Hello!
The growth of the power of mobile devices is faster than the growth of the capacity of their batteries, which forces active users to purchase external mobile power supplies for their gadgets. The market for such devices is flooded with a large number of proposals, differing both in form and in capabilities. As usual, the most efficient and productive solutions are more expensive than their less efficient counterparts.
The company Xiaomi stands apart, which manages to produce high-quality external batteries on the market and at the same time set a democratic price for them.
Today we will talk about a model that went on sale more than a year ago, but for a long time remained in short supply due to its focus on the domestic market, which meant small unofficial deliveries to the Russian market – ZMI 10 variants QB815 and QB820, which differ in battery capacity. batteries (15,000 and 20,000 mAh, respectively).
Today I have the 'younger' model QB815 on the test.
The price may seem high, especially against the background of other similar devices from the company, but only until you start to get acquainted with the list of ZMI 10 features. But more on that later. To begin with, let's talk about technical characteristics, equipment, appearance, etc.
Specifications
- Model: ZMI 10 (QB815)
- Dimensions: 160 x 81.5 x 22mm
- Weight: 404g
- Body material: aluminum
- Battery:
- Manufacturer – LG
- The stored energy of the internal battery – 54 Wh
- 9000mAh @ 5V (TYP 2.4A)
- 15000 mAh @ 3.6 V (total cell capacity)
- Outputs:
- 1 USB Type-C
- Supports USB Power Delivery up to 40W
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support up to 18W
- 2 USB-A
- Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 support up to 18W
- Support for charging low-current devices
- Built-in USB 2.0 – hub
Packaging and appearance
The battery is delivered in a white box familiar to us from other devices of the company with the image of the device on one side and technical characteristics on the other.
In addition, there is a sticker with a protective layer, under which there is a code for verifying the device's authenticity on the ZMI website.
By the way, ZMI is a company that manufactures all batteries for Xiaomi.
In addition to the device itself, the box contains a double-sided USB Type-C cable, as well as the usual microUSB cable with a USB Type-C adapter. Well, where without instructions in Chinese.
The device itself is most reminiscent of a dark, brushed aluminum spectacle case – sloping edges without sharp corners or highlights.
All connectors are located on the front end. By the way, an interesting detail: inside the connector you can see the logo Xiaomi – stylized letters Mi.
On the side, closer to the edge, there is a multifunctional device control button, a charge indicator in the form of four LEDs, as well as a separate larger indicator of the USB hub mode and the charge mode of low-current devices (when activated, it lights up in blue).
Along the end there is a plastic edging, for which, it turns out, it is convenient to hold the device – the edging provides a more confident grip.
On the back you can see the technical data printed in dark gray paint.
There is nothing more remarkable in the appearance of the battery. On the other hand, it should charge, not surprise and shock, so let's write it down as a plus.
Operation modes are controlled using a single button and includes the following types of commands:
1. Single press:
– in standby mode, it will turn on the voltage supply (wake up the device) and display the current charge level
– restart during operation
– reset of the triggered protection mode
2. Double short press:
– activation of the charging mode for low-current devices. In it, the battery will not go into standby mode for two hours if the controller considers that there is no load. Relevant when charging fitness bracelets, trackers and similar devices with low charging currents.
The same two presses will activate the USB hub mode.
Capabilities
To charge the battery itself, you need to connect it to a power source via the USB Type-C port. This port supports Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 up to 12V and USB Power Delivery up to 15V, so charging is fast.
The total charge time varies greatly depending on the power source used and can be an incredible three hours for this capacity using a 40W PSU.
The ZMI 10 allows you to charge three devices at the same time – two via the USB A ports and another via the USB Type C port.
In addition, pass-through charging is supported – you can put the battery on charging via USB Type C and at the same time connect two devices to it via USB A.
Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 will not work in this mode for USB A ports.
Interestingly, support for QC3 is implemented – when charging one device, QC3 will work on any of the ports, but when two or three devices are connected at the same time – only on USB Type C.
This should be taken into account if you plan to charge several devices at the same time.
A little more detail about the USB hub function.
You can, for example, charging a laptop using the ZMI 10 through the USB Type-C port, connect a flash drive, mouse, etc. to the other two ports.
In this case, the laptop will be charged only if the laptop supports the Power Delivery technology.
If you connect the ZMI 10 to a laptop that does not support Power Delivery, the laptop will not charge, but the USB hub will work.
When using a USB hub, external devices will be powered by the ZMI 10 battery instead of the laptop.
In this case, if the battery does not receive a load within one minute, it turns off and goes into standby mode.
The battery also has protection, moreover, to prevent damage to the battery, several of its options are provided:
- Short circuit;
- Incorrect connection polarity;
- Excess input voltage;
- Battery recharge;
- Deep discharge of the battery;
- Exceeding the temperature of the batteries.
When one of the above events occurs, the battery is disconnected.
Thanks to the support of Power Delivery technology, using the ZMI 10, you can charge not only smartphones and tablets that are familiar to owners of external batteries, but also laptops that support this technology. And these are many modern laptops, including Apple Macbook / MacBook Pro 2017, Dell XPS 13 ″, Huawei Matebook X, line Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air, HP Elite X2 and more
In addition, charger emulation is supported Apple, so that the battery can charge, for example, tablets iPad with a maximum current of up to 2.4 A.
Charging
Unfortunately, I didn't have a laptop with Power Delivery support at hand, so I had to be content with experimenting with phones.
As a result, the ZMI 10 charged the Galaxy S8 with a fresh battery from 5% to 100% in just under two hours (1 hour 52 minutes) and was able to do so three full times and the fourth time by 46% more.
For the Galaxy S7 Active with 4000 mAh battery, these figures were 2 hours 27 minutes and almost three full times.
The results are controversial – on the one hand, it is better than that of many analogues from other manufacturers, on the other hand, it is worse than that of another battery model from Xiaomi – Mi Power Bank 16000, which demonstrates a higher real capacity.
Conclusion
The battery fits well in the hand, pleasantly cooling the palm with an aluminum case. It has a laconic appearance, which means it is suitable for different styles of clothing.
But appearance is not the main advantage. Outstanding performance is more important.
The only thing the ZMI 10 lacks is the presence of wireless charging. For all other parameters, the device can be described as excellent.
However, it should be understood that you will have to pay more for such an impressive set of features than for a more familiar external battery without support for Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery at the same time. Therefore, looking closely at this device, you should clearly understand why you need it and what gadgets you plan to charge with it.
On the other hand, batteries of this kind can be taken with a reserve for the future – since the margin of safety in terms of the number of technologies and capabilities of the ZMI 10 should be enough for a long time.
At the moment, the device can be purchased at a price of 3,000 to 5,000 rubles. in Russian retail. On Chinese Internet sites, the price tag will not be much lower.
Whether the device costs so much money or not, everyone decides for himself, and as for me, I consider such a gadget necessary and will purchase it in the very near future.
The author expresses his gratitude for the device provided for review by the Ulyanovsk branch of the X | STORE store.