KUXUI S2 Qi2 5000mAh MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank review – Safer portable power

REVIEW – As Gadgeteers, we need power to use many of the products we review. Portable power banks are ubiquitous and considered a staple of many EDC users. The KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank is different in its battery technology. What are the advantages and differences of using a portable power bank built with this feature? Read on and find out with me.

⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $139.99 $59.99
Where to buy: KUXUI

What is it?

The KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank is, as its name implies, a portable power bank that supports the latest Qi2 wireless charging standard, MagSafe, USB-C input and output, built with solid-state battery technology. Solid-state batteries are rated to be more efficient, safe, and tend to degrade less even after normal charge/discharge cycles.

What’s included?

• KUXIU S2 Magnetic Solid-State Power Bank
• Braided USB-C to USB-C cable
• User Manual

Tech specs

Capacity: 5000mAh 3.8V (19Wh)
Wireless Output: Qi2 15W/10W/7.5W/5W
Battery Technology: Solid-State
Housing: Aluminum Alloy wrapped in American Corning Tempered Glass wrapped in Explosion-proof Film
Connection: 16 N52 magnets arranged in the same layout as the iPhone
Travel: Certified Airline On Board
Wired Charging: 20W output
Weight: 145g / 5.11oz
Dimensions: 103.5 x 67 x 10mm / 4.07 x 2.64 x 0.32 in
USB-C Output: 5V⎓2.4A,9V⎓2.22A
USB-C Input: 5V⎓3A,9V⎓2A

Design and features

A quick prompt to AI to explain the differences between traditional and solid-state battery technologies used in portable power banks yielded some concepts new to me, shown in the table below:

According to KUXIU:

“Most 5,000mAh power banks degrade after 300-500 cycles, dropping to 60-80% capacity. The S2 delivers up to 1,000 full cycles, still holding 80% capacity, meaning it lasts as long as 2-3 regular power banks, with better safety and charging efficiency.”

So full transparency, my older traditional lithium powered portable chargers aren’t close to even 200 cycles, so I haven’t experienced any degradation yet. And it’s near impossible for me to cycle the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank 1,000 times within my month of testing. But I’m sure the science backs up the claim.

The other aspect of solid-state batteries is the safety. There’s a reason why portable power banks are not supposed to be in checked luggage and can only be in carry-on bags. A quick visit to the FAA site reveals that traditional lithium batteries are at high fire risk due to punctures and “thermal runaway”. Thermal runaway is basically when a lithium battery heats up hotter than it can dissipate the heat, thereby catching fire. The liquid electrolytes used in traditional lithium batteries are extremely flammable. According to futurebatterylab.com, the safe area for conventional lithium batteries is 0ºC to approximately 50ºC, whereas solid-state batteries have a safe area between 0ºC and about 200ºC. Solid-State batteries aren’t immune to thermal runaway, but the conditions are a little more extreme to trigger it. Certain variables such as poor craftsmanship and faulty circuits are prone for any type of battery technology.

Alright, now that science is out of the way, I noticed and appreciated a couple of things about the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank. First was, the weight. This power bank is about the same size as similar capacity power banks, maybe a little thinner, so the weight surprised me. But comparing the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank to the KUIUX K1 MagSafe Power Bank reviewed by fellow Gadgeteer, shows the KUXUI S2 actually weighs 37 grams less!

Another thing I noticed was that the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank didn’t feel as hot as some of my other portable power banks. It’s great that there’s MagSafe connection, but no-one wants to have sweaty hands or hot pockets while charging.

On the myCharge MAG-LOCK power bank I reviewed back on February 4, 2024, the USB port could only be used to charge, not to charge other devices. Thankfully, the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank’s single USB-C port allows for both input and output of power! There is a handy LED indicator to show the battery level, but on some other portable power banks, there is an LCD screen that is more useful with more exact numbers.

Assembly, Installation, Setup

No assembly required. The included manual does recommend to completely drain the battery and then re-charge fully before use. It does not include a power brick. Once fully recharged, I was able to charge my phone via the MagSafe connection, as well as use the USB-C port to charge the charger for my camera batteries. The KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank does support pass-through charging so it can charge (via MagSafe) while itself is being charged (via USB-C).

For size reference, here is a picture of the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank attached to an iPhone 16 Plus (left) and an iPhone 13 Pro (right):

Both phones do not have a case, but be aware that with the “smaller” iPhones, the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank may not sit exactly flush if a thicker case with a bigger camera surround is used. This isn’t only something to be aware of with this power bank, but most power banks this size.

Even without a case on the iPhone 13 Pro, the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank does extend slightly beyond the bottom of the phone:

Performance

The KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank supports the newest and faster Qi2 standard of 15W of wireless charging.

Here is a video from the manufacturer demonstrating what happens when puncturing a traditional lithium battery and the new S2 Solid-State battery:

Final thoughts

I think the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank is the first of many to come solid-state battery powered drives. It just makes sense…it’s safer, and it’s more efficient. It reminds me of the larger power stations made by Jackery, Bluetti, etc that used conventional lithium batteries back in the day (like, 4-5 years ago). But now, most manufacturers have switched to the longer lasting LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) technology.

Although I haven’t experienced all the benefits of solid-state yet, I’m onboard with this newer and more efficient technology. There are other traditional lithium power banks that have useful features like a built-in stand, a LCD screen, or built-in cables, the main feature that sets the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank apart is the battery technology.

Another note, since this technology isn’t mainstream in portable power banks yet, pricing may be a little higher. Keep in mind the anticipated additional cycles and the potential safety feature. Once pricing becomes more mainstream, I would image additional features and ‘nice-to-haves’ will be added.

What I like about the KUXUI S2 Qi2 MagSafe Solid-State Power Bank

• Efficient, 1000 cycles versus 300-500 cycles
• Safety
• USB-C input and output

What needs to be improved?

• Pricing, but currently there’s a big discount

Price: $139.99 (Sale $59.99)
Where to buy: KUXIU
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by KUXIU. KUXIU did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.

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