TSST TB100PA Portable Charger Review

1. Introduction2. Packaging and Bundle3. Design4. Testing Methodology5. Performance6. Closing Thoughts7. View All Pages

Toshiba Samsung Storage Technology (TSST) is not a name known to many people. A recent alliance between the two tech giants, TSST have started to expand and produce quality tech accessories. Today we review their 10,000 mAh portable charger and see if it's worth the cash.

Considering many smartphones still fall short with their battery lives, portable chargers have become popular over the last few years. The TSST TB100PA features a 10,000 mAh battery capacity, so should be able to charge most phones a few times. In the UK, it will be on sale for £34.99 inc. VAT.

Features

• 10,000 mAh battery capacity.
• 1x 1.0A USB port, 1x 2.4A USB port.
• Weighs 275g.
• 133x67x16.4mm dimensions
• Charges via standard microUSB port.

The packaging of the TSST TB100PA is certainly clean and sleek. The small rectangular box is all white, with bold, black text. A photo of the TB100PA is all that is featured on the front.

Branding and some basic product information is visible on the sides of the box.

Inside is the charger itself, as well as a microUSB cable and product documentation. This was in Korean, but the UK retail version should ship with English documentation.

It is a beautiful box, and bodes well for the quality of the TB100PA.
Just like the packaging, the design and build of the TB100PA is very attractive.

The first thing we noticed is the brushed metal finish to the TB100PA. It looks very premium, and is similar to the design of the HTC One M9. Constructed of aluminium, the charger as a whole feels very sturdy and durable – we would certainly prefer this to the swathes of plastic portable chargers.

The metal build does mean the device is not the lightest – coming in at 275g. It is not heavy, though, and would not weigh you down much. A heavier, more premium build is definitely preferable to a cheaper, flimsier option.

The charger itself is a fairly small unit, measuring just 133x67x16.4mm. Considering some portable chargers of a similar capacity are quite bulky, this is fairly impressive. It would be easy to tuck into a small bag or even a jacket pocket.

In the top left corner of the TB100PA is a digital battery indicator, which blends neatly in with the rest of the brushed metal. In bright light you can make out the edges of the digital display, but in normal usage it is not noticeable, which adds to the sleek design.

At the top of the device are the two USB ports, as well as the microUSB port which the TB100PA uses to charge itself.
To test the TB100PA's charging performance, we charged two phones and an iPad using the portable charger.

We charged each device on both USB ports included within the TB100PA (1.0A and 2.4A), as well as a third test using a mains AC adapter to allow a comparison between mains charging and the TB100PA.

For each of the three 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.

That said, 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.The HTC Desire 820 was the first device we tested, which has a battery capacity of 2600 mAh.

After our 3 tests, initial results were very promising. The 2.4A USB port was faster than the 1.0A port – as expected. However, it was not miles ahead, charging just 10 minutes faster.

However, as the 2.4A port was only 18 minutes slower than a mains AC adapter, we can see the charging speeds – so far – are very impressive. Using the TB100PA instead of an AC adapter would hardly inconvenience you at all.

The next device to test with was the Sony M2 Aqua, which has a battery capacity of 2300 mAh.

Results were similar to the previous test with the Desire 820. The 2.4A port proved the fastest option when using the TB100PA, but it was only 9 minutes faster than the 1.0A port.

The mains charging speed, too, was a mere 8 minutes faster than the TB100PA, which is another indicator of how quick the portable charger really is.

Finally we tested the charger using an iPad Mini 2, which has a battery capacity of 6470 mAh.

Results here were obviously slower, taking 449 minutes to charge – using the 1.0A port. This is a whole 235 minutes slower than a mains AC adapter. The 2.4A port was quite efficient, charging 69 minutes slower than an AC adapter.Things were promising from the get-go with the TSST TB100PA portable charger. Its packaging is clean and uncluttered, exuding quality before we had even looked inside.

Product design and build quality follow this trend – the brushed metal is very attractive, and the device's weight, though not the lightest, gives a strong impression that the TB100PA is made of sturdy stuff.

The actual charging performance was equally impressive. Both smartphones we tested charged only a few minutes slower than when we used an AC adapter – an incredible feat.

The iPad Mini 2 took a lot longer to charge – but this is to be expected. It is just worth saying the differential between mains charging speeds and the TB100PA speeds widen when a device with a bigger battery is used.

On the whole, though, the TSST TB100PA is an excellent product, and really is an essential piece of kit – it packs in several charges due to its high 10,000 mAh capacity. It is an ideal product to take with you on a short vacation, or if your mobile phone frequently runs out of juice on a daily commute.

It is not currently available to buy in the UK, but it will cost £34.99 inc VAT, and will be available from most tech retailers – including Ebuyer, Amazon, Scan and Dabs.

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Pros:

• High capacity.
• Clean packaging.
• Gorgeous design.
• Fast charging speeds.

Cons:

• Slower charging speeds for tablets.

KitGuru says: The TB100PA is clearly a high performer, and looks the part, too. For anyone after a high capacity portable charger, this is one to make the final shortlist.

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