Develop Bugs

Review of Anker Astro2 (2nd gen) 9000 mAh external battery w/pics!!!

This is a review of Anker Astro2 (2nd generation) 9000 mAh external battery: http://www.ianker.com/product/79AN7903-BA
Just a short while ago Anker introduced their next gen Astro3 battery. Following it's footsteps now comes next gen of Astro2 with all new design details introduced in Astro3 but in scaled down version of it. Some might argue it has a reduced capacity and one less charging usb port in comparison to Astro3, while the price difference is not that significant. So why would someone choose one over the other? Let's find out.
First of all, I'm glad to see how Anker switched to all new packaging across all of their latest products, using environmentally safe recycled material and minimum amount of plastic. The battery itself uses a nice soft touch rubbery material that will not leave any fingerprints and gives you non-slippery grip. The shape of the battery has rounded off edges and is very comfortable to hold. With my measured dimensions of 105mm x 60mm x 23mm and reduced weight down to 7.7 oz (218 g) - this battery is relatively light and very pocket friendly. It comes with micro-usb input capable of 1.2A charging rate for a faster charging of the battery itself, and 2 full size usb charging ports one labeled as Smart Output with 2.4A max charging speed and another one labeled as Universal Output able to support up to 3A of charging current. Per confirmation from Astro3 which also has Smart Output with 2.4A - that port will charge your latest iPad at max speed! Universal Output will be able to support any latest smart phone with a full 2A charging speed. Both ports can be used simultaneously for a combined charge output of 3A. I have verified charging my Note 2 at 2A and Nexus 7 at approximately 1A charging speed simultaneously. In addition you also get micro-usb cable, 30-pin apple adapter, and a very nice mesh storage bag.
Just like with Astro3, this new Astro2 uses a 10-segment led indicator which breaks down charging capacity in increments of 10% instead of typical 4-led batteries with 25% increments. The led lights are not visible until you shake the battery to reveal remaining segments. While you charging battery itself, those will stay up indicating charging progress. What sets this 2nd gen battery apart from so many other external batteries available today is the efficiency. As I mention in all of my ext battery reviews, the labeled capacity is not the actual capacity because you loose energy during conversion through usb output port. Typical ext battery looses on average 30-35% thus you are getting only 2/3 of the actual capacity. The new 2nd gen of Astro3 and Astro2 have 80% efficiency, thus you are loosing only 20%. I was able to confirm that with multiple charges an average of 78% which is close to advertised 80%. It means that you should have no problem getting 7000 mAh from this battery.
Overall, in my conclusion I want to make a point about Astro2 vs Astro3. Both are fantastic batteries with innovative design and very impressive efficiency. One has higher capacity and additional usb charging port while the pricing is very close in comparison, especially with the latest Back-to-School sale on Astro3. So why would you choose Astro2 over Astro3? The deciding factors are the size/weight/portability. If you need to carry your ext battery in a pocket or a smaller purse - Astro2 will be the way to go. Just look at side-by-side pictures. That's what it really comes down to.
Here are the pictures.
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Review of UNU Ultrapack GO and TOUR external batteries w/lots of pics!!!

