The JOYROOM PODIX PR70 is a high-output laptop power bank built for desks, travel and multi-device charging.
Our Verdict
JOYROOM PODIX PR70 verdict
What is the JOYROOM PODIX PR70?
The JOYROOM PODIX PR70 is a high-capacity portable power bank designed for laptops and other higher-demand devices, making it of special interest for photographers. While many power banks are designed for phones, this one is aimed at people carrying a laptop and a bag full of other kit, with a 25,000mAh (90Wh) battery and up to 240W of total output, enough to charge two laptops at once at 140W and 100W. It’s the sort of thing you’d sling in a bag for a day of shooting, a working trip, or a desk that never seems to have enough power around it.
One of the unique features is the pair of smart TFT displays, one on the front and one on the side, and these show you battery percentage, time remaining, temperature and the power going to each individual port. It’s built to sit horizontally on a desk, with the displays instantly readable; they don’t auto-rotate before you ask, and it comes with two integrated cables: a retractable USB-C and a second USB-C that doubles as a carry strap, so you’re less reliant on remembering to pack the right lead.
This powerbank is aimed squarely at laptop-heavy users, mobile workers, content creators, photographers and videographers charging a laptop and accessories on location, and anyone who wants clear information about what their power bank is actually doing.
The one important thing to be clear about is that it’s currently a Kickstarter pre-launch product, so what I’m reviewing is a pre-production sample, with a retail price of $149 and a super early-bird price of $75 for VIP reservations.
Specification
Capacity: 25,000mAh / 90Wh
Total output: up to 240W
Single-port output: up to 140W USB-C
Two-laptop charging: 140W + 100W
Ports: 3 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Integrated cables: retractable USB-C (2.3ft) + strap USB-C (1ft)
Maximum input: 100W (any USB-C port)
Claimed recharge time: approx. 2 hours
Output range: 1W-240W (Low-Current Mode)
Pass-through charging: supported
Displays: dual smart TFT (front + side)
Airline: under-100Wh, carry-on approved
Certification: CE, FCC
Status: Kickstarter pre-launch (pre-production sample)
Price: $149 retail / $75 super early bird (VIP)
Total output: up to 240W
Single-port output: up to 140W USB-C
Two-laptop charging: 140W + 100W
Ports: 3 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A
Integrated cables: retractable USB-C (2.3ft) + strap USB-C (1ft)
Maximum input: 100W (any USB-C port)
Claimed recharge time: approx. 2 hours
Output range: 1W-240W (Low-Current Mode)
Pass-through charging: supported
Displays: dual smart TFT (front + side)
Airline: under-100Wh, carry-on approved
Certification: CE, FCC
Status: Kickstarter pre-launch (pre-production sample)
Price: $149 retail / $75 super early bird (VIP)
Build and Handling
Taking a first look at the PR70, the first thing to say is that from a geeky perspective, I love the two screens that give you information about the power bank’s status. These screens are readable either when the unit is lying down or standing up, with the ports all positioned for easy access.
The rectangular block design does sit well horizontally on a desk, with a display on the front and another on the side, so however it’s placed, you can read what it’s doing. On the base are anti-slip silicone pads that keep it in place, and even with a couple of cables plugged in and pulling at it, it stayed stable throughout the test rather than skating around or tipping.
When it comes to connections to devices, what I like is that there are two integrated cables. There’s a 2.3ft retractable USB-C cable, which extends and retracts smoothly, and a second, shorter USB-C cable that doubles as a carry strap, so you’ve always got a lead to hand without rummaging in a bag. If you’re like me and you have a drawer full of cables and can still never find the right one, having two built-in is a genuinely welcome feature.
One thing to note about this power bank is that while it’s relatively small, it is heavy. However, for that weight, you get a 25,000mAh battery built that’s able to supply 240W; this is a bank for a bag or a desk, not for a coat pocket. If you want to travel light, then this isn’t for you, but if you’re already carrying a laptop and kit, it slots into a side pocket surprisingly well.
