Alza's 27,000mAh power bank is now available for a minimum price. It can charge a laptop and has great reviews

If you want to charge your laptop in addition to your phone while traveling, you’ll need a power bank with not only higher capacity but also better performance. The AlzaPower Parade Gen2 with 27,000 mAh and up to 100 W output, which now costs 979 CZK instead of 1,499 CZK as part of Black Friday, meets both these criteria. It has never been cheaper, and users praise it.

Quick summary:
✅ Makes sense if you want one large power bank for your phone, tablet, and laptop with USB-C charging.
⚠️ Consider that it only charges a laptop at full power when alone, and according to customers, it doesn’t work well with some models.
💡 At 979 CZK, it’s 145 CZK cheaper than during the October promotion and the lowest price in the last year.

Only one device gets 100 W

The power bank has two USB-C ports and two USB-A ports. According to the manufacturer, it delivers up to 100 W (20 V / 5 A) via USB-C, which is sufficient for a laptop or MacBook. The condition is that the laptop must be able to charge via USB-C – the power bank has no other output, so you cannot charge older models with a round power connector. USB-A ports can handle a maximum of 22.5 W, making them more suitable for phones and headphones. It should handle fast charging for phones of various brands, but Xiaomi models with their own protocol are an exception, which, according to one buyer, it charged at a maximum of 25 W.

While you can charge four devices simultaneously, the power then drops drastically. The manufacturer itself states that when all outputs are connected, it only delivers a total of 15 W. Several customers also describe that as soon as you connect, for example, headphones to a laptop, the power bank switches all ports to the lowest voltage of 5 V. Therefore, for fast laptop charging, it is better to disconnect other devices.

Charges a phone with a 5,000mAh battery about four times

The capacity of 27,000 mAh corresponds to 99.9 Wh, so the power bank fits under the 100 Wh limit for carry-on luggage on an airplane. However, whether you are allowed to use it on board is determined by each airline separately. The milliamp-hour number does not mean that you can charge a phone with a 5,000mAh battery five times. Some energy is lost during voltage conversion, and two buyers consistently report that they charged such a phone about four times.

An advantage is the fast charging of the power bank itself, for which you need a 100W adapter (not included in the package; you’ll only find a double-sided USB-C cable). The manufacturer promises a full charge in an hour and a half. One customer measured 50% in 41 minutes and full capacity in about two hours. The LCD display provides an overview, showing battery percentage, current voltage, and current. For headphones and watches, the power bank also has a low-current charging mode to prevent them from turning off.

Customers praise capacity, complain about the display and some laptops

The entire Parade Gen2 series has a rating of 4.6 out of 5 from 647 customers on Alza. However, Alza shares this rating with the smaller 10,000mAh and 20,000mAh versions. It is recommended by 90% of buyers, over 10,000 units have been sold, and the return rate for the 27,000mAh version is 2.98%. Owners most often praise the large capacity, fast charging, and the display showing voltage and current. One describes charging a ROG Xbox Ally X with it and still having a few percent left for a mobile phone.

Conversely, some people complain about the plastic display cover, which scratches easily, and occasionally flickering digits. More significant, however, is laptop charging. Several owners of Lenovo laptops, especially ThinkPads, write that the power bank charges them slowly or not at all. Other customers note that when the battery level is low, it stops charging the laptop and can only handle phones. However, when exactly this occurs varies in reviews.

Verdict: Does the power bank make sense?

At 979 CZK, the Parade Gen2 makes sense primarily for people who travel by train or fly with a laptop or MacBook and want one power bank for everything. It will also serve owners of gaming handhelds, and if the power goes out, it will keep the whole family’s phones running at home.

If you have a Lenovo laptop, be aware that you might not achieve full speed, and it’s better not to rely on the power bank as your sole power source. Those who want to charge a laptop and other devices equally fast, or Xiaomi owners who prioritize the fastest charging, will also be disappointed. For a trip with just a phone and headphones, a smaller and lighter model is sufficient.

Do you charge your laptop from a power bank, or is a phone enough for you?