Power banks come in all sorts of shapes and sizes, ranging from little more than a dumb battery to sophisticated charging computers. Smart controls, high-speed dual charging, and high-wattage output are starting to appear on premium power banks.
I’ve been testing a power bank that packs a whole raft of advanced features into a surprisingly portable package. Meet the Cuktech 15 Ultra.
Note that while the battery capacity is 20,000mAh/72Wh at the battery’s native voltage (making this unit airline safe), when measured at the typical base USB voltage of 5V/3A, the rated capacity is 15,000mAh. More information on how to calculate this can be found here.
Sounds like a pretty basic power bank, right? Don’t let the looks deceive you.
Three ports — two USB-C ports, and one USB-A.
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First, those ports. Using a single USB-C port, you can get a maximum of 140W output. Using both USB-C ports, you get a maximum of 165W (100W and 65W). Want to use all three ports? You still get a maximum of 165W, but the power output breaks down to 100W and 45W max for the USB-C ports and 15W for the USB-A port. The power bank offers broad support for a myriad of fast-charging protocols including PPS, QC, PD3.1, FCP, SCP, and MiPPS (Xiaomi 120W max).
As for charging, this power bank can be charged using both USB-C ports simultaneously, allowing for a maximum input of 165W — what Cuktech calls Beast Mode. All you need are two chargers with a cumulative output of 165W or more.
The power bank also supports pass-through charging, so it can be charged while charging other devices.
The 1.3-inch TFT color display is also quite special. Keeping you in the loop at all times, it provides real-time data monitoring, including details about what the ports are doing, battery status, connected devices, and when the unit is in Beast Mode.
The built-in menu allows you to control how one of the USB-C ports work.
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This is a thoughtful feature because it gives you control over whether the port is used to charge other devices or to recharge the power bank itself — a particularly handy option when using the power bank to charge other power banks.
The power bank comes with a 3.2ft USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a carry pouch.
