I finally found a fast-charging power bank that looks good and is multifunctional

ZDNET’s key takeaways

• The EcoFlow Rapid magnetic power bank is on sale at Amazon for $40.
• The portable charger uses Qi2 technology to deliver 15W of wireless charging for Apple devices, with an integrated USB-C cable and a kickstand for convenience.
• While it can charge multiple devices at once, its 5,000mAh battery capacity is very limited, especially when compared to cheaper alternatives.

As an iPhone user, I appreciate efforts to conserve battery life. I charge my iPhone nightly, and while I love that I generally get through a full day on one charge, some days are longer than others, so I often suffer from a dead battery when bedtime rolls around. 

Instead of having to keep charging cables in different rooms of my home, like next to my kid’s bed during their bedtime, I’ve been using the EcoFlow Rapid magnetic power bank to keep my phone on for the past few weeks. 

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The EcoFlow Rapid is a portable power bank available in 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh, though only the 5,000mAh I tested is currently available. This silver power bank reminds me of a Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge smartphone, with rounded edges and a mid-2010s aesthetic. It has chrome accents on the back, including a kickstand that can display your iPhone vertically or horizontally.

Although it’s compatible for both Android and iPhone device lines, the EcoFlow Rapid power bank is marketed more for the iPhone, as the Qi2 wireless charging mechanism is optimized for iPhones 12 and newer. The charger magnetically attaches to the back of the iPhone with a secure connection, strong enough that the power bank can pick up the phone and move around, though I don’t recommend doing that.

The output wattage is 30W with the attached USB-C cable, which tucks into the bottom edge of the Rapid power bank, and 15W with wireless charging. Because this magnetic power bank is optimized for wireless charging iPhones, its magnetic alignment and wireless charging efficiency may vary with non-Apple devices. 

I tried this charger on other devices, including my AirPods Pro with wireless charging and several Android tablets with the built-in USB-C cable, with no issues. It conveniently charged my three-year-old’s Amazon Fire Kids HD 8 tablet during a road trip and splash-charged my husband’s iPhone 13 and iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Also: This EcoFlow power station is strong enough to power my entire home, and it’s $1,300 off

I wish the EcoFlow Rapid magnetic power bank had a few features, including a more informative display like the one on the announced 10,000mAh version, which shows the remaining percentage and battery life. The 5,000mAh Rapid has a small display with four indicators of current battery life, representing 25% each, adding up to 100%.

I also wish it were lighter, though that’s hard with a small battery. The Rapid weighs six ounces, which isn’t a lot, but it’s almost as heavy as my iPhone 14 Pro Max. When carrying it around, I can feel it in my purse, but this isn’t a point against the Rapid, as any 5,000mAh power bank will weigh between 5-7 ounces on average.

Overheating is a common complaint with power banks, but I didn’t find it much of an issue with Rapid. It does get warm, as all power banks I’ve tested do, but it is not significantly warm or bothersome.  

ZDNET’s buying advice

Whether the EcoFlow Rapid is right for you depends greatly on your devices and how often you remember to charge the power bank. For users who know they need a battery boost at the end of the day, a power bank can be as ubiquitous as their earbuds and wallet, and the Rapid’s fast charging capabilities fit the bill, especially if you have an iPhone. 

Remember that 5,000mAh is likely not enough juice to fully charge a device daily, especially if you forget to charge it before heading out. But the Rapid is perfect for splash charging to get you through the end of the day when your phone’s battery is about to die and you need to get a few more hours of life out of it.

There are comparable options on the market that are cheaper than other brands, including some under $30, so you have to consider whether getting the Rapid’s fast charging capabilities and iPhone optimizations is worth the price.