Is There a Reliable, Affordable USB-PD Powerbank That Works with 2017 MacBooks?

Ldeallover69 on 22/08/2018 - 09:48

I've been struggling with this one after a tonne of research.

  • Xiaomi ZMI is great, well-priced with a deal and affordable without, works great with Macbooks, and has reputedly a low failure rate, but it doesn't ship to Australia anymore
  • The Ravpower 26800 USB-PD is well-designed, great reviews, a good price for the capacity… but Ravpower have advised it doesn't work with the 2017 Macbook Pro (13")
  • The Anker Powercore 20100 and 26800 PD options are heinously expensive
  • The Cygnett 20000 looked great but not on deep discount it's very expensive
  • The Kogan Ultra is a great price and capacity has so many reports of failure

Is there something else I'm missing where there's a good deal? I really need to sort this out before a long flight in two weeks or I'll be desperately bored.

Thanks for any insight

Electrical & Electronics

Comments

  • rycyt on 22/08/2018 - 10:26
    +1

    I’ve got a 2016 MacBook Pro that works perfectly fine with my RAVpower 26800 PD. Not too sure if the year of the MacBook makes a difference though

    • deallover69 on 22/08/2018 - 11:41

      Ravpower and Amazon both say that it's only the 13-Pro-2017 that has an issue -_-

  • gonsped on 22/08/2018 - 10:45
    +1

    I have the Kogan Ultra 20,000mah usb-pd charger 2 weeks ago and so far so good. The original one was defective, battery balloned or something but charges my Macbook 12in at 20W.

    What has been the issues for the Kogan unit?

    • deallover69 on 22/08/2018 - 11:43

      I've just read a lot of reports on the Ozbargain thread of various issues - not charging at all, not responding to button presses, failing entirely. Nice to hear a good review! It's pretty cheap, if I can't find anything else I'll probably just chance it…

      • Strahany on 22/08/2018 - 13:11
        +1

        Please, do not purchase the Kogan power bank. I purchased one and have had two replacements, both of which still have the same issue. Charging consistently cuts out, as it appears that the power bank tries to draw power from the computer to charge itself, rather than charging the computer. It does the same thing with my Nintendo Switch.

  • gonsped on 22/08/2018 - 10:54
    +1

    Just to add on my post, charges my iPhone SE just fine - after 100% it cuts off power to the phone. When charging my airpods, it cuts off at 85% for some reason.

    When charging macbook, its fine. But when the powerbank runs out of juice, it draws back power from the macbook.

    Also the charging led white light gives indication when charging the powerbank, however when charging low power devices, it still shows 4 white light until the powerbank runs out of juice.

    Under high drain, the led turms red and also the number of lights showing not correct.

    It gave me 6.5 extra hours of running full screen 1080p youtube in my macbook.

  • tanksinatra on 22/08/2018 - 12:51
    +1

    I'd recommend you try to lay your hands on the ZMI10 (QB820). 45w bidirectional Type-C is fantastic. Rapidly charges my MBP.

    • deallover69 on 22/08/2018 - 14:01

      Any where to get it that ships quickly to Australia or costs <$100?

      • sencibel on 18/09/2018 - 08:19

        What did you end up going with?

  • Bigboomboom on 19/09/2018 - 13:18

    If anything Kogan is releasing a new batch of USB PD powerbank that looks to be better quality. Won't ship until October though.

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