Output 275W to six devices via a 25k mAh power bank with a pop-up MagSafe charger, Apple Watch charger, and four USB ports with the excellent Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra.
Chargeasap has been around for a while, and this is the third iteration of the Flash power bank I’ve reviewed. The Flash Pro Ultra takes everything that the company has learned from the previous models to combine it into a single sleek device.
The travel-friendly power bank is rated at 25,000 mAh and can output 275W at once. Passthrough charging also means it can act as a charging hub for five products via AC power without touching the battery.
I reviewed the Flash 2.0 in 2020 and the Flash Pro Plus in 2021. A lot of progress has been made and the Flash Pro Ultra may just be the ultimate portable power bank — if you’re willing to pay the high price.
Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra review: Design
Chargeasap has maintained its basic design through the years, but the Flash Pro Ultra departs from the sleek metal enclosures in favor of lighter plastic. It’s a bit more boxy, a tad thicker, but keeps close to the same relative volume of previous models.
It’s 1.5 pounds, the heaviest power bank so far compared to 1.4 pounds and 1.2 pounds from previous iterations. It’s 6 inches long by 3.25 inches wide and about 1.4 inches thick.
I’ll never understand Chargeasap’s tendency to show images of people carrying these in their back pocket — it’s not exactly pocketable and it’ll weigh your pants down too much. However, it’s the perfect size for most bag’s internal mesh pockets.
The design is simplistic yet isn’t too utilitarian. The OLED display on the front can show charging level with temperature and time remaining on one view, or show wattage output for each port in another.
The power button is easily found thanks to its yellow color, and there’s an eject button that pops up the MagSafe charger on top. Both the MagSafe charger and Apple Watch Charger have a lightning bolt symbol.
The ports are located at the top of the device and have plenty of space around them so cables don’t feel crowded. Each port is labeled with their max output.
Internally, the Flash Pro Ultra is is powered by five 21700 Samsung Lithium-ion Battery Cells. This is a move that Chargeasap doesn’t seem to be trying to bring much awareness to since the previous models were marketed heavily on using Panasonic graphene batteries.
This doesn’t appear to matter, however, as the weight isn’t much higher, it still has a 25k mAh capacity, charges fully in 70 minutes, and operates at low temperatures. Really, lithium-ion is fine in my experience.
One aspect Chargeasap was focused on with graphene was the lower operating temperatures. It seems that isn’t a problem here as I’ve never seen the on-screen temperature indicator get too high, plus the inclusion of the temperature readout shows Chargeasap’s confidence here.
In use, the battery has never been hot to the touch. That’s saying something considering how blistering hot some other batteries can get.
Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra review: Features
The battery itself is quite straightforward, though it’s got a great gimmick I hope other power bank producers try to copy. It can charge six devices at once, though it maxes out at 275W even though the total potential of all the ports adds up to 335W.
The MagSafe charger is Qi2 certified, so it charges up to 15W on compatible smartphones including iPhone. The Apple Watch charger is a 5W charger.
There are three USB-C ports. C1 is a 140W PD fast charger, C2 is a 100W PD fast charger, and C3 is a 60W PD fast charger.
The USB-A port is also capable of 60W, but it shares the circuit with C3, so they’re limited if both are in use. If C3 is in use, A1 defaults to 15W out max.
If everything is in use, there’s not really a normal use case where every connected device would ask for the max power draw. However, if that unlikely scenario happened, it seems to prioritize the first two USB-C ports.
So, with everything connected, you’d get 140W on C1, 100W on C2, 15W across C3/A1, 15W MagSafe, and 5W on Apple Watch. Those add up to the 275W max output of the battery.
The Flash Pro Ultra also works as a passthrough charging hub. That means if the battery is connected to external AC power, the connected devices won’t drain the battery.
The 25k mAh capacity allows users to recharge an iPhone 16 Pro Max four times or a MacBook Air 1.5 times. It’s quite a lot of capacity for something you can slip into a bag.
Customers with a Samsung watch and phone can also purchase Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra this time around, though they’ll have to pick a specific model. There’s a model with Samsung Watch charging capability built in.
Using Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra
Previous Chargeasap Flash batteries offered wireless charging, but never MagSafe. This was due to the camera bump on iPhone not allowing it to lay flat.
The Flash Pro Ultra has a clever workaround by making the MagSafe charger pop up with a button press. It maybe could have just been permanently molded to stay up, but that could have interfered with placing it in certain pockets or cases.
The mechanism seems solid and it doesn’t stick. However, I have some concern about how it will age after extensive use and exposure to the elements.
The battery is an excellent travel companion. It reduces the need for several kinds of chargers and wall adapters. One cable from the wall can charge the battery and five other devices.
That said, I’ve encountered one issue that’s hard to determine the cause. My Apple Watch won’t stay charging for long after being placed on the charger.
The charging animation shows up, the battery shows power is being discharged, and everything seems fine. But, when I return even moments later, the Apple Watch is no longer charging.
It isn’t clear why this is occurring and could be a specific problem with my unit. Note that the issue exists, and if you purchase a battery with an Apple Watch charger that isn’t working properly, expect a replacement unit or refund.
Otherwise, the battery has been excellent. Whether I’m using it to keep my Nintendo Switch alive while out and about, or to power my iPad Pro while working outdoors, it’s a well-made, reliable and powerful portable battery pack.
Ultimate portable power at a price
I expect Chargeasap will continue to iterate on the Flash lineup, but this model will likely last a number of years before a revision is needed. As long as the Apple Watch charging issue isn’t persistent across all devices sold, it’s a solid product.
The high price is still a difficult one to overcome. It is worth the price, but most users will likely go for cheaper, more limited battery packs.
Instead of juggling multiple power banks and chargers, use the Flash Pro Ultra. It’s been my go-to power bank since I began testing it, and it is a big step up from the previous model.
It’s especially useful for Apple fans since it can provide 140W fast charging to MacBook Pro and is compatible with every product in the lineup. Charge everything from iPads to AirPods with PD charging that won’t damage your batteries.
Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra review – Pros
- Good size to capacity ratio
- Passthrough charging
- Incredible 140W output, 275W total
- Pop-up MagSafe charger is innovative
- Doesn’t get too hot during use
Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra review – Cons
- Apple Watch charging issue (may be limited to my unit)
- High price may deter customers
Rating 4.0 out of 5
As much as I’ve enjoyed the premium power banks made by Chargeasap, they can’t seem to escape one or two odd issues and that price tag. It’s a 5 if you get one that has a working Apple Watch charger and the price isn’t an issue.
Where to buy the Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra
Get the Chargeasap Flash Pro Ultra for $329 from the Chargeasap website. It launched after a successful Kickstarter, marking the company’s 13th successful fundraiser.
