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MagyarSharge Shargeek 140 power bank hands-on review: Matte-black endurance
Having successfully helped OnePlus achieve fan service with its last product, Sharge returns to its signature transparent tech esthetic with the Shargeek 140. The power bank has a lot in common with both the Storm2 Slim (or Shargeek 130) and Shargeek 170.
Unboxing and First Impressions
Unlike some of its predecessors, the Shargeek 140 turned up in a plain, unbranded black box. Then again, it is probably a pre-production unit, and retail/Kickstarter buyers might get more out of their unboxing experience.
That is reflected on the inside, which has the same padded slots for the power bank, its cable (of the striking yellow color and surprisingly generous length that is standard for Sharge power banks), and carrying bag (which is a light gray and a bit more flimsy compared to that of earlier Shargeek-series products: the Pouch's power brick has already put a small hole in it).
The Shargeek 140 is the first of its line to come finished in matte black where its plastic is not clear. It goes well with the stylistically visible circuit board, although its batteries on one side are more gray than anything else. Its chassis is very like that of the Storm2 Slim, only infinitesimally longer and wider.
However, it drops the display of its ostensible forebear for that of the newer Shargeek 170, thereby swapping the much more detailed UI developed for it by Sharge for a more straightforward seven-segment read-out. The 140 also has the exact same port lay-out of the Storm2 Slim, although its power button is side-mounted (like that of the 170).
Charging Test with the Sharge 140 power bank
The power bank has just 2 ports, 1 of which is rated to deliver up to 100W via USB-C. On testing it with my old Razer Blade Stealth as usual, I was disappointed to find that it would not draw more than ~34W from the 140, even though it has done better with older power banks.
That held true regardless of the cable used, even a 240W version from Sharge to a first-party Razer accessory. While the Sharge 140 also emitted an excruciating amount of whistling while connected, it was also able to power the laptop for about 1 hour and 45 minutes. Then again, testing the power bank with any newer device, even the Lenovo Legion Go, resulted in much better performance.
The 140's display showed 88W or more under those conditions (although a separate USB meter read closer to 90W) thanks to the Lenovo device's USB-C PD 3.1 ports - albeit only while the device was powered off.
The output dropped back to ~33W when the Legion Go was switched on (ah, the Windows handheld console life). Nevertheless, the power bank exhibited the ability to sustain about 70 minutes of happy (albeit DOOM 64-level) gameplay - without excessive noise (from the power bank).
The Sharge 140 would only charge smartphones (a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and an iPhone 13 Pro) via USB-C at very standard rates: ~16W at best. Then again, I found that it could do the same via its single USB type-A port - and while re-charging itself via type-C too. Given that the power bank had an output of ~9V/1.6A in that mode, it shows that the type-A port is likely to live up to its up-to-40W (20V/2A) rating.
On that note, the Sharge 140 is, like the Storm2 Slim, rated to charge itself at 65W, which it can do with any 20V/3.25A-rated adapter - like that shipped with the JSAUX FlipGo (or the Legion Go, for that matter). It does so at top speed regardless of whether the type-A port is in use or not.
Finally, the power bank has a "Low-Current Mode", activated through a double-tap of the power button, for older or smaller devices such as wearables (or Sony cameras). It works, although I have noticed it is not necessary as a ~1.5W device gets the same amount of power even if it has not been turned on.
Pros
+ Nice, streamlined yet detailed design
+ Airline-safe rating
+ Display to keep track of charging and discharging
+ Unusually fast charging via USB type-A
+ Stayed cool during testing
+ Self-charges with wide range of power bricks
Cons
– Apparently less effective with older 100W USB-C devices
– Can get loud when connected to wrong device
– Dual-port design restricts versatility somewhat
– Availability is dependent on outcome of crowdfunding campaign
Verdict on the Shargeek 140 power bank
All in all, the Sharge 140 is a good choice for a potentially upgraded power bank. It has the portability of the pre-existing 130/Storm2 Slim and can last longer, although the 170 (currently available on Amazon) is still superior in terms of capacity compared to both, on paper and in testing.
Then again, the Storm2 Slim has much more detail on its screen, and can do things such as flip the direction of its read-out to boot. Nevertheless, the 140's display is accurate, in terms of output/input wattage and how much time is left until it goes to 0%.
Its pass-through charging mode is particularly useful, although it is a shame the type-A port can't also be used as an input, as that would free the type-C port to charge a range of up-to-date devices.
Some potential buyers might also prefer its look, although it is also technically out there in white.
Price and availability
Currently, the Sharge 140 is still on Kickstarter, priced at $89 as a standalone reward at the time of writing.
Transparency
The present review sample was made available to the author as a loan by the manufacturer or a shop for the purposes of review. The lender had no influence on this review, nor did the manufacturer receive a copy of this review before publication. There was no obligation to publish this review.
