Let’s take a look at the Belkin BoostCharge 5,000mAh MagSafe portable power bank 5K today with a detailed review. The charger is an innovative one. It is a wireless battery pack that uses Apple’s MagSafe technology to attach magnetically to the back of compatible iPhones and equipped with an in-built stand to boot.
Quick lowdown- Belkin BoostCharge Magsafe 5k powerbank
- 5,000mAh capacity
- Does either 7.5W Magsafe or 10W wired cable charging
- Works with Android devices
Boostcharge is the brand Belkin uses for their line of chargers, powerbank and cables, pretty much everything needed to keep your devices juiced up at home, office or on out in the field. Furthermore, the Belkin Boostcharge variant we are looking at today is one in tune with Disney’s 100 anniversary. The Marvel themed BoostCharge goes by Belkin’s product code of P-BPD004 and the moniker, Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 5K + Stand
The BoostCharge 5k powerbank is useful to juice up your devices on the go in the field. At first impressions, the charger is pretty lightweight for its size and is easy and convenient to use. If you have a Magsafe-compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 and newer), you just snap it on your iPhone and it starts charging wirelessly. You can also use your iPhone while it is charging without any cables or plugs. Also, it is compatible with most cases that support MagSafe, so you don’t have to remove your case to charge your iPhone.
Exterior impressions
Moreover, the charger comes in eco-friendly cardboard packaging with a simple set of instructions. Also, out of the box, the charger does come with a USB-C to USB-C cable, though the lack of an included power adapter is not much of an issue either.
The charger is clad in matte black. With the special Marvel design edition, the front of the powerbank spots a soft silicon touch surface. A sturdy pop up level stand at the rear unfolds out of the rear of the charger unit allowing your phone to be propped up.
Also, the front of the portable power bank has the Avengers and Ironman pattern livery printed on. There are a couple of Disney characters to choose from. The rear of the device has a nice embossed silkscreen print print of the Ironman suit itself. A pretty nice touch.
Additionally, the front silicon face also has a rubberised coating on the charging surface. It does add a premium level of feel. However, I do hope this rubberised coating however won’t turn sticky over as time goes by, as such coatings can degrade pretty quickly particularly in Singapore’s hot and humid weather.
Simple but effective indicators
The only working side of the powerbank is its right side which a single button where a single press will “wake” the device to show you the overall balance charge using 4 white LEDs, each LED corresponding to 25% Charge. This is also your indicator when charging the powerbank. Frankly even in the age of LCD indicators we see on other brands, these 4 LEDs is really what you need. Out of the box, the powerbank is about 70% charge, so you can literally use it out of the box hitting the ground running.
Taking a closer look at the powerbank’s foldable stand, it can prop up the phone in portrait or landscape mode- useful for watching videos or making a video call. When folded in, the kickstand sits flushed within the body of the power bank. Neat.
Weighing only 150g, the Belkin MagSafe portable power bank is small and lightweight. It is sized close to a deck of cards. The small footprint makes it easy to carry around in your pocket or bag and use it anywhere you need extra power. Also, it does has a simple and elegant design that matches the aesthetic of the iPhone.
It also, sites flush at the sides even on the smallest standard iPhone and does not jut out at the edges. With it attached, the power bank does not appear intrusive and looks like an extended battery bump at the rear.
Two modes of charging
Furthermore, the BoostCharge is able to charge wirelessly and via wired USB-C port- which is both an input and output port. The powerbank charger itself is compact and lightweight. It is easy to use and convenient. You just snap it on your iPhone and it starts charging. You can also use your iPhone while it is charging without any interference or loss of power. It is portable and lightweight. You can carry it around in your pocket or bag and use it anywhere you have a power outlet.
As mentioned, the bottom of the powerbank sits a universal bi-directional USB port which serves as the powerbank’s only input charge port as well as provide power output if you wish to charge your device via USB, with benefits of faster and increased charge (10W) rate over wireless (7.5W), more on that later.
Moreover, the charger Magsafe magnet is very strong and hold the weight of the powerbank very well. In fact, it is so strong that you can hold the entire weight of your phone from the power bank itself. Though it is recommended to wirelessly charge through MagSafe official cases up to 3 mm in thickness. Also, the Magsafe magnets are not fixed to one particular orientation, and can be rotated to fit the orientation you require.
