(Last Updated On: September 22, 2023)

Most power banks are the same, meaning they have similar designs with ports you must use with charging cables. That’s fine; however, charging your phone from a power bank and using it can be cumbersome.

If you’re searching for one of the most easily portable chargers, consider this iWalk LinkPod USB-C power bank. iWalk also sells an MFi Lightning version of this power bank, but I’m reviewing the USB-C version in this case. This power bank is unique because of the design that lets you plug it into your phone directly without using a cable; it acts as more of an extension for your phone rather than a completely separate charger. Let’s take a closer look.

Power Capacity

With this LinkPod mini power bank, the capacity is not exactly high with its 4,800mAh power capacity. That said, this much power does mean that this power bank is mainly meant for charging phones because if you’re planning on charging tablets with it, it won’t be able to fill your battery too much.

When it does come to charging phones, this LinkPod power bank can charge a Google Pixel 5 to full power about 70%, an S22 that has a 3,700mAh battery can get 75% of its battery filled, and the Galaxy Z Flip 3 with its 3,300mAh battery can get about 85%. So most phones will not be able to get to their full power using this iWalk power bank, but they will come close enough, which is fine.

This LinkPod power bank is meant to be used periodically or once daily and must recharge once you’re done. The low capacity works with its small form factor and overall design.

Charging Power

The only output port on this power bank is the built-in USB-C connector, there is a USB-C port, but that can only be used as an input to recharge this power bank. The USB-C connector has an 18W Power Delivery output, and I could fast charge a Galaxy Note 9. You can fast charge most USB-C Android phones with this power bank as most of them are compatible with some spec of Power Delivery.

You may also be able to fast charge some USB-C tablets, but as I mentioned before, the capacity isn’t meant for charging tablets.

Recharging

Recharging is more impressive than output charging because you can use the USB-C connector to recharge this LinkPod power bank or the USB-C input port.

If you want to recharge via the USB-C connector, you must plug it into a USB-C wall charger; with the USB-C port, you must use a cable with a wall charger. The connector and the input port have the same 18W max input, so I recommend using a 20W Power Delivery wall charger to get the fastest recharge speed.

Using the connector for recharging is the most convenient way to charge because you plug it in and let it recharge. This power bank does come with a USB-C to USB-C cable, though.

Does it feature pass-through charging?

Yes, it does feature pass-through charging. However, the USB-C input port drops down to a 5W recharging speed, and in my test, the Galaxy Note 9 could use only a standard charge.

Size and Weight

This power bank is tiny, with a length of 4 inches and a thickness of about 1 inch. The power bank weighs about 6 ounces. The charger is so small and lightweight that you can plug it into your phone and leave it there, as it just stays in place.

Functional Components

The power bank does have a white light that turns on around the USB-C connector when you’re charging, and the connector has a cover cap. At the front is a digital capacity indicator with a power button off to the side.

This is one of the best-designed mini-power banks I have ever used; everything is compact and fits into the right spot. The digital capacity display is excellent, as it could have used a few dots, but this power bank goes the extra mile.

When it came to plugging in the power bank into my Note 9, the power bank stayed in place; that said, I would avoid placing your phone in your pocket while charging as I was afraid the connector could get damaged.

Structure and Material

The build quality of this LinkPod power bank is excellent; I couldn’t find any faults with it. The only concern would be the USB-C connector possibly breaking if you bend it too much, but I did not experience that.

Reliability

If you have a USB-C chargeable phone, likely an Android phone, and want a mini power bank that you can use daily, this LinkPod charger will be very reliable. This power bank features fast recharging, fast output, 18W Power Delivery charging, and two ways to recharge. The design lets you plug it directly into your phone and still lets you use it the usual way.

Regular power banks can’t do the same thing as this one, which has a specialized capsule design.

	iWalk LinkPod USB-C Mini Power Power Bank Specs
Power Capacity	4,800mAh
USB-C PD Output	5V/2.4A | 9V/2.0A | 12V/1.5A (18W)
USB-C Input	5V/2.4A | 9V/2.0A | 12V/1.5A (18W)
Size	4.61 x 3.31 x 1.34 inches
Weight	6 Ounces

Conclusion:

The iWalk LinkPod USB-C mini power bank may not have the highest capacity, and that’s all it’s missing. Other than that, this power bank can be an extension of your Android phone without feeling much of the extra weight.