Review: BMX SolidSafe Air Titanium Qi2 Magnetic Power Bank

So, Google sent you here looking for a “titanium BMX”?

Pull up a chair… This may not be the BMX you were looking for, but could it be the BMX you need?

You’ve probably already spotted that the BMX SolidSafe Air isn’t a bike. BMX stands here for “Better Mobile Experience”, and the SolidSafe Air is a very light and handy little titanium-encased power bank for charging your phone or other gadgets. 

The main attraction for cyclists, aside from the timeless appeal of Ti, its low weight and slim, pocket-friendly form, is that it’s a Qi2 wireless charger. That means no cable to lose or get damaged, and no need to worry about degraded performance if your phone’s charge port is full of pocket fluff. 

The SolidSafe simply clicks magnetically onto the back of your phone and starts charging it immediately. It’s got a 5000mah capacity – enough to fully charge my iPhone 15 Pro 1.5 times, by my calculations – and is a skinny little thing to boot. 

Somewhat oddly, the packaging claims the SolidSafe to be “just 3 credit cards thin’ at 6.8mm. I measured our test unit and it’s actually about 7.5mm thick – equivalent to 10 credit cards – which nonetheless is impressively svelte. It’s light too, at just 116g on the scales.

Charging is reasonably fast at a claimed 15W over wireless, or 20W over USB-C. My iPhone went from 79% to 89% in 20 minutes. For comparison, it took another 10 minutes plugged into my wall charger to get it to 95%.

I keep my phone in a protective case, which is not advertised as being Qi2 compatible (many are), but didn’t seem to pose any problems for charging. The SolidSafe snapped into place securely and got straight to work.

The power bank itself is charged up via a USB-C cable (included), with four small leds on the rear to indicate the charge level. You can also use a USB-C cable to charge your phone (or cycle computer etc) via the same port. This is useful if your device isn’t Qi2 compatible – a bike light, for example – and in fact, charging is not only faster but about 10% more efficient using a cable than wireless.

You can even charge two devices simultaneously – one via the USB-C port and one using Qi2 wireless.

Solid, Safe.

Most power banks use lithium ion batteries, but the SolidSafe is advertised as “semi-solid-state” cell. This means the cell uses significantly less liquid electrolyte than a conventional lithium-ion design, which BMX say helps reduce battery risk while keeping the power bank compact enough for daily use.

It certainly is that; in fact, the SolidSafe Air makes a strong case for being the perfect power bank for cyclists. It’s light and slim enough to slip unnoticed into a jersey pocket, does away with the need for cables, and provides enough juice to keep your phone topped up even on the most navigation- or photo-heavy days out.

I’ve experienced cables breaking and charge ports rusting over the course of a few days’ rainy cycle touring in Scotland: a wireless charger like this could prove a shrewd bit of kit for bikepackers.

It’s got a premium feel thanks to that sleek brushed titanium case, and is available in a choice of three finishes too: black and silver, along with the gold version tested.

Bottom line: the BMX SolidSafe Air is a robust, slim and lightweight power bank; with its sleek titanium case and convenient wireless charging, it’s well worth a place in every cyclist’s pocket.

BMX SolidSafe Air Titanium Qi2 Magnetic Powerbank – £57 from ambleandstrut.co.uk