results

We did like that the PowerCore 10000 has a fast charge rate — up to 2.4 amps — for the one device that it can charger at a time, which is fast enough for larger devices. Besides that, it's a fairly uninspiring charger that isn't our first choice but we were more than happy to add it to a backpack or slip it into a pocket when heading out if our phones were low.

Performance Comparison


The PowerCore 10000 is a fairly average portable charger but it gets the job done.
The PowerCore 10000 is a fairly average portable charger but it gets the job done.

Portability


The Anker PowerCore 10000 got off to a solid start in our most significant testing metric. This USB charger earned an 8 out of 10 when it comes to portability, which comprises 40% of the final score for each product. The Anker PowerCore 10000 tips the scales at a mere 6.48 ounces, which is quite a bit less than the average charger of the group.


This product takes up a fairly small volume, measuring 3.56"x2.38"x0.84" — definitely small enough to easily carry around in a pocket.

This Anker charger isn't too uncomfortable to carry around in a pocket.
This Anker charger isn't too uncomfortable to carry around in a pocket.

We never found it to be too uncomfortable to carry in a pants pocket unless we were sitting right on top of it and you could easily forget it was even there when carrying it around in a jacket.

The Anker PowerCore 10000 delivered some middle-of-the-road results in our capacity test.
The Anker PowerCore 10000 delivered some middle-of-the-road results in our capacity test.

Capacity


Responsible for 30% of the final score, our next series of tests focused on the capacity of each portable battery. The Anker PowerCore 10000 delivered a middle of the road performance, earning it a 5 out of 10.

We measured the capacity of each charger by using a digital meter and a dummy resistive load set for different discharge rates, as well as by truth testing any claims from the manufacturer regarding the number of charges you could get for different devices.

We only got 2.2 Samsung S8 charges out of this battery instead of the claimed 2.5.
We only got 2.2 Samsung S8 charges out of this battery instead of the claimed 2.5.

We were able to pull 5273 mAh out of this battery with the discharge rate set to 2.4 amps, which is about 53% of its stated capacity. This improved a bit when we dropped it to a 1 amp discharge rate, but we were still only able to get about 64% of the claimed capacity out of it.

This charger also fell a little short of its charging claims in our test. Anker states that you should be able to charge an iPhone 8 3.5 times and a Samsung Galaxy S8 2.5 times, but we were only able to charge an S8 about 2.2 times.

This bare-bones battery doesn't have any extra convenience features at all.
This bare-bones battery doesn't have any extra convenience features at all.

Added Convenience


Next, we rated and scored all the extra features and functions that make these chargers more user-friendly and convenient, which accounts for 20% of the overall score for each product. Regrettably, the bare-bones nature of the Anker PowerCore 10000 didn't get many accolades in this metric, earning it a 3 out of 10.

The PowerCore 10000 is only capable of charging a single device at a time. It also lacks all of the integrated features that other models have, like a flashlight, built-in wall plug for recharging the battery pack, or integrated cable for different devices.

This battery does include a micro-USB cable but you'll need to provide your own if your device has a different charging port.
This battery does include a micro-USB cable but you'll need to provide your own if your device has a different charging port.

This USB charger does include an 18-month limited warranty and a micro-USB cable for recharging the pack or charging compatible devices but you will need to supply your own USB power brick or charge it off a computer.

It can take 3-5 hours to fully recharge the Anker PowerCore 10000.
It can take 3-5 hours to fully recharge the Anker PowerCore 10000.

Recharge Time


Finally, our last testing metric dealt with how long it took to recharge each of the portable chargers, which comprises the residual 10% of the total score. The performance of the Anker PowerCore 10000 rebounded a bit from the previous metric, earning it a 7 out of 10.

The manufacturer claims that it takes 3-5 hours to fully recharge this battery, which matched up with our test results quite well. It took approximately 240 minutes (4 hours) with a high-quality charger in our evaluation, though this could increase if your USB power source doesn't have the best discharge rate.

Value


The Anker PowerCore 10000 is a solid value if you care a bit more about capacity than convenience or exceptional portability. It isn't the best bargain option we have seen but you get just what you pay for.

Conclusion


The PowerCore 10000 is a fairly run-of-the-mill portable USB charger that shouldn't disappoint. It isn't the fanciest product we have tested but it's a great way to have a backup charging solution for your devices without a lot of fluff and it usually sells a pretty good price.

— David Wise and Austin Palmer