Anker, a company designing very sleek and powerful electronic devices has released their 2nd generation of their Astro batteries.
Anker Astro | source: www.ianker.com
The Astro is charged via a usb cable, which is also how charge is taken from the device to power another device.
| Astro3 | Astro2 | Astro1 | |
Capacity | 12000 mAh | 9000 mAh | 6000 mAh |
| Output | 5V / 4A | 5V / 3A | 5V / 2A |
| Input | 5V / 1.5A | 5V / 1.2A | 5V / 1A |
| Weight | 300 g / 11 oz | 250g / 8.8 oz | 135g / 4.8 oz |
| Size | 111 x 83 x 26mm / 4.4 x 3.3 x 1.0in | 106 x 64 x 25mm / 4.2 x 2.5 x 1.0in | 93 x 46 x 25mm / 3.7 x 1.8 x 1.0in |
According to their website, the device will take about 8-9 hrs to charge on a 1.5A output charger (typical usb port).
Anker Astro | source: www.ianker.com
The only thing I don’t like about it is that it cannot be charged at the same time as it’s charging other devices. Perhaps this is automatically taken care of, or if it’s done the device will explode in a horrible mess of battery? I also cannot find anywhere what technology this battery uses, that is, what type of battery is it?!
It is also interesting to note that if you are carrying the Astro around with you, since it’s turned on with a little shake, it will constantly be turned on. However, Anker says that because the LED – the only part of the device that is actually activated when it’s shaken – takes so little amount of electricity, it hardly detracts the batteries capacity.
This brings to light how cool the indicator for the charge capacity on the Astros are. An interactive circle!
Anker Astro | source: www.ianker.com