OnePlus has teamed up with Sharge, a Thailand-based company that specializes in power supply and charging accessories, to develop a new product called the “Pouch.” It is advertised as a practical 3-in-1 power bank that integrates the charger and cable into the power bank itself.
Pouch Specs and Features Overview
According to the official product press release, the Pouch lists a capacity of 10,000mAh, a typical value for many other basic power banks on the market. What sets the Pouch apart, however, is its support for OnePlus-based fast charging technologies such as SUPERVOOC 40W and USB Power Delivery (PD). This native compatibility puts it quite close as a convenient accessory for a OnePlus device ecosystem, despite the unevenness of the quick charging feature with its basic capacity.
Another heavily marketed feature of the Pouch is its detachable and modular design. The unit has a built-in cable, while the charger brick itself plugs directly to the body of the power bank (turning into a single solid unit). The modularity of the charger allows the whole product to charge up to three devices simultaneously. Unplug the charger brick for one device separately, and connect two more devices to the power bank itself.
Premium Function, or Premium Fashion?
The Pouch has already garnered some recognition for its innovative design, as claimed by the press release’s statement about the product supposedly winning the Gold Award and MUSE Design Awards one month prior to its launch.
However, some potential users have raised concerns about the Pouch's price point. At $99.99, it is definitely way more expensive than many other power banks with similar capacities. While the Pouch does offer additional features and a unique design, the overall package in pure feature terms doesn’t seem to warrant such a premium.
In fact, official OnePlus 80W and 100W SUPERVOOC chargers cost significantly less even when combined with typical 10,000mAh power banks from other reputable brands. So the additional cost may as well be attributed to style, and that may not exactly be an attractive concept for such a purely utilitarian product.
Price Parity Only Lasts Till Next Week
The collaboration between OnePlus and Sharge is an interesting development in the mobile accessories industry. It really does seem that the two companies hope to offer consumers a compelling new product that stands out in a crowded market. However, it still feels a bit short, although maybe there is more tangible merit to its focus on style and brand for a specific group of consumers.
In any case, OnePlus and Sharge are currently offering a 20% discount on the Pouch, which at least evens out its price closer to the price category of the combined products that it integrates. The promo only lasts until June 9 though, so you have about just a week more to consider purchasing one through Sharge’s official website.
