The Anker PowerCore 533, a power bank boasting a remarkable capacity of 10,000 mAh (36 Wh) and 30 Watts of Power Delivery, recently underwent a series of thorough tests to assess its performance. I documented the charging and discharging processes in detail, highlighting key metrics and observations that would be beneficial for potential users.

Initially, I charged the device using a generic USB-C charger, which is designed to support a Power Delivery (PD) output of 20 Watts. This charging session required a total of 46.979 Wh, a figure that reflects the energy consumed on the 230V side, thus accounting for potential losses incurred during the charging process.

For comparison, I also used the Anker 737 Charger, known as the GaNPrime 120W charger. This more efficient charger required slightly less energy, totaling 45.515 Wh. These results suggest that using a charger specifically designed for the power bank can lead to marginally improved charging efficiency.

Moving on to the discharging tests, I connected the power bank to an electronic load through the USB-A port. The results were as follows: when drawing 0.5A, the power bank delivered 30.970 Wh, which translates to approximately 6516 mAh. Increasing the draw to 1.0A yielded a slightly higher output of 29.362 Wh (6523 mAh). Notably, the actual usable energy of 30 Wh compared to the advertised capacity of 36 Wh equates to an impressive 83.33%. This performance exceeds Anker's own estimates, which typically range between 60% to 70% of the advertised capacity.

To further test the power banks limits, I switched to the USB-C port in conjunction with a trigger module capable of delivering 20.0V. The electronic load was set to draw 1.250A, resulting in a voltage reading of around 18.6V, which corresponds to a power output of about 23.25W. During this session, I recorded an output of 29.020 Wh (1557 mAh).

Throughout these tests, I observed that the power bank became noticeably warm while being drained at 23W. The heat generated was substantial enough that the outline of the internal cells and the electronic circuit was visible, with the circuit being the hottest component.

After completely draining the power bank, I realized that I could not recharge it immediately; it required some time to cool down. This aligns with the manufacturer's guidance, which states: Let the power bank cool down before use.

In another attempt, I pushed the limits further by drawing 1.5A at 18.55V, equivalent to 27.82W, with the advertised maximum output being 30W. However, after 34 minutes of operation and delivering 15.670 Wh, the device ceased supplying power and displayed a warning message: Use after protection removal. This appears to indicate that the overcurrent protection mechanism had been activated, although I was unsure why this occurred since the electronic load was configured in constant current mode. To regain functionality, I had to disconnect the cable before the power bank could be used again.

One admirable feature of this power bank is its capability for trickle charging, allowing it to deliver a very low current over an extended period. This mode can be activated by pressing the button twice. During my test, I configured the electronic load to draw an extremely low current of 0.005A (it actually measured 0.003A) from the USB-A port, resulting in an output of 0.032 Wh (6 mAh) over a duration of 2 hours and 1 minute. Subsequently, the power bank shut down automatically, as advertised.