Monoprice Obsidian Speed Plus 10,050mAh Power Bank 2022 REVIEW

Power bank is a convenient option for power while on the go.

In today’s world, our phones are constantly running out of battery. We rely on them for everything from keeping us entertained to helping us stay connected with our loved ones. A portable battery is a great way to make sure your phone never runs out of juice, no matter where you are. They’re small and lightweight, so you can easily carry one with you wherever you go.

I’ve had many portable batteries — or power banks as they are often called — and they come in all capacities and form factors. Because I have an iPhone 12 Pro, the most useful power banks for me are the ones that have some sort of wireless functionality. That said, standard power banks that have more classic USB charging ports are still very useful as I need to frequently charge my Apple Watch, earbuds, and other technology items when I’m on the go.

Monoprice has a compact style power bank product line called Obsidian Speed Plus. These batteries are equipped with fast-charging capabilities and there are two capacities — 7,500 mAh and 10,050 mAh. The 10,050 mAh capacity version has USB-C and USB-A charging ports and provides dual-charging output so that two devices can charge simultaneously.

The power bank can be purchased directly from monoprice.com for $33.99 (price valid at the time of publishing).

Main Features

• Up to 18W PD output for iPhone, Android, and Galaxy devices
• 10,050 mAh battery capacity
• Dual USB ports
• Rapid charging
• 3A output
• USB-C input/output PD port included
• LED power indicator lights
• Dimensions: 3.8″ x 2.5″ X 0.9”
• Weight: 6.5 oz. (185g)
• 1-year replacement warranty
• 30-day money-back guarantee

User Experience

The Obsidian Speed Plus power bank came in a simple white box with some black Monoprice labeling. This package simplicity is part of Monoprice’s Hassle-free Packaging initiative.

“Monoprice exists to bring simplicity, fairness, and confidence to technology choices. This product features recyclable packaging that is simple to open, cost-effective, with minimal waste, and fully protective as it travels to you.”

There is a little bit of information about the product on the back of the box including the battery’s capacity and its main features. Inside the box, you’ll find the power bank along with its Micro USB charging cable. The power bank can be recharged via the USB-C PD port or by using the Micro USB port charging port, which only accepts an input charge for the power bank. Because the power bank has a dual-stream USB-C power delivery port I am confused as to why this older form of technology would be included in the design of the power bank.

Out of the box, the battery only had a 50% charge. I ended up testing how well it would charge a device by plugging my iPhone 12 Pro into the USB-C PD port. I used a Lightning to USB-C cable from Apple and timed the progression of the iPhone as it was charging. When it started charging, the phone was at 62%. After 10 minutes, the battery had gained 10%, which is a charging rate of 1% per minute. That’s a very strong, fast charging rate.

I allowed the phone to continue charging even though it began to trickle charge around the 80% mark. After 37 minutes had elapsed, the phone’s battery was at 90%. That translates to a charging rate of approximately 0.76% per minute, which is still exceptionally fast.

Conclusion

The Obsidian Speed Plus provides a fast, efficient charge for mobile devices. While I question the design choice of including a Micro USB port, I found the power bank to be a smart choice overall due to its large capacity, fast charging capabilities, and compact size.

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