Nitecore NB Air Power Bank Review

Bottom Line

The Nitecore NB Air is a standout small-capacity power bank for quick overnights and day-to-day use. It’s particularly appealing for ultralight backpackers due to its incredibly light and compact design that disappears in a pack or pocket. It’s also built to last with rounded corners, a solid carbon fiber frame, and an IPX7 waterproof rating. All in all, we found it very convenient for quick phone top-offs while hiking, backpacking, and running errands around town. 

The device’s small size and low weight do come with some trade-offs, including limited capacity, no pass-through charging, and only one USB port. We also saw a significant decrease in efficiency when exposed to cold temperatures. Finally, like most ultralight gear, the NB Air comes at a bit of a premium price-wise. But for ounce-counters used to making those concessions, the NB Air is a well-engineered bank that gets the job done.

How We Tested

We brought the Nitecore NB Air on day hikes around Durango, Colorado, an overnight snowshoe trip in southwest Colorado, and a backpacking trip in the Southwest. We also used it as a daily driver while running errands around town and charging devices at home to get a good feel for its all-around performance. 

Efficiency

Despite being on the small end in terms of capacity (5,000 mAh), the Nitecore NB Air is pretty efficient. To test this, we used a dummy resistor load and multimeter to measure available power inside each power bank. The NB Air had about 16 watt-hours available, which is a few less than advertised (19.4 Wh) but not out of the norm. Importantly, the NB Air still scored above average in terms of watt-hours per gram, meaning it packs a considerable punch for its low weight.

In the field, we were typically able to get two partial phone charges out of the NB Air using an iPhone 15 Pro. We don’t usually let our phone go dead, nor do we charge it to 100%. However, the percentage increase across two charges seemed pretty close to Nitecore’s advertised single phone charge.

Weight & Portability

One of our favorite qualities of the Nitecore NB Air is how small and compact it is, making it very easy to use on the go. On our kitchen scale, it came in at just 3.1 ounces. Looking at dimensions and total volume, the device is extremely compact and pocket-friendly. Totaled up, the NB Air ranked at the top of our testing group for both weight and portability, making it a great option for weight-conscious users like thru-hikers and ultralight backpackers.

In practice, the NB Air became a go-to choice for overnight backpacking trips and running errands around town. It’s easy to stash it in a purse or fanny pack. On backpacking trips, it fits into even the smallest of hipbelt pockets for on-the-go charging. It was equally easy to stash in pants pockets – and there’s no sagging or falling down since the device is so light (this wasn’t the case with larger, higher-capacity banks we tested).

Durability

An IPX7 rating, rounded corners, and a carbon fiber frame all contribute to the Nitecore NB Air’s solid durability. The device emerged from our eight-foot drop test with no issues or noticeable damage. The IPX7 rating means it’s designed to withstand submersion up to one meter (3.3 feet) for 30 minutes. That doesn’t mean you should go dunking it on purpose, but we have no concerns about it withstanding rainstorms, humidity, and even the occasional drop in a puddle.

Upon close inspection, there are a few faint scratches from use, but that’s purely cosmetic. A dust rating would be nice, and some Nitecore users have had issues with longevity, but we’ve had a largely positive experience with the NB Air. It seems like it’s tough enough to withstand regular outdoor use, which isn’t always the case with ultralight gear.

Charging Speed

Unsurprisingly, the 5,000 mAh Nitecore NB Air charges very fast. For reference, it took one hour and 37 minutes for the device to go from 0% to 100%, which was the fastest time among those we tested. Importantly, the NB Air was the only 5,000 mAh option in our lineup, so it’s not exactly an apples-to-apples comparison.

The fast recharge time is really helpful when you’re in a hurry – think quick resupplies in town or packing for a last-minute trip. More than once, we’ve found ourselves charging our power banks in the car between two backpacking loops. Though limited in terms of capacity, the NB Air’s quick turnaround time is certainly helpful.

Features

The Nitecore NB Air is a fairly simple power bank without a ton of features. Because it only has one port, it’s not able to support pass-through charging – that is, the ability to charge while also powering a device. It also forgoes bells and whistles commonly found on larger-capacity banks, such as lanyard-style charging cords, built-in lights, and digital battery indicators.

One feature worth calling out is the touch-sensitive power “button.” In place of a standard button, the device has an engraved power symbol that you simply tap to activate. Nitecore has received flack in the past for issues with inadvertent power cycling due to accidental presses, and the new button seems to solve that problem. Rounding out the design is an analog charge indicator that’s fairly easy to read on the go.

Cold Efficiency

The Nitecore NB Air performed below average in our cold efficiency test. To gauge this, we replicated our standard efficiency test in the fridge. Comparing the data, the NB Air experienced an 8% loss in available power when exposed to cold temperatures – which is very significant considering the bank’s already-small capacity. 

In practice, users may want to take added precautions when adventuring in the cold. This could mean keeping the power bank close to your body or inside of a sleeping bag. We kept the NB Air in the footbox of our sleeping bag on our overnight snowshoe trip, and it handled the outing just fine. As long as you’re aware of the drop in efficiency, there are ways to mitigate it.

Should You Buy the Nitecore NB Air?

The Nitecore NB Air’s low weight, small size, and good efficiency make it a great choice for weight- and space-conscious users like thru-hikers, minimalist backpackers, and travelers. It’s also great as an emergency backup or for supplementing a larger power bank on longer trips. 

On the flip side, the NB Air is on the pricier end for its capacity and is a little low on features. Most notably, it does not support pass-through charging and only comes with one USB port. Finally, it performed below-average in our cold efficiency test, which winter campers may want to take into account. 

What Other Power Banks Should You Consider?

If you like the NB Air, you should also check out the models below and take a look at our guide to the best power banks.

Nitecore NB10000 Gen4 Review: The Nitecore NB10000 Gen 4 is essentially a slightly larger, upgraded version of the NB Air. It offers a boost in capacity as well as better efficiency and added features, including pass-through charging, multiple USB ports, and even RGB lights around the outlets. The NB Air is lighter, more portable, and quicker to charge.

Goal Zero Flip 24 Review: The Flip 24 is another small-capacity (6,700 mAh) power bank for quick overnights or on-the-go use. The Flip tacks on pass-through charging and a flip-out USB plug, both of which the NB Air lacks, although it’s less efficient than the Nitecore.

FLEXTAIL Zero Power 10000 Review: The Zero Power offers a boost in capacity compared to the NB Air while still being very lightweight and compact. It also comes with a lanyard-style USB-C cord, dual USB ports, and pass-through charging capabilities – at a higher price point.