Power bank fans rejoice! Anyone who uses a mobile device, whether it be a smartphone, tablet, action camera, or even a laptop, knows the importance of carrying a backup battery pack, but given the large number of options available online, you might feel overwhelmed, understandably. Aside from the various charging specs, ports, and even cables that need to be taken into consideration, there are lots of competing brands, but very few can deliver upon their promises, that is unless…you’re talking about the Jackery PowerBar 77. Featuring 2 x USB A ports, 1 x USB Type C port, an LCD screen displaying the battery percentage and a 110v AC Outlet on the back side of the unit. Yes, this 110v AC Outlet actually charges over Type C (acts as both an input and output) instead of requiring a proprietary power brick. Product page. Read more for our full review.
Straight out of the box, you’ll notice that the PowerBar 77 does have some weight to it, and for good reason, its AC outlet is powerful enough to supply between 45 minutes and 2 hours of power to connected devices depending on their power draw, thanks to a quad 18650 battery array that provides 20,800 mAh or 76.96Wh capacity. Whether it be lights, laptops, displays, cameras, or other devices. We connected a 2018 MacBook Pro (15″) as well as a 2015 MacBook Pro (13″) was able to fully charge either of them with some power to spare, and when the Powerbar is on, you’ll hear a small (yet ultra quiet) cooling fan that automatically turns on during use.
The PowerBar’s build quality is second to none, or at least when it comes to battery packs, despite the shell being made from heavy duty plastic – weighs around 1.5-pounds. Sure, it will fit in larger pockets, but easily slides into just about any bag / backpack. If you happen to have a USB-A QuickCharge 3.0-compatible device, one of the ports can charge them at super speed. Even without QC 3.0, it was able to fully charge an iPhone X between 4-5x and a standard 10.5″ tablet around 3-4x. Now if you’re looking to charge even higher power devices, like the Xbox One, PS4, etc., the maximum power output is 100W so the AC output will automatically shut off to protect itself and your device.
Running low on power? Simply use the included USB Type C adapter that will charge it from empty to full in 5-hours or slightly less. Or, if you’re on the go, and have a USB PD outlet your vehicle, it will charge itself just as quickly. However, using a solar panel ([email protected]) may take a bit longer, but if you’re out in the middle of nowhere, it can still get the job done with a full charge in about 2-days.
Bottom line, is it worth $129.99? If you’re a mobile warrior, a student, office worker, or just someone who likes the outdoors, this is definitely the battery pack to get, as it includes an AC outlet, two USB-A ports, and a USB-C port, you can charge just about any mobile device, without having to bring multiple battery packs. More information.
