Aukey Power Banks – Part 1

For almost as long as we have had the iPhone, people have needed a way to recharge while on-the-go, and as fast as the technology changes, power banks with increased power and connectivity have continued to evolve to try and keep up.  And our friends at Aukey have introduced two new power banks that raise the bar even further.

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Aukey PB-Y32 Power Bank

The Aukey PB-Y32 is a 10000mAh Power Bank with Power Delivery 3.0 and supports Qualcom® Quick Charge™ 3.0.  That alone would make this a power bank worth checking out. But the Aukey PB-Y32 takes things one step further by including a wireless charging panel integrated into the top of the unit, making it easier than ever to get a hassle-free charge while on the go.

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Aukey PB-Y32 – Unboxing

Like all of the Aukey products we have reviewed, the PB-Y32 arrived in the familiar brown box with an imprint of the unit and description on the front. Inside was the PB-Y32 Wireless Power Bank, a short USB-C to USB-C cable that can be used to recharge the unit, a multi-language User Guide and the 24-Month Aukey Warranty Card.

The PB-Y32 measures 5.67” x 2.64” x 0.67” (144 x 67 x 17mm) and weights 8.01oz (227g).  That makes it larger than some of the other 10000mAh power banks we have looked at, like the Aukey PB-Y22 (read our review here), but makes it almost identical to the length and width and only slightly thicker than the iPhone 11Pro, which measures 5.67” x 2.81” x .30” (143.6 x 70.9 x 7.7mm).  The iPhone 11 Pro is lighter, weighing in at only 6.63oz (188g).

Aukey PB-Y32 – Ports and Connections

The connections on the PB-Y32 are similar to what you would expect on any of today’s power banks.

This includes a USB-A, USB-C and Micro-USB ports which support the following power options.

Next to the ports are the typical 4 white LEDs to indicate the level of charge on the PB-Y32.  There is an additional orange LED which indicates that the wireless charging pad is active.  Finally, there is a single button on the side of the unit which, when pressed, indicates the available battery level and also activates the wireless charging function.

Aukey PB-Y32 – Test Results

The Aukey PB-Y32 Power Bank worked as we expected.  Connect a USB-A or USB-C cord to the unit and connect your iPhone, iPad or iPad and it immediately begins the charging process.  The LED indicators light to show how much power remains in the power bank.

For charging low power devices like fitness trackers and wireless headphones, the PB-Y32 also supports Low-Current Charging.  This feature is enabled by pressing and holding the power button for 2-seconds.  The LED closest to the power button turns green to indicate that Low-Current Charging has been enables.  The PB-Y32 remains in this mode for 2-hours and then returns to full power automatically.  You can also cancel Low-Current Charging at any time by pressing and holding the power button again for 2-seconds.

If this was all the PB-Y32 did, we would say it is a nice power bank worthy of consideration. But what impressed us most was the built-in Wireless Charging feature.

The top surface of the PB-Y32 has a rubberized cover.  In the center is a slightly raised, no-slip wireless charging symbol.  To enable wireless charging, you need to press the power button once.  The orange LED lights up along with the corresponding white LEDs depending on the available battery power.  All you need to do is place your Qi-compatible device on the  pad and charging begins.

Wireless charging begins at 5W.  If o other devices are connected to the USB-A or USB-C ports, output will automatically increase to 7.5W or 10W in 15 seconds for compatible devises.  If no device is placed on the charging pad within 15 seconds, the wireless pad is automatically turned off.

Our only complaint is that it only includes a USB-C to USB-C cable for recharging.  While we acknowledge that the USB-C port supports PD 3.0, many people still don’t have a USB-C charger.  It would have been nice to have a choice between USB-C and Micro-USB.  That said, if you need a compatible USB-C charger, check out the Aukey PA-Y18, 18W Power Delivery Wall Charger (read our review here).

We think the wireless charging function makes the PB-Y32 a great choice. We often use a power bank when traveling and needing to connect a Lightning cable t the power bank and then to the phone can be a hassle.  Think how convenient it would be to just slip the PB-Y32 out of you jacket pocket or purse, place you iPhone on the top and let it charge? The Aukey PB-Y32 Power Bank and many other fine products are available directly from the AUKEY web site.

The Bottom Line

With its built-in wireless charging pad, the PB-Y32 make recharging your iPhone while on the go, easier than ever. But what can you do if you need to recharge your MacBook Air or MacBook Pro while on the go? Check out the Aukey B-Y24 Power Bank, in Part 2 of our review here.

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