Kuxiu’s S3 MagSafe energy financial institution is larger and higher and possibly received’t explode
Kuxiu is again with a brand new S3 moveable battery that addresses many of the points I had throughout my assessment of the S2, aka the “world’s first” semi-solid state energy financial institution. It additionally introduces a couple of new ones, whereas including helpful options like a kickstand and built-in USB-C cable.
As a reminder, these will not be true “strong state energy banks” regardless of the advertising and marketing hype. The 10,000mAh Kuxiu S3 makes use of the identical solid-liquid blended electrolyte discovered within the S2, making it much less vulnerable to thermal runaway than the all-liquid Lithium-ion batteries present in most energy banks. Kuxiu says its distinctive semi-solid state chemistry additionally lasts twice as lengthy, making it good for about 1,000 charging cycles earlier than the battery capability drops to 80 p.c.
The S3 is costlier to buy than different 10,000mAh energy banks, sometimes rated for 300-500 cycles. It lists for $149.98 however is often discounted, promoting for lower than $70 on the time of this writing. At that worth, it ought to be cheaper to personal over its longer lifetime.
Whereas it’s straightforward to low cost the security declare — don’t. In September, Anker issued a recall of 481,000 energy banks because of the danger of fireside and explosion. And simply final week, INIU recalled 210,000 energy banks offered on Amazon that have been implicated in 11 fires inflicting over $380,000 in property harm. It’s been a busy 12 months for energy financial institution remembers.
Security apart, Kuxiu has additionally fitted the S3 with a number of helpful upgrades. Along with twice the battery capability, you get a folding metallic kickstand, digital show, and removable USB-C cable that tucks into the perimeter when not in use. You additionally get quicker 30W charging enter and Qi2 output as much as 25W for units that help the newest wi-fi charging commonplace.
On paper, this all sounds nice — and it’s — however that bigger battery is heavy when used as a MagSafe charger, and it’s far much less pocketable. At 106.9 x 71 x 22.15mm (4.20 × 2.79 × 0.87 inches) and a weight of 245.3g (8.65oz), the S3 provides appreciable bulk and heft to my 187-gram / 6.6-ounce iPhone 15 Professional. Happily, the S3’s stronger array of 18 N52 magnets does an excellent job of holding every thing collectively and correctly aligned for charging.
To check the unit’s 10,000mAh (5,000mAh at 7.7V, or 38.5Wh) rated capability, I plugged the S3’s built-in USB-C cable right into a ChargerLAB POWER-Z C240 energy meter, which then slotted into the USB-C jack on my iPhone 15 Professional. I used to be in a position to cost the iPhone from 0 to 100% as soon as, after which once more from 0 to 92 p.c earlier than the S3 energy financial institution was empty. I measured 31.12Wh of helpful output capability for 80.83 p.c effectivity from the DC/DC circuit, which is typical.
The flat, built-in USB-C cable that tucks into the S3’s perimeter is tremendous helpful. Energy banks are getting every kind of pointless options as of late, however the worth of getting a cable at all times on the prepared shouldn’t be underestimated. Whereas the S3 can’t absolutely cost my MacBook Professional’s bigger battery, it could possibly present a couple of additional hours of runtime. The utmost charging pace of the S3 is simply 35W, nonetheless, which is on par with this class of batteries.
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Kuxiu nonetheless sells the extra moveable 5,000mAh S2, which is at the moment obtainable for $49.99. The larger S3 at the moment lists for $68.99 and presents double the battery capability, a show exhibiting p.c remaining, extra highly effective wired and wi-fi charging, and the comfort of a kickstand and USB-C cable at all times obtainable.
In comparison with energy banks offered by the likes of Anker, EcoFlow, and lots of of alphabet-soup manufacturers like, um, Kuxiu, the S2 and new S3 semi-solid-state chemistry ought to be safer and cheaper to personal, making them very laborious to beat in case you’re at the moment available in the market.
Images by Thomas Ricker / The Verge