Nitecore has introduced the fourth generation of its NB10000 power bank, refining its ultralight design while maintaining a focus on portability rather than adding unnecessary features.
Priced at $83.95, the NB10000 Gen 4 weighs 146 grams and measures 1.45 × 11.6 × 4.68cm, making it one of the lightest and most compact 10,000mAh power banks currently available.
The reduced weight is achieved through the use of a silicon-carbon anode, a battery technology increasingly found in flagship smartphones.
Despite its compact size, the power bank's 39Wh battery was able to fully recharge an iPhone 15 Pro twice during testing, with some capacity remaining. It also supports up to 22.5W output, allowing it to top up larger devices such as a 14-inch MacBook Pro when required.
The NB10000 Gen 4 also supports pass-through charging, enabling users to charge connected devices while the power bank itself is being recharged.
The device is constructed with carbon fibre sheets and carries an IPX7 water-resistance rating, allowing it to withstand rain and temporary submersion.
In testing, the power bank delivered 33.58Wh of its claimed 39Wh capacity, representing 86.1% efficiency, a slight improvement over the previous-generation model.
It also supports USB Power Delivery (PD), Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 (QC3.0) and Huawei SCP charging protocols.
Unlike the previous generation, the new model did not experience overheating or shutdown issues when its battery level became low. A brief interruption in power delivery was observed only when the unit was nearly depleted before charging resumed almost immediately.
Among the few additional features is an animated RGB light surrounding the dual USB-C ports. According to Nitecore, the lighting helps users locate the ports in dark environments. The lights can be activated by double-tapping the device or through the touch-sensitive wake button and can also be disabled.
The power bank also includes an Eco Mode, which reduces output to 5W (5V at 1A) for charging low-power devices such as smartwatches, earbuds and headlamps while improving overall efficiency.
The NB10000 Gen 4 succeeds by focusing on portability, efficiency and durability rather than feature-heavy extras.
Its biggest drawback is price. At $83.95, it costs significantly more than many standard 10,000mAh power banks and is considerably more expensive than the $64.95 launch price of the previous-generation model.
For backpackers, endurance athletes and anyone prioritising low weight over cost, however, the reduction in weight may justify the premium.