My one design reservation, however much I like them, is the screens; the surface is ultra glossy, and glossy surfaces will attract fingerprints and will scratch. After a month of testing, they both still look pretty good.
Features
The dual TFT displays are rather unique for a power bank, after all, all you normally need from one is backup power for your phone. However, when you’re out in the field, it’s handy to know how much power you have, and being able to monitor that on the small screens just helps you to manage your power needs a little better.
Taking a look at what those screens actually display, and on the front and side screens, you get real-time battery percentage, an estimate of the time remaining, the internal temperature, and, most usefully, the power being drawn by each individual port. This is actually a feature I would love to see on larger Power Stations. When you’re charging several things at once and trying to figure out why one’s slow, being able to see exactly what each port is doing takes the guesswork out entirely.
Taking a look at the charging itself, the PODIX PR70 is able to deliver 240W total output, split as 140W and 100W, which can run two laptops at once, with JOYROOM quoting a MacBook Pro to 50 per cent in 25 minutes. There are also four ports, three USB-C and one USB-A, which means you can charge up to four devices at the same time, and a Low-Current Mode brings the output right down to as little as 1W for small accessories like earbuds and watches that higher-powered banks sometimes refuse to charge properly.
Recharging the bank can be done at an impressive 100W through any of the USB-C ports, which JOYROOM says fills it in around two hours. Pass-through charging means you can power your devices while the bank itself charges from the mains, which is handy for a desk setup where it stays plugged in.
The 90Wh capacity is also a good balance, as sitting at just under the 100Wh threshold, it’s cleared for airline carry-on.
Performance
The PODIX PR70 performed well during the testing, charging a MacBook Pro M1 Max; it delivered the fast top-up I’d hope for, and when I plugged in a power meter, I saw the PD3.1 protocol negotiating up to 140W and PD3.0 up to 105W, so the fast-charging credentials check out in practice rather than just on the box. It got slightly warm during heavier laptop charging, as you’d expect, but nothing that gave me any concern on the sample I had.
Running several devices at once from it, and the bank stayed stable, and the displays made it easy to keep an eye on what was happening and where the charge was going, mostly into the Mac. Watching each port’s draw update in real time is oddly satisfying and practically useful when you’re trying to prioritise what charges fastest, especially when out on site. I’d go as far as to say that this type of feature is essential. The retractable cable mechanism worked well, and the horizontal design meant everything sat neatly on the desk, both in the office and out in the van, without the bank toppling under the weight of its own cables.
Through the test, the screens became the standout feature, enabling me to monitor the activity and manage the power delivery when needed. The fact that the screens show capacity delivery, charging speeds, display accuracy and general stability, just meant that the PR70 did everything I could think that I would want from a power bank.
Final thoughts
The JOYROOM PODIX PR70 definitely has geek appeal, but as the test went on, the fact that you can get so much information from those screens was really useful. If, like me, you use a laptop and other battery-powered devices, whether that’s a mobile workstation, a location shoot, or just a desk that’s forever short of power, the combination of 240W output, four ports, two built-in cables and those excellent dual displays makes it a properly practical thing to have around. The horizontal design and the at-a-glance information improve the everyday experience of using a power bank, which is not something I say often.
However, it won’t be for everyone. It’s heavy, and if all you ever charge is a phone, it’s far more bulky than you need; a smaller, lighter option would serve you better. The glossy screens attract fingerprints, but actually so do most, and that’s no reason not to get one.
There is also the fact that this is a Kickstarter pre-launch, so alongside the thought process of buying something, you’re taking on the usual crowdfunding risks, the possibility of delivery delays, of final specifications shifting, and a reservation deposit that’s non-refundable. However, this is from a well-known company that has had countless successful Kickstarter products, and as it stands, this is a great option if you need backup power for your laptops, cameras and of course phones.
