ZDNET’S key takeaways
- Thanks to some upgrades and a handy kickstand, Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro Qi2 MagSafe power bank strongly executes power and function. It’s only available at Apple, however.
- The $60 power bank can boost your devices with up to 5,000mAh of added juice via USB-C charging or wireless charging (Qi2 and MagSafe).
- If you’re after a more powerful or fun battery pack, you’re better off with alternatives that offer more considerable battery boosts or many colors and designs.
As someone who’s been chronically online for about three-quarters of my not-very-long life (I’m 23), I feel confidently qualified to sit here and tell you that Belkin’s latest iteration of the BoostCharge Pro Power Bank is so brat-coded, both in design and function.
Before you close this tab because you have no idea what I just said, spare me a few more lines… Hi, I’m Kayla, and I test and review MagSafe battery packs at ZDNET. In the past several months, I’ve personally used over a dozen battery packs, testing each for their function, style, features, and, most importantly, charging capabilities, from the streets of New York to the unreliable trains of NJ Transit, to my mini-emergency situations (okay, the power going out is more of an inconvenience, but still).
Also: Finally, a MagSafe battery pack that doesn’t look like a brick (and it charges quickly, too)
I’ve tried battery packs from brands like Anker, Belkin, Baseus, Casely, Burga, Hyper, and more, and I rarely feel compelled enough to write a full spotlight on one. I don’t like bulky, ill-fitting banks or ones featuring weak magnetic grip, but more than anything, I hate options that look like an actual brick. So this, my friends, is why I had to write about the Belkin BoostCharge Pro power bank<!–>.
It combines all the necessities of a battery pack with an edgy yet refined design and function, creating a perfectly polished battery pack that’s unintentionally also available in a near-close shade of this summer’s most en vogue color: Charli XCX’s “Brat” green. (Belkin just calls it “Green,” but I’ll forgive them for not foreseeing the viral trend that’s been unanimously appointed the zeitgeist of the summer by Gen-Z.)
The spry and sporty green shade also happens to closely mirror ZDNET’s punchy “cyber lime” color, which is undoubtedly “internationally recognized,” just like Charli XCX’s hit “360.” Okay, back to the power bank.
Also: My everyday Anker power bank has a genius feature that makes it irreplaceable
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Qi2 battery pack uses MagSafe technology to snap onto the back of your iPhone or adapter-equipped device. This pack will attach to and charge through any MagSafe-compatible case.
In the box, you’ll get the battery pack and a 3.3ft USB-C to USB-C cable included for $60<!–>. It doesn’t come with a wall adapter, but I paired mine with Casetify’s 67W fast charging block–>, which charged the Belkin battery pack entirely in just under three hours.
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It comes in five colors (Green, Pink, Blue, Sand, and Black) and features a built-in kickstand, one of the most durable on a MagSafe battery I’ve tested. The pack promises 5,000mAh of battery capacity for up to 16 hours and is Qi2 certified.
You can charge on the go at up to 7.5W or with the bank plugged in at up to 15W. This model is an improvement from the previous BoostCharge iteration–>, which lacks Qi2 charging, is slightly thicker and bulkier, and features a few different design placements.
Also: The best MagSafe battery packs of 2024: Expert tested
The new model has the USB-C connector on the side instead of the bottom of the pack, making it easier to use your phone standing upright while the pack is charging. Instead of the charging indicator lights being on the side, they’re now more visible, located on the back of the pack.
This new Qi2 model is a tad slimmer and lengthier than its predecessor, making it easier to transport and elevating its sleekness. The back of the pack has a textured feel for a better grip, which is a step-up compared to the slick and smooth back of the previous iteration. Plus, it’s only available at Apple<!–>.
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Qi2 (bottom) compared to the previous iteration of the Belkin BoostCharge battery pack (top).
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
Having tested both Belkin BoostCharge models, I have to applaud Belkin for improving a battery pack I already liked enough to include it in ZDNET’s best MagSafe battery list. This newer version is truly the sleeker, cooler, and edgier (yet still polished) younger sibling of the first iteration.
The BoostCharge Pro doesn’t obstruct my camera (even with a phone case on), sits comfortably on my iPhone 14 Pro, and has a solid magnetic grip (really, I did the Dairy Queen check and flipped it upside down and held it from the pack, not that I encourage anyone else to try).
How long does it take to charge a phone?
Finally, here comes the answer you’ve all been scrolling for. The BoostCharge Pro took my iPhone 14 Pro from 54% to 82% in an hour. On another instance, when I let the pack charge my phone while I shopped for groceries, my battery went from 47% to 72% in an hour.
I charged using MagSafe, which gave me a max output of 7.5W. I didn’t notice intense overheating or warmth on the pack, which is a big win (you should expect some warmth with battery pack use, but not anything hot-to-the-touch).
The back of the pack is dressed in silicone for a soft-to-the-touch charging contact point.
Kayla Solino/ZDNET
I even took this lean, green machine with me to a New York Yankees game, where I could carry it in my belt bag without security issues. It wasn’t too heavy and fit perfectly inside an internal pocket. During this trip, I topped off my phone twice, once at the stadium and another on the train ride home to New Jersey later in the evening, each bumping my phone’s battery up about 25% to 30%. When I got home at 11 p.m., the pack was nearly empty, with just one indicator light still on.
Compared to other MagSafe battery packs that I’ve tested, I was significantly impressed with the charging rate and speed. It is on par with similar 5,000mAh packs. The option to charge Qi2, of course, makes it that much better.
ZDNET’s buying advice
My advice remains the same, whether you’ve made it to the end of this (or you just cheated and skipped to here). The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Qi2 power bank–>
is a step up from its predecessor, and it’s been refined so flawlessly that it’s hard to ignore. Now equipped with 15W charging and a sleeker design, I’m hard-pressed to find a power bank that I like more. I’m already planning on purchasing myself a pink one.
While $60 may seem a bit much for a battery pack, it’s actually pretty comparable to other MagSafe battery packs that I’ve tested. For the most part, these will run you between $40 and $70, while larger capacity or MagSafe wireless chargers can easily push well into the $100+ area.
In a proper, one-last Charli XCX reference, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree with this upgraded model, and Belkin has one of my top picks on their hands. After all, edgy function and design that’s just ever-so-refined? So brat.
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