TSST TB030NA Portable Charger Review

The smallest of the Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) portable charge range, today we review the TB030NA model. It features a 3000 mAh capacity and has a more familiar cylinder design. It is pricey for a smaller capacity device though, as it will set you back £19.99. Is it worth it? So far, TSST have impressed us with their bigger portable chargers. The TB030NA is a different story though, as it has a very different design and smaller battery capacity. We put the charger to work and see if you should buy it. Features 3,000 mAh capacity Single 1.5A USB charging port Weighs just 80g Ø23x125mm dimensions Charges via microUSB port As with TSST's Handy portable speaker, the packaging included with the TB030NA is less than stellar. A plastic box houses the charger itself, which really does give a bad first impression. While we do not let product packaging influence our opinion too much, the plastic makes the charger look cheap and slightly tacky. Inside, TSST include a microUSB cable and product documentation - but, again, in Korean. We really do hope the UK retail versions ships with English product information... The first thing to mention is that the TB030NA comes in four colours - 'Sky Blue,' 'Lovely Pink,' 'Fresh Mint,' and 'Shiny Green.' We received a 'Sky Blue' sample. Other than the colour options, the TB030NA design differs quite drastically from that of other TSST chargers. Rather than a rectangular design, the TB030NA is a more conventional cylinder shape. Measuring Ø23x125mm, it is also fairly small, and could easily fit down the side of a pocket. The TB030NA could be shorter in length, but TSST have included a very nifty flashlight attachment. It is just 2 or so centimeters and slots into the 1.5A USB charging port. Turning the charger on and activating the power will turn on the torch. This is no doubt aimed at campers and festival goers who need to recharge their smartphones, as well as use a flashlight at night. Out of the box, this attachment is plugged in to the charging port. Unplugging it reveals the 1.5A port, as well as the microUSB port the TB030NA uses to charge itself. If you want to keep the flashlight attachment to hand while keeping the charging port free, there's another USB slot at the bottom of the TB030NA which will just hold what is attached. At the top of the charger is the on/off button - one press will turn it on, and then a long press will activate the power. The current battery level of the TB030NA is displayed by four small led lights along the side. To test the TB030NA's charging performance, we charged two phones and an iPad using the portable charger. We charged each device using the TB030NA's 1.5A port, as well as a second test using a mains AC adapter to allow a comparison between mains charging and the TB030NA. For each of the two tests per device, we drained the device in question until the battery was completely flat, and then charged it for 30 minutes. Using that information, we could then calculate the approximate time for a full charge (to 100%). This is not an exact figure, as charging is not a linear sequence. However, this methodology does allow a fair comparison between all the devices, as all started with batteries at 0%, and were charged for the same amount of time. As with our other tests, the first device we used with the charger was the HTC Desire 820 - which has a 2600 mAh capacity. For a 1.5A charging port, the results were not half bad. The Desire 820 charged in 206 minutes, 58 minutes slower than when using an AC adapter. As portable chargers with lesser capacities tend to charge slower anyway, this is a decent result. It is just worth remembering that though the charging speed is relatively fast for a smaller charger, the TB030NA can only charge the Desire 820 once due to its limited capacity. Next, we tested the Sony M2 Aqua with its 2300 mAh capacity. Again, we were fairly impressed. The Aqua M2 charged in 198 minutes, just over an hour slower than when using mains electricity. It may not sound that good, but from a low-power device such as the TB030NA, this is commendable. Finally, we charged the Apple iPad Mini 2, which has a battery capacity of 6470 mAh. Our iPad charged 58 minutes slower than when using an AC adapter - another decent result. Given that the other TSST portable chargers could only post similar or slower speeds, this is particularly impressive. However, there is an obvious problem with charging a tablet using the TB030NA - most tablets won't get to 50% capacity before the TB030NA runs out of battery. This is the case with the latest iPads and the Nexus 9, for instance.For what it is, the TSST TB030NA is a capable charger. The packaging does not give a good first impression, but this does not matter once you take the charger out of the box so can not really count against the TB030NA. Product design is very efficient - the charger is thin and reasonably short. Given that the included flashlight attachment - a very nifty extra - can also be removed, the TB030NA can actually be made even smaller. This just makes it extra portable, something which can be crucial with lower capacity chargers. Performance, too, is more than satisfactory. Phones charged about an hour slower than when using an AC adapter - which is good for a 3000 mAh portable charger with only a 1.5A charging port. However, the obvious trade off for portability is the small capacity incorporated into the TB030NA. Most phones can only be charged to 100% once, while some won't even get that far. More and more phones have capacities bigger than 3000 mAh these days - with the Samsung Note 4 and Sony Xperia Z3 being just two examples. If you absolutely must have something as portable as possible, the TB030NA is a good charger. You will only get one full charge at best, but the charging speeds are decent. Our recommendation, though, would be to get the TB100PA. At £15 more it is a bit more expensive, but with over 3 times the capacity of the TB030NA - as well as superior charging speeds - it is definitely worth it. Obviously it is not as portable, but it is by no means chunky - so if you can spare room in a jacket pocket, the TB100PA is the charger to get. The TB030NA is not currently available in the UK, but it will cost £19.99 and be available from the usual retailers, including Amazon, Dabs, Scan and Ebuyer. Pros Very portable. Flashlight attachment. Decent charging speeds. Cons Won't fully charge some modern phones Packaging is not very classy KitGuru says: The TB030NA is a good, small charger. It charges reasonably fast - but is not up to the same standard as the TB100PA. If you have the extra room, it seems to be the charger to get.

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TSST TB030NA Portable Charger Review

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