Laser's new Chargecore powerbanks use safer Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries
Rated to last for up to 5,000 cycles and more thermally stable and non-combustible than Lithium-ion batteries, these new powerbanks seem like a no-brainer.
As you might expect, my home is full of batteries. Not just boring old AA batteries, either – I'm talking rechargeable batteries in all manner of gadgets, from phones to portable power stations.
And with that many batteries lying around, there's a part of me that worries about the dangers. Barely a week goes by without somebody's house burning down because a (generally cheap, unreliable) Lithium-ion battery decided to go pop.
But Lithium Iron Phosphate batteries - or LiFePO4, for short - are much safer. It's the technology you find in most of the larger portable power stations, like the EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 or the Laser NRGVault PV1500.
Laser has decided to bring that technology to its powerbank lineup under the Chargecore sub-brand. That's the same brand as the company's USB-C AA batteries, but different to the outdoorsy NRGVault sub-brand.
Naming conventions aside, the decision to shift to the LiFePO4 technology for its powerbanks is a good one for consumers. For a start, the technology is considered safer, being less prone to overheating and offering a wider operating temperature.
There are no toxic heavy metals inside, like Cobalt, Nickel or Lead, making it a better option for the environment as well.
But more than that, LiFePO4 batteries tend to last longer. Laser's new SafeCharge Max lineup of products promise up to 5,000 charge cycles, compared to 500-1000 cycles on its traditional Lithium-ion batteries.
Let's talk specs
There are three models in the new powerbank lineup, ranging in battery capacity from 5,000 mAh to 20,000 mAh.
Depending on the capacity you get the ability to charge 2-3 devices simultaneously, with the 20,000 mAh model offering two USB-A and a USB-C port with 20W fast charging.
All models have a clear LCD display that shows how much juice is still left in the battery, and the powerbanks are available in a range of colour options.
Pricing and availability
These new powerbanks are available to buy now direct from Laser, or at Harvey Norman stores. Pricing looks like this:
| Capacity | RRP | Available Colours |
|---|---|---|
| 20,000mAh | $69.95 | Black Titanium, White Titanium |
| 10,000mAh | $49.95 | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Aquatic Awe, Sunset Coral |
| 5,000mAh | $29.95 | Black Titanium, White Titanium, Aquatic Awe, Sunset Coral |
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