Battery banks are a dime a dozen these days. This is why when a new one hits the market it has to really make a splash, to make any sort of dent in the market. Just head over to Amazon and type in ‘battery bank’ to see how many there are. Of course, price will always be a determining feature with this sort of product. With so many available, how else do you decide which one to go for? Well, if you are stuck then here is a quick review of one of the latest offerings to hit the market. Meet the OLALA 6000mAh Fast Charging Portable Power Bank.
Design & Looks:
Well, in terms of size. This is rather similar to what we are seeing as a standard type of size for a battery bank. The bank itself is not dissimilar to the size of a smartphone (127.5 x 63.5 x 14mm) and as such works rather well as a possible option. It fits neatly into your pocket or bag. Not to mention, that the bank works well (size-wise) when plugged into your phone. Due to its similar size, the two can be carried together while connected. In terms of looks, the OLALA name is not lost. This is a power bank that intends to offer a more stylish and modern look. The bank comes with a white front and back plastic paneling which means the device is quite lightweight (146g). In addition, the device comes with a gold trim around the images which do highlight the look and style of the device. The gold accents on the white version do add an especially pleasing element compared to the plainer and more generic black looking options.
The front of the bank is rather minimalist looking, although it does contain four blue LED’s which advise of the current power level available. Unfortunately, the power switch on the side has to be pressed to see the lit LED’s when the bank is being used. So you don’t actually have an indicator of when the battery bank has finished charging or depleted its reserves was disappointing.
Battery Life & Charging
Design and looks of battery banks are somewhat important but nothing compared to battery life. After all, this is the primary focus and purpose of a battery bank. In terms of OLALA, the battery banks does do what is supposed to do. It is a good option to give you that extra bit of power when you are out and about. As already mentioned, its portable nature makes it a perfect option for power boosting when on a long day out. The bank is rated at 6000mAh and as such how many times it can charge your phone will be determined by the size of your smartphone battery. For instance, if you are running a phone with a 30o0mAh battery then obviously expect two charge cycles out of the bank. In the hands-on test, the battery was used to charge a OnePlus One and did charge the phone fully about 1 and ¾ times. So not quite the two times. That said, this is 3,100mAh battery powered device so that sounds about right, give or take a bit. In terms of charging time, there was no noticeable difference between the bank and charging via the wall socket. Full charge of the OnePlus One usually takes around 90 minutes and that is exactly what happened when charging via OLALA.
It is worth noting that the bank was also used to charge a Samsung Galaxy S4 and this took just under two and a half hours to be fully charged. In terms of charging the actual bank, this was a much slower process and usually took around 4 and a half hours from the wall socket to reach its maximum holding charge which was a little disappointing.
Bottom Line.
This is a battery bank. If you are looking for a non-intrusive option which is a bit stylish, lightweight and gets the job done then this will do. There were minor issues noted with the lack of being alerted to a device being fully charged or knowing when the battery had depleted without actually pressing the power button. But that aside, this is a decent enough option. If you just want something to give you a little bit of extra power while out on long days or heavy usage days then this will be sufficient without weighing down your bag or jacket.
If you are interested then the OLALA offers a 6000mah Li-polymer battery with a 5V/2.1A input and also a 5V/2.1A output and has a reported cycle life of more than 500 times. The pack includes the battery bank, micro USB cable and a user manual and is currently available via Amazon for 29.99. Click the link below to head over to the item listing and take a look at the images below for a more detailed look at what’s on offer.
