The biggest problem with mobile devices today is their limited battery life and the inevitability that they will eventually run out on us. We charge them at home in the wall, on the computer, and even in the car while in transit but it still never feels like enough power for all the functionality we enjoy. The Luxa2 branded line of products from Thermaltake has set out solve some our power problems with a mobile power solution. The P1 7000mAh High Capacity Battery & Charger is meant to provide power to just about anything with a USB charging port at anytime and anywhere it may be needed.
Product Name: Luxa2 P1 7000mAh High Capacity Battery & Charger
Review Sample Provided By: Thermaltake
Review By: Debo
Pictures By: Brennon
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Specifications |
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Device |
P1 7000mAh High Capacity Battery & Charger |
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Capacity |
7000mAh |
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Battery Type |
Lithium-Polymer |
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USB Output |
Two 5V / 1A ports |
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Recharge Time |
6 ~ 8 Hours |
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Input |
5V, 1A max |
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Dimension |
112 x 73 x 17.1 mm |
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Weight |
About 175 g |
Packaging
The P1 comes in a thick plastic wrapping printed with the product name and a quick rundown of its functions on the front telling us the battery is capable of charging an iPhone three and a half times or one iPad device 78% as well as the ability to charge two separate devices at the same time. We also get a peek at the actual P1 with its sleek and simple design, indicator lights and all.
The back of the package is just as informative, laying out all of the P1’s features along with a pictorial layout of everything on the battery as well as a specifications chart and all the extras included with the P1.
Internally the P1 and all its goodies are held safe and secure in a clear plastic tray. No frills, all functionality here. The two USB cables are present along with the carrying pouch and a small user’s guide to get you acquainted.
Overview and Features
The P1 High Capacity Battery & Charger is designed to be a powerful charging option in a portable package. Coming in at the size of most standard smartphones these days allows the P1 to fit easily in a pocket or purse and be in your hand at a moment’s notice.
The front face of the device is just wide enough to fit one USB Micro-B port to charge the device itself and two standard USB ports to charge and power anything and everything else. The two standard powers are designed to charge Apple iDevices without any extra adapter which means USB 3.0 SuperSpeed charging capability for everything else.
The only thing besides the Luxa2 branding on the P1 is the power button and four blue indicator LEDs. These lights display the charge the P1 has remaining with all four meaning full charge and a single blinking one letting you know the battery needs a fresh charge. The specifications suggest that giving the P1 a full charge should take about 6 to 8 hours which seems like a long time, more on that later.
The underside of the P1 rubber gripping feet on each corner allowing you to set it flat against any surface while in use without the fear of it sliding around while it charges your devices. This feature is great for the car or air travel where your dashboard or tray table are typically unsafe places to simply let things lay around.
Included along with the P1 main battery unit are a few extra goodies including a Mcro-B to USB charging cable for the P1 unit itself as well as an Apple 30-pin to USB charging cable and a carrying pouch. Designed primarily for Apple iDevices, like most of the Luxa2 brand, seeing the extra Apple charging cable is nice especially since we can never seem to have enough of them. The carrying pouch is another nice edition as it is large enough to hold the P1 unit as well as quite a few of your charging cables along with it.
Performance
The P1 High Capacity Battery & Charger is designed to charge devices first and foremost. To that end it works very well, allowing two separate devices to charge at the same rate you would find plugging your charger into a PC USB3.0 port. This is a nice feature to see in something so small and portable.
Earlier I mentioned the fact that fully charging the P1 may take you somewhere in the realm of six to eight hours. The P1 is a 7000mAh high capacity battery that is very efficient but in our fast paced world this seems like an eternity so what is the deal? Is it worth the long charging time? In a word, Yes. Left to idle in my car’s glove box for a week, the LED indicator lights still reported a four light ‘full charge’ meaning the leakage from the battery when idle is almost non-existent. The power the P1 provides will be there whenever you need, it wherever you take it. The P1 may even be a perfect edition to a digital camera carrying case so you never have to worry about running out of battery to take that perfect shot.
How long can the P1 battery charge on a single charge? To test this I took the battery out of my Motorola Droid 4 and let the P1 act as its sole source of power. It was four whole days later with moderate phone usage before the battery finally gave out which was enough to make me a believer in the 3.5 iPhone charges boast leveed on the front cover. This of course is also a testament to the battery's portability as I could carry it around in my pocket with only a little bit more space required then usual.
After this longevity test, the recharge time from dead to full took me just a shade under six hours when plugging it into a USB3.0 port so that advertised time is no lie either but considering the amount of power the P1 stores it seems well worth the overnight charge time every fifth day. In the time it takes your own body to recharge, the P1 battery is ready to provide you with days of usable gadget charging power.
Overall and Final Verdict
The Luxa2 P1 High Capacity Battery & Charger serves its purpose and serves it well. With the included carrying pouch, the P1 seems like the perfect travel accessory for a road trip or any adventure you may find yourself on while still needing to keep your gadgets charged. It is also perfect as an emergency backup with its high efficiency and low leakage. The size means it remains portable while the sleaky design means it doesn’t stand out as gaudy.
The initial charge to full power is indeed pretty long, meaning to utilize the battery you will have to think ahead of time but this is by no means prohibitive. The biggest issue I have with the P1 battery is the price point. With an MSRP set at $80 the cost may be too prohibitive for some people. Still, if you find yourself in need of a mobile charging solution the performance is there tenfold.
The truth is there isn’t much bad to say about the P1. It preforms its job well with a perfect combination of power and portability in a sleekly designed package. Thermaltake has really impressed with many of its Luxa2 branded mobile accessories and proven that their knack for design and innovation has carried over into the mobile market.
