Conveniently Portable, but Lacks Capacity – Review Geek

You’re running late for work or school so you hustle out the door, only to look down and see your phone at 12% battery life. You can hope someone has a cable and charging block for you to borrow, or you can keep a portable charger, like the Benks MagClap On-Go Power Bank, handy for a recharge.

No one likes clinging to the last few battery percentage points while out and about. Forget that movie you were going to watch during your lunch break or plane ride, now you’re in survival mode, waiting for that important text, call, or email to come through while your phone still has any life left.

Benks’ MagClap On-Go Power Bank attaches to the back of your MagSafe-compatible iPhone, giving it the juice it needs to stay powered on throughout the day. And if you have an Android or an older iPhone, you can use the included adhesive magnetic ring to take full advantage of this portable power bank’s magnetized capabilities.

Design: Smooth and Simple

• Dimensions: 3.78 x 2.52 x 0.5in (96 x 64 x 12.5mm)
• Exterior finish: Liquid silicone
• Port: USB-C PD
• Weight: 8.8oz (249.48g)

Power banks are usually pretty plain, offering an on/off switch and LED indicators to denote the remaining power level. The MagClap On-Go follows suit in this area with a few key differences, the first of which is its silicone exterior.

Benks’ MagSafe power bank comes in five colors: Black (as reviewed), Dark Blue, White, Purple, and Light Blue—all of which offer a sleek silicone finish that feels smooth and cool to the touch. The second difference between the MagClap On-Go and your run-of-the-mill portable power bank is the inclusion of MagSafe magnets—these keep the charger adhered to the back of your smartphone while it charges, meaning you aren’t hindered by a cord or stuck next to an outlet.

“So if I don’t have a MagSafe-compatible iPhone, this is just a normal power bank?” Not quite; Benks included an adhesive magnetic ring that you can stick to the back of your Android or older iPhone. As long as your phone is compatible with Qi wireless charging, you can use the magnetic ring in a pseudo-MagSafe capacity.

As with any MagSafe charger, the only caveat to this is it probably won’t work if you use anything other than an ultra-thin case (or a certified MagSafe-compatible case).

And, of course, if you’d rather power up faster and don’t mind using a cord, you can make use of the MagClap On-Go’s USB-C port for 12W of charging rather than the 7.5W that wireless charging offers. The portable power bank only comes with a USB-C to USB-C cable (which you can use to recharge the power bank itself), so you’ll need a USB-C to Lightning connector if you plan to use wired charging on an iPhone. You’ll also need to pick up a USB-C wall adapter to charge the power bank if you don’t already have one.

At 3.78 x 2.52 x 0.5in, Benks’ portable charger is roughly the size of a credit card with some extra thickness. This makes it perfect for slipping into pockets, purses, bags, or car cupholders for a recharge wherever and whenever you need it.

Adhesive Magnetic Ring: Not as Good as MagSafe

Charging Efficiency: Quick but Limited

• Battery Capacity: 5,000mAh
• Wattage: 7.5W wireless charging, 12W wired charging
• Voltage output: 5V

Using a wired connection (USB-C to Lightning), the MagClap On-Go charged my iPhone 13 from 50% to 100% in 1 hour and 25 minutes. The iPhone had Low Power Mode enabled and underwent light, mixed-use consisting of a few YouTube videos, Slack message checking, and Amazon order tracking while charging.

The charger stayed cool to the touch the entire time in this mode. The power bank still had around 50% battery remaining (2 LEDs), so you could charge your iPhone from 0 to full off of a full-capacity MagClap On-Go before you need to plug the portable charger back in again.

With the MagSafe method, as opposed to wired, it took 2 hours and 13 minutes to charge my iPhone from 50% to 100%. I noticed a little heat buildup when using the wireless charging mode, though this is the case with nearly every wireless charger. The silicone exterior kept the charger relatively cool, and the warmth was far from worrying.

Note: The iPhone 13’s battery capacity is 3,227mAh. If your phone has a lower capacity, you’ll likely get more use out of the MagClap On-Go Power Bank before needing to charge it.

Again, you could get about one full charge of your iPhone before needing to plug the MagClap On-Go in for charging.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should You Buy the Benks MagClap On-Go Power Bank?

If you’re searching for a portable MagSafe charging option, the Benks MagClap On-Go Power Bank is easy to recommend. It’s stylish, effortless to transport, and charges your phone pretty quickly. With the added benefit of magnetic adhesion, whether your smartphone is MagSafe-compatible or not, you can continue to check your email, play mobile games, and respond to texts without being tied down by a charging cable.

However, if you just want to charge your phone while out and about and don’t need magnets, save some money and go with a power bank like the Anker PowerCore Slim 10K. With a 10,000mAh battery compared to the MagClap On-Go’s 5,000mAh, you’re getting double the capacity at nearly half the price. While not as convenient as a MagSafe alternative (especially if you forget a charging cable), you’ll get considerably more bang for your buck.

If you’re an Apple Watch user and want a MagSafe charger that stays at home, consider the Nomad Base One Max. It has room for both your handset and wearable, reducing the need for portable power from the get-go.