D-Link DPP-201 powerbank
Anybody who travels knows that sinking feeling when, just as you’re settling into your favourite movie on a long flight, your phone suddenly pings with a low battery warning.
It’s not just a problem with phones, or when travelling.
There has been an explosion of useful but power-hungry smart devices over the past decade; whether it’s a smartwatch tracking your morning run, the headphones you’re connecting to on your commute or even your work laptop, portable power has become a necessity to keep them all working and you connected.
Hoping to address this problem – and to tempt frequent travellers and hybrid workers – is D-Link with its portable powerbank, the DPP-201.
Although well-established in the consumer and business networking sector, D-Link isn’t a brand traditionally associated with mobile peripherals. So…. is its big powerbank up to the task in the competitive powerbank market?
Design & build
Amongst a sea of easily misplaceable grey and black plastic slabs, the DPP-201 (arguably) stands out with its somewhat more “premium-looking” design and matt white finish. The LED display shows the current charge level against a chrome background, although other – more expensive – laptop-style powerbanks offer more charging information.
At 400 grams, the unit has a bit more heft than some pocket sized banks, but that is a fair trade-off given the DPP-201’s 20,000mah capacity and 65 watt output. This means it is fit for powering beefier devices such as laptops, portable gaming devices and large Bluetooth speakers, as well as mobile phones, making it quite versatile
Airline safe, ah, relax
For the frequent flyers, its ‘airline-safe’ certification means you can slip it into your carry-on luggage without worrying. While it’s practical for luggage, it’s not the slimmest option if you’re after something that can disappear unobtrusively into your coat pocket.
So what- and how – much can you plug into it?
The powerbank features 2 × USB-C ports (with 65W Power Delivery 3.0) and one traditional USB-A port with Quick Charge 3.0 meaning you can easily top up your laptop, Nintendo Switch, and a pair of wireless earbuds on the go.
If you’re looking to juice up bigger, more power-hungry devices- such as gaming laptops or bigger gaming handhelds – you may need to choose a bigger powerbank, because the DPP 201 only supports a maximum of 65 watts.
D-Link’s DPP-201 is good for roughly five full phone charges or two/three tablet charges. At times, you may see slightly less than that due to conversion losses, but it was still plenty enough to get me through a 10-hour-long-haul flight while plugged into my ROG Ally with some light gaming.
What’s especially important when in the air, is that the DPP-201 stays cool under load, with no alarming heat build-up even when powering multiple devices. In the event that something does go awry, the device’s charging circuitry has been engineered to prevent overcharge and even disable the power supply if needed.
Takeaway thoughts
Priced at around £35, the DPP 201 has a touch more elegance than many of the black slabs you see in the market. It’s compact and just light enough to throw in a carry-on or backpack; yet it still kicks out plenty of power to keep a laptop charged, making it a compelling option for busy professionals or frequent travellers.
