Nitecore's newest power bank is its lightest and most compact yet

Nitecore has released a new generation of its ultralight NB10000 power bank, which a reviewer says has become the lightest and most compact 10,000mAh charger currently available. The device weighs about 146 grams and measures 1.45 x 11.6 x 4.68 centimeters. Even when adding the included USB-C lanyard's extra 6 grams, the new model still beats out the previous Gen 3 version in weight.

The reduced weight comes from a silicon-carbon anode battery technology, which is increasingly being used in flagship smartphones, including Samsung's. Despite its small size, the battery's 39 watt-hour capacity was enough to fully recharge an iPhone 15 Pro twice during testing, with some charge left over. With up to 22.5 watts of output, it can also top up a laptop, and it supports pass-through charging to power devices while it's being charged itself.

Test results and features

Testing measured an actual capacity of 33.58 watt-hours out of the claimed 39, working out to 86.1 percent efficiency — a slight improvement over the previous generation. The power bank has a carbon fiber shell and IPX7 water resistance, allowing it to withstand rain or brief submersion. Unlike its predecessor, the new model did not show overheating or shutdown issues when running low on charge during testing.

The device also features an animated RGB light strip around its USB-C ports, along with a touch-sensitive button and a "knock-to-wake" function that proved somewhat unreliable. An eco mode is also available for slower but more efficient charging of low-power devices. The main downside is price — at $83.95, it costs two to three times more than a typical power bank of similar capacity, and notably more than the Gen 3 model did two years ago.