Anker, a company known for its accessories for Apple products, recently launched one of the first MagSafe compatible battery packs. We've now put it to the test.
In terms of design, Anker's MagSafe power bank looks like a typical battery pack. The difference, however, is that it has magnets that are designed to stick directly to the back of an iPhone 12 model. The Magnetic 5K battery pack is made of a plastic material with some rubber accents and is quite small and light considering that it has to be magnetically attached to an iPhone. So in plain English. The weight surprised me a bit - in a good way. The PowerCore Magnetic 5K Wireless Power Bank is, as already mentioned, MagSafe compatible.
But the charging power was limited to 5W. Although the charging process takes longer, it stays magnetically attached to the back of an iPhone 12 model. If you can deal with that, you will certainly like it. By the way: The charging process can also be carried out via USB-C to Lightning - a much faster charging option.
What about the magnet strength?
Many users have criticized various MagSafe accessories over the past few months because the magnets were often too weak. So what about Anker? The magnet strength is honestly fine. But - yes, there is a but. A better hold is achieved by using a MagSafe-compatible iPhone case, as the additional magnet provides even more hold.
With a capacity of 5,000 mAh, the PowerCore Magnetic Power Bank can fully charge an iPhone 12 mini. But the other versions of the 12th generation will only receive a partial charge. Here is Anker's information:
- The iPhone 12 can be charged 0.95x
- The iPhone 12 Pro can be charged 0.97x
- The iPhone 12 Pro Max can be charged 0.75x
I can confirm this with the Max model. Sure, that might not sound like much to some people, but considering the portability and ease of use of the battery pack, it should at least be enough if you're in a pinch.
Anker Magnetic 5K Battery Pack: The Conclusion
The power bank can also be charged via USB-C. The charge level can be checked via the indicator lights. In addition to the iPhone and AirPods, other Qi-enabled accessories can of course also be charged. The magnetic component - MagSafe - is reserved for the iPhone 12 series, however. The price is 35.99 euros. In my opinion, you can hardly go wrong with the product if you want something smart as a charging backup for on the go. Incidentally, the MagSafe component works with all iPhone cases that are MagSafe compatible. That means both Apple's cases and the MagSafe case from Nomad and Pitaka.
If you want to stay with Anker, you can of course also use the corresponding silicone case from Anker's Magnetic series, which is also a cost-effective but good alternative. So if you want to buy the new accessories, you can find both products in our Amazon Storefront listed. (Image: Anker)
