Xiaomi PB1165MI Review: 165W Sleek Power Bank with 120W Fast Charging and Built-in Cable That Redefines Portable Power
1. Disclaimer:
Sample used is provided by Xiaomi, Zmi. Mostly Melbourne as reseller is affiliated with Xiaomi/Zmi and has vested interest. This article does not represent an advice of purchase.
Source of sample: mostlymelbourne.com Amazon Link
Original article https://www.chongdiantou.com/archives/386462.html
Posted by @huanghongye
2. Table of Contents
Introduction
Recently, Xiaomi has launched a series of new power banks, all featuring high capacity and high power specifications. In this review, we'll examine the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in USB-C cable. This power bank features a built-in USB-C cable and an additional USB-C port on the body. The built-in cable supports 65W PD fast charging and 120W Xiaomi fast charging, while also supporting 90W self-charging, providing convenient connection to phones or chargers and perfect compatibility with Xiaomi smartphones. The USB-C port on the body supports 45W input/output, with a total output power of 165W when both ports are used simultaneously. Let's take a comprehensive look at the actual performance and user experience of this power bank.
Device Compatibility Highlights
This power bank is highly compatible with the following devices:
- Xiaomi/Redmi Smartphones - Up to 120W fast charging
- Apple iPhone - Up to 30W fast charging
- Samsung Galaxy - Up to 25W fast charging
- MacBook/iPad - Up to 45W charging
- Gaming Handhelds (Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, Legion Go) - Optimal power delivery
Unboxing
First, let's examine the external packaging of this power bank.
The Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable comes in an elongated box that maintains Xiaomi's characteristic minimalist style. The front displays a thumbnail image of the power bank along with the product name: "Xiaomi Power Bank with Built-in Cable 10000 165W" and the "10000" capacity indicator.
The back features product specifications, regulatory markings, and a barcode sticker.
Looking at the specifications in detail:
Xiaomi Power Bank with Built-in Cable 10000 165W
Model Number: PB1165MI
Product Name: Power Bank
Battery Type: Lithium-ion
Rated Capacity: 5500mAh (5V/4A)
Battery Energy: 36Wh
Contains four 2500mAh batteries
Input Ports: USB-C/USB-C Built-in Cable
Output Ports: USB-C/USB-C Built-in Cable
Input Parameters:
USB-C Built-in Cable (IN1): 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋4.5A
USB-C (IN2): 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋2.25A
Output Parameters:
165W MAX 120W (USB-C Built-in Cable) + 45W (USB-C)
USB-C Built-in Cable (OUT): 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 11V≋3A, 11V≋6A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋3.25A, 20V≋6A MAX
USB-C (OUT2): 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 11V≋3A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋2.25A MAX
Dual Port Output: 5V≋4A, 9V≋6A, 12V≋6A, 15V≋6A, 20V≋8.25A
Manufacturer: Beijing Mi-Wut Technology Co., Ltd.
Upon opening the package, we find the power bank and a user manual.
The power bank features a built-in USB-C cable design with "165W MAX" engraved on the front and a color display screen at the top.
The display screen shows the remaining battery percentage of the power bank.
The charging interface displays in green, showing battery percentage and remaining charging time.
The discharging interface displays in blue, showing battery percentage and discharge speed.
The side of the power bank has a recessed groove for storing the built-in cable. When the USB-C end of the built-in cable is inserted into the groove, the cable forms a convenient carrying handle.
The built-in cable is approximately 18cm long, which is adequate for daily use.
The back of the power bank displays detailed product specifications.
In addition to the built-in cable, the power bank has a USB-C port with an orange internal connector.
The power bank measures approximately 143.06mm in length, 47.96mm in width, and 36.12mm in thickness.
The visual impression of the power bank when held in hand.
The power bank compared to a 330ml soda can for size reference.
The power bank weighs approximately 315.4g.
Protocol Testing
Following our principle of comprehensive protocol exploration, we will test the protocols of the USB ports to help users match them with appropriate output devices.
Using a POWER-Z KM003C to read the fast charging protocols of the built-in cable, we found it supports PD3.0, XIAOMI, and DCP charging protocols.
For the PDO messages, the USB-C1 port also features 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋3.25A five fixed voltage positions, as well as 5-11V≋3A and 5-20V≋3A two PPS fast charging positions.
Using the POWER-Z KM003C to read the fast charging protocols of the built-in cable, we confirmed it supports QC3.0, PD3.0, PPS, QC4+, and DCP charging protocols.
For the PDO messages, the USB-C1 port features 5V≋3A, 9V≋3A, 12V≋3A, 15V≋3A, 20V≋2.25A five fixed voltage positions, as well as 5-11V≋3A and 5-20V≋2A two PPS fast charging positions.
