The SOLIDZ Power Bank Model FT and the separately sold USB-C to USB-C cable used in this article were kindly provided by SOLIDZ.
When choosing a mobile battery, heat generation and safety are probably just as important as charging speed and capacity. SOLIDZ Power Bank Model FT is a mobile battery that uses semi-solid batteries.
We used the iPhone 15 Pro to check charging speed, portability, and usability of the built-in cable. I will introduce the manufacturer’s explanation and the author’s actual results separately.
Semi-solid battery and 20W output are the features of SOLIDZ
SOLIDZ Power Bank Model FT is a mobile battery sold by Makers. The company is a new business company wholly owned by Keyence, and SOLIDZ has a capacity of 5,000mAh, a maximum output of 20W, a thickness of 9.2mm, and a weight of approximately 122g.
The main unit has a built-in USB-C cable, and the selling price on Amazon is 4,790 yen (tax included). A long USB-C to USB-C cable is sold separately and can be connected to the main unit’s USB-C port if needed.
The biggest feature is the use of semi-solid batteries. According to the company, semi-solid batteries have a structure that uses less liquid electrolyte, making them less prone to thermal runaway. However, semi-solid batteries are also a type of lithium-ion battery, and the risk of ignition is not zero.
Furthermore, the company says that it conducts more than seven types of destructive tests in-house, including penetration, compression, and heating, on finished products and fully charged products. The official information we checked did not specify the timing of the implementation or the standards it complied with.
Additionally, a round PSE mark could be seen on the back of the actual machine. Mobile batteries are subject to the Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law, and products sold in Japan are required to display the round PSE mark.
Apart from the test results provided by the manufacturer, this is one piece of information that was confirmed on the actual machine.
Round PSE mark displayed on the back of the actual machine (Photo: taken by the author)
Charge iPhone15 Pro from 2% to 98%
I charged the iPhone 15 Pro using the USB-C cable built into SOLIDZ. It starts with 2% remaining and SOLIDZ fully charged.
- After 14 minutes: 31%
- After 26 minutes: 50%
- After 53 minutes: 80%
- After 121 minutes: 98%
When it reached 98%, the battery of SOLIDZ itself was empty. Although it did not reach 100%, it was able to charge from 2% to 98%.
During charging, both the iPhone and SOLIDZ became warm, but by the time it was finished they had returned to almost room temperature. This is the record that was confirmed during this use, and the safety of the product cannot be determined from this result alone.
The SOLIDZ main unit is fully charged in about 91 minutes.
After charging the iPhone and using up SOLIDZ, I charged the main unit using the separately sold USB-C to USB-C cable provided by the manufacturer.
- 4:25 p.m.: Charging begins
- 4:56 p.m.: 1/4 remaining (31 minutes)
- 5:25 p.m.: 2/4 remaining (60 minutes)
- 5:41pm: 3/4 remaining (76 minutes)
- 5:56pm: Fully charged (91 minutes)
It took about 91 minutes to fully charge from 0% equivalent. The main unit was a little warm to warm while charging, but it felt a little warm when it was finished. This is also a record of actual use and cannot be used for safety evaluation.
9.2mm thickness makes it easy to carry
I currently own 4 mobile batteries, and SOLIDZ is the second thinnest model among them. The nominal thickness is 9.2mm and the weight is approximately 122g, so you won’t have to worry about the thickness even if you stack it with the iPhone 15 Pro.
The design is based on black and has a glossy finish, which gives it a luxurious feel to me. I often use black gadgets, and the look suits my taste. I felt that it didn’t get in the way even when I put it in my pocket, and its thinness and portability were beneficial.
SOLIDZ Power Bank Model FT stacked with iPhone15 Pro (Photo: taken by the author)
The built-in cable is short but can be compensated for by purchasing separately.
The built-in USB-C cable is short. I usually use my iPhone with the mobile battery in my bag, but when I used it with just the built-in cable, it wasn’t long enough, so I put it in my pocket.
It’s thin and light, so it didn’t feel like it would get in the way even in my pocket, but it does have some limitations when it comes to handling it. However, if you connect a long cable to the USB-C port on the SOLIDZ unit, you can charge it without using the built-in cable.
This time, we used the separately sold 2.0m USB-C to USB-C cable provided by the manufacturer and confirmed the charging speed. On the official website, the member-only price is 1,580 yen (excluding tax).
It starts with iPhone15 Pro remaining 3% and SOLIDZ fully charged.
- After 11 minutes: 30%
- After 25 minutes: 50%
- After 50 minutes: 80%
- After 125 minutes: 96%
When it reached 96%, the SOLIDZ main battery was empty.
This is not a strict comparison as the remaining iPhone capacity differs by 1% at the start, but even when using the separately sold USB-C to USB-C cable, there is no big speed difference compared to when using the built-in cable.
If you prepare a long cable (sold separately), handling will be improved. On the other hand, I found it difficult to use the built-in cable alone because I often operate my iPhone with the mobile battery in my bag.
Easy to use for people who only need 5,000mAh
The good points in this actual use were the charging speed, thinness, lightness, and design. In particular, its thinness and portability were advantages that I could experience by actually using it.
On the other hand, the built-in cable is short and I felt it was inconvenient when using the iPhone with the mobile battery in my bag. You can compensate for this by preparing a long cable (sold separately), but you will need to purchase an additional one.
Another thing I was concerned about was the capacity. The nominal capacity is 5,000mAh, and in this verification, it was not possible to fully charge the iPhone 15 Pro from 2% to 100%. If you charge the battery multiple times or charge multiple devices often, the battery capacity may become insufficient.
Since I use USB-C devices such as IQOS and PCs in addition to my iPhone, I personally feel that there may be situations where I would like a little more capacity. However, this point has not been confirmed as the charging performance for the PC has not been verified this time.
Someone who seems suitable
It will be easy to use for people who value thinness and lightness, people who only need to be able to charge their iPhone once on the go, people who want to keep their luggage compact, and people who prefer a simple design.
difficult person
If you want to charge your iPhone multiple times, prioritize capacity, or charge multiple devices frequently, other options are worth considering.
After actually using it this time, I felt that SOLIDZ is a product suitable for people who value thinness, portability, and charging speed more than capacity. Although I was concerned about the shortness of the built-in cable, this mobile battery is an easy choice for those who prioritize thinness and portability over capacity.
Source: iPhone Mania
