NITECORE Carbo 20000 Review

The NITECORE Carbo 20000 packs a punch in a tiny footprint, and NITECORE lists this as one of the world’s smallest and lightest 20,000 mAh battery banks. Form factor is one thing, but how does this thing work with modern technology? Let’s plug in and find out!

The Rundown

Like many others in the NITECORE line, this battery bank is crafted from carbon fiber. This model uses a carbon fiber-reinforced polymer, which is still quite durable and lightweight. The shell is a unibody, meaning that the exterior is one piece of material, not multiple pieces patched together. The shell has five carbon fiber sides; the sixth is the front face with ports and a power button.

Five LED buttons indicate how much battery is left. One light means 25%, two means 50%, three means 75%, and four means 100%. The fifth light is for low current mode, but we’ll talk about that later.

The Carbo series from NITECORE has rounded edges, which are more comfortable than the NB series of battery banks. They’re slightly smaller, too, which makes them more portable. The change between the NB series and the Carbo models feels like upgrading from a standard Gameboy to a Gameboy Color. It’s mostly the same under the hood, but the experience is better and is more comfortable to hold onto for a multi-day road trip in the car with your parents.

The battery bank has an IPX5 rating, meaning it can survive being sprayed with water at any angle. Although it isn’t submersible, it’s safe from spills and inclement weather.

This version of the Carbo series has a 20,000 mAh capacity, enabling you to charge your phone multiple times without refueling the battery bank. In addition to charging your phone, you can juice up larger devices, like a Nintendo Switch. We’ve also found it helpful in powering a GoPro for long shoots, like a night timelapse.

There are two ports on this battery bank: a USB-A and a USB-C. The USB-C port is in and out, so you can recharge the battery with this port and charge other devices with it, too. It will charge up to 18W input and 20W output, so you can fast charge your device. The Carbo 20000 takes a while to recharge at 18W, but if you leave it overnight, you’ll be charged up and ready to go by morning.

The USB-A port is only an output and maxes out at 18W. This isn’t as fast as the USB-C port, but it will still fast charge most devices. Two ports are the minimum we’d expect from a 20,000 mAh battery bank, and a USB-A port feels a bit dated. Still, most of us occasionally use USB-A cables, so its inclusion isn’t the end of the world, no matter what the YouTube comments tell us.

The device maxes out at 20W output. So, while you can use the USB-A and USB-C ports simultaneously, they’ll be slowed down below fast charging speeds. You can use pass-through charging, too, which means you can plug in the battery bank with the USB-C port and charge it and a device with the USB-A port.

Like other NITECORE battery banks, this model has a low-current mode for sensitive devices like earbuds. To turn it on, hold the power button until the fifth LED turns on. You have to use the USB-A port for low-current mode. Once you’re done, hold the power button again to turn off the mode.

The power bank comes with a USB-C to USB-A cable, which is handy but nothing to write home about.

Packability

The battery bank measures 4.88 by 2.36 by 0.86 inches or 12.4 by 6 by 2.2 centimeters. It’s small, but it isn’t tiny. You can fit it into a larger pocket, but it’s so thick that it won’t work with some tighter pants. It’s roughly the size of a skinny phone with twice the depth.

The device weighs 10.42 ounces or 295.4 grams. NITECORE calls it the lightest 20,000 mAh battery bank ever made, which we can’t verify, but we can agree that this thing is remarkably lightweight for the punch it packs.

Though this device is quite small and light for a 20,000 mAh battery bank, it isn’t that small, generally speaking, compared to other battery banks on the market with less juice. If you need the extra power, this is a great option. However, if you only need a topper, this will likely be overkill and will eat up space in your pocket, sling, or tech pouch.

Quick Comparison

At the time of writing, the NITECORE Carbo 20000’s sibling, the NITECORE NB20000, is the best battery bank to compare it to.

Compared to the NB20000, the Carbo 20000 is 91% of the weight and 93% of the volume, saving you space and mass when packing your tech for your next trip.

While it’s smaller and lighter, it doesn’t pack as much of a punch. The NB20000 has double the ports, and its USB-C port maxes out at 40W, not 20W like the Carbo. The NB2000 is a more powerful device, though it takes up more room and isn’t as comfortable to hold. Additionally, the button on the Carbo is easier to manipulate, which may be an issue for some travelers.

At the time of writing, the Carbo costs $20 more than the NB20000. That’s $20 more for fewer ports, less power, and a smaller size.

That said, not everyone needs 40W output or four ports, so the size and comfort of the Carbo might be worth it for some users, even at the higher price point. This choice will depend on your usage and power needs.