Do You Even Need Usb-c Charging Cables If This Portable Battery Exists? My Verdict After Testing

Baseus EnerCore CR11 powerfulness bank

ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Baseus' EnerCore CR11 is simply a powerful 67W powerfulness slope that's astir arsenic compact arsenic you tin get for $63 connected Amazon.
• Its built-in retractable cablegram intends you don't person to interest astir bringing cords along, and powerful capable to apical up a laptop.
• It mightiness beryllium overkill if you're conscionable charging your telephone aliases a camera.

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I've noticed that erstwhile I'm successful contented creator mode and packing my favorite portable drone, action cameras, pocket-sized gimbal camera and portable mics -- and possibly moreover my laptop -- I'm hopeless for powerfulness to make judge that nan time isn't trim short. 

But because I'm usually packing a container to transportation each my stuff, size and weight isn't arsenic overmuch of an issue, truthful I tin return thing a small bigger than I'd person conscionable for my iPhone.

Also: The champion powerfulness banks you tin bargain successful 2025

The powerfulness slope that I've been taking pinch maine precocious connected my contented creation days is nan Baseus EnerCore CR11, and it has proved itself specified a awesome portion that I've been recommending it to different contented creators. 

There's nary uncertainty that retractable USB-C cables are a point now, pinch them making an quality connected power banks, chargers and in-car chargers (not to mention USB-C cables pinch their ain retractors -- immoderate of which are happy to hold up a 56 lb lump of iron!) from each nan large names. 

Baseus has ever been a institution that's had its oculus connected nan shot erstwhile it comes to attraction to detail, and that shows pinch nan EnerCore CR11. The retractor connected this powerfulness slope is 1 of nan smoothest I've tested, and it locks retired astatine respective different lengths (as opposed to galore wherever you only get 3 aliases four). I for illustration this because I tin make nan 2.3 ft cablegram nan correct magnitude for my needs. 

Also: The champion portable powerfulness stations to past done powerfulness outages

The 20,000mAh capacity is perfect for keeping things for illustration action cameras and drones topped up passim nan time without adding excessively overmuch successful nan measurement of weight to my cogwheel bag. If I needed thing bigger I'd beryllium looking astatine thing for illustration nan Anker SOLIX C300 DC aliases nan EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus, but these are considerably heavier than nan 13.9 ounces of nan EnerCore CR11. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The 20,000mAh capacity is capable for 3 aliases 4 smartphone recharges, a recharge of a MacBook Air, a mates of recharges of an iPad Pro. That should beryllium capable for astir demanding contented creators. 

The EnerCore CR11 is besides a beautiful powerfulness bank. This isn't thing that usually catches my eye, but this 1 is rather striking. The ammunition is simply a iridescent acheronian blue, and there's a neat, somewhat retro-looking powerfulness display. It really looks nan part. 

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

On nan broadside of nan powerfulness slope is simply a fastener that's utilized to move nan show on, and a speedy double-press activates low-current mode, allowing nan powerfulness slope to recharge low-draw gadgets for illustration earbuds, which allows this 1 powerfulness slope to covers beautiful overmuch immoderate gadget you mightiness want to return pinch you. 

Also: This bizarre instrumentality I ain really solves a existent problem (and it's only $7 connected Amazon)

One point that I really for illustration astir this powerfulness slope is really is stays bully and cool moreover nether dense load. Baseus has utilized graphene and aerospace-grade aerogel thermal insulation to dissipate nan heat, and nan on-board power spot keeps an oculus to make judge that things enactment safe and cool.

ZDNET's buying advice

I get to trial a batch of powerfulness banks, immoderate make nan cut, galore don't. The Baseus EnerCore CR11 decidedly does acknowledgment to its compact size and powerful 20,000mAh of artillery capacity, nan retractable cable, and spare USB-C port. It's besides solidly built truthful tin return nan rigors of being thrown into a battalion and taken connected adventures.

Priced astatine $63, you can't telephone this a inexpensive powerfulness bank, but it's a powerfulness slope that does precisely what it says it will do connected nan box, and is nan benignant of powerfulness slope that will springiness you galore years of service.