REVIEW – Due to the forward march of progress in battery technology, we are much less dependent on power banks than we were just a few short years ago. I heard a podcaster the other day say that he had stopped using the charging stand on his desk because his phone never gets below 80% and he wants to let the battery exercise. But there is still a niche served by small, fast chargers. The one under consideration today is from a company called VRURC. (I think it rhymes with “Newark”, but I’m not sure.) It is available in silver, white, or black, and is sized to fit on your iPhone (it’s got a Lightning connector). It also has a stand.
What is it?
The VRURC mini power bank is a small device-mount charger/stand for iPhone and other Lightning port devices.
What’s in the box?
- VRURC mini power bank
- USB-C<=>USB-A cable (.125 meter)
- paperwork
Hardware specs
From the company product listing
- PD 20W Fast Charging – The built-in compatible iPhone cable can output up to PD 20W, which can charge iPhone 13 from 0% to 60% in half an hour. The mini portable charger has two output charging modes of 5V-3A and 9V-2.2A. If your device is an iPhone 8 or later model and supports fast charging, the portable battery charger output can reach PD 20W. If your device doesn’t support fast charging, power bank output charging is 5V normal charging speed.
- Exclusive Design For iPhone – This 5000 mAh mini power bank is compatible with all iPhone models, such as compatible with iPhone 13 series, iPhone 12 series, iPhone 11 series, iPhone X/XR/XS/XS Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPhone 7, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 6, iPhone 6S and other phone models. It is also compatible with AirPods and AirPods Pro.
- Built-in Cable & Foldable Metal Stand – Power bank with built-in and compatible iPhone cable. You don’t need to carry extra cable when you go out. The built-in foldable stand design provides you with various angles anytime and anywhere. While charging, you can easily catch up on TV shows or video chat with your loved ones in a horizontal or vertical angle.
- Mini Size & Portable – Product size is only 3.07 * 1.44 * 1.07 inches, weight only 0.23 lbs. The ultra-small and mini design is very easy to slide in and out of your pocket. It will not add any weight to you when you carry this power bank out and about.
- 5000 mAh Capacity – Portable phone charger for iPhone has 5000 mAh capacity, which can save your phone’s power when you are in an emergency. The compact power bank is an emergency portable power for your iPhone or AirPod, and can usually charge your iPhone about 0.8~1.5 times.
Design and features
The VRURC charger has a tear-drop-shaped profile on a 3″ long tube. The widest part of the end is 1.325″, and the largest width is 1″. (For comparison, I’m 5′ 7″, and I can hide it behind my index and middle finger.) Midway along the point of the tube is a Lightning connector with a .125″ collar around it. This collar allows it to get into some cases, but you’ll need to check if you have a deep case. My AirPods Pro, for example, are in a silicon Catalyst case with a carabiner on one corner. I have to remove the charging case from this protective cover in order to fully connect to this charger. (It’s the AirPods Pro version of this.) My original AirPods fit just fine in the AirVinyl case.
A small (2″ long) metal bar flips out from the back to a 45º angle. With this extended, the charger can sit upright with a phone attached in portrait or landscape orientation. There’s a small magnet on the end of the bar to keep it closed while not in use. There’s also a little cap that covers the lightning plug to protect it from contacting items in your bag that may drain the battery.
Back in the day, Julie used to do what became known as the Gadgeteer Creak Test™, and I decided to bring it back for this unit. (Basically, you grab the gadget in both hands and wring it like a wet dishcloth to see if it is solidly or cheaply constructed. Cheap gadgets will sound off with a loud creak! Solid gadgets won’t.) This unit passed with flying colors.
There is a USB-C charging port on one of the ends. On the other end is a button to activate the four-LED “gas gauge” on the face of the device just to the left of the branding. (This is shown in the header photo. Only 3 LEDs are lit in the photo.) Apparently, there is also a model that comes with a USB-C plug rather than Lightning. This may be of interest to Android users, and possibly iPhone users in the not-too-distant future.
Performance
I found the VRURC charger to work as well as any other modern charger. Since it is connected directly, it is faster than Qi/MagSafe, and only a little less convenient. Since it is a 5000 mAh battery, it won’t give you a full phone, but it will get you a little over halfway there. Having the stand is nice for when I want to watch a few YouTube videos or a short show on Netflix while on break without having to get out an iPad and a stand. (The header image is from Netflix’s Dead to Me, the third and final season of which has just been released. It’s dark and has very adult themes, but has amazing acting and writing! Thirty-minute episodes mean you can watch a full segment during lunch.)
It’s also handy to recharge AirPod cases while I’m wearing the earbuds. Since there’s no cord involved, it’s quick and easy to put them on the stand for a top-up.
I gave the white one I was sent to a friend in order to get her opinions. (She’s a tech user, but not a gadget person.) Within a day or so, she asked me “So, I can’t just plug in a USB-C cable and recharge my iPad?” I hadn’t thought of that, but it would make sense to have the input also be an output. I have a few other chargers that do that. Maybe in version 2.0, VRURC?
What I like
- The stand is solid and works as advertised.
- Charging times seem accurate.
- Very tight build.
What I’d change
- Make the input also an output.
Final thoughts
Years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the world, smartphone battery life was abysmal. External battery packs became so commonplace that they were dubbed power banks, and that phrase has entered at least the geekier corners of the popular lexicon. During that early era, I reviewed many such products, which promised to give a few more hours of life to your device during the middle of the day. The drawback of most of those early “lipstick” power banks is that they were supremely underpowered, as well as being cheaply made and potentially dangerous to your device. (Most wouldn’t pass the Gadgeteer Creak Test™ mentioned above.) The VRURC charger is of a much higher quality build. I’ll have to wait on “Will it last”, but at only 3.5 oz., it’s an easy addition to most bags I carry.
Price: $17.99 – $24.99, depending on color and plug
Where to buy: Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided by VRURC.
