Daily Trivia: When Did You Start Using a Power Bank?
Daily Trivia: When Did You Start Using a Power Bank?
I first discovered power banks during the iPod era, around 2007—the same year as the iPhone’s release. Interestingly, APC (yes, the company known for UPS systems) introduced a unique device back then: the APC Universal Mobile Battery (10Wh) It used a Mini USB for charging and was priced quite steeply at $70++USD！ For context, it had a capacity of only 2600mAh, yet it was heavier and bulkier than an iPhone itself.
A few years later, I learned that Japan, always ahead in smartphone technology even before the iPhone, had its own lineup of power banks. Panasonic (Sanyo) developed portable chargers that were little-known outside Japan.
During my backpacking trip to Japan in 2011, I purchased my very first power bank: the QE-PL201. It was a compact, durable device with an unexpected feature—wireless charging! Yes, even back in 2011, we had Qi-enabled wireless charging power banks. I bought it for around $25-30USD, and it provided 5400mAh of power along with wireless charging capabilities.
That power bank became indispensable for my travels, especially for keeping my iPhone 4 charged as I relied heavily on its browser, Google Translate, and the Jorudan website for transportation. (Back then, Google Maps wasn’t quite as robust as it is today.)
On subsequent trips to Japan, I purchased several more of these power banks and gave them to family and friends, as products like these hadn’t yet appeared in our local market.
Panasonic didn’t stop there either—they released newer versions with Disney collaborations, USB torchlights, and built-in USB cables. This all happened during 2011 era, about 13 years ago. Then, during 2014, Xiaomi launch their infamous Mi Powerbank at 10-15USD and dominate the powerbank market even since.
Why am I writing this? Because I recently found out that the 13-year-old power bank I gave to my parents is still in use today as a portable charger and flashlight. It’s a testament to the exceptional quality of Japanese products from that era. (Sidenote: My Mi Powerbank dead after 1.5 years.)
