Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank review: Down with the thickness

Otterbox is one of the best-known names when it comes to durable phone cases. The company offers some rugged power banks, too. Now, it’s after a new segment — mobile gamers. After all, mobile gamers are some of the most power-hungry users around. Let’s see if the rugged case maker can keep up in our Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank review.

See also: The best 10,000mAh power banks you can buy

• Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank (10,000mAh): $59.95
• Otterbox Wireless Power Bank (10,000mAh): $39.95 / £35.99 / €39.99
• Otterbox Wireless Power Bank (15,000mAh): $49.95 / £45.99 / €49.99

The Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank is the company’s first adventure into the world of gaming power. However, it’s actually the top model of three power banks (listed above). All three offer wireless charging and identical speeds, but the folding panel sets this version apart. It’s made of black plastic, with a textured top panel and a gold band to indicate where you can wirelessly charge your devices. Otterbox hopes you’ll use the folding panel as a stand to support your phone and carry on gaming while charging.

Learn more: Here’s how fast charging really works

As with many power banks, you can keep an eye on the remaining charge thanks to four white LEDs on the side panel. If you’re not currently charging, you’ll have to press the small button to activate the lights. The Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank is relatively large, measuring 165 x 70 x 24.7mm, and it weighs 320g.

All that space allows for a USB-A port and a USB-C port, both with up to 18W charging. The Qi charging pad on top is capable of up to 10W speeds and packs two coils for vertical and horizontal charging. You won’t find too much going on in the box — Otterbox includes a small warranty packet and a USB-A to USB-C cable to get you started.

When a power bank sets you back $59, it better cover a solid set of charging standards. Luckily, the Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank does just that. It boasts USB Power Delivery 2.0 and 3.0, as well as Qualcomm Quick Charge 2.0 and 3.0. If you have an older device, you can also tap into Apple Fast Charge and Samsung AFC.

Overall, my testing delivered solid speeds across the board. A Samsung Galaxy S21 reached 14.6W from both the USB-A and USB-C ports — pretty close to the max 15W speeds without USB PD PPS. I saw slightly better results on a iPhone 12 Pro, reaching 17.3W from the USB-C port. It was slower on the USB-A side at 11.9W, though it still ran on Apple 2.4A charging.

Otterbox is a king of well-built phone cases, and the quality has carried over to its gaming-focused power bank. While it’s not a rugged option — there’s no chunky rubber to be seen — it feels sturdy in hand. The folding mechanism is rock solid as well, though it doesn’t lock in any positions, so you’ll have to be careful not to bump it while watching your favorite shows.

It’s not always easy to pin down the perfect wireless charging placement on power banks, but the Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank gets it right. The gold band around the Otterbox logo indicates where your phone should sit for best results, and it adds a touch of class to the otherwise black power bank.

See also: Just how fast is modern wireless charging?

What’s not so good?

While Otterbox checked off most of the bells and whistles on its Folding Wireless Power Bank, it comes at a cost. For starters, $60 isn’t the cheapest for a power bank, especially when it tops out at 18W wired speeds. It would have been nice to see USB Power Delivery PPS support too, as it’s a must to charge recent Samsung and Google Pixel flagship devices at full speed.

The Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank is also one of the biggest and heaviest 10,000mAh power banks we’ve tested. It weighs in at a whopping 320g — nearly 80g more than Anker’s PowerCore III Wireless. Luckily, it’s not too much taller or wider than other options, but it’s much thicker. At 24.7mm, it’s as thick as a Samsung Galaxy S21 stacked on top of an iPhone 12 Pro. It won’t exactly disappear into a pocket for life on the go.

Although the wireless charging pad works very well for games with on-screen controls, it’s not great if you prefer racing games where your phone serves as the wheel. If that’s the case, you’ll have to limit yourself to wired charging. This is also not the power bank to rely on with a full-size laptop. I reached up to 13.8W on a Microsoft Surface Laptop 3, which is a far cry from the 65W max charging speed. However, if you really need a power bank that’ll charge a laptop, you really want to look at portable chargers with a higher capacity than this.

See also: The best USB-C cables you can buy

Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank review: Should I buy it?

If you’re looking for a wireless power bank that doubles up as a stand so you can keep gaming or streaming, Otterbox has what you need. The Wireless Folding Power Bank is well-built, supports an impressive set of charging standards, and lives up to high Otterbox expectations. However, it also lives up to Otterbox prices without the addition of USB PD PPS. It’s also best for casual games rather than action-packed titles.

If you absolutely need USB PD PPS support, you may want to check out Samsung’s 25W Wireless Portable Battery ($79). It’s not cheap, but it can push up to 25W speeds and packs two USB-C ports. On the more affordable side, you can consider the Anker PowerCore III Wireless ($49). We mentioned it above, and it’s an excellent option for life on the go with its small footprint. However, the kickstand doesn’t work with wireless charging.