NITECORE Carbon Battery 6K USB-C 6000mAh Power Bank Review

Most of the battery banks we’ve tested from NITECORE are 10,000 mAh and above; however, they all share their small size compared to their capacity. Though the NITECORE Carbon Battery 6K USB-C 6000mAh Power Bank has less juice, it’s a small option for those who want to stay charged up while on the go without carrying a ton of tech gear. However, just because it’ll fit in your pocket doesn’t mean it’s worth taking on your next trip. Let’s dive in!

The Rundown

As the name denotes, this battery bank has a carbon fiber shell. It feels durable, sleek, and lightweight. It’s rugged enough to handle the bumps and knocks of travel; however, it’s light enough to stuff in your shorts pocket on the way to the beach to ensure you’ve got enough juice to get home after a long day in the sun.

If you’re taking it near bodies of water, you’ll be happy to know the NITECORE Carbon Battery 6K USB-C 6000mAh Power Bank has an IP68 rating, meaning it’s submersible. If you accidentally leave it in your pocket at the beach and go for a dip in the water, it won’t be ruined, even after a few minutes of submersion. We don’t recommend this; however, it’ll survive! While traveling, especially on rugged adventures, this is an essential feature.

The battery bank is rated at 6,000 mAh, which, depending on your phone, will likely give you roughly a charge and a half. However, you can use this to charge a plethora of devices, like a Nintendo Switch, iPad, or other electronics.

It charges using a USB-C port, the only one on the device. You can’t charge the device and power up something else simultaneously, which is limiting. Still, for most uses, this isn’t an issue. Charge it up overnight and take it out for the day—then you’re all set. The bank doesn’t come with a USB-C cable; however, you can add one to the package for a few bucks. We appreciate this because most travelers don’t need another USB-C cable; however, it doesn’t cost an arm and a leg to add one on if you need an extra.

The battery bank has a silicone-like button to check the battery, which has three lights to indicate how much charge is left. After some simple math, one light indicates 0—2,000, two means 2,000—4,000, and three means 4,000—6,000 mAh. It isn’t a perfect science, and those readings aren’t very accurate; however, it’s a handy feature. If the light flashes, it has less than 10% of its battery left.

The battery bank is designed to work with NITECORE’s headlamps. Though this isn’t our area of expertise, we dig gear that can be used for more than one thing. Essentially, you attach the battery bank to the back of the strap of your headlamp. Then, run a USB-C cable from the headlamp to the bank, and you’ll get up to twice the charge you’d typically get from certain NITECORE lights. Plus, when you are on trips where you don’t need a headlamp, you can use it as a bank for your phone and other tech. Not a bad idea, huh?

Packability

There’s no beating around the bush—this battery bank looks like a vape pen. You know, the Penjamin, Sir Puffington, or a steamy juice box. Whereas we’d never promote the use of these products, the similarities are uncanny. Just as e-cigarettes have gotten significantly more portable in recent years, you won’t have any issues stowing this bank inside your pocket, sling, tech pouch, or daypack.

On a more serious note, this battery bank measures 3.56 by 0.9 by 0.9 inches or 9 by 2.3 by 2.3 centimeters. It’s pretty tiny and will fit into most places you’d stow any other battery bank and then some. Depending on your pants, it might even fit into your money pocket.

It weighs 3.1 ounces, or 87.9 grams, which is light enough to take almost anywhere. It doesn’t feel out of place in athletic shorts, which isn’t often the case for battery banks above 5,000 mAh because they are too large and bulky. For its capacity, it is very portable.

Quick Comparison

Another battery bank from NITECORE that we enjoy using is the Carbo 10000, a Pack Hacker Pick. When comparing battery banks, data is top dog, so we’ll dive right in.

The Carbo has a 10,000 mAh capacity, which is a 66.67% increase. To bring all that power, it’s heavier and larger. It comes in at 5.54 ounces, or 157.1 grams, a 78.76% increase over the Carbon Battery 6K. The Carbo 10000 measures 4.88 by 2.32 by 0.45 inches, or 5.09472 cubed inches, a 76.68% increase over its younger sibling. At the time of writing, the Carbo 10000 is $89.95, a 125.16% increase over the Carbon Battery 6K’s modest $39.95 price tag.

Let’s list those figures out quickly—the NITECORE Carbo 10000 features a:

• 66.67% increase in mAh capacity
• 78.76% increase in weight
• 76.68% increase in volume
• 125.16% increase in price

So, for the extra money, are you only getting more capacity? Well, no. You’re getting a few more features, too. The Carbo 10000 has two ports to the Carbon Battery 6K’s single USB-C port. The USB-C port features both input and output, and the USB-A port is usable while the USB-C is charging the device, which is handy. The Carbo 10000 has more features, like low current mode for sensitive devices; however, the NITECORE Carbon Battery 6K USB-C 6000mAh Power Bank has a small footprint, is relatively cheap, and is more than enough battery bank for many travelers.

No matter your choice, these NITECORE battery banks pack a punch and keep things sleek with carbon fiber exteriors. Neat, huh?