PL3000 Powerbank: make-up and electricity, a joke?
12.7.2018
Translation: machine translated
It shines pink and glows: The powerbank with handbag make-up mirror. I want this thing. And I want to know whether it's any good or whether it's just a mirror with a shiny finish.
I need a new powerbank for the open air season. My requirements: cheap and pink. Cheap, because there's a high risk of me losing it at the open air. And pink, because I want as many pink-coloured things in my life as possible.
With these two criteria, the search filter spits out the PL3000 rose, among other things. The PL3000 rose is a power bank with a handbag make-up mirror.
PL3000, what a name. Sounds like a hoover or a circuit built into a toaster. Either way, the promotional video for it is hilarious.
At 00:25 in the video, it is pointed out that nobody should find out.
But what don't you want anyone to know? That your battery is dead, or that you're looking in the mirror? Seriously now?
I write publicly about my period - I don't think we women have to hide anything. A power bank can keep trying to be embarrassing for a long time.
I bought the battery mirror because I want to know whether the technology scene here is really doing something for women. Or whether it's failing miserably. And because I need pink things.
The thing comes with me to two open-air events.
Yes, she's still alive
First of all: the powerbank survived both open-air events with only a few scratches. I didn't expect that. The hinge that holds the two mirrors together is made of plastic and feels cheap. The button that you have to press twice to switch on the light in the mirror also feels like it could break quickly.
The first time I use it with the illuminated mirror, I notice one thing straight away: In the video, they hold the mirror upside down the whole time. Because there's only one light on the mirror and that's on the thicker, heavier part. So if you want to use the mirror with the light frame, you have to hold the mirror with the small lid in your hand - that's rather impractical, but it works so far.
The light itself is not particularly bright. But it's enough to touch up your lipstick on a camping chair at night at the open air.
More mirror than power
The power bank has 3000 mAh of power. That's not much. I therefore had to take a second powerbank with me. The PL3000 was already empty after we charged a UE Boom Box. And that was before the box was fully charged. It's a good thing that there's still music playing at the Openair.
You have to charge the PL3000 via a micro USB plug. USB-C is not available, not even with the supplied cable. A Lightning cable is included.
The charging technology is outdated and correspondingly slow. Slow because the charging current is only 2.4 amps. And there's no Quick Charge. By the time my mobile is charged, I've fallen asleep twice on the camping chair. But even then, my lipstick still fits perfectly.
I mainly used the PL3000 as a mirror. In contrast to the battery, there's not much to criticise about the mirror - the mirror with the light ring has a threefold magnification. You can see every pimple. However, the magnification is practical for applying lipstick nicely. Not so much for applying make-up evenly to the whole face.
The other mirror without a light ring has no magnification. If I use this normal mirror - i.e. the one without magnification - the light shines into my face from below. This is fine for applying make-up, but could be solved better. For example, by giving both mirrors a light ring. But at least there's no double chin despite the light from below, as is the case when you take a photo of yourself from below.
Nonsense, cliché, shish or sensible after all?
You rarely go to an open air festival alone. My colleagues also got to see the PL3000. They had different opinions. I heard everything from "Livia, are you stupid?" to "Shit, why don't I ever have ideas like that?"
All in all, the make-up mirror power bank was well received. Nobody found it embarrassing. And it was also used by men - but only to admire themselves while applying sun cream. One colleague smeared his cream all over the powerbank and got it all over the cracks. But she didn't mind. But it's still not waterproof. Cream-proof will have to do.
The make-up mirror with the powerbank is not a bad idea in principle. But the realisation is not good. The whole thing is too heavy and too big for me, but the charging power is too low. It's therefore not suitable for me to lug around in everyday life.
You can apply make-up in the dark with the PL3000. But that's about it.
Pictures: Erik Hasselberg
Testing devices and gadgets is my thing. Some experiments lead to interesting insights, others to demolished phones. I’m hooked on series and can’t imagine life without Netflix. In summer, you’ll find me soaking up the sun by the lake or at a music festival.
