Power Cube: Nitecore NB10000 Gen3 Power Bank

Smaller than a pack of your once-favorite cigarettes (which you haven’t touched in ages, because, of course, your age… uh, I mean, your common sense), it feels lighter than a Snickers and is definitely black, as black as your sense of humor. That, in the shortest possible form, is how you could describe the smallest member of the Nitecore power bank family. The spec sheet, however, states that the “ten-thousand” weighs 150 g (slightly more than a candy bar) and measures 120 × 59 × 11 mm. The power bank is genuinely a “cube”: it has no protruding elements that could break off or snag. The casing appears to be made of carbon fiber, or at least styled to resemble it. Thanks to its small size combined with a relatively hefty weight, it gives the impression of being a solid piece of kit. I wouldn’t hammer nails with it, but it’ll take quite a beating.

Further down, the spec sheet declares that the device’s capacity is 10,000 mAh (nominal 3.85 V), while the so-called rated capacity is 6,200 mAh (measured at 5 V and 2 A). In short, this means that you can fully charge a standard smartphone, drained to zero, at least once. My Chinese phone’s battery is 5,000 mAh, so there isn’t much juice left in the Nitecore after filling it to the brim. The device is equipped with two USB-C ports, each delivering 3 A at 5 V when both are in use. Aside from the ports, the NB10000 features a single button, primarily used to check the charge level by illuminating a corresponding number of blue LEDs, ranging from 1 to 4, depending on the remaining fuel in the tank. While charging, the LEDs blink merrily.

The device comes with one accessory: a USB-A (female) to USB-C (male) adapter.

While charging my phone, I managed to reach just under 2.5 A, regardless of which port I used. Importantly, it works flawlessly in pass-through mode, meaning the power bank can charge another device while being charged itself. This is useful when you have only one power outlet available but want to charge both the power bank and the target device. I use the Nitecore in this mode on my motorcycle.

The compact dimensions and (this time, subjectively) light weight of the NB10000 make it my everyday companion. Whether I’m without any bag at all (which basically never happens), carrying only a waist pack, or have a backpack or shoulder bag, the 150g device is never a burden. In the pocket of jeans or cargo pants, it takes up no more space than a small wallet. In an extreme situation, you can easily strap the small Nitecore directly to the back of your phone and use it like an extended battery.

It’s hard to fully assess a device like a power bank after only short-term use. The quality of a gadget entirely focused on storing energy depends primarily on the durability of its cells under frequent charging and discharging cycles. During the time I had the opportunity to test the Nitecore NB10000, I noticed neither a drop in capacity nor any issues with charging or discharging current. The device also doesn’t heat up excessively, even in pass-through mode, which is a common issue with lower-quality products.

I have no complaints about its functionality, or rather, its handiness. Searching, albeit somewhat forcefully, for something to nitpick, I can find two things: instead of one of the charging ports, the device could have an integrated, flexible plug. That way, there’d be no risk of losing the cable. The second issue, which is easier for the manufacturer to address, is the lack of an attachment point for a lanyard. Such a feature would make the NB10000 a more outdoor-friendly device.

Other than that, it’s hard to find any flaws in Nitecore’s tiny cube of power. The Power is with us!

Our thanks to NITECORE for providing the device for review.

Sponsored collaboration. Product testing is conducted independently, and all opinions are solely those of the author. The advertiser has no influence over the content of the review.