Review of the Charmast Mini Power Bank

Our Verdict

The Charmast Mini is a convenient and compact power bank at the cost of a lower charge capacity and a lack of key quality-of-life features. It’s a niche product that may not suit everyone’s needs but excels as a portable charger designed to support one device during a single outing. It’s also a fast-charging beast with one of the easiest direct connection methods available on the market.

Reasons to buy

• Incredibly portable and compact
• Charge indicator LED lights
• Available in multiple colors
• High-speed charging compatible – fast charging (PD) and quick charging (QC)

Reasons to avoid

• Lower 5,000 mAh capacity
• Limited to either USB-C or lightning connector
• Can’t charge more than one device at a time
• Quite bulky and uncomfortable to use when holding the phone in landscape mode

There's just no comparison to the Charmast Mini power bank when it comes to mobility and ease. Disguisefully posing as a little snorkel device, this foldable charger fits into most pockets and is a lovely addition to any costume outfit with Metal Gear Solid diving gear.

In all seriousness, however, avoid submerging or chewing on this power bank since, while having a little capacity for charging, it can easily power through most gaming sessions and is a lot of fun to use while on the road. This review delves into the powerful Charmast Mini power bank, which is an electric pocket fuel that may provide a consistent power boost but might not be suitable for all users.

Cost and accessibility

As mentioned in our best power banks guide, the Charmast Mini, which had an MSRP of $30, now available on Amazon. This RRP is somewhat pricey when compared to power banks with greater quality of life features or those with a larger capacity but bulkier design, such as 10,000 mAh power banks. Its MSRP looks to have decreased to half, however, and that is a much more appealing pricing point.

Details

Specifications and layout

It's clear right out of the box how sturdy and portable this device is. Its "T-tetromino" design and light weight of 91g make it a delightful gadget to handle ergonomically. If you require a device that's simple to grab in busy outdoor conditions, this is a great choice. Fortunately, despite my numerous efforts to turn this power bank on while it's connected to my phone, it still holds firmly. The supplied USB-C or lightning connection cap is something I really like since it provides additional security against the "throw it in your bag and run for a bus" mindset.

The Charmast Mini is a subduedly stylish power bank that comes in a variety of hues to complement the back cover or case of your phone. Even if the wake button and blue LED battery indications are perhaps the most basic features available today, having an LED screen with a percentage indicator would be better. Still, they provide additional utility points.

Sadly, the Charmast Mini power bank's connector to the end of your phone adds additional heft, so unless you can learn the infamous crab-hand posture from the PSP Monster Hunter games, playing games in landscape mode may be pretty unpleasant.

Users who have RSI in their hands or fingers or wrist discomfort may also experience problems with this design, which forces them to overstretch or counterbalance the extra weight on one side of their phone. However, this is much less of an issue if the most of your favourite applications and games are portrait; for instance, the Charmast Mini is a good choice for Pokémon Go Community Days. To ensure a complete connection, make sure your phone case is compatible with this power bank. It requires a thickness of less than 4mm on the cover.

Performance and battery life

The Charmast Mini embodies the quick-burst energy lifestyle like a pro. Its ability to handle 20w fast charging and 18w rapid charging for USB-C models or 20w and 18w fast charging for models with lightning connectors allows it to perform like a phoenix rising from the ashes when it comes to supercharging most gadgets to their full or almost full condition. When you take into account the one drawback of this gadget, which is its 5,000 mAh capacity, they are outstanding aspects.

Fortunately, its capability doesn't prevent it from doing more. I tested this power bank over the course of five days, beginning with a 19–22% phone battery, taking into account what a regular user might have enabled when out and about. I turned on the always-on display, turned off WiFi, and used my phone for ordinary Chrome surfing, YouTube video viewing, and playing games like Genshin Impact in order to build a constant.

Using a phone with a 3650 mAh capacity, I tested under these conditions and discovered that my smartphone completely charged in 2-2.5 hours. In every test, fast charging was enabled, which means that this charger met the demand while concurrently charging my phone, despite the power consumption brought on by these applications. By contrast, it takes around an hour and fifty minutes to charge my phone from the same percentage of battery life when left inactive. Unfortunately, even with a USB-C to USB-C connection attached to a wall outlet rated at 9V 2A, this power bank cannot meet the claimed recharge speed of 1.5 hours; instead, it takes two hours to completely recharge in all testing.

Is it wise to get the Charmast Tiny Power Bank?

I can confirm that after using this power bank for a whole week on public transit and in the city, it is the most handy and unobtrusive power bank I have ever used. To be honest, it's a wonderful feeling to be able to connect my power bank without the need for a wire.

Higher capacity variants, however, are available for the same MSRP and can charge most phones to 100% battery many times. The Charmast Mini just cannot compete with its bulkier rivals, even if you can tolerate the annoyance of wires. Additionally, you can only charge one device at a time and maybe only on one platform—Apple or Android—unless you own one of the more recent iPhone 15 USB-C models.

Nonetheless, this is a really good and practical alternative if you can get it for around $15 less and need a fast and handy boost of energy for just one gadget.

Replacements

Don't worry, you can still use these other options if you're not convinced the Charmast Mini is the best pocket power for you.

Portable Charger for Iniu

The INIU Portable Charger is a great power bank that charges quickly and is small and light. It addresses one of the primary shortcomings of the Charmast Mini by having two USB-C connectors and one USB-A port, which allows it to charge many devices simultaneously. It also includes a nice paw print LED battery indicator and a 10,000 mAh capacity.

The Anker Nano Power Bank is the perfect option if you want something a little bit less svelte but yet packed with amazing quality-of-life capabilities. This power bank has an integrated USB-C connection for convenience and a unique flair. It can charge numerous devices thanks to its 10,000 mAh capacity, 30w rapid charging capability, and extra USB-C and USB-A connections. I wouldn't recommend using the integrated USB-C cord as a handle too often, but maybe we might test it in the future for a list of "least throwable power banks."

That concludes our analysis of the Charmast Mini power bank. Check out our listings of thebest phone controllers andbest earbuds for iPhone if you'd like to see some more awesome accessories.