We went several years without caring about or using power banks. However, as the globe has become more open than anyone could have imagined, they have gradually and steadily crept into our lives.
A major reason for this, at least for us, is the shift to mobile gaming and working. What was previously a desk-bound operation is now mobile, whether it’s through Game Pass Cloud gaming on our phones, PC use on Steam Deck, or a trip to the coffee shop to break up the monotony of the office. Whatever the case may be, the need for portable electricity has emerged, and we’ve discovered UGREEN to be a vital player in this regard.
We’ve used several UGREEN power banks over the years, and the UGREEN 145W 25000mAh Power Bank is a backpackable alternative. UGREEN’s range now includes two new offerings: the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W and the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 12000mAh 100W, which are very comparable. You’ll most likely be pleased with any of these purchases. Actually, there’s no doubt about it: you will be impressed.
However, don’t anticipate too many bells and whistles from these UGREEN juice providers. They are solid goods that perform admirably in their respective roles. There is not much else to say.
UGREEN Nexode Power Banks supply all the juice.
We’re combining the 20000mAh and 12000mAh Power Banks into a single post since, aside from size and power delivery, they’re essentially the same product: grey and black slabs of energy ready to supply the power you need to keep any gadget charged and sitting beautiful.
They are also visually appealing, especially for a power bank. These aren’t the slimmest power banks you’ll ever see; they’re rectangular columns in shape and feel, with a cool space gray finish all throughout. That is only broken up by a couple of rubber feet on the bottom, the UGREEN logo splashed over the face, and a square display that offers the information you will need while increasing your power consumption.
As you might assume, the 20000mAh version is larger, both in size and stature, than the 12000mAh edition, but that means the smaller one is probably a better choice for someone trying to stow it away while traveling. For us? We’ve been using each of these for almost a month now, switching between them almost daily. They’ve been stuffed into bags as we’ve traveled the country, and they’ve joined us on the occasional coffee shop excursion while we’ve attempted to continue ‘working’ on our MacBook Pro. We’ve also utilized them to power our Steam Deck and mobile devices, as Game Pass play has been more prevalent since the GameSir G8+ was introduced. Whatever the occasion, these power banks have consistently performed well.
In terms of power delivery, they’re ideal for straightforward plug-and-play charging. The 12000mAh version includes a USB-A port for a slower charge, while a 100W USB-C port delivers all you need quickly. If you’re like us, you’ll utilize this one 99 percent of the time. It does mean that, if necessary, you can charge many gadgets at the same time. And, given the size of the battery included in the power bank, there’s plenty to keep you running between charges.
Just enough ports.
The 20000mAh option increases that. Not only does it hold more, but it also has a second USB-C port. This implies you can effectively charge multiple USB-C devices at once. That’s very good on its own, but when you add the USB-A, you get a triple treat, with a power output of up to 130W. Will you ever really utilize that? Perhaps if power is required for a laptop, phone, and headphones all at once.
Regardless of whose unit you use, the screen guarantees that you are always aware of what is going on. The amount of power left in the bank is displayed prominently on the larger device, but a push of a side-mounted button on the 20000mAh version cycles through many other power data. We’ve rarely found the need to worry about the finer details and exact charges passing through to our devices, but it’s wonderful to have the option. Similarly, charging these Nexode Power Banks is simple: plug it into any of your USB-C cables and the energy will be restored.
As one would expect from a UGREEN product, both variants include 13 layers of safety protection, a thermal guard system, and airline approval. Each box also includes a very short USB-C cable.
So what are the disadvantages? Well, not really, save for the fact that UGREEN’s 20000mAh and 12000mAh Nexode Power Banks are not particularly inexpensive. Don’t expect to put these in your pants backpocket, but if you have a bag, they’ll fit nicely. You should also consider the weight of each – the 12000mAh battery weighs 311 grams, whilst the larger 20000mAh battery weighs 476 grams, or nearly half a kilogram. It also feels it.
Some amazing screens.
Overall, the UGREEN Nexode Power Banks will not disappoint, whether you choose the 12000mAh 100W or 20000mAh 130W option. In fact, if you spend the necessary money on either, they’ll likely become travel buddies quite quickly. We know we wouldn’t go anywhere without them.
We are grateful to UGREEN for giving us with both the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 130W ($89.99) and the UGREEN Nexode Power Bank 12000mA 100W ($49.99). Grab one for yourself from Amazon; discounts will undoubtedly be available.