Cuktech 15 Ultra Power Bank review: impressive charging but limited port selection

Staying connected is more crucial than ever in today’s world, especially when you factor in the amount of power most of our daily devices use. Power banks come in all shapes and sizes and offer a variety of different levels of performance and protection against being caught short with low battery life, and the best power banks, including this high-quality offering from Cuktech, often favour users who need to charge a variety of devices in one go. Cuktech’s lineup of portable, high-capacity, fast-charging power banks is designed to keep your devices powered up wherever you are, and in this review, we’ll delve into the specifics of the 15 Ultra, one of the brand’s power banks that offers good performance and a focus on speedy charging wherever you are.

Cuktech 15 Ultra: Key specifications

Design and build

• Modern look with a useful coloured screen
• Rounded edges make it easy to hold and carry
• Slightly heavier than we were expecting

Aesthetically, the Cuktech 15 Power Bank, which is the model we’ve reviewed here, looks slightly different from some of the other devices on the market at the moment. It features rounded edges and a semi-transparent frosted body with a pulsating blue LED strip, as well as a 1.5-inch TFT multifunctional colour screen that displays essential information such as battery level, power, voltage and current. This works really well and allows you to see at a glance how much power you’ve got left as a percentage as well as what devices are currently connected and the power they’re drawing. There’s a small button below this screen that can be used to switch the screen off and a long press of this can also allow you to switch individual ports on and off individually.

In terms of build quality, the device is constructed with V0-grade fire-retardant materials, which ensures safety and durability as well as allowing it to be airline and flight-safe, meaning you can take it away with you. Unboxing the power bank we were slightly surprised at its weight – at half a kilogram you’ll notice it in your laptop bag and carrying it around for long periods of time in your bag may be a big inconvenience. Having said that, it’s not dissimilar to similarly powered devices from other brands.

Design score: 4/5

Features and performance

• 20,000mAh provides excellent power for long durations
• USB-C to USB-C cable provided

Engineered for high performance and versatility, the Cuktech 15 features 20,000mAh capacity – enough power to charge a MacBook Pro approximately 1.2 times or an iPhone 14 up to four times, making it suitable for extended use without frequent recharging. If you invest a little more in Cuktech’s 20 model, you get 25,000mAh, so there’s plenty of power available across the range.

This model supports a maximum output of 165W on its primary USB-C port, enabling fast charging for laptops, tablets, smartphones, and gaming consoles. For instance, it can charge a MacBook Pro 16" to 59% in just 30 minutes. One of the standout features is its pass-through charging capability, allowing users to charge the power bank itself while simultaneously powering other devices – especially useful if you’re travelling or needing to boost your devices and keep them all operational without downtime over a short stay in a hotel room. The integrated display provides real-time updates on battery levels and charging status, which is a nice touch.

When it comes to safety, the power bank is equipped with an efficient heat dissipation system, including integral heat sink fins and five NTC temperature detection chips that monitor temperature fluctuations in real time. This is all rather ‘behind the scenes’, and during our tests, we did notice some considerable heat emanating from the device but certainly not to alarming levels, and within the parameters of what we’d expect when drawing power to charge up high-performance laptops and portable devices.

Who is it for?

• Enough impressive performance for creative professionals

We were impressed by the Cuktech and would trust it for high-performance fast charging – the only downside is that we’d like it to be slightly lighter for everyday use, but its features and reliability meant that it’s now a staple in our tech bag. It’s also worth pointing out that it only has one USB-A port and two USB-C ports – a few more would come in handy if you’re powering multiple pieces of hardware.

It’s ideal for a diverse range of users, and we think that creative professionals who rely on laptops and mobile devices for work will appreciate the high capacity and fast-charging capabilities to ensure productivity is maintained throughout the day. Especially useful if travelling, at presentations or pitches and you need to be sure you’ve got power at hand even if a plug isn’t immediately available.

There’s also a potential market for travelling with games consoles too like the Steam Deck, ensuring you keep portable handheld devices charged as they are noticeably power-hungry. Because the power bank also meets travel requirements for carry-on luggage, it’s a reliable companion for people on the move.

Buy it if...

• You require a high-capacity power bank capable of charging multiple devices simultaneously
• Fast charging for laptops, smartphones and gaming consoles is a priority
• You value real-time monitoring of charging status through an integrated display

Don't buy it if...

• Portability is your primary concern, as the high capacity adds to the device's size and weight.
• You need to change many different devices, as the two integrated USB-C ports and one USB-A port may not be enough for some users