Review: ZENS Power Bank Will Charge Your iPhone and Apple Watch

[MacRumors]

ZENS recently debuted its latest product, an iPhone/Apple Watch Power Bank that has a built-in Apple Watch charging puck and a USB port, allowing you to charge all of your devices at once.

Priced at EUR69.99 (or $78.00) the 4,000 mAh ZENS Power Bank is about the size and shape of a chocolate bar, though perhaps a bit wider. Because it's neither short nor particularly flat, it doesn't fit well in a pocket, but it's a good size for a backpack or bag when traveling.

The Power Bank is sturdy and well-made, constructed from a soft-finish black plastic material. At one end, there's an Apple Watch charging puck built into the device, and at the top, there's a USB port for plugging in an iPhone or other USB-powered device, and a micro-USB port that's used for charging.

There's a single button that's used as an on/off switch, which needs to be pressed whenever the Apple Watch is placed on top of it to activate charging. The Power Bank has a single blue LED next to the micro-USB port so you can tell if it has charge left, but because there aren't multiple LEDs, there's no way to tell exactly how much charge is remaining.


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Article Link: Review: ZENS Power Bank Will Charge Your iPhone and Apple Watch

 

[44267547]

This looks cumbersome to me and I'm not entirely sure I want my Apple Watched docked on where it could be knocked off. But the fact they provide the charging puck is convenient.

 

[OldSchoolMacGuy]

I'd just opt for a cheap battery pack and an extra Apple Watch charger (or bring your existing one along).

 

[paul4339]

I don't quite get why they used micro-USB.

 

[Born Again]

Woopdeedoo

Next year you're gen 1&2 watches won't be compatible with gen 3 charging

 

[oneMadRssn]

Is there a simple 2-in-1 charging cable that has both a lightning connector and a charging puck, but no dock or bed-side stand of any kind?

 

[macduke]

I'd just opt for a cheap battery pack and an extra Apple Watch charger (or bring your existing one along).

I do this. I've got a 10,000mah Anker battery pack that was like $20 a couple years ago. It's not very big and has two charging ports. I picked up red Anker Powerline+ 1ft charging cables in Lightning and micro USB flavors and leave them both plugged in at all times. I can charge up just about anything with these cables, and the micro USB can be unplugged and used to power the device. They're bright red so it's easy to see them in my bag and plug something in. I keep a spare Watch cable in there too but I don't have to use it very often unless I'm on a trip.

Is there a simple 2-in-1 charging cable that has both a lightning connector and a charging puck, but no dock or bed-side stand of any kind?

Kickstart it! I bet there are a lot of people who would pay $30 for a cable like that. I wonder how much both MFi components would cost?

 

[oneMadRssn]

Kickstart it! I bet there are a lot of people who would pay $30 for a cable like that. I wonder how much both MFi components would cost?

I don't have the time nor the wherewithal to do that. If someone that does is reading this, I'm picturing a simple white cable, 4 feet long. One end is a standard USB-A plug (or USB-C maybe?) The other end is a regular lightning plug. About 4-6" down from the lighting-end of the cable is the charging puck, where the cable comes in from the USB end on one side, and 180-degrees oppose it the cable comes out to the lightning end.

[]USB]---------------3'6"---------------((puck))----6"----==lightning

 

[Analog Kid]

I don't have the time nor the wherewithal to do that. If someone that does is reading this, I'm picturing a simple white cable, 4 feet long. One end is a standard USB-A plug (or USB-C maybe?) The other end is a regular lightning plug. About 4-6" down from the lighting-end of the cable is the charging puck, where the cable comes in from the USB end on one side, and 180-degrees oppose it the cable comes out to the lightning end.

[]USB]---------------3'6"---------------((puck))----6"----==lightning

As long as we're dreaming, can I ask for a bare puck that has a lightning socket in the side so I can just stick it on the end of a lightning cable?

 

[RichTF]

Ugh, why can't someone just do basically this, but with a lightning port instead of USB for charging the damn thing. I thought Apple started licensing the port now, not just the cable? Micro-USB makes no sense.

I just want to be able to carry one battery pack and one cable, and have it as back-up for my iPhone / iPad / watch. It should be possible, right?

 

[MrMister111]

I just want to be able to carry one battery pack and one cable, and have it as back-up for my iPhone / iPad / watch. It should be possible, right?

I've just bought a similar one, Ugreen? It's only 2200mA but small and easy to carry, which is what I wanted. Means this is my watch charger and bonus of an iPhone/Android anything charger with its USB socket on

I agree but now I buy cables that have both on, basically a micro USB and a lightning adapter on. Then battery packs can be charged, Beats headphones (can't believe these still have micro USB on), and iPhones/iPads.

I've also just bought a cable that is both micro USB and lightning on one side, turn over and it's a micro USB, no adapter!

 

[Ronlap]

I have the exact same device but branded Topvision and available from Amazon for $69. It has served me well on trips to Berlin (15 travel hours) and South Africa (36 travel hours) from the USA west coast.

I use the link band on my Apple Watch and as the reviewer points out, the thinness of the device means that you need to put something under it to hold it up so that the watch actually sits on it. I usually put an unused cable or interface adaptor under the side where my watch is sitting and all is well.