This is a Review of UNU Ultrapack GO and TOUR external portable batteries with Ultra-X fast-charging technology. http://www.myunu.com/products/ultrapak-fast-charging-batteries.html
Some of you may noticed that I'm no longer reviewing as many different external batteries. Unfortunately, there has been very little innovation in this sector of smartphone accessories. One of the new trends I have seen so far is the increase in external battery capacity to keep up with new power hungry big screen phones and tablets. As you increase the capacity you also increase the charging time for the battery itself where in some cases even overnight charging is not enough to get to 100% ready. Realizing this shortfall, UNU engineers decided to come up with a new line of Ultra-X fast charging batteries which I got a chance to review. Here is what I found.
Since both of these batteries have a very similar design and functionality with the only difference of capacity and a number of charging ports, I decided to combine review of GO (3,000 mAh) and TOUR (10,000 mAh) Ultrapack batteries together. Both arrived in a very similar packages, only scaled in size, with a clear message of 8x Faster charging rate. The package also has a lot of useful info about the benefits of using this battery, in terms of additional hours in extended functionality, but it's all relative to your use and I typically recommend taking it with a grain of salt. The most important thing you have to realize is that once you are away from a power source and need to recharge your phone battery - you now have a portable source on the go. Also, a total advertised capacity of the external battery is not what you are actually going to see because it's based on their internal 3.7V-3.8V voltage which needs to be converted through 5V usb interface where you will loose some of this capacity due to a typical 85%-90% conversion efficiency. Therefore, you need to choose the capacity of your external backup battery based on how long you are going to be away from the power source and how many times you will need to recharge your phone or tablet battery.
With this explanation out of the way, let's take a closer look at the design and special features of UNU Ultrapack batteries. The design of GO and TOUR is almost identical with a piano finish top/bottom surface and softer material sides for a better grip. Both of the batteries have a power button which turns on a hidden LCD screen with a charging capacity info and also turns on a built-in led flashlight (convenient when you are in the dark, like during a power outage). GO features a single USB charging port rated up to 2.1A and TOUR feature a double USB port rated at 1A and 2.1A for a combined output of 3.1A. Another port they share in common is DC input charging port. Unlike most of the other external batteries with micro-usb charging port and a typical 5V/1A charging speed, here you have 12V/2.5A charging port which enables a much faster charging speed of the battery. Just keep in mind, we are not talking about faster charging speed of your phone/tablet battery, but the actual external battery itself.
Faster charging speed, up to 8x faster, means you don't have to wait hours to charge up this battery before you can start using it. As a matter of fact, it has a rapid charging mode where in 15min you get 2,000 mAh of capacity from empty. This means if you are in the rush you can still get a charging capacity boost for this backup battery in only 15min. The only catch is that you have to use a bulky wall AC adapter. It's the only drawback which is a price to pay for a fast re-charging. Another fantastic feature is the built-in LCD screen which tells you exactly in % how much battery left and also tells you how long before battery is full when you charging it up. When not turned on, the display is fully hidden under the top surface. Also, charging mechanism has it's own current regulator to optimize charging speed of your smartphone/tablet. With a smaller capacity GO, I was only able to charge my Note 2 at 1.2A speed. With dual output TOUR, Note 2 was charging at a maximum speed while S5 connected to another port only had 1.3A of charging current not to exceed a combined 3.1A output. It didn't even matter which port I had my phones connected to, either 2.1A or 1A ports were able to charge at max speed individually and current draw was regulated when two phones were connected simultaneously.
Overall, I was very impressed with performance of both batteries and all the additional bonus features they had to offer. Fast charging speed and a detailed LCD screen functionality was a very useful new feature if you are willing to pay premium price for these batteries. I know there are a lot cheaper alternatives with a similar or higher capacity, but you really have to factor in all the additional design features Ultrapack brings to the table in order to have a true comparison. And even so I typically don't review smaller capacity batteries, if you want this Ultra-X fast charging technology and LCD info screen but don't want to drag around a large and heavier TOUR, GO is a perfect solution for that.
Here are the pictures.
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AUKEY Quick Charge 2.0 & 3.0 5 Ports Wall Charger - Review & Unboxing

