Seven months after launching its first semi-solid state battery that used a safer and longer-lasting solid-liquid mixed electrolyte, Kuxiu is introducing a new version with some welcome upgrades. The S3 has twice the capacity of the S2 at 10,000mAh – 5,000mAh at 7.7V (38.5Wh) – that the company says is enough to nearly double an iPhone’s battery life, but that will vary depending on the model.
The Kuxiu S3 is also Qi2.2-compatible so it can wirelessly charge compatible devices at up to 25W. Its larger battery means it’s over 100g heavier than the 145g S2, but Kuxiu has increased the number of N52 magnets it uses from 16 to 18 to help reduce the risk of the power bank being accidentally knocked off your phone. There’s an integrated kickstand now on the back, a small display showing its remaining capacity and charging status, and a built-in cable for charging other devices through a USB-C port with power delivery rated at up to 35W.
As with the previous model, the S3 is more expensive than traditional wireless power banks offering similar capacity, charging rates, and features, but the cost of the technology should drop over time as manufacturing improves and increases. It’s available now for $149.98, but temporarily discounted to $68.99. If that seems hard to stomach, remember that while the capacity of most power banks will start to degrade after 300 to 500 cycles, the S3 should only see a drop to about 80 percent capacity after 1,000 charging cycles. It will have a much longer lifespan, and is less at risk from issues like fire and thermal runaway should you accidentally drop it.