REASONS TO BUY
Rugged
Recharges quickly
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Less portable than others
OtterBox Power Pack 10000 Review
If you want a portable charger that can keep up with your off-the-grid adventures, then the OtterBox is best for you
The OtterBox Power Pack 10000.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ October 25, 2018
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
Our Verdict
If you want a portable power pack that has a bit more protection from the elements than you would typically find, you should definitely consider the OtterBox Power Pack 10000. This battery pack is a bit more expensive than some of the other models and isn't quite as convenient to use, but definitely leads the pack when it comes to being rugged and ready for the great outdoors!
Our Analysis and Test Results
In our overall rankings, the OtterBox finished behind the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 and just ahead of the Anker PowerCore Speed 20000. The OtterBox is a little more cumbersome to carry than the PowerCore II Slim 10000 due to its ruggedized exterior, but is still a bit easier to fit in a pocket and weighs less than the Speed 20000. However, it does cost about $15 more than the PowerCore II Slim, but $10 less than the PowerCore Speed 20000.
The battery is a little hard to fit in a pocket than some of the slimmer models.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Portability
The OtterBox is comparably sized to other 10,000 mAh battery modules, having a rectangular package that measures 6" long, 3" wide, and 0.63" deep.
The OtterBox can only charge a single device at a time.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
It is also about average in weight for these products, weighing in just shy of ¾ of a pound, or 11. 34 ounces.
The OtterBox Power Pack actually fits quite well in the pockets on most pairs of pants — surprising, given its ruggedized exterior. You can definitely tell that it is there, but it is far from unbearable to walk around with this or to sit down with it in a front or back pocket.
The OtterBox did above average in our capacity test.
Credit: Austin Palmer
Capacity
We initially used our dummy load set for a 2.4 amp discharge rate, but encountered issues with the pack shutting off after approximately an hour and twenty minutes. We ended up dropping it down to about 2.1 amps to get the battery to stay on and had to drop it down to around 1 amp right before the battery died completely to keep it from resetting. In total, we were able to extract about 67% of its stated capacity, or 6669 mAh, at these higher discharge rates. We repeated this test at a 1 amp discharge rate the entire time and found that we were able to get a little more juice out — about 7085 mAh — or 70%.
10,000 mAh packs are usually about the size of a smartphone, just a bit taller.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
This power pack didn't have any claims regarding its performance charging devices a certain number of times, so we used the same claims as the Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 to compare against. Using these, the OtterBox should be able to charge a Samsung Galaxy at least 2.2 times, an iPhone 8 1.8 times, or an iPhone X 2.4 times. We used a Galaxy phone to test with and found the OtterBox to well exceed these claims, able to charge this phone 2.49 times before it was completely depleted.
The ruggedized OtterBox has a much taller profile.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Added Convenience
The OtterBox has limited convenience features. This portable battery can only charge up to a single device at a time and lacks an integrated recharging adapter or any built-in cables.
The protective covers on the ports is a nice feature if you are taking this battery in the backcountry.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
It also lacks a flashlight. However, it does include an 18-month limited warranty and a single micro USB cable.
All four lights indicating a fully charged OtterBox.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Recharge Time
The OtterBox took 340 minutes to completely charge.
Value
The Power Pack 10000 by OtterBox isn't a great value, being quite a bit more expensive than comparable models due to its burly and ruggedized design.
Conclusion
While the OtterBox couldn't quite claim an award, it is a great option for all the outdoor enthusiasts who don't want to be caught in the wilderness with a dead device.
—David Wise and Austin Palmer
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