Product Testing
Now let's examine the practical usage experience of this power bank. We'll analyze it from multiple perspectives: charging compatibility testing, input full-process testing, output efficiency testing, and more.
Charging Compatibility Testing
The compatibility testing phase clearly demonstrates how each port of the power bank charges various devices. We'll test with dozens of devices paired with the power bank to present real test data to readers.
Built-in Cable
When connecting a Redmi K70 Ultimate Edition to the built-in cable port of the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank, the POWER-Z KM003C testing device reads a power output of 17.9V 5.1A 91.26W.
The collected charging data is summarized in the following table. Most common phones negotiate for the 9V voltage position; phones with better PPS protocol compatibility can negotiate for 15V voltage, resulting in higher charging power; tablets and laptops mostly negotiate for the 15V voltage position.
| Category | Device | Voltage (V) | Current (A) | Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphones | iPhone 16 Pro Max | 14.94 | 2.05 | 30.55 |
| Samsung S23 Ultra | 8.69 | 3.02 | 26.23 | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 18.60 | 3.16 | 58.78 | |
| Huawei Pura70 Pro+ | 8.94 | 1.35 | 12.11 | |
| vivo X100 Pro | 16.78 | 2.84 | 47.68 | |
| Meizu 21 | 17.97 | 3.03 | 54.48 | |
| Redmagic 9S Pro+ | 16.02 | 3.15 | 50.44 | |
| realme GT5 | 8.91 | 1.91 | 17.02 | |
| OPPO Find X6 Pro | 8.91 | 1.91 | 17.04 | |
| Gaming Handhelds | Lenovo Legion Go | 19.91 | 3.17 | 63.10 |
| Tablets | Samsung Tab S8 | 8.77 | 3.01 | 26.44 |
| iPad Pro 11 | 14.93 | 2.27 | 33.89 | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 | 8.95 | 1.18 | 10.59 | |
| Laptops | MacBook Pro13 M2 | 19.93 | 2.79 | 55.54 |
The highest charging power was achieved with the Lenovo Legion Go at 63.1W, followed by the Xiaomi 14 Ultra at 58.78W using Xiaomi's proprietary fast charging protocol. Other mainstream brand smartphones also showed relatively high charging power. For tablets, laptops, and gaming handhelds with good PD protocol compatibility, most could reach their maximum charging power.
USB-C Port
When connecting a Redmi K70 Ultimate Edition to the USB-C port of the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank, the POWER-Z KM003C testing device reads a power output of 16.2V 1.51A 24.49W.
The collected charging data is summarized in the following table. Apart from the charging power, the charging performance is essentially consistent with the built-in cable port.
| Category | Device | Voltage (V) | Current (A) | Power (W) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smartphones | iPhone 16 Pro Max | 14.83 | 2.04 | 30.25 |
| Samsung S23 Ultra | 8.63 | 3.01 | 25.97 | |
| Xiaomi 14 Ultra | 8.44 | 2.86 | 24.15 | |
| Huawei Pura70 Pro+ | 8.90 | 1.35 | 11.98 | |
| vivo X100 Pro | 8.04 | 2.83 | 22.77 | |
| Meizu 21 | 17.14 | 2.12 | 36.36 | |
| Redmagic 9S Pro+ | 15.81 | 2.11 | 33.35 | |
| realme GT5 | 8.84 | 1.91 | 16.88 | |
| OPPO Find X6 Pro | 8.84 | 1.92 | 17.01 | |
| Gaming Handhelds | Lenovo Legion Go | 19.86 | 2.16 | 42.94 |
| Tablets | Samsung Tab S8 | 8.73 | 3.00 | 26.22 |
| iPad Pro 11 | 14.82 | 2.28 | 33.78 | |
| Huawei MatePad Pro 13.2 | 8.92 | 1.19 | 10.59 | |
| Laptops | MacBook Pro13 M2 | 19.86 | 2.19 | 43.53 |
The highest charging power was achieved with the MacBook Pro13 M2 at 43.53W, followed by Huawei laptops and the Lenovo gaming handheld, with power nearly reaching the limit of the C2 port. Other mainstream brand smartphones also showed relatively high charging power.
Multi-port Simultaneous Output Testing
When users have multiple smart devices that need to be charged simultaneously, it's important to understand the power bank's power distribution to enable faster charging for terminal devices.
When charging two Xiaomi series phones through the C1 and C2 ports of the charger simultaneously, the measured charging powers were 96.09W and 24.5W respectively.
When charging a phone and a laptop simultaneously, the phone port power was 97.41W and the laptop port power was 43.41W.
Passthrough Charging Test
Passthrough charging refers to connecting a charger to the power bank while the power bank's USB-C or USB-A ports output power to devices. This feature is useful for travelers with single-port chargers who need to charge multiple devices.
