Review: Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 Power Bank

Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 Power Bank

9.2

Power

7.5/10

Design

10.0/10

Build

10.0/10

Pros

  • Has a high power capacity to charge most smartphones to full power about three to four times
  • Small form factor for a 20,000mAh power bank

Cons

  • Does not feature fast charging and the USB-C port can only be used to recharge the power bank
(Last Updated On: April 17, 2020)

Most high capacity power banks these days tend to use some sort of fast charging tech like Power Delivery or Quick Charge. The more common fast charging tech that they use is Power Delivery as it’s useful for charging smartphones and laptops. It’s quite rare for a power bank to have a USB-C port for it to only be used as an input port to recharge the power bank.

However, that’s what this Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 power bank features. The USB-C port can only be used as an input port. So let’s see if that’s a good or bad thing.

Power

Power Capacity:

Going by the name, you probably know how much power capacity this power bank has and that would be 20,000mAh. A good amount of power for charging smartphones we would say that a 20,000mAh power bank may be more fitting for charging a smartphone now than a 10,000mAh power bank. This is because most smartphones have larger batteries. A few years back, smartphones with 3,000mAh batteries use to be considered as having large batteries.

Now we’re to the point where smartphones are going even higher. The new Samsung Galaxy S20 has a 4,000mAh battery, the higher-end S20+ has a 4,500mAh battery and the highest end S20 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery.

Even the iPhone, the phone that almost always had a small battery due to its great battery management now has a large battery, with the iPhone 11 Pro Max using a 3,969mAh battery.

With all that said, this PowerCore Metro Essential can charge most phones to full power about three to four times. Charging tablets that would have a 5,000mAh to 7,000mAh battery can fair about two full charges from this Anker power bank.

You won’t be able o charge tablets with this power bank as it does not feature USB-C Power Delivery charging.

Output Charging:

Okay, so when you see a USB-C port on a power bank you likely think that it’s an output that you can use to charge your smartphone or laptop. That’s not the case with this Anker power bank.

Charging a Google Pixel and an LG G7

The only output ports that you can use to charge your devices are the two USB-A ports. Neither of the USB-A ports uses Quick Charge. The ports have a 5V/2.4A (12W) charging speed, and if you’re using the two ports at the same time, the max output is 3 Amps (15W).

So if you have an Android smartphone that is Power Delivery or Quick Charge compatible, just know that this power bank will not be able to fast charge it. The same is true for iPhones that are Power Delivery compatible. It only features standard charging.

Charging stats for the LG G7

Input Charging:

 

The recharging part of this PowerCore Metro Essential power bank is somewhat more interesting than the output charging. That’s because two input ports can be used to recharge the power bank, but they can only be used one at a time.

One is the USB-C input port and the other is a Micro-USB input port. Either of the input ports recharges the power bank at the same 12W recharge speed. It would have been helpful to have a USB-C input port charge the power bank faster as it’s a USB-C port and in general it’s more powerful than the Micro-USB input port.

Design

Size and Weight:

The size of 20,000mAh power banks a few years ago use to be quite large, but that has changed drastically and we’re to the point where 20,000mAh power banks are about the size as 10,000mAh power banks. This power bank has a length of 6.2 inches, a width of 2.9 inches and a thickness of 0.8 inches  The power bank is about 8 ounces.

So even with its 20,000mAh power bank, you’re still able to place this charger into your pocket.

Functional Components:

If you’ve ever used an Anker power bank before, then you know what you expect here.

The charger automatically starts charging when you connect a device to it. There is a power button at the top and it has four white power indicators to show the remaining power capacity.

Build

Structure and Material:

The build of the charger is solid, except for the top where Anker placed a fabric covering. There is still plastic underneath it, obviously, but it’s pretty cool to have and it adds some grip to the power bank.

Tech:

There is no heating up to speak of from this power bank and this can be attributed to the fact that it doesn’t use any fast charging tech.

Reliability

A 20,000mAh power bank with two USB ports is going to be reliable for basically anyone to use to charge their smartphone.

However, what this Anker power bank is not reliable for is for fast charging your smartphone because it does not feature Power Delivery or Quick Charge

Summary:

Power:

It has enough power capacity to charge your smartphone to full power a few times, but it does not feature fast charging tech, and he USB-C port can only be used as an input port to recharge the power bank.

Design:

It’s a small power bank for one that features a 20,000mAh power capacity. 

Build:

The Anker Metro Essential power bank does look different than other power banks from Anker, but with its fabric top, it gives a good grip. The charger doesn’t overheat either, likely because of its lack of fast charging.

Reliability:

The charger will be able to charge your smartphone to full power a few times, but it won’t fast charge it with its high capacity.

Specs for Anker PowerCore Metro Essential 20000 Power Bank:

Power Capacity20,000mAh
USB Port OutputEach Port: 5V/2.4A (12W)

Max Output: 15W
Micro-USB Input Port5V/2.4A (12W)
USB-C Input Port5V/2.4A (12W)
LED Power IndicatorFour White Power Indicators
Size6.2 x 2.9 x 0.8 inches
Weight8 Ounces

Conclusion:

Anker’s PowerCore Metro Essential power bank is a great standard power bank that offers a great standard portable charging experience. Just know that you won’t be getting any fast charging, but you’ll still be getting the exceptional quality that Anker has to offer.

[content-egg module=Amazon template=item]

Readers like you help support Charger Harbor. When you make a purchase using links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Read More.