Thinnest Semi-Solid State Power Bank Is Perfect for Small EDC Kits: Review

I’ve never really been one to carry a power bank around frequently, mainly due to the extra bulk. BMX sent one that fixed this problem and also gave me a little more peace of mind.

The SolidSafe Air is an incredibly slim model at just 6.8mm, thinner than most phones on the market today. However, what is more interesting is what happens inside.

You see, it has a semi-solid state battery, which means that unlike most power banks with a liquid electrolyte in their cells, the SolidSafe has a mostly solid electrolyte. That virtually negates the chances of thermal runaway incidents that can cause the battery to swell, explode, or catch fire in your pocket.

In fact, BMX says its cells have approximately only 2.5% liquid content in the semi-solid state architecture it uses.

Well, this is a much safer device to carry than the conventional type. The SolidSafe Air has a capacity of 5000 mAh, which means it should be able to top off my Motorola Razr 50 Ultra and have some juice left. It will perform wired charging via USB-C at 20W and Qi2 wireless charging at 15W.

The Air can charge two devices at the same time if you really need to. It has four LED indicators that let you know when it is charging and how much capacity it has left.

There is not much to say about the functionality of this power bank as it does what it says on the tin like any other. What makes it stand out is its slim build and sleek design. It’s thin enough to simply carry around on a phone all day when you have a lot to do, and you won’t have any problems keeping your phone charged.

Now with my phone that folds vertically in half, it sticks out quite a bit below my chin. However, that shouldn’t be a problem if you have an Android device or a regular iPhone. As its name suggests, it is designed to work with an iPhone Air, which compromises the capacity of its own battery due to its tiny size.

The other thing to note is that it’s a MagSafe model, which means that if your phone has a magnetic back (like the latest iPhones), or if you just put a cheap magnetic ring on your phone or case, the power bank will securely connect to it. I sometimes use it this way with the included short cable when I need faster charging.

I’ve taken the Air with me for busy days running errands, as well as a day of motorcycling in the sun. The latter usually worries me about whether my devices will get too hot when stored in my pocket or tank bag. Since it’s a semi-solid state affair, I didn’t have to worry about it, and neither the power bank nor my phone overheated while charging wirelessly on several different days of testing.

I also appreciate the titanium construction of the Air. That makes it seem like a good piece of kit to carry around and it should hold up to some rough use over time.

So should you get one? Here’s the thing: the Air is as good a slim power bank as it gets. Kuxiu also makes a 5000mAh semi-solid state power bank, but it’s a bit thicker and seems to be out of stock everywhere right now.

I found a comparable one from Xiaomi that’s much thinner and about the same price, but it’s only available in select countries, charges slower, and uses regular cells that don’t offer the same level of security. there is

There are cheaper lithium-ion models on Amazon, but they come from brands I haven’t seen before and are a little thicker than the Air. This one from Belkin is also a little thicker.

Ultimately, I can happily recommend it if you want a power bank that is safe to travel with and easy to fit into your EDC load. It comes in silver, gold, and black finishes, and you can find it on the BMX site as well as Amazon US.

If you need a larger battery to power more than just your phone, BMX also makes this 10,000mAh semi-solid state model that’s a little thicker and heavier. The SolidSafe 10K can charge up to 30W via USB-C and 15W wirelessly, and can also charge two devices at once.

I tried this one too and liked that it included a screen to show the remaining battery capacity and its live charging speed. BMX ships it conveniently with a short cable that connects to the 10K’s lanyard, so you always have a cable with you for fast charging.

Find SolidSafe Air in the BMX store and on Amazon for $59.99. The SolidSafe 10K is available on the BMX site, as well as Amazon, for $79.99.

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