Performance

Like the Bar, the Jackery Bolt features a 6000mAh capacity is a good balance between power and portability.  Most smartphones can get about 1.5 to 3 charges from this power bank, so it’s ideal to have on hand even for short excursions away from a power outlet.  Tablets, such as an iPad, can get about 50-75% of a charge from this power bank.

The Bolt can supply up to 2.4 amps of power, but this is shared between the 3 output methods (I’ll get to more on that in a bit).  This 2.4 amp output allows a tablet to charge at full speed.  If you’re charging both a smartphone and a tablet at the same time, the phone would like pull 1 amp, leaving 1.4 amps for the tablet.  The tablet can still charge, just at a slower speed.   Most iPhones charge at 1 amp, although some newer models (iPhone 6 and up) can go up to 1.6 amps for a faster charge.

My testing with an iPad backs up the 2.4 amp output claim, but it’s important to note that the 6000mAh capacity will not completely recharge a tablet from 0%.    While using the power bank, it did become fairly warm, but thankfully did not get very hot.

Design

One of the best features of the Jackery Bolt are the two built-in charging cables. There is both a Micro USB cable and a Lightning cable, allowing you to charge Android and iPhone devices alike.  When not in use, the cables tuck nicely into either side of the unit.  There is also a full-sized USB port on the unit that allows you to connect a 3rd charging cable of your own choice (for example, a USB-C cable to charge your Nintendo Switch).

When I originally reviewed the Jackery Bolt last year, my biggest complaint was that the Lightning adapter did not extend enough to reach the Lightning port of my phone when it was in a case.  I’m happy to report that the issue has been resolved in this new, orange version of the Jackery Bolt as it has an extra little “nub” that extends the Lightning adapter enough to fit through my phone case.  No more removing my case in order to charge!

The cables are short, so it can be awkward to carry both a phone and the power bank in your pocket while they’re connected.  It would be best to use this power bank on a flat surface (for example, on a table while you’re grabbing something to eat) so you do not put undue stress on the cables.

The dimensions of the Jackery Bolt are 4.3 x 0.9 x 1.9 inches, making it slightly larger than the Bar.  It fits in my jeans pocket fine, although it can get a little uncomfortable if stacked with my phone or wallet.  At only 5.3 ounces, you likely won’t notice the additional weight in a backpack or purse. For comparison, the iPhone 7 (not Plus) weighs 4.9 ounces, so the Bolt only weighs slightly more.

The Jackery Bolt can be recharged with a standard Micro USB cable (not built-in) and USB wall charger.  It accepts a 2 amp input which can recharge the power bank in as little as 4 hours when using a 2 amp charger, such as an iPad power brick or Jackery’s own multi-port charger.  You can recharge the power bank at any time; you do not need to wait until it is empty.

The exterior of the Jackery Bolt is made mostly of brushed aluminum with plastic on the top and bottom.  This makes the power bank more durable than an all plastic power bank, although it can still get cosmetically damaged or dented if dropped.

Extra Features

Again, the best feature of the Jackery Bolt is the fact that the charging cables are built-in.  This makes it an ideal “grab-and-go” solution as you don’t need to remember to bring your charging cords with the power bank.

The Jackery Bolt also features a built-in bright white LED that can serve as a flashlight in a pinch.  This is handy for walking to your car in the dark or finding the charging port of your phone in the middle of the night.

There are no Quick Charge capabilities included in the Jackery Bolt, which likely won’t matter to you if you have an iPhone or a phone that does not specifically support Quick Charge technology.

Safety and Reliability

Jackery includes their standard set of safety features in the Bolt to prevent overcharging and overheating, although you may notice it gets fairly warm when charging at its full 2.4 amp capability.  Be sure to watch Jackery’s safety video for more information on the testing that goes into Jackery’s products.  I’ve used several of Jackery’s products for years and have yet to encounter a safety concern with their products.

[Apple MFI Certified] Jackery Bolt 6,000mAh - Built-in Lightning Charging Cable & micro USB Cable...

[Apple MFI Certified] Jackery Bolt 6,000mAh - Built-in Lightning Charging Cable & micro USB Cable...

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The post Jackery Bolt 6000mAh Power Bank Review (2017 Update) appeared first on Technically Well.

