EcoFlow RAPID PowerBank: Charge Everything on the Go
Introduction
After testing the very handy RAPID Magnetic Power Bank, EcoFlow sent us another model from the RAPID series—this one sitting right in the middle of the range. And while it belongs to the same product family, it’s clearly been designed with very different use cases in mind. So we decided to put it to the test: does it really deliver on its promises? Who’s it actually for? And more importantly, where does it fit in a product line that’s growing so fast it’s getting tricky to figure out which models are really worth it.
Is it truly different from standard power banks? Is the power output enough to justify the price tag? Who is this version of the RAPID really for? And does it carve out a clear role in EcoFlow’s expanding lineup, somewhere between the RAPID Mag and the RAPID Pro?
Let’s dig in and find out.
Exterior Design
EcoFlow sent me the 25,000 mAh version (170W / 100W), available in two colours: black and silver. I got the silver one, and right out of the box, one thing stood out: the weight. In the hand, it immediately feels much heavier than the RAPID MAG. No surprise there—I weighed it, and it comes in at 600 g (i.e. 1.32 lb), more than double the weight of its little sibling, which is just 250 g (i.e. 0.55 lb). So yes, this one’s built to be more substantial—and honestly, that makes it feel more serious and solid.
The version I received comes with two built-in USB-C cables, cleverly integrated into the design. The first is a braided cable that doubles as a carrying loop (we’ll have to see how well it holds up over time), and the second is a retractable cable on the top side, which stretches to about 55–60 cm (i.e. 21.6–23.6 in). It’s rated for 5,000 pulls, by the way. That’s also one of the key differences from another model in the RAPID range: this one includes integrated cables, whereas the other version skips the cables but offers more USB ports instead.
As for connectivity, alongside the two built-in USB-C cables, there’s also a standard USB-A port and another USB-C port (which works as both input and output). On the right-hand side, there’s a button that lights up the front-facing TFT screen. It’s a colour display and shows several useful bits of info but we’ll get to that later, as it’s not all perfect.
The design? It’s nice (not groundbreaking), but solid and functional. And honestly, that’s probably what you want in a device you’ll be lugging around everywhere. Rugged over flashy.
EcoFlow RAPID Specs on Paper
The EcoFlow RAPID Power Bank comes in two versions—both featuring a 25,000 mAh battery. On paper, they may look similar, but they’re actually built for slightly different use cases.
The first version (the one I tested) includes two built-in USB-C cables: one braided cable that also serves as a carry handle (26 cm / approx. 10.2 in), and a second, retractable cable that extends up to 60 cm (approx. 23.6 in). As for ports, you also get a standard USB-A output and a USB-C port that works as both input and output. The total output power can reach 170W when using multiple ports, with a max of 100W on a single port. In real life, that’s more than enough to charge a MacBook twice or top up a smartphone 4 to 5 times with ease. Recharging the battery itself is also quick—50% in just 26 minutes thanks to the 100W input.
The second version skips the built-in cables but instead offers more ports: 2 USB-C + 1 USB-A. Power-wise, it also hits 170W total output, but here, you can go up to 140W on a single port, which is ideal for power-hungry devices like high-performance laptops. This one also charges ultra-fast—going from 0% to 50% in about 20 minutes.
Both models have the same 25,000 mAh capacity, which remains approved for air travel\*. So yes, you can take it on a plane without issue—ideal for remote work or stress-free travelling.
Another strong point they share: a smart front-facing TFT screen. Unlike the basic LEDs still found on many power banks, this screen is sharp, responsive, and gives you real-time charging info at a glance.
Product Test
Charging Performance: Specs vs Real Life
With its 25,000 mAh capacity, the EcoFlow RAPID Pro Power Bank looks great on paper promising more than enough juice for several full charges, whether it’s a smartphone, tablet, or even a laptop.
Here’s what you can realistically expect:
- Roughly 2 full charges for a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro.
- Between 4 to 5 charges for an iPhone 15 Pro or Samsung Galaxy S24.
- The ability to charge both an iPhone and a MacBook Air at the same time (depending on the version).
From my own testing, I was able to plug in my iPhone 15, iPad Air, and MacBook Pro M4 all at once using a single battery. And yes, it handled all three devices simultaneously without breaking a sweat.
For the MacBook Pro, I used the USB-C in/out port with my MagSafe cable. The iPhone and iPad were connected via the built-in cables (one retractable, the other braided). The result? All three charged at the same time with no noticeable drop in performance.
Everyday Use: Surprisingly Practical
Having a 25,000 mAh battery like this EcoFlow RAPID quickly becomes one of those comforts you don’t want to live without. If you’re into content creation, travel often, or work remotely, this thing is a genuine game changer. Whether it’s your camera, iPad, MacBook, smartphone—or even a drone—you stop asking “will I have enough battery?” The answer is yes. Always.
