Last year, the electronics company UGREEN partnered with HoYoverse to deliver a Genshin Impact coat of paint to the former's various gear. Hoyo games are huge battery sinks when playing on mobile, so having chargers themed around Genshin was a fun and functional bit of cross-promotion. This time, the two brands are heading starwards by combining five of their charging and tracking tech with the aesthetics of Honkai Star Rail, 2023’s free-to-play turn-based RPG mega hit.
These devices in particular are themed around Yao Guang, the stunning, peacock-inspired general who was the headlining unit for the sci-fi RPG’s 4.0 update. What makes this even more fitting is how she spent a majority of her character trailer aura farming with her phone and selfie stick. For die-hard fans, a gorgeous Limited Collectible Gift Box ($249.99) contains four of the five items, alongside various merchandise of the fortune teller. The folks at UGREEN were kind enough to send me an early look at these products.
Before going into the specifics of each electronic, I want to bring up consistent design trends I noticed with my introduction to UGREEN products. These devices look sleek and feel premium, especially with the HSR imagery. For the most part, the pictures of Yao Guang and her various symbols are textured, a small touch that goes a long way to making the products feel a bit more special than slapping a PNG on the surfaces. Since the design of the Seer Strategist is primarily a mix of white and blue, the items have an ice blue coloring that is pleasant on the eyes.
From a utility standpoint, I was impressed with UGREEN’s balance of functionality and travel convenience. Every gear on offer is compact, the wired devices in particular having cord storage methods integrated into the hardware itself. Additionally, the company boasts how the power banks sold for this collaboration meet airline carry-on requirements, making these my go-to chargers when I fly to Anime Expo the day after this article is published.
Kicking things off is the UGREEN Nexode Pro Power Bank ($59.99 MSRP, $49.99 launch price), the only item not included inside the collector’s Gift Box. Again, compact is the best way to describe the feel of the device, its size comparable to a salt shaker. Beyond making it easy to toss into a travel bag, the size made it easy to slip into my pocket alongside my phone to charge it. The intended use for this power bank is for phones and tablets, with a built-in USB-C outputting 65W. For those with Xiaomi-branded devices, the max the device can output is 55W for fast charging. Users can also use their own USB-C or USB-A cables thanks to the ports on the top of the device. The USB-C port can be used as both an input to charge the bank itself and an output to charge other devices. The USB-A port can only be utilized as an output.
What sets the Nexode Pro Power Bank apart from prior power banks I have used is the Smart Display. Essentially, it conveys the battery life and the wattage of the input or output. It is a nifty feature for those who want to know the finer details of their gear, but not something I found useful myself outside battery life. All that matters to me for power banks is the charging capabilities, and it does indeed do that. It took my Google Pixel 9 from 7% to full charge in about an hour. One aspect I found disappointing is how the screen does not take advantage of the Yao Guang theming. Last year’s Genshin Impact power bank had cute start-up and shut-down animations themed around the character of Kinich. My beautiful peacock military mommy gets nothing.
Time for the items within the Gift Box ($249.99), which unfolds beautifully like a pop-up book with the peacock feathers taking center stage. While the electronics can be purchased individually, exclusive to this collector’s edition are various Yao Guang merchandise. There is a tin badge, holographic ticket, and a chibi acrylic stand. In addition, there is a pouch that can be used to store all the devices included in this set.
First up is the MagFlow Air Magnetic Power Bank (89.99 MSRP, $74.99 launch price). This unit offers two charging methods. As the name states, the power bank allows your phone to snap on magnetically for a convenient, wireless charge with an output of 15W. This was my first time using a magnetic charger, and I liked it! Admittedly, there is a slight awkwardness with the added bulk it puts on my phone, but the device is still compact enough to easily adjust to. Overall, a mild trade-off for being able to charge my phone without cords or being near an outlet. Still, it is a feature I don’t envision myself using often thanks to my thicker phone case putting too much distance between the magnet and my cellular device. Fortunately, the MagFlow also possesses a USB-C cord for wired charging. In a nifty bit of design, there is a divot in the power bank that the USB can plug into to transform the cord into a strap.
Next up is the UGREEN Nexode Air Charger ($49.99 MSRP, $36.99 launch price), which was the product I was most excited about as someone who owns (and accidentally stepped on) too many wall chargers. Right off the bat, this device is the smallest wall charger I own, with UGREEN claiming that it is 46% smaller than other 65W chargers. Moreover, the prongs can fold, making an already portable device even more travel-friendly. For something teeny, it packs a punch thanks to its 100 - 240V input that is able to detect and adapt to the device connected. Whether using it to charge your phone, laptop, or tablet, this adaptability helps circumvent overcharging and overheating.
UGREEN’s HSR Air Charger brings up one of life’s greatest mysteries: If there exists a Yao Guang wall charger, surely there must be a Yao Guang cable, right?
Anyways, UGREEN Nexode Retractable USB-C Cable ($19.99 MSRP, $15.99 launch price) is the product I got the most daily utility out of. As my first retractable charging cable, I immediately fell in love with the organization. My media and charging setups are a tangle of wires scattered across the floor. Basically tripping hazards waiting to be sprung on my clumsy bum. With the 100W retractable cable, one tug and the cord rolls back into the center base. Furthermore, the wire can be set at various lengths to cover a wide range of distances, reaching almost up to a meter.
Finally, there is the UGREEN Fine Track Mini 2 ($21.99 MSRP, $15.99 launch price). Unfortunately, I was unable to test this because I do not own an iOS device. Details provided by UGREEN state how the Fine Track Mini 2 connects with Apple’s Find My app. Once paired, a 110dB can be triggered to locate it. The 600mAh CR2450 battery promises up to 2700 finds.
For my first foray with UGREEN’s technology, I left pleased with their quality and travel convenience. Their devices will definitely be on my radar from now on. As for this specific collaboration with HoYoverse, the various Honkai Star Rail products are worth consideration for hardcore fans looking for a compact refresh on their charging gear and are willing to shell out a bit more for the Yao Guang theming.
UGREEN x Honkai Star Rail Collection products are now available to purchase on Amazon, the UGREEN Official Store, and TikTok Shop.
