RAVPower Ace 26800 Review

RAVPower Ace 26800
RAVPower Ace 26800

RAVPower Ace 26800

RAVPower Ace 26800 - A low price 26,800mAh USB-C power banks

Summary

The RAVPower Ace 26800 is among the lowest priced 26,800mAh USB-C power banks. Charges phones, small tablets, and Nintendo Switch. But no fast charge support. Capacity is within FAA limits.

Overall
4.4
  • Performance
    (4)
  • Design
    (5)
  • Safety
    (4.5)
  • Recharge Time
    (4)
Sending
User Review
0 (0 votes)

Pros

  • Charges most model phones at their normal rate
  • Charges Switch while you play
  • Fits in most Switch carrying cases
  • Dual input for faster recharging of power bank
  • Supports pass through charging
  • Charge two devices at once
  • Within FAA limits for lithium batteries and flights

Cons

  • Doesn’t fast charge any model phone
  • Can’t be recharged by Nintendo Switch AC Adapter
  • Doesn’t included a USB-C to USB-C cable
  • May be too big for some international airlines, check before you fly

Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I purchased the product in this review.

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[wpcd_coupon id=7057]
RAVPower Ace 26800 ports and specs

RAVPower Ace 26800 ports and specs

Model: RP-PB067
Tech Specs:
  • Ports: USB-C, USB-A x2, micro-USB
  • USB-C Output:
    • 15W USB-C (5V/3A)
  • USB-A Output:
    • 12W USB (5V/2.4A)
    • 3.1A max on both ports
  • Input:
    • 15W USB-C (5V/3A)
    • 10W micro-USB (5V/2A)
  • Capacity: 26,800mAh | 99.1Wh
  • Size: 6.8 x 3.2 x 0.9 inches | 173 x 82 x 23 mm
  • Weight: 16.4 oz | 465 grams
RAVPower Ace 26800 box and contents

RAVPower Ace 26800 box and contents

Included In Box:
  • RAVPower Ace 26800
  • micro-USB cable x2, 2.2 feet/0.66 meter
  • USB-C to micro-USB adapter
  • Pouch
Good For:
  • Travel
  • iPhone
  • Android
  • Nintendo Switch (handheld)
Estimated Number of Charges:
  • iPhone 6/7/8: 9 charges
  • iPhone Plus/X/XR: 6 charges
  • Samsung Galaxy S8/S9: 5 charges
  • Samsung Galaxy S10: 5 charges
  • Nintendo Switch: 12.5+ hours of play

First Impression

The RAVPower Ace 26800 offers a lot of capacity at a lower price. Most other 26,800mAh USB-C power banks are $20 more. But for the savings you don’t get Power Delivery, Quick Charge, or a USB-C to USB-C cable. It has a different case than RAVPower’s USB-C PD 26800 power bank. But the size and weight are almost identical. It has one of the nicer travel pouches I’ve seen. It has a side pocket designed to carry the cables or other small accessories. Keeping them separate from the power bank is nice for organization. And preventing scratches. The main pocket closes, but the side pocket does not. I wouldn’t put the USB-C to micro-USB adapter in there without attaching it to one of the cables.

 

Compared To Similar Power Banks

ChargerRAVPower Ace 26800AUKEY PB-Y3 30000 USB-CAUKEY PB-Y14 20000 USB-C

Review
PortsUSB-C, USB-A x2, micro-USBUSB-C, USB-A x2, micro-USBUSB-C, USB-A x3, micro-USB
Output15W USB-C15W USB-C

Quick Charge 3.0
15W USB-C
Capacity26,800mAh30,000mAh20,000mAh
FeaturesPass through charging

Dual input
Pass through charging
CableNo cableNo cableNo cable
Dimensions6.8 x 3.2 x 0.9 in
16.3 oz
5.9 × 3.3 × 1.1 in
20.4 oz
7.9 x 3.8 x 0.6 in
14.5 oz
PriceNo products found.No products found.No products found.

Prices are from Amazon Product Advertising API, last updated on 2024-03-19.

 

You can see more USB-C power banks here.

Device Testing

Check with your device’s manufacturer to verify which charging standards it supports.

USB Power Delivery & Quick Charge 4+ Phones

  • Apple iPhone 8/X/XR/XS
  • Essential Phone
  • Google Pixel
  • LG ThinQ/V30
  • Razer
  • Samsung Galaxy S8/S9/S10
  • Samsung Galaxy Note 8/9
  • Xiaomi Mi 8/9
  • ZTE Axon Pro 9/10

 

Using an iPhone 8 for testing we get only normal charging rates. The USB-A ports indicate they support Apple 2.4A, which would provide some fast charging. But in testing I didn’t see it kick in.

Similarly Android phones supporting USB PD won’t experience fast charging.

Quick Charge 3.0 Phones

  • HTC
  • LG
  • Motorola
  • Nokia
  • Samsung Galaxy
  • Sony
  • Xiaomi Mi 5/6
  • ZTE

 

Using a Moto G6 we confirm no fast charging support for LG, Motorola, or Quick Charge enabled Android phones. Both USB-C and USB-A ports provide 9-10W, which is a normal charge.

Nintendo Switch

 

The Nintendo Switch charges at the expected rate with a regular USB-C charger, up to 10W. That is 1-2W more than it uses while playing. So it will charge while you play. But slower than you’ve seen with its own charger.