And that peace of mind makes a huge difference. During a shoot, for example, you can plug in your camera while also charging your phone and the tablet you’re editing on. When travelling, you’re no longer checking every couple of hours if you’ll make it through the day. The RAPID just delivers that solid feeling of never running out of juice.
Another major perk: it’s flight-approved. On long-haul flights, having this kind of power lets you binge movies, work on your laptop, or charge multiple devices—without hunting for an outlet in a packed airport lounge or fighting over a plug during layovers.
The version I tested, with integrated cables, adds even more convenience. The braided cable works for charging, while the 60 cm (approx. 23.6 in) retractable one is long enough for two people to plug in their phones side by side. No more digging through a bag of tangled cables—everything’s already built into the battery. Sure, there’s no Lightning connector for older iPhones, but with nearly everything moving to USB-C, that’s really just a minor detail now.
Finally, the built-in OS and TFT display give you surprisingly useful battery stats. You get three main screens:
- The first shows total charge percentage and current input/output power.
- The second breaks down power use and charging info by port.
- The third gives health data, including internal temperature (in °C and °F), and the number of charging cycles completed.
Being able to track battery cycles, check the temperature, or see how power is distributed between ports genuinely helps extend the product’s lifespan and optimise its use day-to-day.
That said, I’ve got two small gripes about this Power Bank…
The Downsides
Even though the EcoFlow RAPID Power Bank gets a lot of things right, there are two issues that genuinely bugged me during testing.
No Connection to the EcoFlow App
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ll know I’m a big fan of the EcoFlow mobile app. It lets you manage all your devices in one place (super handy for creating a seamless), connected ecosystem. I was pleasantly surprised that the smaller RAPID MAG model could be added to the app, giving access to features like customising the display and even triggering a sound to help locate the battery.
So, naturally, I expected this “main” version of the RAPID series (meant to be more advanced) to offer the same app integration. But no. It just doesn’t show up in the device list. That means no updates, no evolving features, and no guarantee that this battery will ever receive firmware upgrades.
Honestly, I don’t get this move from EcoFlow. It feels like a step backwards.
The TFT Screen Is… Meh
The second letdown: the TFT screen. Sure, it shows useful info like battery health, cycle count, and individual port usage when you press the button. Functionally, it works.
But visually? It feels dated, especially compared to the sleek interface of the EcoFlow app. Of course, this is subjective. Some people won’t care at all. But to me, it just lacks that modern polish you’d expect at this price point.
And since the battery isn’t app-connected, there’s no way the UI can be updated or improved in the future. It’s a small issue in the grand scheme, but still, it slightly dulls the overall experience, even if the feature itself is genuinely useful.
My Take on the Product
So then… what’s the verdict on this EcoFlow RAPID? Honestly, it’s a bit of an oddball in the lineup—mainly because it came out before the Pro versions hit the market.
Today, the EcoFlow RAPID range clearly splits into three tiers:
- RAPID MAG: the most compact and magnetic ones, ideal for charging your phone directly. They’re also app-compatible, which adds a nice layer of convenience,
- “Classic” RAPID: like the one I tested here, available in two versions (one with built-in cables, the other with more ports but no cables),
- RAPID Pro: the top-tier models with more power and full integration into the EcoFlow ecosystem.
Here’s the issue with the “classic” RAPID: it feels like it’s stuck in the middle. It’s supposed to be more practical than the MAG thanks to its higher capacity, but it drops useful features like app connectivity—which, ironically, you *do* get on the Pro versions. So yeah… it’s a bit lost between two worlds.
That said, it’s still a solid, reliable battery. It can charge several devices at once, and the two built-in cables genuinely make life easier. For someone who just wants big capacity and doesn’t care about advanced features or app bells and whistles, this one totally gets the job done without overcomplicating things.
Personally, I prefer the models that connect to the app—more control, more features. But I totally get why this “classic” RAPID would appeal to people who just want simple, efficient power on the go.
