Battery-powered air pumps: Four mobile and four stationary models tested
Matthias Borchers
· 07.09.2024
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Puffing and reeking of burnt grease, the little compressor groans as it tries to force air through its valve hose into our unyielding steel tyre measuring dummy; the digits on its digital pressure gauge remain at a value far below the maximum pressure it is aiming for. "Come on, little compressor, you can do it!", you want to shout encouragingly to the vibrating and ever-slower pumping metal box. But then the little pressure maker runs out of breath. Running hot and motionless, it hangs on its air hose and makes no more noise.
Not all of the eight devices performed so miserably in our practical test - after all, the test task was not very demanding. We simply wanted to check whether the mini compressors really achieve the maximum pressure promised by the manufacturer and in what time two to four bicycle tyres with a width of 30 millimetres can be inflated to 2.5 or 4.0 bar.
Battery-powered air pumps for bikes - a jungle of offers
Well-known manufacturers of mini or floor pumps in the bike industry, such as Lezyne, Pedros or SKS, are not - or not yet - represented in this segment. Only Topeak announced at Eurobike that it intends to launch a battery-powered mini compressor on the market next spring.
This device segment is currently dominated by unknown, sometimes nameless manufacturers from China who use online department stores such as Amazon and Co. as a marketplace. It is striking that many devices appear almost identical in design and only have minimal visual differences, such as a different coloured display frame. Typical representatives here are the two candidates from "Atkam" or "Neakhmer", which are available to buy in various versions. How reputable these providers are can also be seen from the labels on the packaging or in the operating instructions; it can happen that the manufacturer and product name on the device and packaging are not identical.
One pump, many names
The two minis from Airbank and Cycplus and the slightly larger devices from Osram and Xiaomi stand out from the crowd of similar rechargeable air pumps for bikes. Due to their pump volume and battery size, the latter are not only or especially suitable for bicycles, but also for other things that require air, such as car or motorbike tyres, air mattresses or paddling pools. Prices range between 40 and 85 euros, with the Cycplus AS 2 being the most expensive; Osram and Xiaomi cost around 60 euros.
Apart from the minimalists from Airbank and Cycplus, which only have an LED battery status indicator and a pressure switch, the other six devices are also fairly similarly equipped; the scope of delivery usually includes various valve adapters, valve hoses and charging cables. Air dispensers such as those from Atkam, Neakhmer or Osram offer a charging socket for smartphones or an integrated torch as practical optional extras. The eight rechargeable pumps then had to prove their strengths and weaknesses in our practical test. As mentioned at the beginning, this revealed weak points that we had not initially anticipated. The fact that only three out of eight pumps reached the maximum pressure promised by the manufacturer was a disappointing result and also an indication of a lack of product safety. We aborted the tests on several appliances after around five minutes due to worrying heat, noise and odour development. Negative example: The mini pump from QCHMM left the test with a 70-degree housing!
After all, all battery-powered bicycle air pumps managed the minimum requirement of inflating two or four tyres to 2.5 or 4.0 bar - without any cheering.
Test summary of the battery-powered bicycle air pumps
There are currently no battery-powered mini compressors from the classic pump manufacturers, although Topeak has announced a model for the 2025 season. Most of our test devices are available from Amazon and the like, and the best-known brands are Osram and Xiaomi, more commonly known as lamp and smartphone manufacturers. In the practical test, only the two branded devices reached the specified maximum pressure; other devices failed, ran hot and smelled overheated.
Battery-powered bicycle air pumps: The test results
Mobile battery-powered air pumps
Airbank Pocket SE
- Price*: 40 Euro >> e.g. available here
- Extras: 2 Adapter
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader
- Functions: On/off switch, battery indicator
- Maximum pressure should/is: 7.0 / 5.0 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 6.5 x 3.1 x 6.6 cm / 92 grams
- Battery: 300 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 5,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 2,5
- Handling/display (20 %): 4,0
- Equipment (10 %): 4,0
- Battery (10 %): 4,0
Overall grade (100 %): 3.9
Conclusion on the Airbank Pocket SE: Mobile handheld flatterer, very compact, minimalist equipment; battery reliably manages two 30 mm tyres up to 2.5 bar; vibrates very strongly and does not reach the maximum pressure.
Cycplus AS 2
- Price*: 85 Euro >> available here
- Extras: Spare seal, ball valve adapter, valve hose (15 cm)
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, ball valve
- Functions: On/off switch, battery indicator
- Maximum pressure should/is: 7.0 / 5.0 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 3.2 x 4.7 x 6.7 cm / 115 grams
- Battery: 300 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 5,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 3,0
- Handling/display (20 %): 3,0
- Equipment (10 %): 1,0
- Battery (10 %): 4,0
Overall grade: 3.5
Conclusion on the Cycplus AS 2: Expensive hand flatterer, very compact like the Airbank; sufficient pumping power in the event of a puncture, better handling thanks to hose; gets hot.
Graceemc Man Ltd mini bicycle pump with LCD
- Price*: 50 Euro >> available here
- Extras: Valve hose (12 cm), 3 adapters, valve caps
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, ball valve
- Functions: 4 memory values, battery indicator
- Maximum pressure should/is: 6.9 / 6.8 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 7.0 x 3.3 x 9.2 cm / 321 grams
- Battery: 4400 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 2,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 2,0
- Handling/display (20 %): 3,0
- Equipment (10 %): 1,5
- Battery (10 %): 1,0
Overall grade: 2.1
Conclusion on the Graceemc Man Ltd - Mini bicycle pump with LCD: Still an acceptable size for a jersey pocket, but (too) heavy; works well up to about 4 bar, then vibrates strongly; gets very hot at maximum pressure; best mobile pump.
