For many of us, our daily routines include things that need charging: smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and wireless earbuds, and maybe even things like digital cameras and portable game systems. Whether you travel a lot or spend a lot of time away from home, or just want to ensure you have a backup in times of unexpected need, it’s helpful to have a power bank of some sort for portable, on-demand recharging. Power banks are available in varying capacities and at an array of price points, but the Omnicharge Omni 20+ basically takes the kitchen sink approach. With USB-C, USB-A, AC, and DC ports, and even wireless charging capabilities on top of that, it’ll charge pretty much any portable gadget you can throw its way. It is expensive and packed with more features than the average person probably needs, but power users who can stomach the investment will adore this robust accessory.
Design: Powerful, but portable
The Omni 20+ lives up to the common “power brick” terminology used for such portable battery packs: It is a dense and heavy-feeling puck at 1.4 pounds and a nearly 5 x 5-inch footprint with a thickness of just under 1 inch. There are smaller and lighter power banks on the market, certainly, but it’s still smaller than the almost VHS tape-like shape of the Mophie Powerstation AC, which offers some similar capabilities. Omnicharge outfitted the Omni 20+ with a lightly rubberized exterior that can tolerate everyday nicks, although I’d stop short of calling it rugged. It’s not built for extreme wear and tear. As hinted above, the Omni 20+ provides an array of charging ports and methods. There are two standard USB-A ports on the front that are QuickCharge 3.0-compatible and support charging speeds up to 18W. A single USB-C PD (Power Delivery) port on the right side can charge devices up to 60W, and also has an input rating of up to 45W for refilling the Omni 20+’s built-in 20,000mAh lithium-ion battery pack. For heavier-duty charging needs, an AC port (120V) on the left side allows up to 100W charging, while a small DC port (5-25V) on the right side can hit the same 100W mark. The AC port is useful for plugging in devices that have a wall plug, while the DC port can be used to replace certain laptop charging bricks, for example, swapping it for something that has additional utility. On top of all that, the top surface of the Omni 20+ can wirelessly charge devices that are compatible with the Qi charging standard at up to 10W. That’s ideal for smartphones, as well as earbuds cases that support wireless charging. Part of what makes the Omni 20+ unique, aside from the sheer array of charging options, is the tiny OLED display on the front that provides at-a-glance details on the power bank itself. The remaining battery life indicator is probably most useful to all users, but it also serves up data on the charging output for connected devices, the recharging speed for the brick itself, the DC/USB-C output voltage, and battery temperature. The Omni 20+ is sold individually with just the unit itself and USB-C and USB-A cables at a list price of $200. OmniCharge also sells a bundle that packs in a fast wall charger with two international plug adapters, plus a durable case for holding the Omni 20+ and charging cables. The bundle, which Omnicharge sent to Lifewire for this review, sells for $250.
Setup Process: Not much to it
Because the Omni 20+ is an all-purpose battery pack, there really isn’t much setup required to use it. You won’t need to install any software or configure settings. Simply charge the unit with one of the included cables and a charger, and then when ready, power on the Omni+ by long-pressing the power button on the front of the unit. To charge a device, plug it into the appropriate port or place a wirelessly-chargeable device on the surface to tap into wireless charging. Note that the two buttons on the front respectively turn the AC port and USB ports on or off, so if you’re not getting power, double-check those buttons.
Charging Speed and Battery: Plenty of options
I tested the Omni 20+ with an array of devices, including my 2019 MacBook Pro, an iPhone 12 Pro Max, Samsung Galaxy S21, Apple AirPods Pro, OnePlus 9, and Nintendo Switch. It worked reliably and as expected while testing the various ports. The Omni 20+ packaging provides rough estimates of how many charges you’ll get from the power bank before it runs dry, including up to five smartphone charges, one to two tablet charges, up to a single laptop charge, and up to five digital camera charges. Granted, those estimates won’t always be spot-on due to variances in battery capacity from device to device, but they were pretty on-target for the devices I tested. For example, the MacBook Pro charged from empty to 96 percent full before the Omni 20+ ran out of juice, nearly providing a full charge. I observed a peak charging rate of 61W during charging via the USB-C port. The large-capacity iPhone 12 Pro Max charged from empty to 100 percent in just over two hours and left about 70 percent of a charge remaining on the power brick. It charged at a rate around 26W via a USB-C to Lightning cable. In terms of wireless charging, performance varied by device. With the iPhone 12 Pro Max, I saw a speedy charging rate just north of 10W, which added 21 percent to the phone’s battery charge in just 30 minutes. However, Samsung’s Galaxy S20 charged at a rate of only 6.6W, adding 13 percent to the battery tally during a 30-minute span. Your results will vary by device, but the Omni 20+ provides so many different ways to charge that there’s bound to be an ideal option.
Price: Expensive, but potentially worth it
Price is the only major barrier to the Omnicharge Omni 20+, which does everything you’d expect and then some. But a pile of perks comes at a premium price, and in this case, $200 for a power bank is definitely on the high end. You can get a 20,000mAh power bank with fewer ports from a reputable brand for $50 or less, although you’ll need to be mindful of charging speed—not every charger is capable of handling powerful laptops, for example. Still, if you can get by with a USB-C port, then you can save a lot of cash with a simpler, less-robust power bank.
Omnicharge Omni 20+ vs ZMI PowerPack 20000
The ZMI PowerPack 20000 is exactly the kind of affordable power bank I’d recommend if you don’t need an AC or DC power port. The 45W USB-C PD port won’t handle some super-powered laptops, but it charges a MacBook Pro just fine, and is certainly ideal for smartphones, tablets, game systems, and other compact devices. At a current price of just $60, it’s a compact, long-lasting power bank that’s ideal for tucking into a bag as a backup. But again, the Omni 20+ handily beats it on available ports, maximum wattage, and other perks.
Similar Products We’ve Reviewed
MaxOak 185Wh/50000mAh Battery Pack Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Battery Pack Bundle Jackery 20,800 mAh PowerBar Battery Pack
If you can spare the cash and want a power brick that can handle just about any portable device you’ll throw at it, the Omnicharge Omni 20+ is an excellent and versatile option. It’s great for laptops, smartphones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets, and provides a charging port or pad that’ll work for just about anything that fits within its power range. Don’t need all of the extra ports? Save the cash and buy a simpler alternative power bank. But there’s no doubt some users will appreciate all of the options and abilities built into this one handy power brick.
