In today’s digital world, portable devices have become integral to our daily lives, especially smartphones, tablets and smartwatches.

With the rapid advancement of technology, such devices have become more sophisticated and powerful, enabling us to stay connected, productive, and entertained on the go. This increased functionality and usage have also led to a growing need for power on demand. No longer can we afford to be tethered to a wall outlet; our devices require a reliable and portable power source to keep up with our busy lifestyles.

I’ve been testing one such device for charging smartphones (and tablets) that stands out in a crowded marketplace – the Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank. This compact, lightweight and durable charging solution fits the bill in terms of size, weight, portability, and convenience. It delivers power to keep your phone powered up and ready to go, whether you use it wirelessly or with the provided charging cable.

In this review, I’ll take a closer look at its features, performance, and specifications.

Design and Build:

The Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank features a premium aramid fibre texture that gives it a durable and stylish design. Aramid fibres are used in aerospace and military applications and in various lightweight consumer items ranging from phone cases to tennis rackets.

Using lightweight aramid fibre provides reliable protection against accidental scratches and wear. Its resistance to abrasion and heat ensures that the power bank will remain in good condition even after prolonged use. The compact design allows it to fit easily in a pocket or bag, making it a great companion on daily travel.

I like the unique texture and appearance, which makes it look sleek and elegant. It matches the protective case on my Galaxy Z Flip 5 foldable smartphone (also a Benks product they sent me last year; read my review of the Benks ArmorAir Case for Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 published in September 2023).

Performance:

With a capacity of 5000mAh, the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank can charge most compatible smartphones to full capacity at least once. Its compact size and lightweight design make it a great option when you need a quick power top-up on the go.

The power bank features fast charging with low-temperature control, ensuring your device performs at its best when it matters most.

So, how much of a charge does the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank 5000mAh give you?

As ever, an answer will always begin, “It depends…” Benks says most modern smartphones have batteries ranging from 2000mAh to 4000mAh (my Z Flip 5 battery is 3700mAh). A 5000mAh power bank can fully charge a 2500mAh phone battery approximately two times. For phones with larger batteries, like 4000mAh, it can provide one full charge and perhaps some extra.

I have been using this power bank as a top-up charging device for my phone, not a get-from-zero-to-100% kind of resource. It’s a great solution when you just need some extra juice at a time and place when you can’t readily fully charge your phone from a mains supply or it’s not convenient to do so.

Wireless Charging and Magnetic Grip:

One of the standout features of the Benks ArmorGo 5000mAh Power Bank is its support for wireless charging, when you place your smartphone onto the power bank where a magnet grips it. This allows for seamless switching between wired and wireless charging, making power-ups even more convenient.

This brings me to an important note on the magnet and grip.

My experience with charging was excellent – when I place my Galaxy Z Flip 5 onto the power bank, it works readily and well, wirelessly charging the phone rapidly. I got accustomed to doing this frequently when away from the office (and even sometimes when in the office for the pure convenience).

But if I lift the phone, the power bank drops off, no matter how I place it. I suspect this is because I have a protective cover that, even as feather-light and slim as it is, interferes with the magnet’s ability to maintain a strong enough grip between the power bank and phone.

Only if I remove the protective case from the phone is the magnetic grip strong enough, as this short video clip shows (it has no commentary):

The phone weighs 187 grams and the protective case just a few grams. Perhaps those few grams make the total weight just too much? Or perhaps the magnet simply isn’t strong enough. Either way, I wouldn’t want to have to remove the protective case every time I tried to use the power bank; that’s hardly practical. I don’t have any other phone that enables wireless charging, so I couldn’t test it on a different device.

For me, this isn’t a show-stopper, as simply placing the phone onto the power bank is good enough. Plus, I can always use the cable for a wired connection and also take advantage of the power bank’s fast-charging capability. Still, the wireless charging feature and portability are convenient, so this situation is a bit of a niggle and adds a dent to my review score.

Incidentally, you can wirelessly charge a tablet with a power bank if your tablet supports Qi wireless charging. But just because you could, it doesn’t mean that you should.

Key Specifications:

• As Tested Capacity: 5000mAh
• Material: 600D aramid fibre, ABS, aluminium alloy, and magnets
• Weight: 113 grams
• Dimensions: 102mm (L) x 66mm (W) x 8mm (H)
• Charging Port: USB-C
• Wireless charging: Supported, allowing for seamless switching between wired and wireless charging 

Should You Buy One?

The Benks ArmorGo Power Bank stands out for its sleek and durable design, compact size and weight, and wireless charging capability.

It’s a great option if you’re looking for a slim and powerful charging solution. Its premium aramid fibre construction, attractive design, and lightweight build make it perfect for travel and use with your phone or tablet. Its 5000mAh capacity ensures that you can keep your devices topped up on the go.

While this capacity would be sufficient for most, you might want to consider the 10000mAh version: double the capacity for even more convenience and peace of mind. Also think just a year or two ahead where mobile device battery capacities are very likely to increase quite a bit beyond 5000mAh and so will need more powerful charging solutions. Check the Benks product page – the price differential between the two (on the UK website) is relatively small.

• 5000mAh model: £30.99
• 10000mAh model: £34.99

With the convenience of wireless charging and whatever capacity you select, in a sleek and attractive presentation, the Benks ArmorGo Power Bank is a great and affordable choice.

My rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

(Disclosure: Benks sent me the ArmorGo Power Bank 5000mAh without cost so I could try it out and publish a review. I have not received payment for this review, and Benks has not influenced what I’ve written nor seen the content before publication. The links to their website in this article are clear links with no affiliate codes. Prices mentioned are as shown on the Benks UK website on 25/8/24.)