MEGATech Reviews – LUXA2 P-MEGA 41600mAh Portable USB Power Station

Portable USB batteries used to be something of a niche product, but with everyone carrying around their smartphones and tablets everywhere they go, there has emerged a very mainstream need for extra power on the go. The thing is that many of those little power banks might not cut the mustard, especially if you’re with a group of friends and everyone’s phone needs a charge. With such a mega problem, you need a mega solution.

Thinking a little outside the box, we are introduced to the LUXA2 P-MEGA. Some people may scoff at its audacity, but this aluminum cube really is designed to meet the needs of the modern day technology enthusiast. This is the world’s largest charging station.

Large and in Charge

We were first introduced to the P-MEGA late last year and we got to have a closer look during CES, but now the LUXA2 P-MEGA power station has hit the marketplace at large and it’s looking to make a big impact.

It may look like something that should be parked on your desk in the office, but the P-MEGA operates just like a regular power bank, except it packs an incredible 41,600mAh lithium-polymer battery. Considering that something like the Apple iPhone 5S has just a 1560mAh battery, this means you can charge it up nearly 27 times. Even if you’re looking to charge the larger 3200mAh battery on the Galaxy Note 3, there’s enough here for 13 complete charges. Have a Nexus 7? This will charge it over 10 times. You get the idea.

No, the P-MEGA is definitely not as compact as something like the understandably slimmer LUXA2 P2, but the power cube is still compact enough at 10cm along each side (just under 4 inches) to be tossed in your bag.

Up to 48 Hours of Power Across 6 USB Ports

Let’s not fool ourselves, of course. The LUXA2 P-MEGA is very much a niche product and it’s not something that everyone is going to want or need. The cube shape doesn’t lend itself to being thrown into a slimmer style messenger bag, but it does offer a compelling solution when you’re on the beach, gone camping or otherwise not near a power outlet and need to charge multiple devices.

With that massive battery inside, the P-MEGA can provide up to 48 hours of continuous charging. There are a total of six USB ports: three of them are of the slower 1A variety for smartphones and such, while the other three are the faster 2.1A ports suitable for iPads and tablets. All six of these ports can be used simultaneously.

And a Cool Blue Glow

The aluminum build and design give the P-MEGA the appearance of a premium product. You could see this fitting in perfectly with people who like their MacBooks or LaCie drives. You get a cool blue strip of light just below the top cover, as well as a blue-illuminated LUXA2 logo on the top. This lighting can be turned on and off by holding the single power button in the front. We don’t all want to have the blue glow all the time.

You’ll also notice that there is a clear plastic ring around each of the six USB ports. When you plug something in to charge, that ring will also light up blue. There does not appear to be an option to turn off that lighting, for better or for worse. Also at the top of the P-MEGA are four hidden blue LEDs that serve as a charge level indicator. That’s slick, but the dim lights can also be difficult to see through the silver aluminum shell. It would almost make more sense for the indicator lights to be on the front, rather than on top.

Use as a Charging Station Too?

I had hoped that the P-MEGA could also serve as a charging station in that I could plug it into the wall using the provided adapter, while simultaneously charging a few devices through the USB ports. Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem to really work as a pass-through type device. To test this theory, I ran the P-MEGA down to just one bar of power and plugged in a couple of devices to charge.

What happened was that those devices drained the P-MEGA to empty and stopped charging. The P-MEGA itself also stopped charging. So, if your plan was to charge your smartphones overnight along with topping up the P-MEGA, you may need to think of a different idea. You can charge your devices or the P-MEGA, but not really both at the same time.

MEGATechie Big Deal or MEGATechie Exercise in Excess?

Yes, it is absolutely audacious and bold. Some people may question its portability or utility, but I really do like the P-MEGA for what it is. It’s built very well and looks great. And it is useful. What if you are at a family barbecue in the park and your six cousins all need to charge up their phones at the same time after draining them with YouTube and Instagram? What if you need to charge your Bluetooth speaker at the same time as your tablet, phone, and camera? It’s not for everyone, but the P-MEGA does have a place in today’s society. With that much power, I would have liked if I could use it as a backup battery for my laptop too. Perhaps this could be implemented in a future iteration.

Even though it has a suggested retail price of $169, the LUXA2 P-MEGA is in incredibly high demand and is virtually sold out everywhere. In fact, some online stores are selling it for just under $200, though this price should come down (and availability should improve) in the weeks and months to follow. If you do find one in stock and you love having the potential to charge your smartphone numerous times over without a wall outlet, I suggest you grab it before someone else does.