PROs

• 26,000mAh capacity: This is a very high capacity power bank. The 26000mAh reserve is enough to recharge an iPhone about 9 or 10 times and iPads about 2 times. This makes it great to have on hand for weekend camping trips or power outage preparation.
• Quick Charge 3.0 port: If you have a newer device that supports Qualcomm Quick Charge technology, there is a port dedicated to charging those device rapidly. It is also backwards-compatible with older versions of Quick Charge.
• 2 smart USB ports: This allows you to charge two devices at the same time. Both ports are “smart” and either port can supply up to 2.4 amps which allows it to fast charge larger devices, such as iPads and many tablets.
• Compact: Although the Jackery Max is a little heavy, the design is still somewhat compact and can easily fit in your laptop bag or backpack. It probably won’t fit in your pocket, though.
• Charger included: This is one of the few power banks I’ve seen that includes a wall charger. The wall charger has 2 USB ports that can both supply up to 2.4 amps simultaneously. So this would be able to charge 2 iPads at full speed at the same time.
• 2 amp input: The included wall charger can charge this power bank twice as fast as an iPhone charger would, as the power bank supports a 2 amp input.
• Digital display: You can easily see how much charge is remaining in the unit with a numeric display.  Just tap the power button to light up the display.

CONs

• Weight: Given the large capacity, this power bank has some weight to it and would not be comfortable in a coat pocket, for example.

While the size of this power bank may not make it ideal for carrying in your pocket, it would be good for a backpack or laptop bag so you have plenty of power on hand when you need. And if your device support Quick Charge technology, this Jackery power bank can take advantage of that and charge it faster.

Check out the Jackery Max 26000mAh Power Bank on Amazon

[Qualcomm Certified] Jackery Max 26000mAh Portable Charger Quick Charge 3.0 External Battery Pack...

[Qualcomm Certified] Jackery Max 26000mAh Portable Charger Quick Charge 3.0 External Battery Pack...

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The post Jackery Max 26000mAh Quick Charge 3.0 Power Bank Review appeared first on Technically Well.

The design of the Bolt has been updated and addresses the issue with using it with a phone case. Check out my updated Jackery Bolt review for 2017.

PROs

• Built-in charging cords: Probably the biggest advantage of the Jackery Bolt is that it has both a built-in MFi-certified Lightning cable and a built-in Micro USB charging cable.  Both cables tuck nicely into the sides of the power bank, making it an ideal “grab and go” power bank.
• 6000mAh capacity: This provides enough juice for about 2 full recharges to most smartphones, or a partial charge to an iPad.
• 2.4 amp output: If you want to (partially) charge an iPad or tablet quickly, the 2.4 amp output on this unit allows your device to charge a full speed.  1 amp gadgets (such as smartphones) charge fine with this power bank as well.
• 2 amp input: You don’t need to wait around all day for this power bank to recharge.  If you use a 2 amp charging brick (such as the one that came with your iPad, or this AmazonBasics unit) to recharge this unit, it can typically be done in about 4 hours.
• Sleek design: The brush aluminum, black finish gives this power bank a very nice overall appearance (although, I am missing Jackery’s signature orange power banks).
• Built-in flashlight: A small LED can be turned on to light your path in the dark with two taps of the power button.

CONs

• Not case friendly: This was close to being a perfect power bank, but the Lightning connector does not protrude enough to fit most iPhone cases.  So you’ll likely need to remove your phone’s case to use the built-in charging cables.  Or use your own charging cable with the full-sized USB port on the power bank.
• No built-in cable for recharging the power bank: To recharge the power bank itself, you’ll still need to remember to bring the included Micro USB cable (and a USB wall charger, which is not included).

Overall, I like the convenience of this power bank as you don’t need to remember to bring your own charging cable.  I just wish the Lightning connector would stick out more so it would fit my case.  If you don’t use a case (or have a case that’s very open on the bottom), then this would not be an issue for you.

Check out the Jackery Bolt external battery on Amazon

— Sample provided for review

Portable Charger Jackery Bolt 6000 mAh Power Outdoors - Power bank with built in Lightning Cable...

Portable Charger Jackery Bolt 6000 mAh Power Outdoors - Power bank with built in Lightning Cable...

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The post Jackery Bolt 6000mAh Power Bank Review appeared first on Technically Well.