Premium Portable Charger Review: Jackery Giant & Mini
As tech gadgets improve and advance in technology, power sources and batteries usually improve with each iteration. For example, manufacturers have been able to decrease the size of batteries while increasing the capacity of those batteries to make them last longer. Sometimes, there are sacrifices that are made. As displays get into higher and higher definition resolutions, some companies are opting to decrease battery sizes to maintain a slim profile and lighter weight. These trade-offs make it difficult for a product like a smartphone to even last a full day with normal use! And so the market for portable batteries and chargers come into play. Similar to smartphones and other similar products, portable battery makers have been improving their technology to make it as convenient to carry another piece of hardware to help re-charge users’ various devices.
Jackery is a maker of premium portable chargers that vary in sizes and capacities. You could probably get a cheap, no-name brand portable charger on eBay or Amazon, but with portable chargers, you really do get what you pay for. I was able to test out the Jackery Mini and Jackery Giant on a mini-vacation a few months ago.
The Jackery Mini has a 3200mAh capacity and claims to be the world’s smallest external rechargeable battery. I’m not sure if it’s the world’s smallest, or specifically for that capacity. It definitely is compact (dimensions: 3.7in x 0.9in x 0.8in, weight: 2.7 ounces), which makes it very convenient to carry around, either in your pocket, purse or backpack (where I keep it 95% of the time). The only downside I have with it is its 1A output, which I just learned is a huge deal if you’re trying to re-charge in a rush. My current smartphone charger has an output of 2.1A and it’s able to re-charge my phone in a very short period of time. But if you have time, this is a super convenient option.
Now the Jackery Giant (dimensions: 4.3in x 3.1in x 0.8in, weight: 10.4oz) is the complete opposite of the Mini. It has a whopping 12,000mAh capacity (for comparisons sake, a typical smartphone has about 3,000 or so mAh capacity in their batteries). It features dual output ports so you can technically charge two devices at once (although I assume it would charge at a slower rate with both in use.. Speaking of output, it has an output of 2.1A, the same as my wall charger! I was able to recharge my phone at least twice during the 7-8 hour drive during my road trip, and was able to continue to charge and use my phone at the same time. The Giant is not something you’d want to keep in your pocket, it’s basically the size of a portable hard drive and weighs quite a bit. But if you are traveling and know you’ll be away from an outlet, this is definitely a great choice to stay connected.
In terms of pricing, Jackery doesn’t seem too steep compared to other similar brands. The Mini and Giant goes for about $20 and $40 on Amazon, which is probably cheaper than what Mophie sells for. I’d definitely recommend users to consider Jackery if you’re looking for a quality portable charger and a reasonable price.