Works with Android phones too
The charger was able to wirelessly charge my Android phones too. Though you might have an issue sticking your Android phone onto the Magsafe coil. However, you can resolve this with a stick-on Magsafe ring you can adhere to the rear of your android phone. Also, it might be good for the charger to have a USB-Type A port too, so you can use your older to charge your phone too.
Also do note the charger drops to a more conservative and lower 5W wireless Qi charging rate when charging Android phones
Both Wireless and Wired charging
Capacity wise, the Belkin MagSafe portable power bank 5K has a 5,000mAh capacity, which can provide one full charge or more for most iPhones. However, wireless charging is not as efficient as wired charging, so you may not get the full use of the battery’s capacity. The power bank can charge wirelessly with up to 7.5W output, or up to 10W with a USB-C to Lightning connection. The voltage of the power bank is 5V for both wireless and wired charging.
Also, the powerbank is smart enough to only charges one device at a time. The wireless charging is disabled which you are charging one device via USB. Hence, if you have other devices that need charging, such as AirPods or Apple Watch, you have to use another charger or buy a more expensive model that has multiple charging ports.
Charging performance
You can get about over a full charge on your phone using the 5k mah capacity powerbank, with at least one full 100% charge or more for most iPhones. Also when charging a phone with a 4,500magh battery from 40% battery charge, you can charge your phone to full wirelessly in about 2 and a half hours, while using a cable to shorten this under 100 minutes for a full charge from 40%. Charging a depleted phone with a 4,500mah battery takes just over 3 hours.
Moreover, the right-side LED battery indicator also functions as a status light when you are charging the powerbank. It lets you know when it’s time to recharge and glows solid white when charging. Also, the power bank also supports pass-through charging, which allows you to charge your phone and the power bank at the same time. Belkin recommends at least a 5V/3Amp charger to charge the powerbank quickly, such as Belkin’s own fantastic 65W Boostcharge charger. This is especially if you are doing pass-through charging though you are fine using a regular 2 Amp fast charger for juicing up the powerbank itself.
Do note that the powerbank does get warm while charging, especially if you use your iPhone at the same time. It does not get overly hot during use, and is normal for wireless charging, but it may affect the battery health and performance of both the battery pack and the iPhone in the long run.
Final thoughts
With all the good things aside, the elephant in the room will still be the price. The Belkin 5,000mAh MagSafe portable power bank 5K costs around $80 from other good stores. It is expensive compared to other MagSafe battery packs or Qi-wireless battery packs with similar or higher capacity.
The price puts the Boostcharge on the same price offering of Energea 889 powerbank priced at S$79, but with a 10k mah capacty instead. Also, in comparison, competing devices like the Anker 321 MagHo 5k and Aukey Maglink 6700 are priced slightly cheaper at S$65 and S$69 respectively. Still, the Belkin does make up for this with better quality and a piece of mind with their connected equipment warranty, covering up to $2,500 of equipment damage.
You do pay more for the Disney Marvel-branding too. With this Ironman one costing $109 RRP. Still, it is a pretty steep asking price for a powerbank, though you save a $20 premium extra if you forgo the marvel or Disney themed versions, so called “Disney-tax”. I would say, unless if you are a crazy Marvel or Disney fan, go for the regular Belkin 5k charger and save the $20 for a good set of Belkin USB cables instead.
All in all, Overall, the Belkin BoostCharge Magsafe 5k powerbank with stand is a handy and versatile accessory for iPhone users who want a wireless and portable charging solution. It is ideal for those who use their iPhone for media consumption or video calls and want a stable and adjustable stand. However, it is not a cheap accessory, especially for the Marvel-branded ones, but does make up for worth it’s premium price for the quality of the product you typically get from Belkin products.
Belkin BoostCharge Magsafe 5k powerbank
Pros
- Quality solid product
- Compact non-intrusive design
- Good cross compatibility (e.g. Android devices)
- Feel good eco-packaging
Cons
- Can be expensive
- Charges only one device at a time
Many thanks to Belkin for the opportunity to review the Belkin BoostCharge Magsafe 5k powerbank. As with all my reviews, manufacturers have neither editorial inputs to reviews, nor seen this review before it is released to you, my readers. Thanks for reading!
