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Summary
TheMophie Powerstation XLpromises up to four full phone charges and convenient simultaneous charging. While there’s no shortage of power banks on the market, this one is an efficient battery pack for travelers and digital nomads who want some bang for their buck.
Portable power banks have come a long way since 2017, when the Mophie Powerstation of the time was a 6,000mAh affair with two USB-A ports and a price tag of $50. Fast forward to 2023, and the Mophie Powerstation XL (2023) is here with its 20,000mAh internal battery and up to 20W charge capability for a cool $60.
With gimmicky designs out there—like the transparent build on theShargeek Storm Slim Portable Power Bank—I was relieved Mophie’s was plain and simple. And boy, was it reliable—the Mophie Powerstation XL crossed the Atlantic with me and became my constant companion as I trekked and bused through Ireland. For all its power, though, the Powerstation XL has a bulky build. But if you’re okay trading a compact, lightweight body for streamlined performance, the Powerstation XL leaves little to be desired.
Mophie Powerstation XL Portable Power Bank
The Mophie Powerstation XL (2023) is a 20,000 mAh external battery that can charge 3 devices at the same time with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port.
Performance: Three’s a Charm
If you’re searching for one of thebest portable chargers of 2023, the Mophie Powerstation XL does its job as promised with 20,000mAh of juice and plentiful ports. With the USB-C and USB-A ports rated at 20W and 18W, respectively, you can expect average to fast-charging rates when charging your smartphone, wireless earbuds, and other handheld devices. Since this isn’t a high-wattage charger, I don’t recommend using it as aportable charger for your laptop.
The Mophie Powerstation XL was my lifeline in Ireland. Through an average of three complete battery cycles per full charge, I kept mySamsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s5,000mAh battery full, myBeats Studio Budsplaying, and my rechargeable booklight gleaming. When using all three ports at once, each device charged at a reasonably even pace.
Using the USB-C port to charge my phone with aUGREEN 60W USB-C cable, I got an average charge speed of 53.4% in an hour. A full charge varied when I used a differentUSB-C cablewith lesser wattage. (This average charge speed was mainly when I was charging my phone alone.)
On the whole, I reached 100% from near-empty in about 1 hour and 40 minutes, which was quicker than my Android phone’s average charge speed of 2+ hours.
Although the Powerstation XL’s body feels solid, its plastic scratches easily. Despite being careful, a nine-day trip full of airports, backpacks, buses, and pockets resulted in noticeable wear.
Size and Weight: The Heft’s a Tradeoff for Multiple Charges
As one should expect for a 20,000mAh charger, the weight was a bit of an awkward addition to traveling, but any woes I had about this were quickly quelled by the fact that the Mophie saw me through each day of excesssmartphone photographyfor a straight week.
But if you prefer a lighter-weight option that doesn’t add much heft to your backpack, the Mophie Powerstation XL isn’t it. Nor is its size compact—the length of this portable power bank is comparable to your average smartphone and much thicker, so it does require some space.
However, since it is comparable to a smartphone in length, it fits in large jeans or coat pockets. I stuffed it in my down coat’s pocket a couple of times on my trip whenever I went sans backpack. Additionally, the Mophie Powerstation XL fit in my roomy Adidas waist bag.
Recharging and Battery Life Indicator
Charging the Mophie Powerstation XL from empty was somewhere in the ballpark of five to eight hours, depending on which cables and charging bricks I was using. I even charged up the Mophie using my tour bus' seat-side USB-A charging ports—but this was slower than charging up using a travel adapter (if you need one, theEPICKA Universal Travel Adapteris a great choice) and charging brick in my hotel rooms.
As for the four battery life indicator lights, these worked well, but I found them small and hard to see in sunlight. Furthermore, you have to press the button to see the lights, which can be awkward when you’re not stationary or in the dark because the button is also quite small.
Should You Buy The Mophie Powerstation XL?
The Mophie Powerstation XL is a strong choice for people who need a lot of power for their handheld devices. It’s a great travel solution if you need the flexibility of port options and more battery capacity, though it scratches easily and is bulky.
Alternatively, if you have an iPhone, you may want to check out someMagSafe battery packslike theBenks MagClap On-Go Power Bank.
If you’re sold on the Mophie’s muscle, you can buy theMophie Powerstation XLtoday for $59.95.
