I tested a portable battery with graphene heat dissipation – and cracked it open for proof


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pros and cons

Pros

  • Exceptionally thin and light
  • Can charge two devices simultaneously
  • Keeps cool even when being used hard.
Cons

  • Aluminum and glass aren’t particularly robust.

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There are many “MagSafe” magnetic wireless battery packs on the market. Some are great, some are various grades of dismal. And sometimes, devices are head and shoulders above the rest. These packs are well-built, using quality components, and assembled with care.

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The Momax Q.Mag X is one such power bank. It’s thin, it’s light, it’s stylish, and it’s cool — in every sense of the word.

It’s a good-looking power bank

The Q.Mag X is a 5,000 mAh/19.35 Wh power bank that magnetically clamps to your iPhone to charge it up while you’re on the move. The capacity is such that it won’t draw attention at airports, and the CCC logo means that it will even make it past the stringent security at Chinese airports. 

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The unit has a premium look and feels good in the hand, thanks to its glass and aluminum construction. It’s not the most robust power bank on the market — for that, you need something like the Nitecore NW5000 or the Dark Energy Poseidon Nano — but if good looks are what you’re after, this is the device for you.

One of the few power banks that comes with a polishing cloth.

One of the few power banks that comes with a polishing cloth.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

But there’s more to the Q.Mag X than good looks. And to keep it looking good, the bank even comes with a microfiber polishing cloth.

Thin, light, and cool

First off, it’s thin. In fact, it’s spookily thin, at only 8.3 mm/0.33 inches. That’s the thickness of a pencil, and it’s only fractionally thicker than the thinnest point on an iPhone 17, which is 7.95 mm/0.31 inches thick.

It's a beautiful power bank!

It’s a beautiful power bank.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The bank is also very lightweight, at only 125 g/4.4 oz, making it only 5 g/0.18 oz heavier than the carbon fiber-clad Nitecore NW5000. 

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On the front is a 15W Qi2-compatible wireless charger that works with iPhones ranging from the 12 to 17 series, AirPods with the wireless charging case, and Android handsets with wireless charging. For everything else, there’s a 20W USB-C port on the bottom. And good news for those with more than one device — the power bank supports simultaneous wireless and wired charging. 

It also supports pass-through charging, so you can charge a wireless device as the power bank charges, which is perfect for overnight charging. The unit supports all popular charging protocols, and it has the usual built-in safety features. 

The Momax Q.Mag X is only 8.3 mm/0.33 inches thick!

The Momax Q.Mag X is only 8.3 mm/0.33 inches thick.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

The Q.Mag X is also cool during use, surprisingly so for a 15W MagSafe power bank, which can sometimes feel like hand warmers. This device only ever got slightly warm at most. The Amazon listing mentioned graphene heat dissipation, which wouldn’t surprise me in the least, as there were no hot spots on the unit either while charging or being charged (I’ll get back to this area in a bit).

I really like the Q.Mag X. I know it’s just a power bank, but it’s so well made. The device perfectly combines beauty and functionality. I’ve enjoyed using it for the past few weeks when out and about.

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Which is why the next bit broke my heart. Yes, I needed to see if the power bank used graphene for cooling, and there was only one way to find out. 

Time to take a look inside!

Time to take a look inside.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Time to crack it open

It was time to get the spudger out, be destructive, and look inside (I know I shouldn’t be using a metal spudger near a live lithium-ion battery, but I’ve been doing this for years). I regretted having to do this task, but it had to be done. 

It took some getting into!

This device took some getting into.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I learned a few things.

First, yes, the battery has a graphene coating. Graphene looks like black paint, but it’s a form of carbon with excellent thermal conductivity and infrared emissivity, so it’s sprayed onto metals, plastics, and electronics to spread and dissipate heat. 

That black coating on the battery is graphene, a great material for dissipating heat.

That black coating on the battery is graphene, a great material for dissipating heat.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

I also found out that the unit is very well built. It took some getting into, and there’s ample sealant, adhesive, and thermal silicone keeping it together. 

Well, it's never going back together!

Try putting this device back together.

Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET

Also, Momax hasn’t skimped on the parts that you can’t see. The components used are top-notch, and it’s been put together well.  

ZDNET’s buying advice

I’ve tested a lot of wireless power banks, but the Momax Q.Mag X is a standout, both outside and in. And for just under $30 (the price varies depending on the deals available), it’s a steal. You should especially consider one if you often find yourself in heated environments that can put batteries in danger.

If you need more power, Momax have a scaled-up 10,000 mAh version. Same quality, more capacity, for less than $10 more.  





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Intelligent Investing, a research-driven market analysis platform, works from the premise that artificial intelligence can expand financial forecasting by processing large datasets, accelerating strategy development, and enabling systematic execution. Alongside these capabilities, human interpretation remains essential, providing the context needed to translate data into meaningful market perspectives. 

This philosophy is reflected in the work of founder Arnout Ter Schure. With a PhD in environmental sciences and more than a decade of experience in scientific research, Dr. Ter Schure applies an analytical mindset to financial markets. His transition into market analysis reflects a sustained focus on data and repeatable patterns. Over time, he has developed proprietary indicators and a multi-layered analytical framework that integrates technical, sentiment, and cyclical analysis. This foundation provides important context for his perspective on how AI fits into modern financial decision-making.

Financial markets are becoming more complex and fast‑moving, and that shift has sparked a growing interest in how AI can play a supportive role,” Ter Schure states. “This has opened the door to exploring how computational tools might complement and strengthen traditional analytical approaches.” 

According to a study exploring a multi-agent deep learning approach to big data analysis in financial markets, modern AI systems demonstrate strong capabilities in processing large-scale data and identifying patterns across multiple timeframes. When combined with structured methodologies such as the Elliott Wave principle, these systems can enhance analytical efficiency and improve pattern recognition, particularly in high-speed trading environments.

This growing role of AI aligns with Ter Schure’s view of it as a powerful analytical companion, especially in areas where speed and computational precision are required. He explains, “AI excels when the task is clearly defined. If you provide the structure, the parameters, and the objective, it can execute with remarkable speed and precision.” This may include generating trading algorithms, coding strategies, and conducting rapid backtesting across historical datasets.

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This relationship becomes especially relevant in financial forecasting, where interpretation plays a central role. AI can analyze historical data and identify recurring patterns, yet its perspective remains limited to what has already been observed. The same research notes that even advanced systems encounter challenges during periods of structural change or unprecedented market conditions, where historical data offers limited guidance. In such situations, the ability to interpret evolving conditions becomes as important as computational power.

For Ter Schure, forecasting involves working with probabilities rather than fixed outcomes. AI can assist in outlining potential scenarios, yet it does not determine which outcome will unfold. “Markets evolve through a combination of structure and behavior,” he explains. “A model can highlight patterns, but understanding how those patterns develop in real time still requires human judgment.”

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Within this broader context, Arnout’s methodology illustrates how structured human analysis can complement technological tools. His approach combines Fibonacci ratios with the Elliott Wave principle, focusing on wave structures, extensions, and corrective patterns. These frameworks offer a way to interpret market cycles and map potential pathways for price movement. A key element of his method involves incorporating alternative scenarios through double corrections or extensions, allowing for multiple potential outcomes to be evaluated simultaneously.

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Ter Schure stresses that although AI can assist in identifying patterns within such frameworks, the interpretation of complex wave structures introduces nuances that extend beyond automated analysis. Multi-layered corrections and extensions often depend on contextual judgment, where small variations influence the broader interpretation.

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