I tested a solid-state portable battery for a week - now lithium-ion feels old school

"I've tested countless power banks over the years, and they have all made use of lithium-ion batteries. These have the advantage of being cheap and have high energy density, but they can, if provoked too much, burst into flames. Needless to say, that's not a good thing. This is where solid-state cells come into play. These ditch the flammable electrolyte solution found in lithium-ion batteries for a non-flammable solid."

"This 5,000mAh/19Wh wireless charging power bank is perfectly designed to fit the iPhone. It measures 4.0 x 2.7 x 0.4 in/102.7 x 68 x 11 mm and weighs 4.8 oz/137 g. The magnetic wireless charger is built to Qi2 standards, which means that it can output up to 15W of power for a fast charge. The magnets are also strong enough to securely hold the charger to the phone when in use."

"There's also a single USB-C port that handles charging (maximum output of up to 20W, maximum input of up to 15W), and it can run alongside the wireless charging pad at up to 15W. The power bank also supports pass-through charging, so it can be charged via USB-C while it's wirelessly charging a phone. I like this feature because I can use a single-outlet charger when traveling light to charge both my iPhone and my power bank overnight."

"There's a button on the power bank to activate it, and a color display that shows power levels and charging/discharging power. The display is nice and clear, and contains all the information you need. This definitely adds to the power bank's quality feel. The power bank comes with a lanyard that doubles as a USB-C-to-USB-C cable. This is a nice touch because there's a fighting chance that you'll have a cable when you need it."

Solid-state cells replace flammable liquid electrolytes with a non-flammable solid to reduce fire risk compared with lithium-ion batteries. The SolidSafe 5K provides 5,000mAh/19Wh capacity with a magnetic Qi2 wireless charger delivering up to 15W. The unit measures 4.0 x 2.7 x 0.4 inches and weighs 4.8 ounces. A single USB-C port supports up to 20W output and 15W input and can operate alongside the wireless pad for simultaneous charging. Pass-through charging enables charging both the power bank and a phone from one outlet. A color display shows power levels and charging/discharging power, and a lanyard doubles as a USB-C cable.

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