Baseus Blade 2 assessment: Extremely-sleek 65W energy financial institution with a giant caveat

Like different Chinese language accent makers, Baseus has branched out into a whole lot of new segments in latest months, and its Eli Sport 1 earbuds particularly stand out for his or her open-ear profile. However charging tech is the place Baseus is at its finest, and the model’s Blade 100W energy financial institution continues to be probably the greatest round.

With the Blade 2, Baseus is taking a barely totally different route. The main target is now on an excellent sleeker design, and at a thickness of simply 10mm, it’s simply as svelte as a telephone. The Blade 2 has a smaller 12000mah battery — as a substitute of the 20000mAh on the Blade — and as such, the ability financial institution weighs simply 328g. It retails for $89 on Amazon, however Baseus is operating an attractive deal proper now that reductions the Blade 2 by 30%, bringing the efficient value down to only $63.

Baseus Blade 2 next to Blade — (Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

There are different variations; the Blade 2 solely goes as much as 65W, so it is not as versatile at charging notebooks. It’s also obtainable in attention-grabbing coloration selections, and whereas that is not a consideration when selecting an influence financial institution, the Blade 2 seems to be lots higher than the usual black possibility of the Blade.

Side view of Baseus Blade 2 next to 100W Blade — (Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

If something, the design of the Blade 2 is rather more refined, and it conveys a way of favor that wasn’t evident on the unique Blade. The facility financial institution retains Baseus’s customized design, so that you get an oblong chassis with rounded edges that is thinner and wider than most energy banks. It would not appear like an influence financial institution at an preliminary look, and the ultra-thin design makes it simply transportable.

Baseus Blade 2 power bank against blue background

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

I am utilizing the blue coloration variant of the Blade 2, and the ability financial institution can also be obtainable in silver and orange colours. Baseus bundles a 100W USB-C to USB-C cable within the field in addition to a carrying pouch, and the lighter design mixed with new colours offers the Blade 2 a significantly better presence. Whereas I just like the design fairly a bit, the shiny plastic coat means the ability financial institution is a smudge magnet.

Baseus Blade 2 ports next to Blade

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

What I am not as enthused about is the port choice; due to the thinner design, Baseus needed to ditch the USB-A port, so that you solely get two USB-C ports on the Blade 2. That once more limits the variety of units that can be utilized with the ability financial institution; I routinely plug in equipment like smartwatches, they usually nonetheless depend on a USB-A connector.

Baseus Blade 2 has a built-in panel that shows charging information

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Like its predecessor, the Blade 2 has a built-in display screen that exhibits battery life and charging data. It’s brighter and simpler to learn, and the one difficulty I’ve with it’s that the battery stage is showcased within the middle, with the real-time charging particulars tucked away within the nook — it ought to have been the opposite manner round.

Baseus Blade 2 has two USB-C ports

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

You get the identical USB PD 3.0 charging tech, but it surely solely goes as much as 65W. This is not a difficulty with the Blade 2 because it’s evident that the ability financial institution is designed for use with telephones, and the 12000mAh battery is not giant sufficient to cost notebooks anyway. You possibly can nonetheless prime up a MacBook and have sufficient cost left over for a telephone, but when it’s worthwhile to try this constantly, you are significantly better off with the unique Blade.

Baseus Blade 2 next to 100W Blade

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

The place the Blade 2 wins out is the portability; the thinner design and lighter weight makes it the best alternative in each day use. The twin USB-C ports are nice for charging two telephones without delay, and also you get the 65W energy price range break up into 45W and 20W throughout each ports. On that word, this is a rundown of the charging profiles that you simply get with the ability financial institution:

USB-C1/C2 Output (65W Max): 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/3.25A (65W)

USB-C1/C2 Enter (60W Max): 5V/3A (15W), 9V/3A (27W), 12V/3A (36W), 15V/3A (45W), 20V/3A (60W)
USB-C1 + C2 (65W Max): 45W + 20W

I used the ability financial institution with a number of units — together with the iPhone 15 Professional Max, Pixel 8 Professional, Xiaomi 14, and Zenfone 11 Extremely — and did not see any points in anyway. It delivered a constant cost, and was in a position to totally cost two units.

Baseus Blade 2 next to Blade

(Picture credit score: Harish Jonnalagadda / Android Central)

Clearly, the most important limitation is the 12000mAh battery; whereas it’s nonetheless a good possibility for charging telephones, it would not measure up if you wish to use it with notebooks. The finest energy banks function a 20000mAh battery and 65W charging — Baseus makes one which’s simply $45 — and also you get a USB-A port. Sure, these energy banks have a “conventional” design and are not as modern because the Blade 2, however they’ve significantly better utility, and are a greater worth.