Top critical review
3.0 out of 5 starsUpdated review- Unfortunately had to return it
Reviewed in the United States on July 20, 2023
Updated Review August 2023- I am updating this review to reflect on Anker's amazing customer service recently after encountering an issue with the product.
While using the battery pack to charge my iPhone 12 Pro Max recently I noticed an issue that concerned me. Had the battery pack plugged directly into the phone using an Apple branded USB-C to Lightning cable and during the charging process I powered down the phone. After approximately 45-60 seconds my phone powered itself back "on" without me pressing the power button on the phone. It also bypassed the lock screen that either uses face ID or an unlock code to unlock the phone. To see if it was just a "one off" issue or glitch, I repeated the process 5 times and the phone powered itself back on every time without me physically pressing the power button.
I repeated the process to try and replicate it with different devices and cords and couldnt replicate the issue. Changed the cord, used my current version iPad Pro USB-C, even used my 6 year old Anker PowerBank 10,000 with a USB-A to Lightning cord and it didnt power back on accidently.
Reported this issue and sent a video to Anker and they were perplexed as they have never encountered this issue. Their Quality Engineers requested I send it back for testing and they sent a replacement promptly. Got the replacement yesterday and unfortunately I replicated the issue of it powering my iPhone back on. Reported this to Anker again and they were at a loss for words and requested I return the replacement to their Quality Engineers for testing again and they will provide a refund.
This is probably a very isolated and rare issue. I am running the current iPhone software and my phone is in excellent condition. I am at a loss for words because I had high hopes for this Anker product and loved it for its design and performance. Now I need to research a viable replacement.
In the end, Anker's CS reps are great and were very helpful during this process.
Initial Review July 2023- Have had this MagSafe external battery for about 48 hours and have put it to use. Will update this review in time for long term feedback.
My initial impression of the Anker 633 is overwhelmingly positive. Out of the box it looks and feels sturdy and well made, like other Anker products. Every aspect of it balances form and function, which is impressive to me as I am a product manager by training and look at things with a different set of "lenses" at times.
The material used on the case is not slippery smooth or overly tacky. It has a soft matte finish that feels good in hand and facilitates a good grip so you don't drop it. Size and weight are very acceptable for what it does. The number of ports is just enough to satisfy people with USB-A and USB-C charging cords and the MagSafe charging surface is super convenient to attach to devices (iPhone) that are compatible. I love the metal flip out stand on the back to prop it upright and attach your phone for viewing convenience! Everything is is its right place. I particularly like having a "sleep/wake" button on this device to know when its operational. The added LED lights on the side clearly show how much of a charge it has so no guess work is needed to understand when you need to recharge it.
Plugged it into an Apple 20W USB-C fast charging "wall cube" out of the box and the LED meter on the side showed it had 1 out of 4 dots of charge. It fully charged to 4 dots in approximately 50 minutes. Used it once last night to test the speed of the MagSafe charging option using my iPhone 12 Pro Max. It charged the phone from 25% battery to 80% in approximately 45 minutes while I was using the phone. I am sure it would charge the phone faster when I use a USB-C to USB-C cord per its specs, but I was pleasantly surprised with it's initial wireless charging performance compared to the Apple branded MagSafe external battery. It blew away the Apple product for sure.
Minor suggestion to Anker- This is not a big deal, but could be a "nice to have" or value add for some users. I have an older Anker PowerCore 10000 USB-A external battery pack, which I still use and love. It came with a soft carry pouch with drawstring closure to keep the battery and cords safe while transporting during travel. I am sure they don't cost much but would protect the products from potential scratches.
Love Anker products- they do what they were designed to do, and do it well.