This MagSafe battery pack has an ingenious feature that's changed how I use my phone (and it's on sale now)

At first glance, the PicoGo pack doesn’t look abnormally special from anything else on the market, and that’s because, spec-wise, it isn’t. Its design is similar to that of competitor packs. The PicoGo is not quite as slim as the Torras MiniMag pack I recently tested or as rounded as Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro Qi2 pack (another personal favorite), but somewhere between the two. 

The PicoGo has a traditional rectangular design with rounded edges and corners, a sleek finish, and indicator lights on the bottom of the pack. It weighs about what I would expect (6oz, to be exact). The pack comes in four colors (blue, white, black, and pink). The 5,000 mAh pack can charge at 20W with wired charging or at 15W with wireless, magnetic charging. Plus, it can charge wirelessly and with the USB-C port simultaneously for a double device boost. 

This pack increased the battery of my iPhone 14 Pro from 25% to 60% in half an hour. About 40 minutes later, the phone was back up to 80%, with half of the battery capacity still left in the pack. 

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All things considered, this MagSafe battery is pretty standard … except it’s not. Two things about this battery pack piqued my interest from the get-go when I first saw the product at an NYC launch event. It’s priced at only $50 (even less during a sale), and its kickstand feature is upside down and all around (literally). 

While several competitor battery packs offer kickstands, they typically are either plastic or metal pieces that pull out from the pack and snap back into place. This approach means they’re fixed and can only hold specific angles predetermined by each pack’s size and the length and angle of each kickstand. Baseus did it differently.

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Instead of a stand, you get a metal ring that closely resembles a MagSafe-style ring. It lifts vertically from within the back of the pack and has a pretty extensive range of motion. The ring also spins 360 degrees, allowing for a custom stand placement and a vertical or horizontal orientation. When you don’t want it, the ring snaps in completely flush with the back of the battery. While I have seen this design on some other battery packs and phone cases, I haven’t seen it incorporated into 5k packs with Qi2 at Baseus’ price point or in alternative color options outside of black and white. 

This phone ring-style grip is the first I’ve tested on a 5k battery pack, and it’s more than just nifty. Now, back to the price. The PicoGo costs $50 full-price, which is pretty on par with the cost of other options. The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Qi2 pack retails for $60, and the Torras MiniMag can usually be nabbed between $40-$50. Belkin’s pack is the most comparable with its kickstand, but it doesn’t offer a full rotational design, and the Torras MiniMag doesn’t even offer a kickstand. 

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While the PicoGo is not absolutely perfect, in my opinion (it has the slightest hint of an overhang on the bottom of my phone, a major pet peeve, and it lacks any texturing on the back for enhanced grip), the pack is arguably exceptionally worthy of its cost, especially if you can get it for around $40 on sale. Take it from someone who tests battery packs, for a 5k battery pack with a kickstand and Qi2, that’s a pretty good buy. 

ZDNET’s buying advice 

If you’re looking for a 5,000mAh MagSafe battery pack that’s great for everyday use, travel, and more, the Baseus PicoGo may be your best pick. The pack is ergonomic and its 360-degree rotational kickstand is unlike any other I’ve tried. The PicoGo’s charging, size, and design are on par with plenty of other comparative battery packs that are ZDNET-tested. 

Plus, at under $50 while on sale, this battery packs lots of value (pun intended), making it a great gift for yourself or a loved one this holiday season.