This is the English edition of a review from my Japanese YouTube channel, iestaLife. I review gadgets from my home studio in Japan, so product links go to Amazon Japan.
Quick take
MagSafe power banks that snap onto the back of an iPhone are convenient, but wireless charging can be slow, warm and wasteful. This MOMAX 5000 mAh power bank takes a different approach: it sticks to the back of the phone with MagSafe, but charges it through a built-in USB-C cable. I compared it with a popular CIO wireless MagSafe power bank. It gave me the easy handling of a MagSafe pack with the speed and lower heat of wired charging, and I think it’s about as close to the ideal power bank as I’ve found so far.
What I tested
- MOMAX 5000 mAh power bank with a built-in USB-C cable (PD 20 W), MagSafe magnetic mount
- CIO Qi2 MagSafe 5000 mAh power bank (wireless) as the main comparison
- CIO ultra-slim 3000 mAh power bank as a thin-and-light reference
- Weighed them, measured output with a USB power meter, and ran a 10-minute charging test on an iPhone
What I found
- The USB-C cable tucks into the body, so there’s no separate cable to carry and it still looks tidy. You leave it stuck to the iPhone and plug the cable in.
- Despite the built-in cable, it weighed about 119.3 g on my scale, slightly lighter than the CIO wireless model at about 121.4 g.
- My power meter showed about 19.3 W. Because it’s wired, it stays cooler, which is also easier on the iPhone’s battery.
- There’s a USB-C port on the side too, so one cable can charge the power bank itself and the phone.
In a 10-minute test with the same 5000 mAh capacity, wired charging came out ahead. Both are rated at 20 W, but wired was more efficient:
| MOMAX (wired) | CIO Qi2 (wireless) | |
|---|---|---|
| Charging method | MagSafe mount + built-in USB-C cable | MagSafe wireless (Qi2) |
| Weight (my scale) | About 119.3 g | About 121.4 g |
| 10-minute test | +10% (45% → 55%) | +8% (55% → 63%) |
| Heat | Low | Warmer |
- The downsides: you have to plug the cable in every time, which feels a bit clunkier than wireless, and the built-in cable is somewhat stiff to route.
Who it’s for
If you care about charging speed and heat more than the convenience of going fully wireless, this “MagSafe mount, wired charging” style makes a lot of sense. It’s the one I’d recommend to people who want a practical, everyday power bank. If you only top up occasionally and want the simplest experience, a wireless MagSafe pack is still nice to use.
The video is in Japanese.
Limitations
The charging test was a single 10-minute run, and the two runs started at different battery levels, so treat the numbers as a rough comparison. Weights and output are from my own scale and meter. I could no longer find this MOMAX model on Amazon Japan when I wrote this, so it may be discontinued or hard to get outside Japan.
Products
MOMAX 5000 mAh power bank with built-in cable (PD 20 W): I couldn’t find a current Amazon Japan listing for this model.
CIO Qi2 MagSafe 5000 mAh power bank (wireless comparison): on Amazon Japan
CIO ultra-slim 3000 mAh power bank (thin-and-light comparison): on Amazon Japan
The Amazon Japan links above are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Check the listing for the exact model, current price and shipping availability in your region.
More reviews in English
All Chargers & Cables (29) →Browse all English reviews →
This review is also available in Japanese.