RAPID PowerBank: Tech Specs & Comparison
Here’s a summary of the key technical specs of the EcoFlow RAPID Power Bank, along with how it stacks up against other models in the RAPID series:
- General Info
- Total capacity: 25,000 mAh
- Usable capacity: 14,500 mAh (at 5V/3A discharge)
- Dimensions: 157 × 53.8 × 48.8 mm (i.e. approx. 6.2 × 2.1 × 1.9 in, ±0.02 in tolerance)
- Weight: ≈ 580 g (i.e. approx. 1.28 lb)
- Available colours: Black, Silver Grey
- Built-in cable material: Braided
- Battery
- Type: Ternary lithium
- Lifespan: 80% of original capacity after 300 cycles
- Drop resistance: Up to 1 m (i.e. approx. 3.3 ft)
- Casing: V0 fire-resistant
- Inputs
- USB-C input: Up to 100W (via USB-C port, braided cable or retractable cable)
- USB-A charging: ✖️ Not supported
- Outputs
- USB-C port: 1 × up to 100W
- Built-in braided USB-C cable: Up to 100W (26 cm / approx. 10.2 in, bidirectional)
- Retractable USB-C cable: Up to 100W (67 cm / approx. 26.4 in, bidirectional)
- USB-A port: 1 × up to 18W
- Total combined output: Max 170W
- Charging Time
- USB-C fast charge: 0 to 50% in approx. 26 minutes (with 100W input)
- Full recharge: Around 1 hour 15 minutes (depends on charger used)
- Pass-through charging: Not specified
- Extra Features
- TFT screen: Yes (displays battery %, input/output power, temperature, charge cycles)
- EcoFlow app compatibility: ✖️ Not supported
- Optimal operating temp: 20 to 30 °C (i.e. 68 to 86 °F)
- Charging temperature: 0 to 45 °C (i.e. 32 to 113 °F)
- Discharge temperature: −10 to 45 °C (i.e. 14 to 113 °F)
- Warranty: 2 years
- General Information
- Total capacity: 25,000 mAh
- Usable capacity: 14,500 mAh (at 5V/3A discharge)
- Dimensions: 157 × 53.8 × 48.8 mm (i.e. approx. 6.2 × 2.1 × 1.9 in, ±0.02 in tolerance)
- Net weight: ≈ 565 g (i.e. approx. 1.25 lb)
- Available colours: Black, Silver Grey
- Battery
- Battery type: Ternary lithium
- Lifespan: 80% of original capacity after 300 cycles
- Drop resistance: Up to 1 m (i.e. approx. 3.3 ft)
- Casing: V0 flame-retardant
- Inputs
- USB-C input: Up to 140W (via C1 or C2 port)
- USB-A charging: ✖️ Not supported
- Outputs
- USB-C1: Up to 140W
- USB-C2: Up to 140W
- USB-A: Up to 33W
- Total combined output: Max 170W
- Built-in cable output: ✖️ Not included on this model
- Charging Time
- USB-C fast charge: 0 to 50% in approx. 20 minutes (140W input)
- Full recharge: Around 1 hour (depending on charger used)
- Pass-through charging: Not specified
- Additional Features
- TFT screen: Yes (shows battery %, input/output power, temperature, cycle count)
- EcoFlow app support: ✖️ Not compatible
- Optimal operating temperature: 20 to 30 °C (i.e. 68 to 86 °F)
- Charging temperature: 0 to 45 °C (i.e. 32 to 113 °F)
- Discharging temperature: −10 to 45 °C (i.e. 14 to 113 °F)
- Warranty: 2 years
Ecoflow RAPID : review
- High capacity: With 25,000 mAh, it can recharge multiple devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop) without worrying about running out of power.
- Multi-device support: Can charge up to 3 or 4 devices at the same time (iPhone, iPad, MacBook, etc.).
- Built-in cables: A 26 cm (approx. 10.2 in) braided cable and a 60 cm (approx. 23.6 in) retractable one—super handy so you don’t need to carry extras.
- Versatile ports: USB-C in/out and USB-A for compatibility with a wide range of devices.
- Fast charging: Reaches 50% in around 30 minutes—impressive for a battery of this size.
- TFT screen: Displays detailed info (battery %, input/output power, temperature, cycle count).
- Flight-approved: Can be taken in carry-on luggage for long-haul or international travel.
- Solid build: Rugged, fire-resistant casing, with 1 m (approx. 3.3 ft) drop resistance.
- Good ergonomics: Designed for convenience, with well-integrated, easy-to-use cables.
- Reliable: Feels trustworthy for everyday use, with battery health tracking via cycle count.
- No EcoFlow app connection: Can’t be added to the EcoFlow ecosystem—so no firmware updates or advanced monitoring features.
- Basic TFT screen: The info is useful, but the interface looks dated and can be hard to read at times.
- No Lightning cable: Built-in cables are USB-C only, so users with older iPhones will need to bring their own cable.
- No future upgrades: Without app connectivity, there’s no way to improve or update the software interface over time.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the EcoFlow RAPID?
Let’s be honest—there are plenty of high-capacity power banks out there that cost a lot less. If all you need is a basic battery to top up your phone now and then, you’ll find decent alternatives at a much lower price point.
But this isn’t the same kind of product. The EcoFlow RAPID is a step above in terms of design, reliability, and build quality. With built-in retractable cables, a full-featured TFT screen, a combined output of 170W, and a solid 25,000 mAh capacity, it completely changes the game in day-to-day use. It’s clearly aimed at people who travel, create content, or work on the go—and don’t want to risk running out of power.
Is it essential? Not really. If all you need is a backup battery, simpler and cheaper models will do the trick. But if you want something powerful, dependable, and versatile, the RAPID is definitely worth considering.
And since we’re talking price, don’t forget to use the promo code to shave a bit off the total: CARO5