Griffin Survivor
Griffin’s Survivor portable charger is more expensive than many of its similarly specified competitors, but it’s a tough little power bank and we like it.
Our review unit has a 10,500mAh capacity, and should offer at least 7000mAh to your connected devices. We’d expect the Survivor to offer most iPhones around four full charges, and Android phones between two and three full charges. However, with a 10.5W (2.1A) USB output, it’s fast and has enough capacity that you could conceivably connect a tablet instead.
Charging is automatic, and you simply plug in your device to begin. Once it’s complete, the Survivor will automatically disconnect from your phone or tablet, which prevents power being wasted. If this doesn’t happen automatically for you, then there’s also a power button on the side, a double-press of which lights the built-in LED torch. This can also be used to activate the power gauge, which uses four LEDs to show you how much power remains in the bank. It’s all pretty straightforward in any case: you just plug in and charge.
The Survivor also has a fast 10W (2A) Micro-USB input for recharging the power bank, and it will allow you to charge both it and a connected device at once (known as passthrough charging). That’s incredibly handy when you want to charge both your phone and power bank on a daily basis, and have only one USB plug.
But none of that is what makes the Griffin Survivor special. After all, we’ve seen power banks that support the fastest Quick Charge 3.0 on both their input and output, power banks with additional USB outputs, USB-C outputs – and inputs – and Lightning outputs. The Survivor is fast, but it’s by no means the fastest available and it’s not going to be a good buy if you have multiple gadgets to charge.
What we like most about the Griffin Survivor is its design. This is a compact power bank, rounded on the edges, which fits snugly in the hand at just 93x75x25mm and 238g. Encased in a black grippy rubber coating, it not only feels comfortable to hold but is rugged and tough, and feels as though it’s going to last. And last it will, since Griffin covers it with an extraordinary lifetime warranty.
Tested to Military Standard 810G, the Survivor can withstand drops up to 2m and, thanks to a rubber flap that covers its ports when not in use, it is also protected from the elements, such as rain and snow. The Griffin has an IP66 rating, which means you cannot submerge it in water (we’re not sure why you’d want to take a power bank swimming), but it should be just fine in a downpour.
Verdict
It might be on the expensive side for a power bank of this capacity, but the Griffin Survivor has a rugged charm. It’s reasonably fast and rainproof, plus there are some nice extras, such as passthrough charging, auto-on/-off and a lifetime guarantee. If it’s not all about value for money, then this may be the power bank for you.
Marie Brewis