Keep iPhone going with Belkin’s power bank/wall charger [Review]

A wall charger is useless when there’s no power socket handy. That’s why Belkin recently launched one that has a built-in battery so it’s ready to charge up your iPhone even when you’re off the grid.

Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K has a pair of USB ports and flip-out power prongs for maximum adaptability.

I put it through a series of tests with my iPhone 15 Plus, and it came through quite well.

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Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K review

Whenever I travel, I always bring plenty of Apple gear with me. To keep this going, there’s inevitably at least one wall charger and a power bank.

I like the idea of shrinking that down to one accessory, especially for shorter trips. And that’s the benefit of Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K. As the device’s maker says, “Use it as a power bank as you’re on-the-go and a wall charger when back at your hotel.”

• Power bank and wall charger in one
• Cable issues
• iPhone charging performance
• Quick recharges, too
• Belkin Hybrid Wall Charger and 5K Power Bank final thoughts
• Pricing

Power bank and wall charger in one

Belkin’s combo is designed for travelers so it needs to be as portable as possible. It measures in at 3.0 inches by 2.3 inches by 1.1 inches, with a weight of 0.37 pounds. That’s a reasonable size for a backpack or gear bag when considering it does the job of two accessories.

Into that volume, Belkin crammed a 5,000 mAh power bank as well as a USB-C and a USB-A port — it’s ready to charge up two devices.

There’s also a set of fold-out power prongs compatible with wall sockets in the United States or Canada.

The exterior is black plastic, with rounded edges and corners so it’s less likely to scratch up other items in your backpack or gear bag.

It seems solid and well built. Belkin spent decades building a reputation for reliable products — I expect this one to stand the test of time.

Cable issues

Belkin’s new wall charger/power bank comes with a 3.3 foot (1m) USB-C cable. Which is great.

Thing is, if you don’t remember to bring a cable with you, this accessory can’t do you any good. A short USB-C cable integrated into the design would save that hassle.

iPhone charging performance

I tested the Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K by having it recharge my iPhone 15 Plus — real-world tests are the best.

The battery was able to raise the battery level of the handset by 55% to 58%, which is what one would expect from a 5,000 mAh power bank. The recharge took about half an hour. A quick half charge for an iPhone can be a real lifesaver.

The USB-C port maxed out at about 19W, which is actually more than the iPhone can officially take. It’s supposed to top out at 15W.

When I tested Belkin’s wall charger/power bank with my iPad, it was able to transfer 22W. It doesn’t matter if the accessory is plugged into a wall socket or running off its internal battery, 22W was the max. As you can tell from the specs embedded into the lengthy name for the product, the most the accessory is supposed to be able to provide is 25W, so it’s coming up a bit short.

The power bank was able to raise the battery level on the tablet by 22% before running dry. That can be a welcome boost on a long flight.

Quick recharges, too

You have two options for recharging the battery built into the Belkin BoostCharge Hybrid Wall Charger 25W + Power Bank 5K. The most obvious are the power prongs. In my testing, fully replenishing the battery this way took a bit over two hours.

Or you can bring in power via the accessory’s USB-C port. Recharging it this way also took two hours, though it was slightly quicker.

Of course, the power bank recharges itself while it’s juicing up your other gear. I can plug it in at night with a couple of computers connected, and all three devices will be fully charged in the morning.

Belkin Hybrid Wall Charger and 5K Power Bank final thoughts

During the day, Belkin’s wall charger/power bank can keep your iPhone going for hours, or give your iPad or MacBook a boost. At night, it can recharge two devices and itself.

Everyone who travels more than once a year should keep a charger for their Apple devices in their luggage.
Depending on remembering to grab a charger from behind your desk or nightstand is too risky. This one from Belkin is a good option for that job.

★★★★☆

In my tests, it can’t quite provide 25W, but the difference is only about 10%. And I wish the designers had integrated an USB-C connector into the design so a separate cable isn’t needed.

Pricing

The Belkin Hybrid Wall Charger and 5K Power Bank is available now for $59.99.

Buy it from: Belkin and Amazon

For those who want to shop around, the myCharge HubMax Universal is strong competition. It’s significantly bulkier, but stores more power and has integrated USB-C and Lighting cables. Don’t miss my review.

Belkin provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out more in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.