Qchmm Bycicle Tire Inflater HW-125
- Price*: 70 Euro >> available here
- Extras: Valve hose (10 cm), 2 adapters, spare seal
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, ball valve
- Functions: Battery indicator, 3 memory values
- Maximum pressure should/is: 10.2 / 4.1 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 7.2 x 5.0 x 3.2 cm / 155 grams
- Battery: 500 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 5,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 4,0
- Handling/display (20 %): 2,0
- Equipment (10 %): 1,0
- Battery (10 %): 3,0
Overall grade: 4.5
Conclusion on the Qchmm Bycicle Tire Inflater HW-125: Impostor: Only displays the unit PSI, not bar; vibrates strongly and gets 70 degrees hot; falls significantly below the specified maximum pressure.
Stationary cordless air pumps
Atkam car air pump model CZK-5617
- Price*: 60 Euro
- Extras: 12-volt charging cable, 2 valve hoses, adapter for balls and air mattress
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, Ball, Luma
- Functions: Charging function, battery indicator, torch, 4 memory values, drain valve
- Maximum pressure should/is: 10.0 / 8.0 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 49 x 67 x 165 mm / 520 grammes
- Battery: 20,000 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 4,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 2,5
- Handling/display (20 %): 1,3
- Equipment (10 %): 1,0
- Battery (10 %): 1,0
Overall grade: 2.4
Conclusion on the Atkam car air pump model CZK-5617: Pump performance increased after several attempts; vibrates weakly, still quiet; does not reach the specified maximum power, smelled of warm metal at the end; the battery is top.
Neakhmer Wireless Air Pump
- Price*: 45 Euro
- Extras: Power supply unit, 12-volt charging cable, valve hose (38 cm), 4 adapters
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, Ball, Luma
- Functions: Charging function, battery indicator, torch, 4 memory values
- Maximum pressure should/is: 10.3 / 7.5 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 50 x 68 x 170 mm / 621 grammes
- Battery: 6000 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 4,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 2,0
- Handling/display (20 %): 2,8
- Equipment (10 %): 1,0
- Battery (10 %): 1,0
Overall grade: 2.6
Conclusion on the Neakhmer Wireless Air Pump: Vibrates relatively strongly and is loud; falls well short of the maximum pressure; smelled of hot grease at the end of the test; features and battery very good.
Osram Tireinflate 2000
- Price*: 60 Euro >> available here
- Extras: Bottle holder, valve tube (15 cm), ball valve adapter
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader, ball valve
- Functions: Charging function, battery indicator, torch, 4 memory values
- Maximum pressure should/is: 8.3 / 8.3 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 70 x 170 mm / 503 grammes
- Battery: 5200 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 1,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 2,0
- Handling/display (20 %): 1,8
- Equipment (10 %): 2,0
- Battery (10 %): 1,0
Overall grade: 1.6
Conclusion on the Osram Tireinflate 2000: Pumps quietly and with low vibration; reaches maximum pressure linearly without overheating; clear display and operation; includes torch.
Xiaomi Portable Electric Air Compressor 2
- Price*: 60 Euro >> available here
- Extras: Valve hose (21 cm), ball valve adapter, Presta replacement head
- Valve types: Presta, Schrader
- Functions: Battery indicator, torch, 5 memory values
- Maximum pressure should/is: 10.3 / 10.3 bar
- Dimensions/weight: 45 x 75 x 124 mm / 500 grammes
- Battery: 2000 mAh
TOUR rating
- Maximum pressure (30 %): 1,0
- Pumping capacity bar/time** (30 %): 1,5
- Handling/display (20 %): 1,3
- Equipment (10 %): 2,0
- Battery (10 %): 3,0
Overall grade: 1.5
Conclusion on the Xiaomi Portable electric Air Compressor 2: Well-designed test winner without weaknesses; pumps pleasantly quietly and quickly up to maximum pressure; switches on and off with integrated hose switch.
* Prices may vary depending on the provider
** At 2.5 and 4.0 bar
How TOUR tests
Maximum pressure (30 per cent): We checked the specified maximum value with a pressurised tank. Only three pumps reached the target value and were awarded an A for this. For the other five candidates, we cancelled the test at a housing temperature of 65 degrees.
pumping capacity (30 per cent): In the performance test, the compact pumps had to pump a 30 mm tyre to 2.5 bar, while the larger pumps had to pump the same tyre to 4.0 bar. The pumps from Graceemc Man Ltd and Xiaomi achieved a fast finish and thus the top score in this category.
Handling/display (20 per cent): The operation of the individual functions, the readability of the display and the fitting of adapters and valve hoses were assessed. Deductions were made if the tyre valve was difficult to reach or if the pump vibrated extremely or became too hot during operation.
equipment (10 per cent): We used different criteria for the compact and large models. While a hose, a spare valve and three valve adapters were enough for the small compressors to achieve a very good grade, the equipment package of the bottle-sized pumps also had to include a 12-volt charging cable, a charging function for third-party devices and adapters for an air mattress in order to achieve an A grade.
Battery (10 per cent): The battery capacity of the eight test devices ranges from 300 to 20,000 mAh. The minimum requirement for the battery life of the small pumps was to inflate two 30 mm tyres at 2.5 bar, while the large ones had to cope with four tyres and 4.0 bar.
Matthias Borchers
Editor
