is a deputy editor and Verge co-founder with a passion for human-centric cities, e-bikes, and life as a digital nomad. He’s been a tech journalist for 20 years.
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It’s now possible to charge a large 99Wh (27,650mAh) power bank — the largest you can easily take on an airplane — from zero to 80 percent in about 20 minutes. But only if you own EcoFlow’s new power bank and desktop charger combo, launching in the US today.
The $179.99 / €169.99 Rapid Pro Power Bank 27k can take a powerful 320W charge when placed onto the pogo-pin connector on top of the company’s $199.99 / €159.99 Rapid Pro Desktop Charger. Both devices can simultaneously charge two power-hungry laptops at up to 140W each over USB-C, and you can plug two 140W USB-C PD 3.1 chargers into the power bank to charge its battery from zero to 80 percent in less than 30 minutes.
You can even monitor progress over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth from the EcoFlow app on your phone while packing for the airport, and the portable battery should be suitably charged by the time your Uber arrives.
I’ve been testing the power bank and desktop charger for the last few weeks to verify EcoFlow’s claims, and to see how well the two products function at home and on the go, together and apart.
Fast bidirectional charging is the standout feature of this bulky workhorse of a power bank, followed closely by its built-in retractable USB-C cable that can handle 140W of input or output. When stacked onto the desktop charger you get nine USB ports and a staggering 600W of total output for your laptops, phones, drones, headphones, Starlink... you name it, as we enter the golden age of USB-C connectivity.
The ultra-fast 320W charge is delivered over proprietary spring-loaded pogo-pin connectors on the bottom of the power bank and top of the desktop charger, with magnets to help keep them aligned. EcoFlow claims an “industry fastest recharging speed” from the combo, which seems to check out.
The closest competitor we can find is Anker’s $179.99 Prime Power Bank, which tops out briefly at 170W when connecting its 99Wh battery to two 140W USB-C chargers simultaneously.
I managed to charge EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Power Bank at a maximum of 320.5W when stacked on top of the desktop charger, or 232W when simultaneously connected to both a 100W USB-C charger and the only 140W PD 3.1 charger I own. I’m unable to validate the 280W claim — though I have no reason to doubt it.
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