The Zens Semi-Solid-State Powerbank: a modest but worthwhile battery breakthrough

Next-generation battery technology is much like fusion power: a major breakthrough is always a year or two away. We keep being promised things like laptop batteries that can last for a month, and true wireless charging throughout a room. None of it ever materializes.

However, one modest but still worthwhile breakthrough in battery tech is real and available today: solid-state powerbanks – including a new MagSafe model from Zens …

My colleague Fernando Silva tested one solid-state MagSafe battery last month and I’ve been testing another. Technically, the Zens Semi-Solid-State Powerbank is, as the name suggests, a hybrid battery tech.

Zens made that choice because solid-state batteries have the greatest energy density, but don’t offer the best performance and lifespan. Combining the two battery techs aims to deliver the best of both worlds.

Specs

The 5000mAh version measures just 8mm thick and is otherwise fairly typical in size for a MagSafe battery at 10.2x7cm. There’s also a 10,000mAh variant with the same dimensions but a thickness of 1.4cm.

It’s Qi 2.2 compatible, meaning that it offers up to 25W of charging with the iPhone 16 series and up, or 15W with earlier models. In addition to powering an iPhone, it’s also compatible with any AirPods model with wireless charging support.

Look & feel

The powerbank is a very dark gray, with close to a black appearance. It has squircle-like rounded corners, a matte finish on the outside and a rubberized one on the inside to protect the iPhone from scratches.

There is a relatively discreet Zens branding above five extremely small charge-state LEDs, and a USB-C charging socket at the bottom.

In use

I’ll be the first to admit that I’m not a natural candidate for a MagSafe battery as I work from home and my iPhone spends most of its life sitting on a MagSafe charger with the maximum charge capacity set to 80%.

There are two scenarios where iPhone battery life does become an issue for me. First on long cycle rides where I’m using it for navigation, and second on long days travelling. I tested it in both scenarios and found that it roughly doubles the battery life of my fully-charged iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Using the iPhone with the charger attached does obviously add weight (122g), but not to an extent that makes it impractical. The added bulk is pretty much the same as the Apple MagSafe wallet I usually have attached.

Pass-through charging makes it very convenient to use. I can simply plug a charger into the battery while it’s attached to the phone in order to simultaneously charge both devices.

Pricing & conclusions

Sure, it’s not the complete revolution in battery tech companies would have us believe is just around the corner, but for me this is a notable improvement on earlier and bulkier devices. Coupled to a GaN power brick, it really does make for a much more compact and lightweight setup than previous generations of technology.

At $59.99 for the 5,000mAh version and $79.99 for the 10,000mAh model, it’s a little pricier than conventional tech, but I would say is well worth the premium for the slim and lightweight form factor. Both models are available with immediate shipping from the Zens website.

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