Semi-solid state battery tech makes these power banks a lot more pocket-friendly

Look beyond the ludicrously long name and you’ll find some seriously clever tech inside Belkin’s new UltraCharge Pro Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K Qi2 15W with BoostSolid Cell. It’s the firm’s first to use semi-solid state batteries, which are safer and not nearly as bulky as the lithium-ion alternatives.

The new charging tech is the standout in a stuffed line-up of new products announced at this year’s IFA show, including smart trackers, noise-cancelling headphones and display-toting backup batteries.

At only 8.8mm thick and with similar dimensions to a credit card, the UltraCharge Pro is some 40% skinnier than rival power banks with a similar capacity. Adding a gel-like layer to its battery cells has also made it more resistant to thermal runaway (every electronics maker’s worst nightmare) and – according to Belkin – gives it three times the lifespan of other power banks.

It’s packing 5000mAh of reserve juice, which can be delivered at 20W over USB-C or 15W wirelessly. Qi2 magnets let it cling on, limpet-like, to your iPhone or Google Pixel (or any other phone slapped into a suitably magnetic case).

The UltraCharge Pro will land in Black and Sand colours, each with metal casing and a soft-touch finish, this month. You’ll be able to pick one up direct from Belkin, via Amazon, and all the usual retailers, for $65/£60/€65.

If you need a little more power, there’s also the UltraCharge Pro 10K 60W with BoostSolid Cell and Display, which ups capacity to 10,000mAh while still slimming down some 27% versus a regular 10K power bank. No Qi2 magnets this time, but the 60W USB-C Power Delivery port can get an iPhone 17 Pro back from empty to 50% in less than half an hour. There’s a second USB-C and a single USB-A for multi-device refuelling too. The integrated screen then shows real-time battery percentage, charging speed and even thermal monitoring.

It’s also arriving in Black and Sand colours, with pricing set at $80/£60/€80.

Next up, Belkin’s SureFind collection could be a must-buy for forgetful types. The smart trackers come in a bunch of shapes and sizes, because it’s not just keys and wallets that can go walkabout. Each plays nicely with Apple Find My and Google Find Hub, so it doesn’t matter which side of the smartphone divide you live on.

The SureFind Spot ($15/£20/€30) clips onto keys and slips subtly into luggage, while the SureFind Card ($27/£29/€39) is best stowed in your wallet, purse or passport holder. It’s IP68 rated, so won’t stop sharing its location if your gear takes a dunking. The SureFind Loop Cable Tag ($25, with no confirmed UK or European pricing just yet) is both a tracker and a useful USB-C to USB-C charging cable, which can act as a carry loop when not juicing up your gadgets.

Finally the SureFind Wallet Stand ($40) is properly multi-purpose. As well as location tracking, it has a slot for storing your credit cards and can act as a fold-out stand for your smartphone. Magnets keep it locked to your handset, while an RFID blocking lining stops your stashed cards from being scanned. It’ll land a little later, in October.

Lastly, Belkin’s SoundForm audio lineup has been given a three-pronged expansion. The SoundForm Isolate Buds, SoundForm Dot and SoundForm Play ANC all major on keen pricing, but it’s the former that lead the way with active noise cancelling, up to 32 hours of battery life and a pocket-friendly charging case.

The SoundForm Isolate is also IPX5 sweat resistant, has multipoint Bluetooth on board for dual device pairing, and ships with multiple ear- and wing-tip sizes so you can get a fit that’s secure and sound isolating. Expect to pay $60/£40/€50.

If ANC isn’t a must-have, the SoundForm Dot bring the price down to a bargain-tastic $35/£20/€35, while keeping total battery life north of 30 hours. There’s also a noise-cancelling version for a little extra cash.

Over-ear fans will gravitate to the SoundForm Play ANC, which has little ones in mind with its 85dB volume limiter mode. They’ll be good for up to 45 hours of listening with noise cancelling enabled, fold down for travel, support wired listening over 3.5mm cable and have a built-in mic for making calls through a paired smartphone. They’re on sale this month for $50/£40/€45.