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ZDNET’s key takeaways
- The Sharge Icemag 2 power bank is available on Amazon now for $50.
- With a perfect size, a powerful battery, RBG lighting, and a tiny fan to keep things cool, this power bank is ideal for those on the go.
- The Icemag 2 isn’t exactly the fastest charging power bank on the market but it’s still a bargain.
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Power banks are a dime a dozen, and you can find all sorts of features that range from the gimmicky to the “why didn’t they think of this before?” I’ve reviewed plenty of power banks and generally find them to do exactly what they are needed for… charging my phones when a power outlet isn’t available.
Also: Traveling with multiple cables gives me a headache. This tiny gadget solved that problem
But not every power bank is created equal. I’ve experienced some that can get overly warm during the charging process (either charging a phone or when topping off the charger). The Sharge Icemag 2<!–> is one of the few power banks I’ve used that has yet to get even slightly warm. Anyone who travels a lot, stuffing their phones in bags, and relies on such a charger will immediately get the inherent benefit of having a charger that doesn’t get hot.
Slap your phone on the charger, put it in your bag, and go. There’s no need to worry that this baby will get hot enough to cause issues.
How does it work? Let’s take a look at the specs first.
The specs
- Protection from undervoltage, short-circuits, over-voltage, over-loads, high temps, and over-current.
- <25 dB ultra-silent usage.
- 8000 RPM fan for cooling.
- Active thermal design.
- 20W wired fast charging (iPhone 15 from 0% to 58% in 30 minutes).
- 10,000mAh battery which can charge an iPhone almost two times, an iPad Pro one time, and AirPods Pro 15 times.
- Compatible with iPhone and Android.
- Supports MagSafe devices.
- Price – Amazon for $50.
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My experience
Power banks and phone chargers aren’t exactly the sexist bit of technology to review, but when you need one, you’ll always be glad it’s there to help out. I’ve been in plenty of situations where a power bank was the difference between me being able to have a phone at my disposal or not. Whether it’s a power outage or a trek into remote corners of the world, sometimes having the ability to charge your phone could be crucial.
Also: The best power banks for recharging your devices
When I purchased my Pixel 9 Pro, I ordered a case from Google as well. That case included a Magsafe magnet, which the Sharge Icemag 2 can use. Slap the phone onto the charger, and the magnets will be powerful enough to hold it securely. The Icemag 2 also includes a small kickstand, so you can prop your phone up and use it while it’s charging.
The vent kicks out warm air to keep the charger cool.
Jack Wallen/ZDNET
I’ve used the Icemag a few times to charge my Pixel 9 Pro and found it to be the ideal combination of size, ease of use, and power.
As I mentioned earlier, the Icemag 2 includes a tiny fan to keep the charger from getting hot and it does a good job with that task. Hold your finger next to the vent, and you will actually feel warm air escape. The one thing it does not do, however, is keep your phone from heating up. If your phone has a tendency to get hot when charging, the Icebank isn’t going to help with that. And while I did find the Pixel 9 Pro did get a bit warm, it wasn’t anything to be concerned about.
I did make use of the kickstand and found it sturdy enough for me to use my phone while it was charging. There’s also a light indicator (on the back side) to keep you informed about how much charge the Icebank 2 has remaining.
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The only knock I can give this handy charger is that it’s not exactly the fastest charging device I’ve used, but because the charge is small enough, you can easily use your phone while it’s charging (which I did several times). If you want faster charging, simply plug your phone (via USB-C cable) into the charger, and you’ll find it to be considerably faster. The Icemag 2 ships with a short USB-C cable, so when you decide to use the wired capability, the cable won’t get in your way. My guess is that the Icebank 2 will wirelessly charge an iPhone faster than an Android phone.
One feature that I really appreciate with the Icemag 2 is that it automatically shuts off when you remove your phone. I have other powerbanks that remain on until you manually shut them off. This is great for on-the-fly charging when you don’t want to have to remember to switch off the power bank when charging is done.
ZDNET’s buying advice
The Icemag 2–>
