(Last Updated On: December 3, 2020)

Intermediate level power banks are chargers that sit at the edge of being considered to be small and large capacity power banks.

These kinds of portable chargers are great if you want to go further than just a power capacity that will last you a day but it’s still able to keep really good portability so you can keep it on you.

We consider these kinds of chargers to be Hybrids because they’re able to deliver a good charging experience but it’s nothing so special that you’re going to be in awe by it.

This is the RAVPower 12,000mAh power bank and it sits at the edge of greatness, let’s see if it goes further in this Charger Harbor power bank review.

Similar Power Banks:

TROND Bolt 12,500mAh Power Bank

Power

Power Capacity

The initial power capacity of this RAVPower power bank is 12,000mAh and it uses Lithium Polymer battery cells which have been known to have very bad conversion rating.

With that said, though, this one does quite well with its conversion if you’re only using a single charging port because the more ports you use, the worse the conversion rate will be and the less Output capacity you will get.

If you’re using a single port, charging speed will be capable of doing 2.4 Amps and if you’re using both charging ports then the Max Output is 3.4A.

However, we’re gonna assume that most people will use both ports to charge a smartphone and in that case, a smartphone would pull 1 Amp per port. The conversion wouldn’t be that bad and would bring the power capacity down to about 9,000mAh.

Even with a lowered Output capacity, it’s going to be able to charge smartphones plenty of times and we’re looking at 4 times or more. For tablets, this power bank does quite well there too, but only if you’re taking advantage of all the power capacity.

Plugging in an iPad to charge to full or at least near full should be done by connecting ONLY an iPad because connecting another device would have it pull from the same source of power and the conversion rate would be cut shorter.

Devices	RAVPower 12,000mAh External Battery Pack (Output Capacity = 9,000mAh)	Phone Capacity	RAVPower 12,000mAh Left Over Capacity after One Charge # of Full Charges for the Device
iPhone SE	9,000mAh	1,624mAh	7,376mAh 5.5 Full Charges
iPhone 6	9,000mAh	1,810mAh	7,190mAh 4.9 Full Charges
iPhone 6 Plus	9,000mAh	2,915mAh	6,085mAh 3.0 Full Charges
iPhone 6s	9,000mAh	1,715mAh	7,285mAh 5.2 Full Charges
iPhone 6s Plus	9,000mAh	2,750mAh	6,250mAh 3.2 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S6	9,000mAh	2,550mAh	6,450mAh 3.5 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge	9,000mAh	2,600mAh	6,400mAh 3.4 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S7	9,000mAh	3,000mAh	6,000mAh 3 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge	9,000mAh	3,600mAh	5,400mAh 2.5 Full Charges
Samsung Galaxy S8+	9,000mAh	3,500mAh	5,500mAh 2.5 Full Charges

Output Charging: Both Port Capable of 5V/2.4A   Max Port: 3.4A

Charging speed is what we mean by this power bank being “intermediate”, although that isn’t to say that it’s bad. It’s pretty good but it could be better.

Capable of Charging Fast with Both of its Ports

Both ports are capable of Outputting 2.4 Amps, which is the Max standard charging speed. So if you’re only charging a single device or even two devices it doesn’t matter which port you connect your device to since they’re capable of the same charging speed.

However, the Max Output of the power bank is 3.4A, which means that you have to prioritize what devices you want to charge the fastest.

If you connect an iPad to the power bank then it’ll charge at its max speed of 2.4A then if you connect a smartphone it’ll charge at 1 Amp only because the cap of 3.4A Output has been reached. The problem arises when a smartphone can be charged faster than just 1 Amp and you’re limiting the charging speed by charging it with another device like a tablet.

If you’re charging 2 smartphones then this should be a problem but there is a compromise with this power bank’s charging speed but for power banks like the PowerCore 20100 and Aukey 16,000mAh this isn’t a problem since they have higher capacities and ultimately more capabilities with a Max Output of 4.8A.

There’s a small problem with charging if you’re connecting higher Amperage devices with intermediary Amperage devices.

Input Charging: 5V/2.0A

The RAVPower 12,000mAh power bank is recharged via a 2 Amp Micro-USB Input port and if you’re using a 2 Amp wall charger to recharge it then you can expect a recharge time of about 4-5 hours. You can’t complain about the recharge speed if you’re using a 1 Amp wall charger because that will take double the time.

