Xiaomi’s power bank is always about size and quality. This time, they went big and introduced a 20,000mAh power bank that supports up to 67W, which can be used to charge today’s smartphones, laptops and more, but is this better? Let’s find out.
Build and Design
The first thing you notice about the Xiaomi Power Bank 5i is that it is undeniably a brick. Weighing 415 grams, you won’t comfortably slip this into a standard jeans pocket. However, that sheer density is to be expected when housing a 20,000mAh capacity. The build quality is all plastic, but it doesn’t feel cheap or hollow. Instead, it feels remarkably strong, with a full matte polycarbonate finish engineered to resist breakage and dents during transit.
What truly upgrades the design from a standard rectangular block to a genuinely thoughtful piece of industrial design is the built-in USB Type-C cable. Made of flexible, high-durability TPU, this integrated cable sits flush in a channel on the side of the body and loops around to function as a convenient lanyard strap. When I first saw it, I was highly doubtful about using a vital charging connector to dangle a heavy 400-gram battery from my finger. However, Xiaomi claims this built-in cable has survived over 5,000 rigorous swing-and-bend tests at 150-degree angles. In my daily testing, carrying it around by the cable felt completely secure, and it eliminates the persistent annoyance of digging through the bottom of a backpack to find a tangled, loose USB cord.
Another excellent design inclusion is the smart digital display embedded on the side. Moving away from the four-LED dot system that leaves you guessing how much juice is actually left, this screen gives you precise, real-time battery percentages down to the single digit. It also shows when fast charging is engaged, taking the guesswork out of battery management.
Features and Performance
During my testing, the standout feature was the 67W Turbo Charge output. I connected my heavily depleted MacBook Air, and it effortlessly pushed a consistent, full 60W speed, effectively acting as a portable wall outlet. Being able to continue editing documents and working on a laptop while sitting in a cafe with no accessible wall plugs fundamentally changes how you plan your workday.
The Power Bank 5i doesn’t just cater to laptops. It is equipped with three distinct ports: the integrated USB-C cable, a secondary USB-C port, and a standard USB-A port. This configuration allows you to charge up to three devices simultaneously. When I had my laptop plugged into the main port, I could also connect my smartphone via the built-in cable and my wireless earbuds to the USB-A port, and the power bank would smartly distribute the wattage. It supports a wide range of advanced charging protocols, including PD 3.0 with PPS and QC 3.5. This means it adapts dynamically to whatever device you connect, communicating with the hardware to deliver the exact required power range efficiently and safely without generating excess heat or damaging older devices.
The integrated cable is incredibly handy for topping off smartphones on the fly. It rapidly boosted my primary phone from 20% to 80% in just over half an hour. For delicate electronics like fitness bands or smartwatches, a quick double-press of the physical power button activates a low-current trickle charging mode. This ensures that smaller batteries are charged safely without the risk of over-current damage, which is a common issue when using high-wattage chargers on tiny accessories.
Recharging a 20,000mAh battery can traditionally take an eternity, leaving you tethered to a wall for six or seven hours. Xiaomi has addressed this by outfitting the Power Bank 5i with 65W fast-input support. By connecting it to a high-wattage laptop wall adapter, I was able to refill the massive internal cell from completely dead to 100% in roughly two and a half hours. This rapid turnaround is priceless when you only have a short layover at an airport or a quick turnaround at a hotel before heading back out. Speaking of travel, despite the large physical cell size, the 74.37Wh energy rating keeps it well below the 100Wh limit enforced by international airlines, meaning it passed seamlessly through airport security in my carry-on luggage without a second glance. The internal hardware also features a 12-layer safety protection system alongside dual NTC temperature sensors, which consistently kept the unit surprisingly cool to the touch even when pushing maximum wattage to my laptop.
Verdict
The Xiaomi Power Bank 5i is an excellent solution for anyone who regularly carries a laptop and smartphone, eliminating the need for multiple chargers and tangled wires. While it’s not pocket-sized due to its weight and footprint, its ability to deliver reliable, rapid laptop-grade power alongside a durable built-in cable makes it a worthwhile addition to your daily essentials. It proves that choosing a larger device can significantly enhance your travel experience.