RAVPower Luster 3,350mAh Portable Charger
Pros
- Really Small Size
- Great Conversion Rate
- Near Perfect Portability
Cons
- Some Questionable Design Choices
Portable chargers are great for having charging capabilities with you on the go.
When you have a mini power bank, it doesn’t matter whether you’re getting it as an iPhone or Android portable charger because a mini power bank is so versatile with the way it can be used.
With that said, there are plenty of small power banks on the market, and some do a great job and others not so much. That’s why it’s important to know what small power banks deliver value, while other power banks are just bluffing their way through the market.
This review is about the RAVPower Luster portable charger that boasts itself to be very small and being able to deliver a superior charging experience than other mini power banks. Find out what it has to offer in this Charger Harbor review.
Similar Mini Power Banks:
Power
Obviously like most mini portable chargers, they feature a very limited way of charging capabilities in the way of how many devices they can charge and what their power capacities are. The Lust portable charger is no different than most mini power banks when it comes to its power.
Power Capacity
Power capacity is very similar to other power banks within its class by being at 3,350mAh. You can expect this charger to either last for one charge or possibly two depending on what kind of device you’re charging.
This power bank is mainly meant for smartphones or any other devices that have similar battery capacities to that of a smartphone.
Charging a tablet with a power bank like this doesn’t make much sense but if you wanted to, then this power bank will be able to charge a tablet like an iPad about halfway or much less if you’re charging an iPad with a very high battery capacity. Another thing about the capacity is that it is indeed 3,350mAh.
Sure, the capacity may wane a little after a few charges but the real output capacity that you’re getting is 3,350mAh. It’s a good power capacity that’s great for everyday use since using it once with your smartphone will keep you set for the rest of the day.
| RAVPower Lust portable charger 3,350mAh | Phone Capacity | RAVPower Luster Power Bank Left Over Capacity # of Full Charges for the Device | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Samsung Galaxy S7 Edge | 3,350mAh | 3,600mAh | 0 (You need 250mAh more power to get a full charge) 0.9 Near Full Charge |
| Samsung Galaxy S7 | 3,350mAh | 3,000mAh | 350mAh 1.1 Full Charges |
| iPhone 6 Plus | 3,350mAh | 2,915mAh | 435mAh 1.1 Full Charges |
| iPhone 6s Plus | 3,350mAh | 2,750mAh | 600mAh 1.2 Full Charges |
| Samsung Galaxy S6 Edge | 3,350mAh | 2,600mAh | 750mAh 1.2 Full Charges |
| Samsung Galaxy S6 | 3,350mAh | 2,550mAh | 800mAh 1.3 Full Charges |
| iPhone 6 | 3,350mAh | 1,810mAh | 1,540mAh 1.8 Full Charges |
| iPhone 6s | 3,350mAh | 1,715mAh | 1,635mAh 1.9 Full Charges |
| iPhone SE | 3,350mAh | 1,624mAh | 1,726mAh 2.0 Full Charges |
Output Charging
The charger is capable of charging only a single device at a time. The charging speed of the USB charging output is 5V/2.4A, and this is a Max standard charging speed.
You can expect this power bank to charge most devices at their max charging speed, except for devices that use USB-C and Quick Charge for their blazing-fast charging.
For everything else though, the recharge speed is impressive and can result in max charging speeds even for tablets like iPads.
Input Charging
The recharging speed of the mini power bank is nearly the same as the output charging speed at 5V/2.0A. You can expect this power bank to be fully charged in about 2-3 hours.
If you wanted to, you can recharge this power bank on the same day you used up the entire capacity. To recharge it at its fastest charging speed, you must charge it with a 2 Amp wall charger or higher.
No products found.
Design
Size and Weight:
The most important aspect that this power bank is known for. The Lust portable charger is 4 inches in length, and 0.9 inches in width and thickness.
It’s clear to see and understand that this power bank is very small and also very portable with just a weight of 2.6 ounces.
The incredibly small power bank can be placed in your pocket and by doing so it makes itself very portable. Taking it anywhere is an option and putting it into a bag to carry mostly seems unnecessary because you can hold it in a single hand easily or put it into your pocket.
The functional portions of the Luster charger are placed where most things are placed with power banks of similar design. The charging Output and Input ports are on the side panel with a “Smart” logo under the Output USB charging output.
Although I didn’t understand why that was there because the max output of the power bank is only 1 Amp.
There are 3 LED power capacity indicators at the top of the power bank. You can consider each of those lights to be 1,116mAh of power capacity. There’s a power button next to the power indicators that can be pressed to turn on charging and to check the power capacity that’s left on the power bank.
Functional Components:
Lastly, there are physical traits on the power bank that have their purpose.
The power bank has a beveled piece of plastic that the power button and the LED indicators lay upon that’s meant to prevent the charger from rolling off flat surfaces. It’s a thoughtful feature that other power banks like the Tylt portable charger have implemented with its entire body.
