INTRODUCTION

   How many times have you left home only to find out that your smartphone was almost out of battery? Well i don't know about you all but it has happened to me more than once and although i remember a time when we didn't have cellular phones (and not a care in the world) now these little devices have become part of our daily lives (for good or bad) and so most of us can't afford to have them run out of battery while on the road. That's also the main reason as to why i started testing battery packs (external batteries) a while back and i have to say that they have saved me from lots of trouble. Today's review is about one such device and more specifically the Slimtalk 3200mAh External Battery by Anker.

     Anker is one of the world's premiere suppliers of environmentally friendly portable energy solutions for consumer electronics, including chargers/power packs, rechargeable batteries and other accessories. Our success is based on the three core values we live and work by every day: top quality, excellent service and affordable prices. High performance is top priority at Anker, whether the criteria is longevity, durability, safety or user friendliness...or all of the above. Our products are made with only the best quality components and production methods, and are tested continuously to make sure that quality is being maintained. Anker is deeply committed to providing each and every customer with the finest support and service, and backs it up with a 100% money back guarantee plus free online tech consulting. What's more, every Anker product comes with an 18-month hassle-free warranty. We believe there's no reason a customer should have to pay an exorbitant price for top quality, or give up quality and service to get an inexpensive price. We employ a variety of strategies, both in the front office and on the manufacturing floor, to bring our customers the best of both worlds: great quality and a great price. As a result, Anker has now served over 1 million happy customers around the globe.

   The Anker Slimtalk External Battery features a 3200mAh lithium-ion battery that can be recharged 500 times over and should be sufficient to fully recharge most smartphones up to 3 times. What really makes the Slimtalk unique however is the built-in micro-USB cable which allows you to charge most devices without carrying an extra cable around and the built-in flashlight which we all know can come in handy in numerous occasions. Of course a battery capacity of 3200mAh is not much and certainly not the highest out there since there are battery packs out there with capacities up to 4 times over but even so for most people 3200mAh should be more than enough. Time however to place it under our magnifying glass and see what the Slimtalk external battery has to offer.

SPECIFICATIONS AND FEATURES 

PACKAGING AND CONTENTS

The Slimtalk external battery arrived inside a small clear hard plastic box.

Around the back we see both the features and specifications of the unit along with several small images.

I was surprised at how the box opens (small detail but i liked it).

Along with the Slimtalk external battery you are also getting the USB charging cable with the mini-USB adapter, instruction manual, warranty card and a small card describing the steps you need to take in order to receive something from Anker.

THE SLIMTALK 3200MAH 

The Slimtalk external battery features a nice glossy plastic enclosure (also available in white) and is just 1cm thick.

To see exactly how small the Slimtalk external battery is i placed it right next to the ZAGG SPARQ2.0 battery.

On the top of the Slimtalk you will find a percentage charge indicator and a small round button. Press the button once and you will see the remaining charge on the indicator while if you press and hold the button you will activate the flashlight.

The company logo is also placed at the top (the glossy surface may look great but it also attracts dust like a magnet).

Over at the right side we see the micro-USB plug which by comes retracted by default. You can use this cable (almost 5cm long) to charge micro-USB compatible devices.

The micro-USB charging port along with the flashlight and the 5V USB port are placed at the front.

At the rear you can see the unit’s electrical specifications.

It takes almost 140 minutes (2h20m) to fully charge the Slimtalk external battery during which you will be informed about the current level from the top indicator.

CONCLUSION 

   I've been using the Slimtalk external battery for the past 2 weeks and although at first it would hardly recharge my LG Optimus 2X twice it's now (after 5 charges) almost able to recharge it almost 3 full times (2700mAh effective?) which is not bad at all for such an small 3200mAh battery. The hidden micro-USB cable is extremely convenient since you can recharge most smartphones in the market without the need of an extra cable something which we all know may not be the easiest thing to carry around. Speaking of convenient things the flashlight is also an great addition since I’ve found myself in need for one while on the road many times (i have the HIS solar powered keychain flashlight with me at all times but it always runs out of juice).

   The Anker Slimtalk 3200mAh External Battery is currently on sale for USD22.99 inside the USA (Laptopmate/Amazon) so with such a low price tag i can only call it a real bargain for people who need a small external battery and don't need the extra muscle other more expensive solutions offer (like the SPARQ2.0). On top of that add both the built-in micro-USB cable and flashlight and i really don't think you can find something better around the same price range. My only concern with similar products is their durability through time but the specified life cycle of over 500 charges should be more than enough to last quite a few years. Overall we are talking about a very useful external battery which doubles as a flashlight and is sold at a bargain price which is why it gets our Golden Award.

PROS

- Build Quality (Grade A Cells)
- Design
- Built-In Micro-USB Cable
- Flashlight
- Charge Indicator
- Price (For Some)

CONS

- Optional Tips (Micro-USB May Not Cover Everyone)
- 3200mAh (Should Be Sufficient For Most People But Not All)