AUKEY Quick Charge 2.0 & 3.0 5 Port USB Wall Charger
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Unboxing (QC 2.0 on the left, QC 3.0 on the right)
Luckily I had the oppurtunity to compare both devices, so you’ll see both variants.
Both versions come with an eco-friendly packaging and basic accessories: 1x Micro-USB Cable, 1x Power Plug (mine is an European Version), 1x User Manual, 1x Warranty Card and the Charger (of course).
As regards the Charger, it is made of Plastic, pretty solid but with glossy sides that can be scratched easily, handle it with care. No Chassis differences are there between the two versions, so it makes me think that the only difference is related to the internal motherboard.
There are 5 USB Ports available, and one of them supports Quick Charge (depending on the model you choose, it can be QC 2.0 or QC 3.0). The other USB ports supports Standard 5V output, just with another technology called “AIO” from AUKEY that works on the voltage depending on the attached device. It seems to work pretty fine, without voltage issues. Follow my next paragraph to know more.
As regards the size, this is probably the smaller Multi-Port Charger I have ever tried, super-compact.
Efficiency
All tests have been done using AUKEY’s Cables, in order to get maximum efficiency and to avoid any possible issue.
First of all, I have tested the “AIO” USB Ports using my USB Capacitor (1A/2A), and it is clearly noticeable that there are no issues at all. Stable Voltage.
In order to show you differences between the two Quick Charge versions, I want to show this image (found on the net) first.
So, as you can read, Quick Charge 3.0 uses Dynamic Voltage (starting from 3.2v up to 20v), while Quick Charge 2.0 uses 3 Voltage Steps (5v-9v-12v).
Let’s start with the Quick Charge 3.0 variant, as soon as I have plugged my QC 3.0 power bank, the charger reduced its voltage from 5v to 3.3v, then it gradually increased. At 5V it was able to handle more than 3.5A! That’s even higher than Official Quick Charge spec.
After a while, the voltage increased again, now to 7.24v with 2A load more or less. And so on, up to 12V.
With the Quick Charge 2.0 variant, as soon as I have plugged the power bank, the voltage increased from 5V to 9V, but just for a little while, then it instantly increased to 12V with more or less 1.8A load.
The difference is clearly noticeable, and it is also clear that QC 3.0 version is much more advanced than the previous version. This doesn’t mean that QC 2.0 isn’t good, but it is just different and less efficient.
Conclusions
As always AUKEY accessories are quality-made, efficient and cheap enough. It’s a pity that they choose to use a glossy surface on the sides, but there are no other negative aspects.
So...do I recommend it? If you need to charge multiple devices, and if you have a Quick Charge device, then...Yes. Be careful to choose the right variant depending on your device’s CPU, or just go for the Quick Charge 3.0 variant to avoid mistakes and to be futureproof.
Pros:
- Qualcomm Quick Charge Support
- Compact and Solid
Cons:
- No Power LED
- Useless Glossy Sides
Rating: 8.5
Packaging and Accessories: 7.5
Design and Materials: 8.5
Performance and Efficiency: 9.5
Price: 8.5 (based on Amazon price)
QC 2.0 (PA-T1) Product page: http://www.aukey.com/product/PA-T1
QC 3.0 (PA-T15) Product page: http://www.aukey.com/product/PA-T15
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/AdU4Y​

I bought the 3.0 version and it's great. It's constantly plugged in, charges all my usb devices (garmin forerunner, lezyne bike led light, smartphone etc) and it doesn't get hot.
Plus it's ready when I replace my phone for something with qualcomm quick charge
Great little charger for a very reasonable price.

PA-T15 Port failed
Hi All, bought one of these though Zapals one of the 5 ports failed 2 weeks after i started using it.
Came complete with AUKEY warranty card in original unopened packaging. Went to AUKEY website for warranty and found out they only provide warranty on items purchased direct from them or through Amazon.
Zapals has a 6 month warranty only and you have to ship the lot back at your expense for them to consider that. I am anm overseas customer so its a cost, inconvenience and disappointment.
Poor service by Aukey i would say.

