EcoFlow's $270 Power Bank Now Requires $1000 of Extra Gear to Just Charge Phone
KEY POINTS
- •EcoFlow released a $270 power bank in early 2026 that requires proprietary modules and a desktop dock for full functionality.
- •This power bank challenges the simpler days when customers chose based on USB-A ports or convenience.
- •CES 2026 highlighted that bigger power banks now push feature creep to justify high prices near the 'airline friendly' limit.
Welcome to CES 2026, where simple power banks went from pocket-sized lifesavers to $270 showpieces demanding a proprietary desktop dock and optional module add-ons that make charging a phone feel like an exclusive member-only club. EcoFlow’s gadget looks sleek with a large display and a retractable cable but forget just plugging in a USB—it needs its own ecosystem, likely priced north of a used bicycle. Once a humble choice between USB-A and the dawn of USB-C, now shoppers navigate feature creep as wild as trying to find a refund policy for something that needs several purchases to even start working. That’s power banking 2.0: complicated, costly, and strangely… the highlight of a 2026 tech trade show.
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Why just buy a power bank when you can invest in a whole charging ecosystem that'll make your wallet feel airlifted? $270 to charge your phone? Luxury consumption 101.
Power banks evolved from pocket conveniences to display-heavy, $270 velvet ropes saying ‘not for the common charger.’
Charging your phone soon requires a PhD in proprietary cables and enough spending to make your bank account go low-power mode.
Source: Theverge | Published: 1/6/2026 | Author: Thomas Ricker
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