Learn more about charging the Switch.

Dual Input

You can recharge the RAVPower Ace 26800 using either of its micro-USB or USB-C ports. You can also use both together for a faster recharge.

  • micro-USB input: 10W
  • USB-C input: 15W
  • micro-USB + USB-C: 20W

Dual input needs two USB chargers. One has to be USB-A, the other can be either USB-A or USB-C. Use one of the included micro-USB cables with the USB-A charger. If using a second USB-A charger you can use the other micro-USB cable and the USB-C to micro-USB adapter. Or if using a USB-C charger a USB-C to USB-C cable (not included).

Assuming you have a USB-C charger and cable dual input only recharges the power bank ~25% faster. Not worth the setup if charging overnight. But if you need to fast charge it is an option. Note dual input is still slower than how fast most USB-C PD/26,800mAh power banks recharge.

Using the Included USB-C to micro-USB Adapter

As a general rule it is safe to use a USB-C to micro-USB adapter. That is an adapter that turns a micro-USB connection into a USB-C connection. That’s the type of adapter included with this charger’s micro-USB cable.

It is not safe to use the opposite, turning a USB-C connection into a micro-USB connection. That would allow for connections against the USB standards. And is potentially dangerous to devices.

My USB tester showed the micro-USB cable with USB-C adapter includes a 56k Ohm resistor. That resistor is required under USB-C specs for all USB-C to USB-A cables.

The cable charged my Moto G6 at the same rate as a regular USB-C to USB-A cable.

Pass Through Charging

Pass through charging allows a portable charger to both recharge and charge a connected device. Some of the energy flows from the wall output, through the portable charger, to the device. The remaining energy recharges the portable charger itself.

The RAVPower Ace 26800 supports pass through charging a several ways:

  • Input: USB-C, Output: USB-A
  • Input: micro-USB, Output: USB-A
  • Input: micro-USB, Output: USB-C
  • Input: micro-USB + USB-C, Output: USB-A

Using micro-USB and USB-A gives a slower charge, ~33% of what you get using USB-C as either the input or the output. Using the dual input setup also slows down the output of the USB-A port by a similar amount.

The fastest output setup is micro-USB input and USB-C output. But the output exceeds the input, meaning the portable charger will continue to drain. If the portable charger has enough remaining charge this should be fine for overnight. The device’s draw will reduce as it approaches 100%, then the portable charger will get most/all the power.

Pass through charging is useful for overnight stays with limited wall chargers. It is not recommended to do so on a regular basis. It puts more heat and stress on the portable charger, which can affect its lifespan. Doing it when traveling is fine. But don’t set this up next to your bed at home every night.

Summary

The RAVPower Ace 26800 is one of the least expensive 26,800mAh USB-C power banks. But that comes at the cost of lower output. It supports regular 15W USB-C. It does not support USB Power Delivery, nor Quick Charge.

For the Nintendo Switch it charges in handheld mode as you play. But slowly.

It won’t fast charge any devices. But it will provide a consistent, regular charge rate to any model USB-C phone or small tablet. I wouldn’t recommend it for any laptop or the iPad Pro, especially if working on the go.

The 5V output limit has the advantage of extending the already large capacity. This means more charges available for your smaller USB-C devices. The latest USB-C phones will get 6 charges. It can recharge an iPad almost 2.5 times. And a Nintendo Switch up to 4 times. A similar capacity USB-C PD power bank would have ~20% less actual capacity available.

The dual input setup gives you options for recharging the power bank. You can use the included micro-USB cable with a USB-A charger. Or both micro-USB cables and the adapter with two USB-A chargers. Or use a USB-C charger and cable if you have those. Pass through charging works under all charging setups. But it charges the connected device the slowest with only micro or dual input.

The power bank falls within the FAA’s limits for flights within the United States, barely. The limit is 100Wh, this model is 99.1Wh. If traveling outside of the U.S. contact your airline before you leave. Check the limits for lithium batteries, which are based on the country of origin. Most airlines post these limits on their websites.

About RAVPower

RAVPower has U.S. based support (web, email, phone) and an 18 month warranty. The warranty can be extended to 30 months if you register the product with RAVPower. They are a respected brand within the USB-C community.

Bottom Line

The RAVPower Ace 26800 is as inexpensive of a USB-C 26,800mAh power bank as you’ll find. It includes the cables and adapter needed to recharge with any USB-A charger. But you’ll need to buy a USB-C to USB-C cable. And it doesn’t support any fast charging standards. It is best for those with smaller USB-C devices who value cost and capacity over charge time.

Buy if you:
  • Value price and capacity over speed
  • Need to keep several smaller devices powered for long travel
  • Want to recharge your power bank as infrequently as possible
Don’t buy if you:
  • Are looking for a fast charger
  • Only need it for a phone and don’t want to carry a 1 pound brick
  • Often fly overseas, to countries with more strict lithium battery limits

No products found.

You’ll want a USB-C wall charger to quickly recharge this USB-C power bank. I recommend the Anker PowerPort C 1. Or to take advantage of dual input try the RAVPower 24W Dual USB-C.

Be sure to check the Deals page to see if this or a similar charger is on sale.


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