Ayaneo’s Retro Power Bank isn’t the most powerful portable charger, but it is the first to wrap a 12,000mAh lithium battery in a miniature homage to the Japanese version of the Super Nintendo. And it’s now finally listed in the company’s online store for $39.99.
The company is best known for its handheld gaming PCs designed to compete with Valve’s Steam Deck, but late last year, Ayaneo teased a collection of retro-themed devices that included this portable charger. At a quick glance, it looks like the Super Famicom, but upon closer examination, there’s no cartridge slot, and what appear to be controller ports on the front are actually USB-C ports.
Looks can be deceiving. Ayaneo’s new retro power bank looks much smaller next to a recent generation iPhone.Image: Ayaneo
Ayaneo’s Retro Power Bank is much smaller than Nintendo’s SNES Classic Edition console and even smaller than most smartphones. It can charge a single connected device at speeds up to 45W, but with both USB-C ports used, charging speeds drop to a maximum of 15W on each. It’s best paired with a smartphone, tablet, or handheld gaming device. If you want to keep a laptop powered while away from an outlet, you’ll be better off with something larger.
A tiny 0.91-inch monochromatic OLED display is included, which shows real-time information on the charging speeds of connected devices, the power bank’s own charge level, and its temperature. A pair of buttons (which would have originally been the Super Famicom’s power and reset buttons) can be used to navigate menus and configure what’s displayed on the screen.
It’s definitely not the most capacious power bank you can spend $39.99 on. You can find Anker alternatives featuring larger 20,000mAh batteries and a basic screen for less. But to Ayaneo’s credit, with 45W charging speeds, this compact charger is worth considering as more than just a tiny Super Famicom in your pocket.
(Originally posted by Andrew Liszewski)