When the USB-C port is used as input with a power of 42.33W, the built-in cable can simultaneously output a power of 81.97W.
When the built-in cable is used as the input port with a power of 88.21W, the USB-C port can simultaneously output a power of 25.02W.
Full Charging Test
The Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable supports up to PD 65W fast charging. For this full charging test, we used a Coolermaster 140W charger. The entire test was conducted in a constant temperature chamber at 25°C.
After connecting to power, the charger negotiated for 20V. For the first 11 minutes, the power remained stable at around 89W, then dropped to 35W before climbing back up to approximately 59W at the 18-minute mark until the 26-minute mark. The power then continued to decrease until charging was complete, with a total charging time of 43 minutes.
Using the CukTech 140W charger to charge the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable, it took:
• 11 minutes to reach 50%
• 25 minutes to reach 80%
• 43 minutes to reach 100%
Output Efficiency
Output efficiency is an important factor in evaluating the quality of a power bank. The efficiency varies when the power bank outputs at different power levels. Higher output efficiency indicates higher conversion rate and less heat generation. We tested the output efficiency of this power bank at different power levels.
First, we had the power bank output at 5V≋3A 15W continuously, which ended after 1 hour and 54 minutes. The actual battery energy output was approximately 28.55Wh, so the efficiency at 5V≋3A 15W output was about 28.55/36=79.31%.
Next, we had the power bank output at 9V≋3A 27W continuously, which ended after 1 hour and 10 minutes. The actual battery energy output was approximately 30.95Wh, so the efficiency at 9V≋3A 27W output was about 30.95/36=85.97%.
Then, we had the power bank output at 12V≋3A 36W continuously, which ended after 51 minutes. The actual battery energy output was approximately 30.49Wh, so the efficiency at 12V≋3A 36W output was about 30.49/36=84.69%.
Next, we had the power bank output at 15V≋3A 45W continuously, which ended after 41 minutes. The actual battery energy output was approximately 31.2Wh, so the efficiency at 15V≋3A 45W output was about 31.2/36=86.67%.
Finally, we had the power bank output at 20V≋3.25A 65W continuously, which ended after 27 minutes. The actual battery energy output was approximately 29.73Wh, so the efficiency at 20V≋3.25A 65W output was about 29.73/36=88.58%.
Ripple Testing
No-load Ripple
In the no-load ripple test, the highest peak-to-peak ripple was in the 15V≋0A position, with a peak-to-peak ripple of 22.8mVp-p. The lowest peak-to-peak ripple was in the 5V≋0A position, with a peak-to-peak ripple of 8.4mVp-p.
Load Ripple
In the load ripple test, the highest peak-to-peak ripple was in the 15V≋3A position, with a peak-to-peak ripple of 22.4mVp-p. The lowest peak-to-peak ripple was in the 5V≋3A position, with a peak-to-peak ripple of 10mVp-p.
Temperature Testing
A power bank is a conversion device that experiences losses during charging, which dissipate as heat, causing the power bank to warm up.
The Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable supports up to PD 65W output. We placed the charger in a constant temperature chamber at 25°C and measured the surface temperature after 27 minutes of 20V≋3.25A load.
After 27 minutes of charging, using a thermal imaging camera to photograph the front of the power bank, the highest temperature was 38.6°C.
Looking at the temperature on the other side, the highest temperature was around 38.8°C. When touching the power bank by hand at this point, it felt warm but not hot.
Conclusion
The Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable contains a 10000mAh battery with a total output power of 165W. It features a built-in USB-C cable and a USB-C port, supports 90W self-charging, and the USB-C port supports 45W input/output. The body has an LCD screen that displays information such as battery percentage.
In terms of charging compatibility, the built-in cable port of the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank supports 65W output and simultaneously supports Xiaomi's 120W proprietary protocol. When charging the Redmi K70 Ultimate Edition, it reaches up to approximately 91W, providing an excellent charging experience for Xiaomi series models. It also achieves relatively high power for phones, laptops, and gaming handhelds with good PD protocol compatibility, with mainstream models in the 15-35W range.
In the self-charging test, using a Coolermaster 140W charger to charge the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank, the charging time was 43 minutes. In the output test phase, the measured conversion efficiency was all above 79%, with a maximum of 86.67%. In terms of output quality, under both no-load and load conditions, the ripple values did not exceed 23mVp-p. After 27 minutes of loading at the highest power level, the maximum body temperature was around 38.8°C, showing excellent performance.
Overall, the Xiaomi 165W Power Bank with built-in cable performed excellently in all tests. The built-in cable design reduces the hassle of carrying cables when traveling, and the built-in cable's support for PD65W and Xiaomi 120W proprietary protocols greatly enhances its practicality. It perfectly accommodates both phones and laptops, making it an excellent choice for users in the Xiaomi ecosystem.