Laser 10,000mAh power bank review: Lots of thrift, little thrills

In Australia, the Laser 10,00mAh power bank starts at $39.95. As far as where it sits within the brand's wider roster, it's the middle-of-the-road option between cheaper 5,000mAh options and larger 20,000mAh ones.

It's a similar story when it comes to how this particular power bank compares against the competition. The Laser 10,000mAh power bank isn't as cheap as the likes of Kmart's Anko range, but does have an edge on what brands like Belkin and Anker offer when it comes to price.

As far as the design goes, Laser's 10,000mAh power bank is more about functionality than flair. It's got a plastic body with few features to speak of beyond the Laser logo and the obsidian-tinged display panel that contains the LED power indicator.

For better or worse, there's only one button to keep track of here. This is located on the rightmost edge. Tap it and the centre of the visor-like panel at the top of the power bank will be illuminated by a percentage-based figure that tells you just how much juice this portable charger has left in it.

The only other talking point worth touching on here is the ports.

While the overall design is fairly stingy, the outlay of ports found on this particular budget-friendly power bank is a little more generous. You've got two USB-A ports, a single USB-C port and a Micro USB port for older devices. Those last two are inputs, the first two are outputs.

All told, the Laser Power Bank offers charging speeds of up to 18W. However, that's only on offer if you're using the USB-A ports. Aside from the accessory itself, the power bank comes with a 3-in-1 charging cable that primes you to get the most out of the hardware.

As is increasingly common with power banks nowadays, the Laser 10,000mAh power bank comes charged right out of the box. That's not unique nor is it a game-changer. Still, it is nice to know (and have) if you're looking to pick one up on short notice. 

Otherwise, what you see is what you get. You plug your smartphone or headphones in and you'll get power out.

Although there's a lot to like about the inherent versatility that comes with having this many ports, there are a few compromises that have been made along the way. It won't cost you that much more to find a power bank that supports faster 30W charging nor will it cost you to seek out one that looks a little bit nicer.

Much of the thrift factor here feels undercut by small details like the way that plastic chassis feels or the fact that the USB-A ports don't entirely conceal their connection within the power bank.

If all you're after is a power bank on a budget, the Laser 10,000mAh will fit that brief well enough. However, the material design here lags what other brands are doing in the space and the consequences of the compromises that have been made to get this hardware to a more affordable price point are something you'll have to reckon with every time you use it.