Why you can trust TechRadar
We spend hours testing every product or service we review, so you can be sure you’re buying the best. Find out more about how we test.
Laser ChargeCore SafeCharge Max 10K power bank: Two-minute review
The ChargeCore SafeCharge Max 10K is a no-frills, wired-charging power bank from Laser that comes in a range of attractive colourways. On its face, it’s a very standard-looking device with a solid, smooth plastic casing, a large LED display that shows its remaining battery percentage, and a trio of output ports – two USB-A and one USB-C.
On the surface, this model’s AU$49.99 price point makes it a bit of a tough sell. You’ll find many of the best power banks in Australia either offer greater functionality, or deliver similar features for less money. However, the SafeCharge Max 10K is worth a deeper look, because what sets it apart from many competitors is what’s on the inside.
This ChargeCore power bank is the first in Australia to feature a lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery. Unlike lithium ion batteries, which power the vast majority of battery-equipped gadgets we use, LiFePO4 cells are far more thermally stable.
This means they offer a greatly reduced risk of overheating and bursting into flames – which in turn makes them much safer to travel with. And, not only is it safer while being stored, but it’s also more stable in use. While, according to Qantus, Lithium-ion batteries must be declared during check-in, this is not the case for all lithium iron phosphate batteries.
Its unique battery tech also sees it claim a lifespan of up to 5,000 charge cycles, which is more than five times the 500-1,000 charges of most lithium ion cells – making it a durable long-term investment and further helping justify its AU$50 price point.
It is worth mentioning, though, that this extended lifespan comes at the cost of a larger size – though I still found this power bank plenty compact at about the same size as an iPhone 15, and twice the thickness.
Boasting a large 10,000mAh capacity, in theory it should have been able to charge my iPhone 15 (with a battery capacity of around 3,349mAh) roughly three times. In use, that’s not the case – though to be fair, in its advertising, Laser claims this power bank is able to charge an iPhone 16 1.8 times, a ‘modern Samsung Galaxy’ smartphone 1.5 times and the AirPods Pro case 13 times. These numbers were backed up by my experience, where fully charging my iPhone 15 used a touch more than 50% of this power bank’s capacity.
It takes a fair while to fully charge, too. Offering 20W max speeds with its USB-C output, Laser claims it will refill an iPhone 16 to 50% in half an hour. My numbers essentially aligned with that claim charging my iPhone 15. I gained about 15% in 5 minutes and around 30-35% in 15 minutes, with a full charge of around 80% taking less than an hour.
One of this device’s main claims to fame is its ability to charge multiple devices at once. In fact, it even includes a universal 3-in-1 charging cable with USB-A to USB-C, Lightning and Micro USB tips – perfect for charging almost any three compatible devices simultaneously.
While this cord wasn’t included with the review unit we received, I did charge multiple devices simultaneously using my own USB cables. And, while the charging speed slows with the addition of multiple devices, the power bank does provide consistent energy to all three handles without heating up.
That 10,000mAh capacity isn’t a huge amount if you’re someone who carries multiple devices around and frequently needs to charge away from a power point. However, if you just need to give your phone and AirPods some extra juice while ensuring your Steam Deck or Nintendo Switch 2 doesn’t die on you, it does perform well.
This power bank’s clear LED display also makes knowing exactly how much battery is left a cinch. The display panel, which resembles a smartphone’s camera bump, is quite large, but much of that space is perplexingly wasted, because the percentage reading itself takes up less than a third of the total area, and the rest shows no other info. When it comes to recharging the bank itself, there is no charger included in the box, so you’ll need to bring your own – a normal USB-C charger should suit. It took me a little over two hours to recharge it from dead, though Laser states it could take up to five when using a 10W wall adapter.
The display and its surrounding textured area is also the only part of this power bank that gets warm while charging other devices. Though, in my experience it never got hot, and the warmth that was there always centred around the LED display and ports.
If this were meant for charging just a single device, I might complain about the lack of wireless charging. But it feels a bit unfair to knock it for that, even with its higher price tag. If you’re buying it for its intended purpose of reliable, wired charging for a few devices at once, the lack of wireless charging is a non-issue.
The ChargeCore SafeCharge Max 10K is a solid power bank that delivers on its promises. Its key selling point is the LiFePO4 battery, which provides a level of safety and durability that is hard to find in this price range. While it may not have all the bells and whistles of a premium lithium ion power bank, its combination of excellent value and the peace of mind it offers makes it a highly recommendable option, especially for the budget-conscious consumer who values long-term reliability.
Laser ChargeCore SafeCharge Max 10K power bank review: price & specs
|
Price |
AU$49.95 |
|
Capacity |
10,000mAh (also available in 5K and 20K) |
|
Dimensions |
150 x 66 x 15mm |
|
Total wattage |
20W |
|
Number of ports |
3 (2 USB-A, 1 USB-C) |
|
Wireless Charging |
No |
|
Weight |
213g (as tested) |
|
Phone charges |
1-2 full charges |
|
Battery type |
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) |
Should I buy the Laser ChargeCore SafeCharge Max 10K?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Also consider…
Read the full article here
