REASONS TO BUY
Tiny
Inexpensive
Extremely portable
REASONS TO AVOID
No added features
Low discharge rate
Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350 Review
If you want the most portable battery possible, then this petite power pack should be your first choice
This is one of our all-time favorite micro chargers.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ March 4, 2019
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
Our Verdict
Finishing quite close to the top of the group, the Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350 is one of our overall favorite battery packs due to its exceptionally convenient to carry and compact form factor. This pint-sized power pack doesn't have the same discharge capabilities and has far less capacity than its larger brethren, but it does have enough juice to almost completely charge most phones. On top of that, it is also one of the least expensive products that we have tested, making it a great bargain buy and our first choice to recommend for anyone who values portability above all else.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The mini 3350 finished just behind the Anker PowerCore 5000 and ahead of the PowerCore II Slim 10000 in our overall results. The PowerCore 5000 and the 3350 both cost about the same, but the 5000 does have slightly higher overall capacity and discharge rate, usually allowing you to completely charge a totally dead smartphone. However, the 3350 is definitely more compact and portable. The PowerCore II Slim 10000 has more capacity than either of them and can charge phones faster, but it is a bit more expensive and much less convenient to carry.
Our largest and smallest battery side by side.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Portability
The Anker PowerCore+ mini 3350 is easily the smallest and lightest portable power pack that we have tested, weighing a little more than half as much as the next lightest battery pack.
It is also the smallest battery pack of the bunch, with a cylindrical form factor that measures a little under an inch across and 3.75" long. This compact size makes it super comfortable and convenient to carry in almost any size pocket.
It's so small that it is easy to forget you are carrying it.
Giving an idea of just how small the PowerCore+ mini is.
Capacity
For our discharge tests, we usually conduct them with the resistive load set for both a 2.4 amp and a 1 amp discharge rate, but the 3350 has a maximum output of 1 amp, so we restricted our testing to that single discharge rate.
At this rate, we were able to pull 1941 milliamp-hours out of this battery, or about 58% of its stated capacity. In general, this is about average for these products. This battery is claimed to charge a completely dead Samsung Galaxy S6 to 80% or charge an iPhone 6 1.3 times, when the phone is not in use while charging. This held up to testing, as we were able to charge a Galaxy S8 to 70%, which is about equivalent to 80% of an S6, due to the S8's slightly larger battery charger.
Some batteries are more pocket-friendly than others.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Added Convenience
The bare-bones nature of this product didn't deliver a stellar performance in this metric. This tiny portable charger only has a single USB output, so it is restricted to charging a single device at a time.
It doesn't really have that much of a battery level indicator, only having a single LED, rather than a series of them. It doesn't have a built-in flashlight and also lacks integrated cables or a charging plug, requiring you to use your own USB wall brick.
The green light indicates that the battery is charged.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
However, it does have one of the longer warranty periods of the group that offers limited coverage over 18 months.
The mini 3350 takes a while to charge considering it has such a small capacity.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Recharge Time
While this battery is one of the smaller ones of the group, it doesn't charge at a particularly fast rate, so it takes almost five hours to completely recharge.
However, this is still a bit faster than the average time of the group.
Value
The PowerCore+ mini 3350 is a solid value, offering excellent performance at a low price if you are searching for a compact charger.
Conclusion
The mini 3350 is our top recommendation for anyone who cares most about their portable charger having a compact form factor and being lightweight.
—David Wise and Austin Palmer
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