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Details
- Price $24.39 for the Only available in Japan at item.rakuten.co.jp
- Weight 6.58 oz / 186.5 g (measured)
- Dimensions 3.5" (w) x 2.4" (h) x 0.8" (d) / 90 (w) x 60 (h) x 20 (d) mm
- Made in China
- Capacity 10,000mAh
Overview
I have two lives. One is as a Japanese salaryman who sometimes WFH. When I WFH, I sometimes head to the cafe for a change of environment. I use the Ugreen 145W Power Bank occasionally since most cafes in Japan are pretty stingy with power outlets.
My other life is when I travel, usually for at least a month at a time. After a day's work, I explore the city, and that's where battery life is a matter of life and death. The last place I want to find myself is stuck on a night out without juice.
While it's not too difficult to borrow a charger in the city, it certainly adds stress, and stress that I don't need on vacation.
Anker has been leading the scene in mobile battery tech for a while. Ugreen is another worthy challenger that impressed me with its price-to-build ratio. The one I use most is the Nitecore NB20000, which I prefer for its weight-to-power ratio.
Amidst these Chinese powerhouses, CIO Mate might not be a household name. What's more, their batteries are made in China (you can't beat Chinese manufacturing supremacy), but the Japanese sensibility toward quality and design is where CIO manages to win you over.
Style
Some might get a power bank for utility. In that case, power banks from Aliexpress or Taobao might work if you are okay with the risk of it exploding in your face.
But I assume those who read my reviews aren't the “some”. I care deeply about aesthetics and a mobile power bank is arguably one of the larger components of my EDC and deserves some care.
The CIO Mate makes this easy by keeping it simple. The minimalistic all-black design—clean, sleek, and devoid of unnecessary branding, reflects a certain quietness. The subtle logo etched on the side, only visible when light reflects off it, adds a quiet nod to the brand without screaming for attention. It comes in three other colors—white, olive, and pink which I didn't need to consider at all.
The matte finish with subtle texture avoids fingerprints, and at just over 90mm tall, it's pocket-sized and easy to bring along.
Most mobile batteries nowadays have rather minimalistic designs, but CIO just takes it one step further, omitting any markings to indicate the difference between ports. This is only possible because both USB-C has the same PD, in/out capabilities, thus there is no need for differentiation.
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The regulatory markings on the back of the battery have been kept subtle, so much so that you hardly notice that it's there.
The CIO Mate Powerbank 001 is one of the most minimalistic designs I've seen in a power bank. From the matte finish to the smaller details, it seems like CIO is design-focused and that is where their value lies.
Tech
The build quality feels premium despite its lightweight. Using high-grade ABS material ensures durability against daily wear and tear. CIO also employs a heat-resistant coating, preventing it from overheating under prolonged use—an important feature for long charging cycles.
The USB-C PD ports deliver up to 20W of power, which makes it less practical for charging laptops. Even though the port is PD, meaning it can negotiate the optimal charge delivery, 20W is relatively low compared to modern charging standards.
The latest iPhone 16 supports up to 45W of wired charging speed, which means the 20W limit will bottleneck the iPhone 16 full potential by more than half. The max charging speed of the iPhone drops to 25W with Magsafe, so the bottleneck for the CIO Mate Powerbank 001 isn't as severe in that case.
The limit also differs depending on the ports and combinations you use. Both USB-C ports are PD in/out, capable of 18W input and 20W output. The USB-A port is capable of 18W output.
The 001 appears to be designed for phone charging, given its maximum output and battery capacity. However, it may lack versatility for users needing a power bank that can also charge their laptops.
Usage
The Mate Powerbank 001 comes with a button on the edge near the display. You turn on the power bank with a single press and turn it off with a double press. When off, if you plug a cable that starts drawing power, it turns on automatically. It won't turn on automatically with just a lone cable, which was more sophisticated than I expected.
I designed a thing.
I found a 100 year old company that would create these heirloom quality canisters for me. They are handmade and will keep your tea leaves, coffee beans or anything that you need dry for years to come.
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The display shows the percentage of battery left very clearly.
A small green lightning icon lights up when it is supplying power. This lights up as long as it is supplying power but not necessarily only if it is charging a device. An example is when I plug it into the RORRY 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger without it being attached to my phone.
The size and weight are maybe my favorite aspects of the Mate Powerbank 001. It fits nicely into the palm of my hand and doesn't weigh me down even in my shirt pocket. For a 10000 mAh battery, this is a favorable power-to-weight ratio.
Conclusion
Powerbanks are my lifeline when I travel and I take choosing the right one more seriously than I should. I usually head out after work's done, so a battery to charge my laptop isn't critical to me. 10,000 mAh is enough to last me all day exploring the city.
On the other hand, the weight and aesthetics of the CIO Mate Powerbank 001, when compared to its very reasonable price tag, is what makes it worth it.
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Tagged cio edc mobile battery review tech