Patriot FUEL+ Mobile Rechargeable 7800mAh Battery Power Bank Review – 2.5A USB Charging Makes Its Mark

TESTING AND RESULTS

The efficiency benchmark was completed using three devices:

– Apple iPhone 4 (1420mAh)

– Samsung Galaxy Note II (3100mAh)

– Google Nexus 7 (4325mAh)

For consistency, all devices had every power-draining feature turned on, with no power-saving mode(s) enabled:

It is evidently clear that the 2.5A port is astoundingly faster than the 1A – almost 2-2.5x actually. Of course the numbers would have been a tad less extreme had we turned on power-saving…but only a tad.

In terms of cycles, the iPhone 4 can pull out five full charges, while the Samsung Galaxy Note II can push roughly three. The Google Nexus 7 can edge out almost two, but keep in mind that for all three there will be variations. For example, while these tests were done one port at a time, adding two devices simultaneously will obviously draining the FUEL+’s banked charge. Furthermore, you also have energy-to-heat dissipation which becomes a factor considering all three devices have different components.

While the FUEL+ 7800mAh yielded excellent results, it may seem that it is not particularly efficient in holding a charge. Ideally the 7800mAh bank should not deplete as quickly as it does. However, in the grand scheme of things, the battery is actually not bad at retaining and relinquishing power when considering the  fact that the four bright-blue LEDs use the battery themselves. We also cannot forget that all of the USB ports are on and ready for input, hence there is depletion there as well. Luckily the enclosure, while non-ventilated, does not produce excessive heat and remains relatively cool to the touch.

FINAL WORDS AND CONCLUSION

The Patriot FUEL+ mobile rechargeable 7800mAh battery power bank is a quality product – nothing new of what we expect from Patriot. A large battery with a feature-rich spec of two USB ports rated at 1A and 2.5A respectively, and backed by a two-year warranty; the value is endless.

There are a few things that could have been executed better however. An extra USB 1A port would have been a great addition. A longer microUSB cable along with an AC wall charger would have sweetened the package. The four blue LEDs would have used less power and been more efficient and useful had they been replaced with a numerical battery indicator instead of 25% LED intervals. They also contribute to a quicker discharge, albeit small as the FUEL+ is still adequate proficient at accumulating and dispersing power.

At $69.99, Patriot FUEL+ 7800mAh power bank is modestly priced, but would be an impulse buy if priced $15-20 less. On that note, the 7800mAh flavour is a bit confusing considering the 9000mAh is only $15-20 extra. Regardless, we wholeheartedly recommend the FUEL+ 7800mAh if you are looking for a large portable battery pack capable of charging two devices at once with a full 2.5A USB port. While not a mobile companion and focusing only on charging, the FUEL+ line is brilliant in its capabilities and definitely worth the investment regardless of the model you choose.