At a glanceExpert's Rating
Pros
- MagSafe compatible 10W wireless charging
- Laptop-scale power output over USB-C, up to 100W
- High dollar-to-wattage value
- Support for both QC and USB PD charging standards
- Includes high-amperage USB-C to USB-C cable
Cons
- Maximum simultaneous power output limited to 103W
Our Verdict
Travelers will love the 20-ounce. Excitrus 100W Magnetic Wireless Power Bank that can simultaneously recharge an iPhone, tablet, and laptop at just over 100W of maximum output.
Best Prices Today: Excitrus 100W Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger
Excitrus has hit the target for a near-perfect affordable, high-speed, high-storage USB battery pack. With a capacity of just under 75 watt-hours (Wh) or 20,800 milliampere-hours (mAh), you can recharge a tablet, phone, laptop, and Bluetooth devices across three ports. The power pack includes support for USB Power Delivery protocols, allowing up to 100W on one USB-C port and up to 65W on its second USB-C port. Its sole USB Type-A port delivers up to 18W, and can support the Android-centric QC charging standard.
On top of that, the 100W Magnetic Wireless Power Bank tells you in its name about a bonus: a 10W magnetically aligned wireless charging target on its top compatible with Apple’s MagSafe-capable iPhones. It even recharges itself at a distinctly speedy 65W over one of its USB-C ports.
The power pack comes wrapped (except for a band around its middle) in a forest green fabric that reminds me of a comfortable shirt. It’s pleasant to hold, and the cloth prevents slipping.
Glenn Fleishman
The only significant limitation of this power pack is that its maximum simultaneous output is 103W. No device will likely charge at the full rate of each port if you plug in a laptop, iPad, and another device, maxing out its USB ports, and plop an iPhone on its magnetic charger. However, 103W combined with 75Wh should be plenty for a traveler trying to get nearly a full day or more out of multiple devices without access to an AC outlet. For comparison, the power pack’s battery is about 20 percent more than the built-in capacity in an M1 MacBook Pro.
Glenn Fleishman
In testing, the battery lived up to its promises: it charged an iPhone at full speed, filled an M1 MacBook Air from 25 to 75 percent in about an hour at 45W (the laptop’s maximum), and recharged from empty to full in about an hour and a half attached to a high-wattage USB-C power adapter. I encountered no anomalies, and it felt only slightly warm to the touch at any point.
The power bank is compact and inexpensive on a per-watt basis, too. It weighs in at 20 ounces (546g) and 7.5×3.25×1 inches (190×82.5×25.5mm) and has a retail price tag of $99.99. The Excitrus 100W power pack compares favorably to the ZMI PowerPack No. 20, a previous top pick that has about 20 percent more capacity, more than twice the maximum power output, and weighs only slightly more for $149.
Glenn Fleishman
While charging or recharging, a small LCD area on the side displays the current charged percentage of the battery in numbers. A lightning bolt, the percentage sign, and a digit of capacity appear or flash to indicate various states in a compact fashion. For instance, while the power pack is charging an iPhone wirelessly a lightning bolt flashes.
To avoid unintentional charging and accidental battery draining, Excitrus offers an off and sleep setting. Holding down its so-called Mode Button for three seconds powers down the power pack; sleep mode engages in 30 seconds and keeps the battery in something like a standby state. In some cases, you may need to press the Mode button to start wireless charging. For low-power Bluetooth devices, such as headphones and some smartwatches, Excitrus lets you invoke a special mode by pressing the Mode button twice.
Bottom line
Any regular traveler would benefit from adding the Excitrus 100W Magnetic Wireless Power Bank to their kit. At just over a pound, it’s worth the weight to add flexible, high-wattage charging plus wireless iPhone charging in a single affordable package.
Best Prices Today: Excitrus 100W Magnetic Wireless Portable Charger
Author: Glenn Fleishman, Senior Contributor
Glenn Fleishman’s most recent books include Take Control of iOS and iPadOS Privacy and Security, Take Control of Calendar and Reminders, and Take Control of Securing Your Mac. In his spare time, he writes about printing and type history. He’s a senior contributor to Macworld, where he writes Mac 911.