REVIEW – By now, those of you that regularly read my reviews can likely conclude that I am a USB power hub gadget junkie!! :-). I use numerous devices that can either run off of a USB power pack and/or can be recharged via the same. Since I shoot many photography gigs at various locations, I always carry several accessories including my iPad, etc, that depending on the length of the shoot, need “juice” at some point. The Mophie Powerstation Hub Portable Battery looks like another nice addition to my growing USB power pack arsenal. Let’s see if it ends up in the “HOT” or “NOT” pile.
What is it
The Mophie Power Station Hub is a portable hub with built-in battery and Qi-enabled wireless charging that features multiple fast charging options and includes a USB-C Power Delivery port.
What’s in the box
1 x Mophie Powerstation Hub
1 x User Guide
Design and features
Specifications
Battery capacity: 6,000mAh
Compatibility: Qi-enabled devices
Dimensions: 3.31 x 3.31 x 1.16 in (84 x 84 x 29.5mm)
Weight: 9 oz (255.15g)
Features
Fast Charge USB-C PD: Use the USB-C PD port to recharge the Power Station Hub or use that same port to charge a device at the fastest speed possible.
AC Power Prongs: No cable needed to charge the Power Station. With the built-in AC power prongs, you can recharge it by plugging into any wall outlet.
Wireless Charging: Simply place you QI-enabled smartphone on the Power Station Hub’s charging surface and push the button to power to your device.
Charge Multiple Devices: Conveniently charge multiple devices simultaneously with the two USB-A ports, USB-C PD port, and wireless charging surface.
Compact and Portable Design: The ultra-portable design allows the Power Station Hub to fit easily in your bag so it can charge your devices anywhere.
Check Your Status and Save Battery: Turn the Power Station on and off with the LED Status Indicator button or press it to display its battery levels or charge status.
As shown below, on one side of the hub there is the power on/off button, four LED charging status lights that show the level of charge at 25% per LED, 2 USB A ports and 1 USB-C port.
The hub has a foldable 2-prong AC plug built into the device.
On one flat side of the hub, there is the Mophie brand name engraved. This is the Qi wireless charging side.
Performance
The Mophie is very easy to use right out of the box. For most situations, the foldable built-in AC plug adds ease to the use. I say for most situations because, in a tight space such as on a power strip with other devices plugged in, space becomes an issue. As shown below, it just about takes over 3 outlets on that power strip and while it can be reversed to face the opposite direction, it then became an issue with the on/off power switch for the strip that I was using.
When the hub is on, there is a LED status light at the top that indicates the wireless charging status. See the photo and illustration below.
Qi wireless charging
What I like
- The compact size
- The built-in folding AC plug
- The charging options including the Qi wireless charging option
What I’d change
- Increase the capacity of the built-in battery
- Include a USB-c to USB-C cable
Final thoughts
The Mophie Power Station Hub is a handy device to add to your EDC gear bag. It is not too heavy and offers the convenience of charging via USB including USB-C Power Delivery fast charging. It also offers quick charging via USB cable and Qi wireless charging. The fact that the AC plug is built-in means that there is no additional power supply and cable to carry with you to recharge the device. It would be nice if the internal battery was a higher capacity battery, but I am guessing that there may be some trade-off in regards to weight. While this is a nice device, it is up to the consumer to be satisfied with the cost to feature ratio.
Price: $99.95
Where to buy: Mophie website and Amazon
Source: The sample for this review was provided by Mophie
