Pros & Cons
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- Slim, lightweight design.
- Detachable Lightning and micro USB charging cables.
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- Lackluster build quality.
- No fast charging.
- Low charging capacity for the price.
Dodocool Portable Charger Specs
| Added Battery Life | 13 hours, 49 minutes |
| Capacity | 5000 |
| Dimensions | 5.3 by 2.6 by 0.4 inches |
| Fast Charging | No |
| Pass-Through Charging | |
| Voltage | 5V/1A |
| Weight | 3.4 |
| Wireless Charging |
Buying a battery pack typically involves choosing between capacity and portability: the more power it holds, the harder it is to carry in a pocket. The Dodocool Portable Charger ($21.99) attempts to strike just the right balance by putting a respectable 5,000mAh cell in a lightweight plastic shell. But it lacks fast charging support, and its overall size isn't much smaller than the Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro, which offers double the power for a similar price.
Design and Features
The Dodocool comes in glossy black or white. We tested the black model, which was quick to pick up fingerprints, smudges, and scratches, which makes us question its durability over time. On the plus side, the plastic build translates to a weight of just 3.4 ounces. But at 5.3 by 2.6 by 0.4 inches (HWD), the Dodocool isn't much smaller than the Mi Power Bank Pro (5.1 by 2.9 by 0.5 inches, 7.0 ounces), which feels a lot more sturdy thanks to its aluminum build.
In terms of ports, the Dodocool shares some similarities with the PhoneSuit Journey All-In-One Charger. On the right side there's a built in (but detachable) micro USB or Lightning cable that slots into the body of the battery when not in use. Both cables are covered in flexible rubber, but unlike the PhoneSuit, you can only use one at a time.
On the top, you'll find a USB-A port that's capable of 5V/1A output and a micro USB port for charging the battery itself. There's no fast charging. When juicing up an Apple iPhone 8 Plus with the included Lightning cable, the Dodocool was able to output at 5.05V/1.02A, which isn't very fast.
Pass-through charging is not supported, so you can't charge other devices while the battery itself is being charged.
Performance and Conclusions
The 5,000mAh Dodocool added 13 hours, 49 minutes of full-screen Wi-Fi video streaming at maximum brightness to a Samsung Galaxy Note 8. That's far better than the 3,500mAh PhoneSuit Journey (4 hours, 29 minutes), though it falls several hours short of the 6,000mAh Ventev PowerCell 6000 (18 hours, 26 mins) and the 10,000mAh Mi Power Bank Pro (33 hours, 45 minutes), which aren't significantly larger in size.
The Dodocool attempts to balance power and portability with mixed results. It's one of the lighter batteries we've tested, but it isn't much smaller than competitors that offer more power for a similar price. It also lacks fast charging and pass-through charging, two features you get with the Editors' Choice-winning Xiaomi Power Bank Pro, along with an additional 20 hours of power.