Our Verdict
While the Flash Pro Plus impresses with rapid charging speeds and multiple outputs, it’s just too bulky and expensive for me. If you’ve got the money, it’s a nice bit of kit, but I struggle to see myself paying over $250 for a faster charging rate.
- Multiple outputs
- Quick charging
- Sturdy build
- Very bulky
- Expensive
If, like me, you spend a lot of time going from place to place, a power bank is an essential bit of kit. Still, with so many options, it’s difficult to choose which to get. Fortunately, the good people at Chargeasap have made my decision easier by sending me a Chargeasap Flash Pro Plus, the brand’s premium power bank, to try out. So, let’s get into it.
Before getting into the specifics, I have to mention early on that the Flash Pro Plus is very expensive. I’ve never spent more than around $50 on a power bank; this thing costs $289 via the official Chargeasap site. Yes, that’s more expensive than plenty of the best budget gaming phones and even some of the best portable gaming consoles, but is it worth it? Well, that’s a complicated question.
So, let’s start with the positives. If you’ve got plenty of devices to charge simultaneously, the Flash Pro Plus has you covered. It has three USB-C outputs, one USB-A output, MagSafe wireless charging for iPhone, and a wireless Apple Watch output. In terms of wattage, the USB-C outputs are 100W, 60W, and 20W, and the UCB-A is 50W, while the wireless charges are 15W for iPhone and 5W for Apple Watch. I say iPhone as Chargeasap has geared this product towards Apple users, while the regular Flash Pro is a better fit for Android.
Why you can trust our advice ✔ At Pocket Tactics, our experts spend days testing games, phones, tech, and services. We always share honest opinions to help you buy the best. Find out how we test.
Admittedly, I’d prefer two USB-Cs and two USB-As, but USB-C is becoming more common while USB-A dwindles, so it’s probably a better choice in the long run. The magnetized wireless charger is a nice touch, too, as it’s often all too easy to knock your phone off charge without realizing it.
Not only does this power bank offer multiple outputs, but it charges more than just phones. I’m not just talking about low-capacity accessories like wireless earphones; this thing can charge your Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and laptop, all at the same time. If you’re using all six outputs – four cables and wireless iPhone and Apple Watch charging – then the 100W USB-A output drops to 60W and the 60W output drops to 45W. However, even with this drop, you’re not going to find anything as quick or with as many outputs on the market, and 60W is still fast enough to get the best Android phones fully charged in less than two hours.
As for the power bank itself, that charges pretty quickly too. I got from flat to 100% in around an hour and 15 minutes. Once you’re fully charged, you can get about five or six full juices from the 25,000mAh graphene-composite battery inside the Flash Pro Plus, more still if your phone has a lower 3,000 or 4,000mAh battery.
For those who don’t know, a graphene-composite battery like the one in this is much more efficient than the sort of lithium-polymer battery in cheaper power banks. They also last longer, with Chargeasap suggesting a five-year life span, despite only offering a two-year warranty. I’ll have to revisit this review in 2029 to tell you if that holds true.
Another highlight of the Flash Pro Plus is its 1.3-inch OLED display, which enables you to see the power output of each connection. This is particularly useful for a hardware writer like me who is always testing the charging speeds and wattage of smartphones and portable consoles, but even if you’re just a regular user, it’s nice to be able to know how efficient your device and any cables you might be using are.
So, those are the positives, but unfortunately, it’s not just the price that makes me a little skeptical about the Flash Pro Plus. For lack of a better term, this thing is an aluminum tank. It’s big, it’s heavy, and it’s not winning any beauty contests. While the aesthetics aren’t much of a concern for a power bank, the weight might be a little offputting. When looking for a new power bank, I’m looking for something that feels super portable. At 583g, this thing is heavier than three iPhone 15 handsets combined. That, to me, does not feel super portable.
It’s worth saying that while the Flash Pro Plus isn’t extremely portable, it is incredibly durable. Not only is this thing safe to use on a plane – it’s both TSA and EASA approved – but I think you could probably drop it out of one and be fine. Of course, that’s a bit of an exaggeration, and I don’t recommend you try it, but I have no doubts that if I accidentally dropped this thing down the stairs or on hard concrete, it wouldn’t break.
While a complimentary carry case adds to the portability a little, I’m struggling to decide whether I think the rapid charging speeds and multiple outputs cancel out the trade-off for the Flash Pro Plus’ sheer weight. I like to travel light, and while my old beaten-up power bank isn’t the quickest charger, and it’s not compatible with my Steam Deck, it barely takes up any space in my backpack at all.
All-in-all, I have to say that the Flash Pro Plus is the best power bank I’ve ever used. However, considering how expensive it is, it should be. Whether or not it’s worth it depends on how much you value the multiple outputs and rapid charging rate, though I personally would find it hard to part with almost $300 for a power bank. However, if you’ve got the money, you might as well get the best there is.