Then there are power banks that don’t have this design, like the Anker PowerCore+ Mini and the PowerCore 5000. The Lust portable charger also has a plastic beveled panel where the charging outputs are to avoid scratch damage from the Aluminum body to your smartphone if you choose to place it into your pocket along with your smartphone.
However, this didn’t make much sense considering that only one end of the power bank has the plastic beveled piece and the other hand has the expected Aluminum casing.
No products found.
Build
Structure and Material:
Like many mini power banks, the Lust portable charger does a good job of providing a compact and safe charging experience.
The main body portion of the power bank is made of Aluminum. Then there’re the few plastic pieces that we talked about in the design section which are the beveled white pieces.
The plastic pieces were made so the power bank isn’t able to scratch your smartphones if you choose to place the power bank into your pocket.
However, there wouldn’t be a concern like that if the Luster were to be fully plastic. The charger may have even been lighter if it were plastic but the Aluminum body was most likely made to make it look more premium.
Putting the weight and design of the power bank together, it’s a very low chance that this power bank will get damaged. It’s a charger made for everyday use.
Tech:
Going inside the power bank, there are a few safety tech features like Surge Protection and Over-Current Protection.
It does a good job of not generating heat. The best thing, though, is that the charger uses Panasonic battery cells and as a result, the power capacity can stay the same for a longer duration.
This is why it’s able to hold onto its original capacity. Panasonic battery cells have a great conversion rate and can withstand many charging cycles before they start to wear down.
No products found.
Reliability
The Lust Portable charger is at its best when you’re using it on the go.
The power bank can be used in any situation. The design portion is what makes it so reliable. Its lightweight and small dimensions mean that you can charge your smartphone in your pocket while you’re going about your day.
The charging speed of the power bank may not be the fastest but it does well and the recharge speed is fast enough to charge it the same day you used it.
Of course, you can’t expect this power bank to charge an iPad to its full potential or to charge many devices at once. This a mini power bank and it’s very limited when it comes to pushing into a thing like its power.
We don’t recommend this charger for camping trips or if you’re going someplace where you’ll be away from a wall charger for a few days. For nearly any other situation, however, this power bank can do well by providing 1 or 2 charges to your smartphone.
No products found.
Summary:
Power:
There’s not much to say. The power capacity of 3,350mAh proudly stands true and can charge many smartphones once and some smartphones can even take 2 full charges. Charging speeds are very standard by providing only a 1V/1.0A charging Output and Input Speed.
Design:
Like many other mini power banks, the charger does a great job at being very portable. You can put it into your pocket along with your smartphone or hold it if you’re out for a run.
The functional components are placed straightforwardly. The physical features hold functional abilities with the plastic beveled clip being able to prevent the power bank from rolling off flat surfaces.
There’s also a plastic beveled portion where the charging ports are to prevent scratches to your smartphones when it’s in your pocket. I still don’t understand why there isn’t a bevel portion on the other end of the power bank, though.
Build:
Build quality is what it should be. The main center casing is Aluminum and the side with the charging ports is plastic.
The strongest part of the build is not only the safety features, but it’s also the fact that that the power bank uses Panasonic battery cells. By doing so, it’s able to deliver its original capacity for a long time because the batteries won’t degrade as quickly.
Reliability:
The power bank is most reliable when you’re on the go or in nearly any situation because of its amazing portability.
However, you can’t rely on it the most when you’re powering expectations are different than what it can deliver. This power bank can charge smartphones once or twice at most with a mediocre charging speed.
If you want a higher capacity and faster charging speed then you’re going to have to look at higher capacity portable chargers that offer such power.
Best Small 3,000mAh to 5,000mAh Power Banks
Specs of the RAVPower Luster portable charger:
- Power Capacity: 3,350mAh
- Output: 5V/2.4A
- Input: 5V/2.0A via Micro USB Input
- LED Power Indicators: 3 LED power capacity indicators
- Size: 4.02 x 0.91 x 0.91 inches
- Weight: 2.6 ounces
- Comes with Micro-USB Cable
Conclusion:
The Luster portable charger is a great mini power bank that can be taken anywhere and used anywhere. I love the freedom of charging my smartphones when it’s in my pocket that’s what nearly all mini power banks should deliver.
You should be wary of the slow charging speed and low capacity but the power bank takes full advantage of delivering the 3,350mAh power capacity that it’s equipped with.
Along with a thoughtful design and Panasonic battery cells, you can expect this Luster charger to deliver a strong continuous charging experience.
No products found.
Since 2016, Usman has flourished as an independent tech journalist, reveling in the evaluation of diverse tech gadgets, with a particular fondness for charging technology to ascertain product performance. Besides his journalistic endeavors, he helms the Charger Harbor YouTube channel, where he extends his tech insights to a broader audience.