You know what’s most annoying about power banks? Most of them are inconvenient to carry around. That’s why I started looking toward smartphones with large batteries. And while battery capacity isn’t growing everywhere, Apple is still falling behind on this metric despite good system optimization. The Baseus PicoGo AM41 Ultra-Slim tries to solve this problem. It’s a magnetic external battery with MagSafe, 5000 mAh capacity, and less than a centimeter thick. In terms of dimensions, it resembles a few stacked bank cards. It also offers 20W power output and magnetic attachment, but can also work via cable. So let’s figure out what this thing is all about.
This compact battery won’t weigh down your pocket, but will always be at hand.
Baseus PicoGo AM41 Review
The packaging is branded, white and yellow. On the back of the box there’s a scratch code to verify authenticity, which is definitely useful when buying from marketplaces. Inside you’ll find the power bank itself, a short braided USB-C cable, instructions in several languages including Russian, and a small fun set of stickers.
There’s no charging block, which is expected. There’s also no ring for attaching to smartphones without magnetic charging support. Their absence is slightly disappointing, but you can buy them for 100-200 rubles on marketplaces. The cable is short, about thirty centimeters, designed for the scenario of “stuck it to the phone and connected via cable.” You don’t need to buy anything extra.
Box in brand colors.
A Convenient Small Power Bank
When you pick up the AM41, the first thought is — it’s empty. The 5000 mAh version weighs just over 100 grams. The thickness is about 8 millimeters, and Baseus isn’t exaggerating when they say it’s credit card sized. Yes, it’s slightly longer, wider, and thicker, but when you’re used to large “bricks,” this one feels almost like a toy — yet it’s the one that will save you when you can’t call a taxi or reach a friend you were going to meet.
The accessory is twice as light as an iPhone.
For Apple fans, the concept is simple: place it against your iPhone, the magnets grab the battery with a satisfying click, and charging begins. In hand, the “phone plus power bank” combo feels almost like the phone without it. After heavy 10,000–20,000 mAh bricks, the AM41 seems like nothing serious. But that “unseriousness” is exactly where its strength lies.
Thickness is roughly the same as the iPhone itself, but you barely notice it in use.
Aluminum Power Bank Baseus PicoGo AM41
The body is based on an aluminum “tray” with rounded edges. The aluminum here isn’t just for looks — it acts as a heatsink during wireless charging. On the smartphone side, there’s a soft-touch plastic panel matching the body color with a MagSafe magnet. The materials feel pleasant to the touch; you can tell this isn’t a budget product. And the soft plastic on the phone side means you don’t have to worry about scratching the phone’s body.
The body on the smartphone side is pleasant to the touch and doesn’t scratch it.
On the top panel of the external battery is the Baseus logo and five LED charge indicators, almost invisible when idle. On the side there’s a power button, and on the bottom a USB-C port. There aren’t many elements, and for a device of this size, that’s the right approach. It comes in black, dark gray, and pink colors.
Can you spot the LEDs? They’re there!
How Fast Does the Baseus PicoGo AM41 Charge via Cable and Wirelessly
There are two ways. The first is wireless charging via the MagSafe magnetic mount. The power output is 15W, as the standard requires. Not a record, but enough for background charging when the phone is sitting on a desk or you’re walking down the street with the power bank on the back of your smartphone.
Magic! No cables, but charging is happening.
The second way is wired charging via USB-C at 20W. It’s noticeably faster and more efficient. With wireless charging, some energy is lost as heat, and the real output from 5000 mAh is about 70 percent — but that’s the case with all devices of this type. You’ll charge an iPhone with a 3500–4000 mAh battery to roughly 70 percent from zero. Wired results are slightly better.
Both methods work simultaneously, which is convenient when you need to charge both a smartphone and earbuds. Of course, in this case each device will charge less, but nobody said you should take this on hiking trips. It’s more of a device you can toss in your bag just in case, and it won’t let you run out of charge — then at home you can properly plug into an outlet.
You can connect via cable.
Why You Need a Magnetic Power Bank
The main scenario is everyday backup. Stick it to your iPhone during your commute, get an extra 30–40 percent charge, put it in your pocket and forget about it. The AM41 is so light and thin that it’s entirely realistic to carry it with you every day and forget it’s even there. It fits in the back pocket of your jeans, in a small belt bag, and really anywhere.
