Next-generation battery technology is a lot like fusion energy: a major breakthrough is always a year or two away. We’re constantly promised things like laptop batteries that can last a month and true wireless charging throughout a room. None of this ever comes to fruition.
However, a modest but nonetheless exciting advancement in battery technology is real and available today: solid-state powerbanks – including a new MagSafe model from Zens…
My colleague Fernando Silva tested a solid-state MagSafe battery last month and I tested another. Technically, the Zens Semi-Solid-State Powerbank is, as the name suggests, a hybrid battery technology.
Zens made this choice because solid-state batteries have the highest energy density, but do not offer the best performance and lifespan. The combination of the two battery technologies aims to offer the best of both worlds.
Specifications
The 5000 mAh version is just 8mm thick and is otherwise fairly typical in size for a MagSafe battery at 4 x 2.75 inches. There is also a 10,000 mAh variant with the same dimensions but a thickness of 1.4 cm.
It’s Qi 2.2 compatible, which means it offers up to 25W charging with the iPhone 16 series and later, or 15W with previous models. In addition to powering an iPhone, it’s also compatible with any AirPod model that supports wireless charging.
Look and feel
The power bank is a very dark gray, with an appearance close to black. It features rounded circle-shaped corners, a matte finish on the outside and a rubberized finish on the inside to protect the iPhone from scratches.
There’s relatively discreet Zens branding above five extremely small charging status LEDs and a USB-C charging jack at the bottom.
Used
I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a natural candidate for a MagSafe battery because I work from home and my iPhone spends most of its life sitting on a MagSafe charger with the maximum charge capacity set at 80%.
There are two scenarios where iPhone battery life becomes an issue for me. First on long bike rides where I use it for navigation, and then on long travel days. I tested it in both scenarios and found that it roughly doubles the battery life of my fully charged iPhone 16 Pro Max.
Using the iPhone with the charger connected obviously adds weight (122g), but not so much that it makes it impractical. The extra volume is about the same as the Apple MagSafe wallet I usually have attached.
Direct charging makes it very convenient to use. I can simply plug a charger into the battery while it’s connected to the phone to charge both devices simultaneously.
Prices and conclusions
Of course, it’s not the complete revolution in battery technology that battery tech companies would have us believe, but to me it’s a notable improvement over older, bulkier devices. Coupled with a GaN power brick, it makes for a much more compact and lightweight setup than previous generations of technology.
At $59.99 for the 5,000 mAh version and $79.99 for the 10,000 mAh model, it’s a bit more expensive than conventional technology, but I’d say it’s well worth the price for the thin and light form factor. Both models are available with immediate shipping on the Zens website.
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