[review] XTAR PB2S charger/powerbank

fran82 · 2019-08-26T15:08:40.000Z

After reading that it is rubber coated, I finally will NOT buy it.

It is a shame.

I had to stop using many electronic devices such as phones and other items due to the stupid rubber coating.

Puaggggg…

Nice internals… Nice working… But they screwed it with the coating. Damn it!!!

Hope they will release a new version without rubber coating… In that case, I will buy it instantly!

deleted-200707 · 2019-08-26T15:28:40.000Z

Lightbringer:

Hmm, what was wrong with the original? Yeah, I heard about “the IPhone problem”, but what else was wrong with it?

This one seems pretty nice, at least I was impressed with it.

It would not charge any of my small devices, headphones, mp3 players, my Ultratac 10440 screw on charging unit, etc due to its low end cutoff being too high.
Neither would it fit half of my 18650s due to short battery bay.

Lightbringer · 2019-08-26T15:39:32.000Z

Awwww, I really hope youse are wrong about the coating.

Being that it fits 21700s, it should fit even stretch-18650s.

Dunno about small-device charging, but the low-low-cutoff option should work.

Talk about popping my balloon…

mcfarlie6996 · 2019-08-26T18:53:26.000Z

Lightbringer:

Oh, hey, if anyone wants a direct link…

https://www.ebay.com/itm/333307299061

Illumn does have the limited edition red one on sale shipping from the states. Mine is expecting to arrive today.

https://www.illumn.com/xtar-pb2s-qc-3-0-pd-3-0-portable-li-ion-charger-and-powerbank-red.html

nquinn · 2019-08-26T20:53:34.000Z

My PB2 first edition died after using it like 4 times. It charges up, but won’t charge my iphone.

TheIntruder · 2019-08-26T23:14:24.000Z

I have a couple old mice with the rubberized coating. Eventually, it will get tacky, or just wear off.

Once it reaches that state, it’s not that hard to finish the job, completely remove it, and reveal the smooth plastic underneath.

By that time, the PB2S will be yesterday’s news anyway, especially with the folks here.

I wouldn’t disagree with the dislike for the durability of such coatings, but XTAR does seem to learn.

It addressed many of the shortcomings of the PB2, and even made small improvements during the development process.

When the S was first teased, the USB-C port seemed to serve only as an input, not input/output. I suspect PD is also a later addition.

The extraction ribbon and white, instead of red, display also help usability.

My only reservation with the PB2S is that I already have a month-old, little-used PB2 I reluctantly picked up for travel, knowing the S was on the way. But perhaps it’s better to let the first buyers do some further field testing, and put the S through its paces before biting again.

Lightbringer · 2019-08-27T00:18:07.000Z

TheIntruder:

The extraction ribbon and white, instead of red, display also help usability.

You got a red one? My blue one has a blue ribbon. Color-coordinated… :laughing:

Klotski · 2019-08-27T04:43:38.000Z

I got my today.
I would say the rubber feels comparable to the rubber Dewalt and Milwaukee use on the cordless tools maybe just a little more silicone or sticky feel, it’s definitely not soft. The quality seems very good and I personally don’t think it will be problem long term.
I loaded it with a couple new Molicel 217000 P42A batteries that were previously charged to 100% and it charged my S9 from 46% to full in approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes. When finished it had 77% left.
I don’t have much stuff that requires low current mode, so I am curious what others have to say about how well that works.

fran82 · 2019-08-27T05:54:59.000Z

Wait a moment…

The displays are not white in all?

Some sre white… Some are red??

Wtf??

TheIntruder · 2019-08-27T07:06:31.000Z

Lightbringer:

TheIntruder:

The extraction ribbon and white, instead of red, display also help usability.

You got a red one? My blue one has a blue ribbon. Color-coordinated… :laughing:

I haven’t got one…yet…but it will be red. But if they made a blue one with a yellow ribbon, or a black one with a red ribbon… :money_mouth_face:

fran82:

Wait a moment…

The displays are not white in all?

Some sre white… Some are red??

Wtf??

Before it was released, all the preview materials showed a red display (as well as input-only C port, and no ribbon).

Now that it has been released, the marketing material shows a white display, as do the review units that have made it into people’s hands.

But, Illumn is selling a red version, with a red display, billed as a “LIMITED Red LED Edition.”

So, changes were made to the original design, and perhaps XTAR just needed a way to get rid of the red displays it already had on hand but didn’t make it into the final product.

If you want the red display, that’s the source for it, and in a reversal, it’s cheaper than the other options so far.

Grigio · 2019-08-27T08:41:00.000Z

Displays in red are the “special/limited” edition.

fran82 · 2019-08-27T10:22:42.000Z

Thanks for the info.

I prefer white led.

But…. Two things stop me from buying: the price and the rubber coating….

Phlogiston · 2019-08-27T11:10:12.000Z

Thanks for the review, Lightbringer - I’m definitely interested, now that it takes protected 18650s.

Found more images and specs on the AliExpress listing:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/4000107760986.html

Only 2A at 5V (10W)? That’s odd, given that it can do 2A at 9V (18W) and 1.5A at 12V (also 18W).

I really want the USB-C specified 3A at 5V… I think I’ll hold off on buying one until I see some HKJ-style measurements.

dekozn · 2019-08-29T21:57:05.000Z

Can it be used as an ups?

light-wolff · 2019-08-29T23:48:48.000Z

Regarding rubber coating: it depends.
My smartphone has a rubber coated back, 3 years old, still fine.
The previous mobile also had a rubber coated back, carried it in my pocket from 2006 to 2016, now retired, the coating is still fine, just a bit worn off on the edges, but not gooey.

mattlward · 2019-08-30T13:39:59.000Z

I have the PBS2 and really love it! I run with a set of NCR lower discharge high capacity cells and find the unit to be super handy and it provides a spare flashlight battery if need be. The low charge current thing does drive me nuts, may be enough to make me get the new one. Just not crazy about the unit getting bigger.

Lightbringer · 2019-08-30T15:51:17.000Z

Unno, got mine right here and it doesn’t bug me. Maybe ’cause I don’t have an original PB2? Still, the ’S doesn’t seem all that big to me. Not like I keep it in my pocket or anything…

dekozn · 2019-09-02T01:02:28.000Z

Thanks for testing the ups function.

Lightbringer · 2019-09-13T17:46:53.000Z

Nice techie review of detailed charging/discharging performance at Test/review of Xtar PB2S Charger & power bank !

Seems the PB2S is nicely designed both inside and out!

Lightbringer · 2024-12-23T02:23:26.940Z

Hmm, no idea why this got stuck into my “lookit this!” suggestions… maybe 'cause I mentioned the PB2S elsewhere?

Anyhoo, this is the one I just used t’other day, and it still works fine. Used it as a powerbank for some doodads after running out of usb ports, and it recharged just fine with the come-with 18650 and 21700. Over 5yo… not bad.

The rubber coating is still fine. Not too tacky, 'though the bottom picks up every trace of lint and fuzz like a Swiffer. Haven’t gotten arsed enough to clean it off.

So… there it is. Dunno if anyone else’s got sticky or gooey or whatever, but mine’s still chugging along.