Skip to main content

Here’s the world’s first high-output USB-C power bank

XTRON:World's 1st True & Fastest USB-C Power Bank
Apple’s new MacBook may be the thinnest and lightest the company has ever produced, but the buzz at its March debut was centered around the MacBook’s lack of holes. The paper-thin laptop owes much of its design to its inclusion of just a single port. As a successor to USB Type-A ports, the USB Type-C serves the function of many others. In the MacBook, it provides charging, USB 3 data transfer for external devices and peripherals, and video output through support for HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort connections.

Ports such as Thunderbolt and Lightning were designed by a single manufacturer — Apple — to work with certain devices. USB-C is the result of a collaboration — the USB Implementers Forum behind the standard includes over 700 companies, including Apple, Dell, HP, Intel, Microsoft, and Samsung. This makes the new architecture truly universal.

Most existing devices can be connected to a USB-C port with an adapter, and we will see more USB-C to USB-C connections in the near future. The main advantage is faster data transfer. It’s theoretically twice as fast as USB 3.0. Charging times will also be reduced, and that’s where the Xtron by Maximas comes into play. Maximas is seeking funding through an Indigogo campaign, and prices start at around $70.

The Xtron boasts a 13,400 mAh power capacity, a USB Type-C port, and a USB Type-A port. Thus it can be used to charge two devices simultaneously. The Japanese battery cells come from the same company that manufactures batteries for Tesla.

The manufacturer claims that this is the world’s first true USB Type-C power bank, but it’s relying on the battery’s power output to make that claim. Other companies have already built Type-C power banks, but they deliver less power.

With a power output of 4.2 amps, Maximas says that the Xtron will charge your devices in “no time.” The company claims that 3.5 hours of charging time will extend the new MacBook’s battery life by 8 hours.

As of this writing, Maximas has raised over $3,600 of the $30,000 it says it needs to get the Xtron into production. The timeline shows an expected shipping date of December 15, 2015.

As more companies implement USB-C architecture into their devices, the Xtron and others like it will come into their own. In addition to the MacBook, the Nexus 5X and Nexus 6P smartphones, Nokia N1 tablet, and the Chromebook Pixel all feature USB-C ports.

Editors' Recommendations

Albert Khoury
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Al started his career at a downtown Manhattan publisher, and has since worked with digital and print publications. He's…
Anker reveals new solar-powered Solix batteries, powerful Anker Prime series
An Anker Solix device installed on a balcony.

Anker’s massive RE Charge press event has come and gone, with dozens of products revealed during the live stream. Two of the biggest announcements were for the new solar-powered Solix batteries (which look to bring Anker into the home energy market) and the Anker Prime series -- a lineup of ultra-powerful charging accessories and battery banks.

The Anker Prime series is composed of “premium, high-speed, multi-port devices,” the most notable of which is a USB-C charger available in 67-watt, 100-watt, and 250-watt versions. You’ll also find the Anker Prime Power Bank, which offers 100-watt wireless charging and a 27,000mAh capacity. In other words, it’s ready for whatever electronics you throw at it.

Read more
The iPhone 15’s USB-C port might come with a big catch
The bottom of an iPhone 14, showing its speaker grille and Lightning port.

Apple has been compelled to make a USB-C-compatible iPhone by the EU. According to reports, the first such iPhone will be the iPhone 15 coming this year. The company won't be giving up control of its iPhone ecosystem without a fight, though, as a new report says cables not certified by Apple's MFI (Made For iPhone) program won't be able to take full advantage of the device's power.

Reports of Apple tying its USB-C move to MFI came in from fairly weak sources earlier this month, but the fairly reliable ShrimpApplePro shared that the company was in collaboration with Foxconn as it hoped it produce USB-C EarPods and charging cables.

Read more
This $3 USB adapter fixed all of my Apple CarPlay connection problems
iPhone with USB-C cable and USB-A adapter.

I bought a new Jeep last year and was obviously adamant that it had CarPlay. It was also the first car I owned with a touch screen for CarPlay, which is a nice change of pace. But in the first couple of weeks of driving, I was increasingly frustrated: even though I was using a wired USB connection, my CarPlay kept disconnecting. Sporadically, and frequently.

I tried different phones. I tried using an official Apple Lightning cable -- USB-A and USB-C, as my car has both -- as well as various styles and lengths of third-party cables. Nothing worked. And then, I found an inexplicable fix: using a simple USB-A to USB-C adapter, which is just $9 for a three-pack .

Read more