The Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4, the latest generation of the company’s 10,000mAh ultralight power bank, has been reviewed at 146g, with a claimed 39Wh battery, 22.5W maximum output and IPX7 water protection. For hikers, runners and travelers counting every gram, the relevant news is that it adds some useful charging capability without becoming another bulky battery with a screen, stand and miscellaneous nonsense attached.
The Verge measured the unit at 146g and reported Nitecore’s listed dimensions as 1.45 by 11.6 by 4.68cm. The reviewer described it as the lightest and most compact 10,000mAh power bank they could find. That is a qualified market comparison, not proof of a universal record across every design, capacity or feature set.
The bank is priced at about $84, according to the review. That puts it firmly in premium-ultralight territory, where buyers are paying for mass and volume savings rather than a bargain battery per watt-hour.
What does the Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4 offer?
It is a lithium-ion power bank rated at 10,000mAh, or 39Wh, with USB-C charging. Nitecore’s stated maximum output is 22.5W, and the device supports USB Power Delivery, Quick Charge 3.0 and Huawei’s SCP protocol, according to The Verge. It can also pass power through: a connected device can charge while the bank itself is plugged in.
Capacity labels describe the energy stored in the cells, not the exact amount that reaches a phone. Energy is lost in voltage conversion, cabling and heat. In its test, The Verge measured 33.58Wh delivered from the claimed 39Wh, an efficiency of 86.1%. That figure was slightly ahead of the 33.33Wh the outlet measured from Nitecore’s preceding NB10000 Gen 3.
The reviewer said that result fully recharged an aging iPhone 15 Pro twice with a small amount of energy left. The same review found the bank could top up a 14-inch MacBook Pro, though a 39Wh pack is plainly a supplement for a laptop rather than a workday replacement for its charger.
What changed for Nitecore’s ultralight battery line?
The Gen 4 uses carbon-fiber sheets and carries an IPX7 rating, which is intended to cover temporary submersion in water. The Verge also reported a four-element charge indicator and an included USB-C lanyard that adds 6g.
There is limited official context for the generation-to-generation change. Nitecore’s U.S. product page for the older NB10000 Gen 2 lists a 150g, 38.5Wh model with 20W maximum USB-C output and IPX5 protection. Its product listings identify the Gen 4 as a 10,000mAh, 22.5W model, but the available material does not establish every hardware difference between the generations.
The Verge’s review also found the compromises expected from a specialized outdoor accessory: the price is high, the knock-to-wake function was inconsistent, and the reviewer regarded the RGB lighting as unnecessary. For people who need a less expensive backup battery, those objections may outweigh a few grams. For users carrying electronics over long distances, the measured energy-to-weight result is the actual selling point.
This story draws on original reporting from The Verge.
