Benks ArmorGo Qi2 Power Bank
The Benks ArmorGo Qi2 Power Bank is the Qi2-certified version of the ArmorGo, lifting wireless charging from 5W to the full Qi2 speed. Oddly, Benks never prints the Qi2 logo on the box. I have it in DawnLight Gold.
Sponsored and seeded products I was sent to review, disclosed as such, mostly chargers, cases, and other accessories.
The Benks ArmorGo Qi2 Power Bank is the Qi2-certified version of the ArmorGo, lifting wireless charging from 5W to the full Qi2 speed. Oddly, Benks never prints the Qi2 logo on the box. I have it in DawnLight Gold.
The Benks ArmorGo Power Bank comes in 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh capacities and several designs, sold only on the Benks website for now. Prices range from US$39.99 to US$50.99, with free shipping to Singapore and code lesterchan15 for 15% off.
The Benks Grand Headphone Stand is designed for the AirPods Max and comes in white and black. It carries a curious price gap, S$53.72 on Shopee versus S$38.05 on Lazada, or US$39.99 direct from Benks with code lesterchan15.
The Benks ArmorGo Magnetic Wallet Stand is a 2-in-1 MagSafe hardcase wallet that holds up to three cards and doubles as a portrait or landscape phone stand. It retails for S$36.90 on Shopee, in 600D, Aurora, and Prestige variants.
The Benks ArmorPop is a MagSafe phone grip and stand that borrows openly from PopSockets, right down to the name. With a metal stand and plastic grip, it sells direct for US$25.99, though Shopee is cheaper at S$28.86.
Belkin's answer to Anker's MagGo, the BoostCharge Pro 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Travel Pad comes in two variants: UK-only at S$225 or with international travel tips at S$239. It bundles a 36W charger and a 1.5m cable.
Alongside its magnetic power bank, Belkin offers the BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with a built-in 5.7cm USB-C cable instead of Qi2 wireless, so you can skip carrying a separate cable. It comes in 10,000mAh and four colours.
The Belkin BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10K is Qi2 compatible, delivering the full 15W to iPhones versus 7.5W on Belkin's older non-certified packs. It retails for S$129, with a 5K version at S$95, in black and white.
The Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 comes in standard and Pro variants, differing only in their 5GHz and 6GHz band arrangement. Asus split them because countries like Singapore only permit the lower 6GHz-1 band. A look at this Wi-Fi 7 mesh router.
Benks surprised me with an extra case, the ArmorPro Aurora for iPhone 16 Pro Max. Inspired by the northern lights, its 600D Kevlar weave blends blue and green with hints of orange. It retails for US$52.99 direct from Benks.
I liked my lightweight Benks ArmorAir, but I wasn't as careful with my iPhone as I claimed. So I switched to the Benks ArmorPro for iPhone 16 Pro Max, whose added TPU frame and raised lip better protect the screen.
Benks makes three Kevlar 600D cases: ArmorLite, ArmorAir, and ArmorPro. The ArmorAir for iPhone 16 Pro Max leaves the buttons exposed and the frame open, retailing around S$47 on Shopee, trading some protection for lighter weight.
For the first time I skipped Apple's Clear Case, which never protects the iPhone's bottom. Instead Benks sent the Lucent Pro for my iPhone 16 Pro Max: a no-frills clear PC case with a TPU frame, weighing just 40g.
For years I relied on MobyShop to apply my screen protectors, but this time Benks sent the GlassWarrior Sapphire for my iPhone 16 Pro Max before the phone even arrived. It retails for around S$31 on Shopee, plus two cases.
Aqara's Curtain Driver E1 comes in Track and Rod versions, with the Track cheaper at S$138.90. Since my curtains use U-shaped rails, I went with the Track version, which also supports I-shaped rails, bought from Souky's stores.
The Aqara Motion & Light Sensor P2 is Aqara's second Matter device, a pricier alternative to the Motion Sensor P1 I use for toilet lighting. It retails for S$55 versus S$36 for the P1.
The Aqara Door & Window Sensor P2 is Aqara's first Thread-based device with native Matter support, an alternative to the Zigbee T1. It retails for S$46.80 at Souky's Shopee shop versus S$33 for the T1.
Launched in Singapore on 8th May 2024 for S$209, the Aqara Hub M3 is the direct successor to my Aqara Hub M2. Its key additions are acting as a Matter Controller and a Thread Border Router.
The Asus ROG Keris II Ace is a wireless gaming mouse retailing for S$189 in black and white. It weighs 54g with a 42,000-dpi optical sensor and supports 4,000 Hz polling wirelessly or 8,000 Hz wired.
The Asus ROG Strix Scope II 96 Wireless is a 96% wireless mechanical gaming keyboard in black and white. Officially S$279, but on the market since 2023 it can be found cheaper, as low as S$215.
Yubico offers two NFC security keys in its Series 5: the YubiKey 5C NFC for USB-C at US$55 and the 5 NFC for USB-A at US$50. NFC support on iOS has matured with Safari and Chrome.
The ULTIDESK Xtreme is Ulti's high-end standing desk, adding dual motors, an RGB light strip, a 15-degree front slope, and an OLED handset. It comes in 1.4m and 1.6m lengths, with the 1.4m retailing for S$799.