What it is

The Yoshino B660 SST is a well-designed and attractive Power Bank that boasts a few unique and interesting features. Perhaps the most exciting is the use of Solid State battery technology. Solid State batteries are fairly new in the consumer market, and promise several benefits, primarily reduced weight and increased safety.

At 602 wHr of capacity, the B660 SST fills a nice hole in most manufacturer’s battery bank lineups, with a bit more capacity than the typical 500 wHr bank, and less size, weight, and capacity than a larger 1000 wHr unit. All the key outputs are on the front of the unit, along with a simply display that provides all the data you’d want on a power bank, including current power draw, percent capacity remaining, and an estimated time until the pack runs out of juice.

Unique among power banks I’ve tested, the B660 SST not only provides USB-C output, but also allows the power bank to be charged through USB-C. This means that you can use your laptop power brick to charge the B660 SST, so you can still charge the device should you misplace the power brick, or not want to carry a single-use device on a trip.

Yoshino also wins the Big Heavy award for most useful light on a power bank. Rather than useless flashlight-style spotlights, the B660 SST has an attractive LED light bar that not only looks good, but actually illuminates the work area in front of the pack and the output ports, the area you’d actually want to see if trying to use a power bank in a dark environment.

High-quality materials, and all the accessories you’d need to get started are also included, making this a compelling package. 

Who it’s For

The B660 SST is a well-designed, attractive, and theoretically safer power bank. A 602 wHr of capacity, it’s a nice size for powering a family’s-worth of devices over a weekend camping trip or power outage, or providing a half-day of backup power to a fridge or larger device.

The thoughtful design of the outputs, high-quality materials, and reduced weight from the solid state batteries make this bank a winner, and the ability to use the USB-C chargers you already own is icing on the cake.

Pros & Cons

Specs and Features

What it is

The EB3A is a 268 wHr power bank that provides a great selection of outputs, reasonable battery capacity, and a strong AC output of 600W (1200W surge) in a compact, “lunch box” package. With some caveats, this is a great power bank, and perhaps the current leader in the 300 wHr range.

Who it’s For

This power bank is the right size for a weekend of camping (assuming you’re not using a fridge or other high-draw electrical appliances), a day at the beach or picnic, or a brief power outage. The relatively high capacity power inverter will allow you to run a household fridge or freezer, or a blender, albeit briefly, or have enough power to charge phones and laptops several times during a power outage. The box-like shape and carry handle make it easy to store and transport.

Pros & Cons

Specs and Features