This 10,000mAh MagSafe battery pack has a clever mini display feature, and it’s on sale

What’s the deal? 

The ESR Qi2 MagSlim Kickstand Power Bank is 20% off at ESR with code BF24CM (you pay $50.39, save $12.60) or 25% off at Amazon (you pay $38, save $12.50) ahead of Black Friday 2024. 

As someone who tests MagSafe battery packs for a living, I have a good understanding of what makes them functional, particularly for everyday use and on-the-go travel. For most people, a 5,000mAh MagSafe battery pack is more than enough for typical commutes, errands, and more. They’re the most commonly marketed size and come in many different designs, models, colors, and more from top brands like Anker, Belkin, and Baseus. Sometimes, however, they’re just not enough.

Also: My new favorite MagSafe battery pack supports Qi2 charging, has a kickstand, and isn’t made by Anker or Baseus

Larger capacity MagSafe battery packs answer the call for longer stints away from an outlet. There are 6K, 8K, and 10K options (and even more if your devices demand it). Here’s the thing. The higher capacity you yearn for, the fewer your options, and the fewer expectations you should have. If we’re lauding 5K options for their Brat-esque design, we’re simply celebrating 10K packs for not looking and feeling like an actual brick. When I get the opportunity to test a bigger MagSafe battery pack and then spend time writing about it, something is up.

ESR’s 10K MagSlim Kickstand power bank has impressed me. As far as affordable, larger battery packs go, this one is well worth the cash. Let’s clarify a few things before I break it down. Remember when I said it’s important to temper your expectations for larger MagSafe options? That’s true. This ESR pack is not uber slim, sleek, or mind-blowing in terms of design, but I didn’t expect any of those things from a 10K pack, which, by nature, will be bigger than your typical 5K options.

ESR’s MagSlim is slightly thicker than many 5K and 10K options I’ve tested this year, but it has a much larger overall profile when secured to the back of my iPhone 14 Pro. There is just a smidge of overhang off the bottom of my phone, which is typically a significant annoyance. Still, the battery’s other functions soon made me forget about it. 

The battery pack features a built-in-nearly-flat-when-collapsed kickstand and a handy display feature that shows you exactly how much battery-boosting it has left, making it obscenely useful. Beyond this, it offers 15W, Qi2 charging, and it doesn’t weigh a ton.

The pack charged my iPhone 14 Pro from 31% to 52% in half an hour, and 89% of the ESR battery remained for more charging. During a second test, my phone went from 54% to 100% in two hours with intermediate use of my device while it was charging. While it charged, it remained significantly cooler to the touch than I had expected, even cooler than some smaller batteries I had recently tested. (You should always expect some warmth when using MagSafe batteries, but nothing hot to the touch.)

Also: This MagSafe battery pack has an ingenious feature that’s changed how I use my phone

All in all, this ESR pack is a sturdy contender. It charges great, doesn’t overheat, and isn’t too bulky on the back of my phone. It was the built-in kickstand feature, LED, and the great pricing, however, that compelled to write this article. 

Kickstands certainly aren’t abnormal for MagSafe battery packs, but you can expect a few different designs, and kickstands aren’t as common on larger packs. This kickstand is functional. It’s a nice feature to prop my phone up while I’m working, but it isn’t anything special, and it does fall at a weird angle that can’t be adjusted due to the design and the battery’s size and weight. Still, for what it is, it’s a nice add-in, and it does rest completely flat on the back when it isn’t in use.

Also: The best MagSafe wallets of 2024: Expert tested and reviewed

The best part of the ESR MagSlim? The digital display. One of the most challenging parts about using portable batteries is knowing if the pack is charged, how much power remains in the unit, and trying to learn indicator lights, buttons, and other features.

With smaller MagSafe packs, it’s a lot easier to gauge how much extra battery you’ll get from a pack (typically less than two recharges of an iPhone), so knowing the remaining capacity is less of an issue. On 10K packs, it gets a little more complicated to know, and even I, a seasoned battery pack user, sometimes wish they would just tell me. 

Well, folks, this ESR battery does. Thanks to a handy LED, you can check how much battery capacity remains on the MagSlim battery while you’re using it and see when it needs to be recharged, too. This feature alone justifies this pack’s price tag for me.

ZDNET’s buying advice 

If you’re looking for a 10,000mAh MagSafe battery pack that’s great for everyday use, travel, and more, the ESR MagSlim is a good fit. Consider a 5K model, a traditional power bank, or a pluggable option if you want smaller packs.

Its functional kickstand feature and handy LED make for a feature-filled charging experience, and its performance is on par with plenty of other comparative ZDNET-tested battery packs. 

Plus, at under $50, the ESR MagSlim (while on sale at Amazon) is a great gift for yourself or a loved one ahead of winter.

When will this deal expire?

While many sales events feature deals for a specific length of time, deals are on a limited-time basis, making them subject to expire anytime. ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best offers to help you maximize your savings so you can feel as confident in your purchases as we feel in our recommendations. Our team of experts constantly monitors the deals we feature to keep our stories up-to-date. If you missed out on this deal, don’t worry — we’re always sourcing new savings opportunities at ZDNET.com.