Released earlier this month, the Alogic Ark Pro power bank is a beast of a charger with a big 27,600mAh battery, up to 140 watts of charging power for MacBooks and other devices, an attached cable and a color display. IATA-compliant, it’s the biggest battery you can take on a plane, according to Alogic. The only question is, would you? It’s pretty hefty.
Alogic Ark Pro 27,600mAh Power Bank review
My answer to the question about whether or not I’d haul the Alogic Ark Pro power bank on a flight is “maybe.” It’s like a tall, slightly skinny can of soda, but maybe a few ounces heavier. I would bother to bring it if I had crucial work to do and a dying MacBook Pro on my hands. Many people find themselves in just that situation, so this practical travel charger is for them.
In the increasingly crowded market of high-capacity power banks, Ark Pro enters as a compelling challenger to well-established brands like Anker. The Australian-designed gadget combines robust portable charging capabilities — up to 140W through either of two USB-C ports (which can also be used to recharge the battery) and 22.5W through a USB-A port — with thoughtful design features.
Design and build
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Ark Pro measures 2.3in wide x 6in tall, making it portable even with its heft. It’s not pocket-portable, but it is computer bag or suitcase portable. And like more and more power banks nowadays, it has a display.
The clip-on USB-C cable is a nice touch. It doubles as a lariat or carrying strap. That ensures you’ll never find yourself without a charging cable when you need it most.
Detaching the cable is pretty simple, done by sliding the attachment mechanism down to release the cable, then worrying the USB-C ends out of the slots that hold them in place (and back in when you stow the cable). It’s a little awkward.
And since the attachment stays on the cable, causing a bend in it that takes up some length, it ends up stretching out to close to 18 inches. I would probably carry a longer USB-C cable separately. And a USB-A to USB-C cable (or adapter), since Ark Pro doesn’t come with one.
Display interface
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Following the trend of premium power banks, the Ark Pro features a high-resolution color smart display that provides real-time charging information.
The screen shows essential metrics:
- Current charge rate
- Estimated recharge time
- Battery health status
- Internal temperature
This level of detailed information helps users better manage their charging needs and monitor the device’s performance. A display is not strictly necessary, as we lived without them on power banks since their invention. But it’s a cool feature to have.
Robust charging capabilities
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
The Ark Pro’s 140W USB-C charging capability puts it in the upper tier of portable power banks. Even though I wish it had three USB-C ports instead of two, the device offers impressive versatility with its charging configurations:
- Single-device charging up to 140W via USB-C
- Dual USB-C ports supporting 65W + 65W simultaneous charging
- 22.5W USB-A port charges older devices.
- Maximum combined output of 162.5W when using USB-C and USB-A
The power delivery system makes it capable of fast-charging everything from smartphones to high-performance laptops, including MacBooks and other laptops. I found it charged my iPhone 16 Pro and M4 MacBook Pro about as fast as a 150W GaN adapter I often use.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Travel compliance and safety features
With a 27,600mAh (99.36Wh) capacity, the Ark Pro sits right at the sweet spot for air travel compliance. It’s IATA-certified, meaning you can legally take it on commercial flights to juice up multiple devices on long-haul journeys. After all, the people who made this are from Australia, so most of their journeys, unlike mine, are long haul.
Alogic incorporated several safety mechanisms into Ark Pro: thermal protection, over-voltage protection and over-current protection. They help protect both the power bank and connected devices from potential damage.
Photo: David Snow/Cult of Mac
Power specs:
- Input: USB-C PD: 5V/9V/12V/15V 3A, 20V/28V 5A (140W Max)
- Output: USB-C: 5V/9V/12V/15V 3A, 20V/28V 5A (140W Max); USB-A: 5V 3A, 9V 2A, 10V 2.25A, 12V 1.5A (22.5W Max)
- Multi-Port Charging: USB-C + USB-A: 140W + 22.5W (162.5W Max); Dual USB-C + USB-A: 65W + 65W + 22.5W (152.5W Max)
Good value proposition
Alogic Ark Pro represents a solid entry into the high-capacity power bank market, offering a compelling mix of features, safety and value. While it may not revolutionize the category, it provides all the essential features users expect from a premium power bank while maintaining a competitive price point. Its travel-friendly design and versatile charging capabilities make it particularly appealing for business travelers and mobile professionals who need reliable power on the go.
My quibbles, in a nutshell: I wish it was a bit smaller and lighter, had one more USB-C port and came with a USB-A cable or adapter.
At $129.99, Ark Pro is more affordable than similar offerings from competitors, but it costs more than some others that might have a bit less battery capacity and/or output power.
★★★☆☆
Buy from: Alogic
Alogic provided Cult of Mac with a review unit for this article. See our reviews policy, and check out other in-depth reviews of Apple-related items.
David Snow, an expert on Apple hardware and software, writes on a variety of technological and cultural topics for Cult of Mac. They include Apple news, technology buying guides, and features about computer setups and Apple TV shows and movies.
With 30 years of experience covering technology and other subjects, he has written and edited for numerous print and online publications, including CMP Media, TechTV.com, CNET, Wired News, Red Herring magazine, Law.com, The National Law Journal and Law Technology News magazine. Among other roles, he served as executive editor of the Law.com network of websites and editorial director, technology, for ALM Media.
Snow graduated with a B.A. from Syracuse University with majors in magazine journalism and psychology. While there, he worked as a reporter for The Daily Orange newspaper and associate editor of Equal Time magazine.
Founder of the blog At the Waterline, he can be reached on X (formerly Twitter) via @atthewaterline and on Mastodon via @dsnow.
