The Bold Claims of a 9 Million mAh Power Bank: Too Good to Be True?
Frequently Inquired About My Experience with Inexpensive Power Banks and Their Grand Promises on the Internet
I tried out a budget 9,000,000mAh battery pack from eBay – here’s my shopping tip!
A power bank boasting a massive capacity of 9 million milliamp hours (mAh) that fits in the palm of your hand, all for just a little over $10, sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it? Well, you know what they say.
A reader brought this listing to my attention, questioning the validity of such bold claims. Although I harbored significant doubts, I decided to investigate further. All in the name of science, of course. 🤓
Is It Really Possible?
Let’s put that claim of 9 million mAh into perspective. The Anker PowerCore 24K has a capacity of 24,000 mAh, and it’s quite a sizable power bank, weighing in at 1.3 pounds. To achieve a capacity of 9 million mAh, I’d need to spend over $35,000 on 375 PowerCore 24K power banks, and that’s certainly not something I’d want to carry around—nor would it fit in the palm of my hand.
Curiosity Strikes!
So, I went ahead and ordered one of these purportedly massive-capacity power banks and waited a few days for it to be delivered.
Surprisingly, the packaging lacked any bold claims about the promised, yet unrealistic, capacity. Additionally, the plethora of typos on the package didn’t inspire confidence in the product.
The power bank being dead on arrival also didn’t improve my first impressions. Even worse, despite my attempts to charge it, nothing worked. It was completely unresponsive out of the box.
A Closer Look
Maybe I could fall back on the “warranty.” I doubt it. 😒
It was time to roll the dice and take it apart to see what was inside. At this point, my money was on even more disappointment. Since I was prying into a power bank, I didn’t want to use my trusty metal spudger, so instead turned to a safer plastic tool.
Then, to both my surprise and shock, the power bank blinked into life for a few seconds while I was poking inside it. 😳
After a little bit of force—sometimes an unreasonable amount—the case popped open and I could see what the problem was. One of the wires from the battery was disconnected. Not only does this account for why it wasn’t working, but it also presented a danger of short-circuiting and even fire.
The Reality of the Batteries
I took a closer look at the batteries.
They were all no-name 18650 lithium-ion cells, and I measured the capacity to be about 2,000 mAh. I suspect these may be old “recycled” cells or possibly seconds, as I’d expect the capacity of even a cheap 18650 cell to be about 2,300 mAh. This means the entire pack had a capacity of 6,000 mAh, a far cry indeed from the 9,000,000 mAh that it advertised.
The Truth Behind Exaggerated Claims
Now, to be honest, this is ultimately what I was expecting.
Exaggerated claims are being used to dupe buyers into buying poor quality power banks built poorly from cheap parts. If you’re looking for a cheap power bank, I’d say throw an extra ten bucks into the purchase and get yourself this Baseus 10000mAh for $20. That way, you’re getting a good quality power bank that delivers what it promises, will give you several years of service, and won’t be a potential fire hazard.
Q&A: Your Burning Questions Answered
Q: Are there any other signs I should look for to identify poor quality power banks? A: Absolutely! Some red flags include excessive typos on the packaging, very low prices compared to other reputable brands, and unrealistic claims about the capacity. Always do your research and read customer reviews before making a purchase.
Q: Is it safe to buy power banks online? A: Yes, it can be safe to buy power banks online if you purchase from reputable sellers or well-known brands. However, be cautious when buying from unknown or suspicious sources. Stick to trusted online marketplaces or official brand websites.
Q: What other features should I look for in a power bank? A: Apart from the capacity, look for power banks with multiple charging ports, fast charging capabilities, and built-in safety features such as overcharge and short-circuit protection. It’s also a good idea to consider the size and weight of the power bank for portability.
The Future of Power Banks
The market for power banks is continuously evolving, with advancements in technology and increasing demand for portable charging solutions. As consumers become more aware of the dangers of cheap and low-quality power banks, reputable brands are likely to prioritize safety, reliability, and innovative features in their products.
In the future, we can expect power banks to have even higher capacities, faster charging speeds, and compatibility with a wider range of devices. As technology evolves, we may even see power banks integrating renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
References:
- The best iPhone power banks you can buy: Expert tested
- Anker PowerCore 24K: Solving the Biggest Problem with Portable Chargers
- Metal Prices Soaring – Is Your Metal Safe From Theft?
- Are Cars Getting Bigger and Smarter? How Software Is Making Them Safer
- Baseus 10000mAh Power Bank for $20
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Note: All images used in this article are for illustrative purposes only and do not represent the actual products mentioned.
