REVIEW – Power Banks, portable chargers, portable batteries….they are so ubiquitous and similar in size, shape, and color…usually black. So when something comes along that looks different, it grabs our attention. So it is with the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank. But is it a case of form over function?
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $44.90
Where to buy: SHARGE and Amazon
What is it?
The Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank is a portable 10,000mAh battery and charger that has a built-in retractable USB-C cable, USB-C port, and fold-out prongs to plug into the wall.
What’s included?
- Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank
- User Guide
Tech specs
Port Types: USB-C Port, USB-C Cable
Capacity: 10,000mAh / 36Wh
AC Input: 100-240V~ 50 / 60Hz 1.6A Max
USB-C Input (PORT): USB-C Port: 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2.22A, 12V⎓1.67A
USB-C Input (CABLE): USB-C Cable: 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2.22A, 12V⎓1.67A
USB-C Output (PORT): 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓3A, 10V⎓2.25A, 12V⎓2.5A, 15V⎓2A, 20V⎓1.5A
USB-C Output (CABLE): 5V⎓3A
Conversion Rate: ≥79%
Dimensions: 110 x 52 x 40mm / 4.3 x 2.0 x 1.6in
Weight: 300g / 10.58oz
Rate Capacity: 5600mAh
Built-in Cable: 2.3ft Retractable USB-C Cable
Power Technology: 30W Wall Charger with GaN chip
Display: Dot-Matrix
Design and features
The Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank is inspired by the Braun Audio 300 stereo tuner that was built from 1969 to 1971 and designed by Dieter Rams. Braun designs were known for their sleek, minimalist designs. Even today, the Braun design aesthetic is very popular, just look at designer Scott Yu-Jan’s 3D prints on YouTube!
I’ve seen other SHARGE products and knew that I wanted to review one in hand. Their design language is based on their desire to “show individuality” and most often includes transparent casings to showcase well-laid-out technical internals. I mean, look at the Shargeek 170! But the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank is a little different. The internals aren’t completely visible, and SHARGE focused on the callback to the Braun 300 stereo tuner. The built-in retractable USB-C cord winding mechanism is reminiscent of a turntable, with the red dot in the center drawing your attention to the tiny letters, “Get Your Groove on”. All this under what looks like a clear cover, housed in plastic.
I could go on about the design, but this is a power bank too. And a 10,000mAh battery can recharge almost all of my devices. The retractable built-in USB-C cable is awesome, so I don’t need to worry about remembering to bring one. The Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank has a USB-C port that can be used with an additional cable to charge another device, both at 30 watts. And to recharge the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank, you can either plug in the retractable cable, use an external cable, or flip out the folding prongs and plug it directly into a wall outlet! And it supports pass-through charging, so you can recharge and charge at the same time!
The design even includes a dot-matrix display that indicates how much power is left (as a percentage). Although I can see the benefits of having the wrist strap, I do think it takes away from the clean, minimalist design.
Assembly, Installation, Setup
No assembly needed. The handy hand-strap is already attached.
Final thoughts
The Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank is a statement piece of technology. I know…strange that I consider a portable power bank a “statement piece”. But when I had the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank sitting on the counter, people would always wander over and pick it up, asking, “What is this?”. I enjoy keeping this out of my tech drawer and would rather put it on display. But it also serves its purpose well, doing what it’s supposed to do.
I do worry that over time, the white will show more dirt and the clear plastic will get scratched, and the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank will lose some of its clean aesthetic. I think having more tech products that aren’t black slabs of plastic is a good thing!
I do have a few suggestions, though, that would make the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank closer to perfect for me:
- For something this size, it would seem that it should have a larger capacity
- Having additional info displayed on the screen would be nice, like input/output power draw
What I like about the Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank
- The clean, classic, retro look
- Included USB-C Cable
- Foldable Plug
- Can charge 2 items at 30W
What needs to be improved?
- Nothing
Price: $44.90
Where to buy: SHARGE and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by SHARGE. Sharge did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
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