Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Review: A Family-Sized Battery Pack

by Drew Jackson

When you think portable batteries, the Anker name has become synonymous with quality and capacity.  Becoming a “power”house in the smartphone accessories industry, they are tailoring their battery packs and cables for every type of user.  In our Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Review, we will show you how there is no better portable battery for the whole family.

When you consider an iPhone 7 battery capacity sits at 1,715 mAh, you might look at Anker’s PowerCore+ 26800 and think “What am I ever going to do with all of that battery?”  I have three simple words for you: Charge, Charge, Charge!

Build

The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 & Quick Charge 2.0 USB Charger has the following:

Package Contents:

  • Anker PowerCore+ 26800
  • Quick Charge 2.0 USB Wall Charger
  • Micro-USB Cable
  • Mesh Travel Pouch
  • Welcome Guide for the PowerCore+ 26800
  • Welcome Guide for the NEW Quick Charge 2.0 USB Charger
 Technical Specifications:

  • Capacity: 26800 mAh
  • Input: 5V/2A, 9V/2A
  • Normal Output (2 ports): 5V/2.4A each
  • Quick Charge 2.0 Output (1 port): 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A
  • Size:  7.1 x 3.1 x 0.9 inches
  • Weight: 1.3 pounds

Anker Powercore 26800 Contents - Battery Pack

This Anker battery is definitely solid.  As you may notice in the image above, my battery pack has quite a few nicks and dings along its body and face from the bad practice of not keeping it in the carrying case.  I cannot count the times my 10-year-old has dropped this heavy guy while playing on his Nintendo 3DS XL with a cord dangled into this battery as it sticks out of his jacket pocket.  Made of a smooth matte aluminum exterior, it has the ability to weather any outdoor Pokemon Go hunts or trips to the beach.  The battery size is quite large (7″ L x 3.125″ W x 1″ D) and weighs around 1.3 pounds, usually making it ideal for charging on a desk, table, or ,when traveling, in a backpack using a 10ft Anker PowerLine+ Micro USB Cable like our family uses.  Anker Powercore+ 26800 Build Quality

 

Capacity

For me this battery back has become my go-to travel companion ranging both for going to and from the office to in and out of the country.  This batter allows me to not only charge my Google Pixel’s 2,770 mAh battery full almost 9 times, but also allows me the ability to utilize the three IQ ports to charge my phone, tablet, and hotspot at the same time!  Whether you are out at the park playing Pokemon Go or streaming an event on your phone with Facebook Live, this battery pack will keep your phone running and battery charged.

Quick Charge 2.0

One of the key features of this battery pack is the Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 port.  This allows you to get 8 hours of battery life in just 15 minutes on compatible phones!  If you were using a standard charger this would take 75% longer.  See the Quick Charge 2.0 Compatible Device List which includes the Galaxy S 7, Galaxy Note 4, Druid Turbo 2, and the Google Pixel! Anker Powercore+ 26800 Charging Comparisson

PowerIQ

On the remaining 2 ports, Anker deploys their patent PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies providing up to 2.4 Amps per port.  Have you ever noticed how charging your phone with your laptop seems to take forever?  That is because the laptop port is only supplying your phone with 500mA (0.5 Amps), which is a lot lower than any modern smartphone requires for standard charging speeds.  PowerIQ technology dynamically detects your device’s charging protocols allowing it to charge at the maximum rated speed for the device.

PowerIQ Charging Diagram

Charging the Battery

In all of our testing, we found that when using the included Anker QC 2.0 18W Wall Charger and cable, the Anker Powercore+ 26800 reached full charge in right under 9 hours.  For a battery this size that is really quite speedy, and because if its capacity allowing for phones to be recharged 8, 9, and 10 times before being depleted you will find yourself charging the pack a lot less often than you might think.

Anker Powercore+ 26800 Quick Charge 2.0

Cost

Currently the Anker Powercore+ 26800 is priced at $79.99 on Amazon (down from $149.99).  We originally purchased the battery at $99.99 and I would gladly pay that much again for it.  Factoring in that you would spend around $19.99 to purchase the Anker Quick Charge 2.0 Wall Charger alone, you can see this is a great deal.

Conclusion

The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 has become the battery of choice for our family.  The pros–including capacity and quick charge abilities–far outweigh the con of lugging around a pretty sizable battery.  The provided Quick Charge 2.0 Wall Charger makes charging the battery pack a breeze, and when not being used for the battery pack replenishment, can quickly charge a phone or any additional device you have.

 

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