AllMaybe 6-Port 12A Desktop Charging Station - Review & Unboxing

AllMaybe 6-Port 12A Desktop Charging Station
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Unboxing
This accessory comes with an standard packaging (not eco-friendly unfortunately) and some accessories: 1x Protective Pouch (nice quality), 1x Power Plug (mine is an European Version), 1x User Manual, 1x User Satisfaction Card, 1x Warranty Card and the Charger (of course).
As regards the Charging Station, it is made of Plastic, entirely covered with a rubber-coating, a bit fingerprint unfriendly but it guarantees an excellent grip on the Desk.
On the front, there is an useful Power LED (Blue) that could be pretty useful if you need to find the charger in a dark room or just to know if it has been plugged properly to the power socket. Just like another Charging Station i have reviewed, its color doesn’t seem to change, so it is just a standard Power LED.
Being a Charging Station, it couldn’t have had few USB Ports. There are 6 USB ports available that support Standard 5V output (2.4A max each, but also more, check my next paragraphs to know more), i don't know what the "IM" word means though. (some other technology name made by AllMaybe, maybe)
As regards the size, it isn't super compact, a bit thick compared to others, nothing serious to complain about though.
Efficiency
As always, all my tests are made using high-quality cables (with 20AWG or 22AWG power lines) in order to get the best results. AllMaybe doesn't provide any USB Cable, neither they produce them as far as i know, so i had to go with other brands cables.
On idle, the voltage is just fine: 5.17V. Increasing the current to 1A, it decreases to 5.09V.
Let's start with the real stress test, with 2A of Load the voltage decreases to 5.03V, and with more than 3A of Load (over-specs, do not do this frequently or for long-period usage otherwise you risk to fry the USB Port) it decreases to 5.00V. Great Results!
Something i noticed is a slight buzzing noise coming from the charger on idle, it isn't annoying, but if you place your ear on the charger it is noticeable.
Conclusions
Well, this is the first charger i review from AllMaybe, a brand that was completely unknown to me, available officially on Amazon.com only (excluding other chinese e-shops). What to say, there are lots of Desktop Charger available on the Market currently, some of them with Qualcomm Quick Charge support, others with a different number of USB ports, etc. so can this one be considered too? My reply is: so and so.
I am not saying that this isn't a good charger, it is powerful (see my risky stress test i made) and solid, but it lacks something that, i think, everyone would have expected.
Nowadays Type-C ports and Quick Charge devices are becoming the new standards so the release of a standard 5V charger may be a bit risky. If you are looking for a powerful standard USB charger with lots of USB Ports, i can definitely recommend it, if you need QC Support or anything else, this isn't for you.
Pros:
- Lots of USB Ports
- Powerful
- Rocking Stable Voltage Regulation
- Power LED
Cons:
- No Quick Charge
- No Type-C Ports
- No USB Cables included
- Slightly noisy on Idle
Rating: 8.3
Packaging and Accessories: 7
Design and Materials: 9
Performance and Efficiency: 9
Price: 8 (based on Amazon price)
Official Facebook page (no website available): https://www.facebook.com/Allmaybe-434309326762638/
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: http://imgur.com/a/jXUc4​

Hi Alberto,
Thanks for your unbiased and honest review. We really appreciate your help and your advice on our product. Yes, we totally agree that a standard charger can not best meet people's need nowadays, so we are developing two QC3.0 chargers at present. They are expected to be available in April. Please keep tuned.
It's true that the charger is not amazing for its size or appearance. It has no advantages in these, but I hope you will love it more and more since you will find it quite durable and long-lasting. Performance is quite good too.
Meanwhile, please allow me to specify some concerns in your review. IM means "Intelligent Management" the same technology as Power IQ of Anker or Aipower of Aukey. Your guess is right.
We have an official website www.allmaybe.com.
This charger is officially available on both Amazon.com and Amazon.ca. Also, it can be found on ebay and aliexpress. We have our official stores on these platforms at present.
Thanks again for your time and help.
Regards,
Allmaybe

