Belkin power bank is the perfect iPhone backup (review)

The Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable is a perfectly simple product that does one thing very well. Charges an iPhone or other device without the user having to worry about a separate USB-C cable.

I tested it with my iPhone and iPad looking for problems. Here’s how it looks in the real world.

Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable Review

Going about your day, always a little worried that your iPhone will run out of juice? There is a simple solution: Carry a power bank with you. Then you will be able to plug in the handset at any time, wherever you go.

However, with some external batteries, you also need to carry a power cable. It can be a little frustrating when you find yourself with a phone and a battery but no way to connect them.

This is where the Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with integrated cable shines. If you have it with you, you don’t need anything else to juice your iPhone, iPad, etc.

Contents: Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable Review

Power bank all in one

Science has not yet found a way to make a super-small battery with a capacity of 10,000 mAh. Still, this one from Belkin is very portable. It measures 4 inches x 2.5 inches x 0.9 inches and weighs 0.5 pounds.

While the BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with integrated cable is basically a plastic wrap around the battery, kudos to Belkin for trying to give it some style. It comes in black, white, blue or pink, plus the edges and corners are rounded.

The highlight of the product, the built-in USB-C cable is 1.75 inches long and tucks into one edge of the power bank when not in use.

Although the cable length is minimal, it is long enough to be useful. I either hold the external battery in my palm with the iPhone on it, or I put the power bank and my iPhone somewhere. There is enough cable for both options.

If you happen to have a USB-C cable with you, you can use the USB-C port on one side of the Belkin battery to charge a second device.

It can more than fully charge the iPhone 17

With a capacity of 10,000 mAh, the Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with integrated cable provides enough power when you need it most.

When I tested it with my iPhone 17, the handset’s power level increased by 175% over several charges before the accessory died. What this means for me is that I can go out on Friday morning with a fully charged iPhone and this external battery and not need any other power source until Sunday night.

In a separate test, it was able to raise the battery level on my 13-inch iPad Pro by about 60% before it ran dry. That’s enough to get me going in a pinch.

The Belkin power bank delivers 20W of power – the minimum output level that meets Apple’s definition of fast charging. Still, when I connect higher wattage chargers to my iPhone, I regularly see faster charging. With the Belkin power bank, my iPhone charges to about 50% in half an hour.

Charging the power bank itself

A quartet of white LEDs indicates the remaining battery charge level.

When it’s time to top up the Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable, simply plug the integrated cable into the USB-C wall charger. I really appreciate the convenience. Alternatively, a USB-C port can do the job if you have the necessary cable.

The Belkin power bank has a power of 20 W, so it takes hours to fully charge. You should probably plan to charge it overnight, but if you only have an hour, you can get a useful amount of power into the accessory in that time.

Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with Integrated Cable Review: Final Thoughts

MagSafe batteries charge your iPhone without the need for cables. And they press against your iPhone while charging. Compared to them, this Belkin power bank seems rather primitive. But another way of looking at it is: simplicity. It’s simply a collection of features useful for anyone who needs to charge a mobile device on the go, and one that never gets old. Especially for a good price.

That said, it’s not as easy to use as a slim power bank that magnetically sticks to your iPhone and charges it wirelessly.

★★★★☆

Prices

The Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with integrated cable is $39.99.

Belkin provided Cult of Mac with the evaluation unit for this article. See our review policy for more detailed reviews of Apple-related items.