Xiaomi's new 6mm magnetic power bank comes with 5,000 mAh for $50, but most of us won't get it

Xiaomi has a new portable power bank that's designed for those among us who value convenience and sleek design above all. The Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank, as it's called, is just 6mm thick and weighs 98 g, which is amazing.

Too bad there's a major catch that'll prevent many of us getting one!

It's a charming little thing

The device attaches magnetically to compatible smartphones and charges them wirelessly, which is a simple, but genius idea. On Xiaomi 17 devices, it can deliver up to 15 W, but supported iPhones are limited to 7.5 W. Should you want to go faster, the power bank offers a USB Type-C port with up to 22.5 W output, and users can charge two devices simultaneously by combining wired and wireless connections. Now that's cool.

Inside, a 5,000 mAh silicon-carbon battery provides enough power to recharge your phone roughly once, depending on your handset's cell capacity. The most important thing about Xiaomi's gadget is the battery's design that allows for a compact body while maintaining high energy density.

Heat management is handled by a 4,369 mm² graphite sheet and dual NTC temperature sensors, while LED indicators and a power button give users clear control over charging, as this report notes.

The exterior combines a smooth aluminum alloy shell with a fire-resistant fiberglass surface facing the phone. Xiaomi also built in ten layers of safety protection covering risks such as overvoltage, overcurrent, overheating, short circuits, and foreign object detection. This might sound like an overkill, but trust me on this: you want all the protection you can get with your electronics.

Cheap and cheerful

Launched in Japan at ¥7,980 (around $50 when directly converted), the UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank is a practical accessory for those who crave sleek gadgets.

Sadly, the power bank is currently available only in Japan via Amazon and Xiaomi's official store, with no confirmed plans for a wider global release.

I'm a big believer in power banks: and especially in portable, compact power banks. The smaller, the lighter it is, the better. That probably has something to do with the fact that I avoid backpacks like the plague and prefer to jam everything in my pockets. That's why compactness is paramount, but weight is also important: nobody wants to carry hefty bricks all day long in their jeans!