AllMaybe Dual USB Wall Chargers with Power Meter - Unboxing and Review

AllMaybe Dual USB Wall Chargers - Standard (EU2-ST) and Quick Charge (EU2)
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Unboxing
Since i got both variants of the charger, this will be an unified review with detailed comparisions.
Photos Order: Standard variant on the left, Quick Charge variant on the right.
Compared to the desktop charging station reviewed a while ago, this new wall charger doesn't come with many accessories: 1x User Manual with a nice specs sheet, 1x Warranty Card and the Charger (of course). No USB Cables included.
Both models share the same chassis, only the color is different: Black for the Standard variant and White for the Quick Charge variant. It feels solid and there are no annoying glossy parts that can get dirty and scratched really easily.
On one side, there is the LCD screen (more details in the next paragraph) covered by a plastic surface. This surface doesn't look 100% new even after removing the protective film, and is also easy to scratch, so be careful with it (of course this doesn't mean that all units face the same issue, but it is still worth to be reported).
On the side opposite to the power plug (that is foldable), there are 2x USB Ports (with a small marking above each port, "QC 3.0" or "2.4A" depending on the model) and a button required to switch the measurement between each port.
As regards the size, it is probably the most compact dual-usb wall charger i have ever tried, just 62.4x55.0x2.82mm (same for both models) with a weight of 87g for the Standard model and 101g for the Quick Charge model. Of course the latter weights more since it is the most powerful.
Efficiency and Power Meter
Since i am mad when it comes to power efficiency and real output power, i got a crazy USB tester some weeks ago to stress all chargers and cables i own to the max. Of course both of these chargers will receive the same treatment. ^^
NOTE: In order to make sure that the built-in power meter is accurate, each test has been made using also my reliable high-quality USB tester.
As you can easily notice, the screen shows the USB port currently selected with voltage output, current output and the amount of total current drawn since its connection to the socket. Also, it features a nice blue backlight that can be dimmed by long-pressing the button, definetely a plus compared to standard chargers.
Starting from the no-load test (on idle), the voltage appears to be quite stable, maybe higher than usual for the standard variant, but still OK to comply with USB standards.
Stressing both chargers to the maximum rated specs (5V/2.4A for the standard variant and 5V/3A for the Quick Charge variant), the result is quite impressive.
The Quick Charge variant reached a voltage of 5.15V under 3A of load, and the Standard variant reached 5.21V under 2.4A of load. Excellent results, definitely able to handle high resistance (high AWG) USB cables.
Considering the excellent result i thought...what about stressing each charger to the max? Well, since the Quick Charge variant is already maxed out (don't want to go over 3A for safety reasons), i did this test only with the standard variant, by increasing the load over 2.4A. The maximum it can reach without tripping the overload protection is ~2.78A while keeping the same voltage of 5.21V!
A test dedicated to the QC 3.0 variant is, of course, the test made using a Quick Charge capable device connected to it. Both my smartphone (LeEco Le 2) and power bank (iVoler 10000mAh) managed to use the Quick Charge capabilities of the charger, no compatibility issues noticed even with other devices.
As regards the noise level, i wasn't able to hear any buzzling noise (or high-pitched sound) even while doing the extreme test so i can confirm that high quality components have been used.
Conclusions
It is nice to see that AllMaybe followed user feedbacks and tried to provide one of the most complete wall charger i have ever seen. I am not sure whether the idea of placing a power meter is unique or not, but it is really useful and reduces the risks to connect a device with a poor USB cable, that would result in unstable battery charging or, even worse, permanent damage to the cable or device connected.
Honestly, i am not able to find any serious issue with any of these chargers. Based on the user's needs, it is possible to choose the variant required with or without Quick Charge, and the power output is just perfect. Maybe the only thing i would appreciate with next models is the inclusion of at least one USB Cable (Micro-USB + Type-C, 2-in-1 variant), and why not, a multi-usb charging station featuring the same power meter.
So, do i recommend them? Yes, with no doubts. Just choose the one that fits more your requirements, even though the Quick Charge variant is always the best choice, being future-proof .
Pros:
- Excellent Power Output
- Useful and Reliable Power Meter
- Overload Protection
- Quick Charge support (for the EU2 model)
Cons:
- No EU plug variant available
- Easy to scratch LCD plastic surface
Rating: 9
Packaging and Accessories: 7
Design and Materials: 10
Performance and Efficiency: 10
Price: 9 (based on Amazon price)
You can find full-res images (I know, Quality isn't excellent) here: https://imgur.com/a/XaRlV
Official Product Page: http://www.allmaybe.com/products_detail/productId=46.html (EU2-ST Standard) & http://www.allmaybe.com/products_detail/productId=44.html (EU2 - QC 3.0)
You can buy it on many online shops. Official, and authorized, Retailers are listed in the AllMaybe website.​