Take a look at our Wall Charger Reviews to know what wall chargers will best recharge your power bank the fastest.

Design

Size and Weight

The size of the RAVPower charger isn’t much of a problem as much as the weight is.

The length is 5.1 inches, it has a width of 2.2 inches and a thickness of 0.9 inches. So it’s a manageable portable charger that can be held in the hands easily but the weight of 8.5 ounces may be a problem since it’s half a power bank.

We can even say that the charge can fit into a back pocket that’s big enough. Overall, it’s portable but it’s not portable to the point of carrying it with you all day, so it’s best to place it into a bag and carry it around in the long-term. If you’re charging 2 devices at once, then you’re gonna want to set it down.

Functional Components

The functional parts of the charger are basically in the same place with both of the charging ports being on the same short side, the Micro-USB port is on the long side of the charger and the power button is on the opposite long side. There are also 4 LED power capacity indicators on top of the charger.

Charging is done as most modern power banks do it, with charging automatically starting when you connect a device to the charger and charging stops when there are no devices connected to it. Ultimately, the power button isn’t used very much other than the purpose of simply checking the power capacity.

DULLA M50000 12,000mAh Power Bank

Build

Structure and Material

The power bank is made of Plastic and RAVPower explains it to be a Fire-retardant UL94 V-0 material that can withstand fire hazards. The charger is separated into two pieces with just a top and bottom and overall it does a good job of holding together.

We were worried that the Lithium Polymer batteries would swell and warp the body structure of the power bank but that’s NOT the case here. This is most likely due to the Tech Build quality of the RAVPower.

Tech

This charger has safety tech that any other power bank should have and it does a good job at using it as well. Other than the standard Over-Charge, Surge Protection, and Short-Circuit controllers, this power bank can shut itself off when it’s using too much power.

This is done because if the power bank feels like it’s been on for too long or if it’s heating up too much, it turns itself off. This is a great feature because this will be able to prevent the Lithium Polymer batteries from getting damaged.

PowerAdd Pilot 5G 10,000mAh Power Bank

Reliability

It’s the most reliable charger that can be used daily and deliver daily. If you’re solely using a smartphone with this power bank then the power capacity will be able to last you days, but if you’re using a tablet then prepare to use the entirety of the capacity.

Charging speed is most reliable when you’re charging a single device because both ports can Output 2.4A at any one time and the Max Output is 3.4A. So charging 2 High Amperage devices is going to cut charging speed in half and slowly charge those two devices.

The size is just reliable enough but doesn’t expect it to be as free as a PowerCore+ Mini or a Jackery Air 6.

Aukey 10,000mAh Power Bank with 2-Ports

Summary:

Power:

The power capacity is cut short because of its “Okay” conversion rate but even so, you can still charge smartphones quite a few times but it’ll take you the entire capacity to charge a tablet to a nearly full or at full capacity.

Charging speed may require some prioritizing because of its 3.4A Max Output, but both ports are capable of 2.4A.

Design:

It’s a very normal-sized charger that is somewhat heavy at 8 ounces but it’s completely possible to hold it in your hand or fit it into a large enough back pocket. Usage is easy with it being able to start charging automatically and turn off automatically.

Build:

It has a good build with the plastic being able to be fire-resistant. On the inside is a bunch of safety tech and the power bank can turn itself off if things are becoming too heated, and that can prevent Lithium Polymer batteries from expanding.

Reliability:

It’s a reliable charger in nearly every sense but it could be more reliable if it went further with its powering capabilities and build quality in the tech area. However, it wouldn’t be itself anymore if it did that.

More Power Banks within the same Power Capacity Range

Specs of the RAVPower 12,000mAh External Battery Pack:

• Capacity:            Advertised: 12,000mAh             Output Capacity: 9,000mAh
• Output:  

Both Ports Capable of 5V/2.4A

Max Port: 3.4A

• Input: 5V/2.0A Via Micro-USB Input
• LED Power Indicators: 4 LED Dotted Power Capacity Indicators
• Size: 5.1 x 2.2 x 0.9 inches
• Weight: 8.5 Ounces

Conclusion:

The intermediate level power bank should never be looked down upon because they’re a Pokemon that has evolved halfway and there’s just a single step more that it needs to go before it achieves its max potential.