REVIEW: FXLion Nano One V-Mount Battery
One of the most annoying things about handling a camera - and most videographers will no doubt agree with me on this - is its batteries. Given how powerful cameras are, and particularly so if you're using your camera to record long 4K or even 8k videos and grabbing shots left and right, batteries are the bane of every camera. They don't last nearly long enough, and despite their short battery life, those batteries are huge!
As such, it's not a surprise that there's been an arms race to develop V-mount batteries that could hold a long charge - ideally, long enough for a solid filming session. Yet, it is compact and lightweight enough, as to be readily lugged about from one shoot to the next. The latest entrant in this ever-expanding market, is FXLion and their latest Nano One V-mount battery, which packs something truly ground-breaking.
PLEASE NOTE: I WAS SENT THIS ITEM FOR REVIEW BUT NO OTHER PAYMENT OR CONTROL WAS EXCHANGED FOR PUBLISHING THIS UNBIASED REVIEW
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On the surface of it, the FXLion Nano One is your typical V-mount battery, showcasing some noteworthy evolutions from V-mount batteries of yesteryear. For starters, the FXLion Nano One is quite dense, which pairs a compact and lightweight package, yet still packs in a 50Wh battery pack. However, if you've found that your phone or Bluetooth earbuds are running low on charge, then the FXLion Nano One could also help.
This latest FXLion Nano One model that I have here now features a 15W induction wireless charging pad on the back of the battery. In so doing, and when you're in a pinch, all you need to do is pop your phone or earbud case onto your FXLion Nano One V-mount battery and it'll charge it and keep it topped up. It'd also function as a power bank too, and its 14.8V battery could readily charge your MacBook or laptop, too. This has been an absolute lifesaver for me on more than one occasion already!
What Does The FXLion Nano One Battery Do Differently?
In the often staid world of camera batteries, the FXLion Nano One is a rather revolutionary device. While it's a pretty great V-mount battery for any smaller camera rigs or other gimbal-mounted equipment, this is just the start of what it could do. As I mentioned earlier, it could double as a power bank for any phone, and through the power of USB-C and a decently high 2.4A max output, it could handily charge a laptop.
On top of that, it's a battery bank with a handy-dandy 15W wireless charging pad. There have been many a day where I'd forget to plug in my phone for the day or I'd run through a full charge on a really long and busy shoot, without realising just how close my phone's battery was to dying. In the past, this could entail me running around looking for a wall outlet and borrowing a spare cable to charge my phone in a panic.
These days, though, all I needed to do was either plug my phone into the FXLion Nano One - if I wanted to charge it up more rapidly. Or, if time isn't of the essence, I'd just put my phone on the Nano One's wireless charging pad, and let it slowly trickle in some power. It's also neat that for charging input and output, the FXLion Nano One v-mount battery has a plethora of options, including USB-A, USB-C, Micro USB, and D-Tap.
When the Nano One isn't charging my phone, and I'm only reserving it to power my camera, I could get a solid 2 hours worth of filming per battery, on a full charge. That's pretty decent, and you could keep track of how much battery you have left through its tiny LCD display and the LED indicators. Combined with the fact that it's one of the smallest V-mount batteries available, it's perfect for on-the-go professionals.
What Are The Benefits Of Using The FXLion Nano One?
Having used it for some time, I've noticed quite a few upsides to using the FXLion Nano One compared to a lot of other V-mount batteries that I'm used to, and here are just some of them:
Compact And Lightweight - Weighing in at just 310g, the FXLion Nano One is among the lightest as well as one of the smallest V-mount batteries on the market. Thus, for those who find themselves travelling a lot from one shoot to the next, these are way easier to carry around with you. It's even travel-friendly, as the Nano One conforms to TSA regulations for carrying batteries under 100Wh into planes.
Versatile Charging Options - Another nice little creature comfort is noticed when your Nano One runs out of charge. When you need to top it back up, the FXLion Nano One can be charged up using USB-C. Thus, it eliminates the need for dedicated (and often cumbersome or bulky and proprietary) chargers.
Built-In 15W Wireless Charging Pad - This is something that I keep bringing up, given how useful it's been to me during my time using it. That wireless charging pad is awesome and a lifesaver for the unexpected moments when your phone needs a quick charge.
Native Protection And Safeguards - As a tool for professionals, the FXLion Nano One remains reliable in a diverse array of environments. It could function properly, even when you're surrounded by a chilly -20°C winter storm, or the scorching 55°C desert heat. Moreover, FXLion has built-in additional safeguards like over-current protection, over-charge as well as over-discharge protection, and overheating resistance, as well.
How About The Downsides, Are There Any For The Nano One?
For all its many pluses, though, the FXLion Nano One V-mount battery isn't perfect, and there are a couple of major downsides to consider before buying it:
High Cost - The FXLion Nano One is hardly the most affordable option available when it comes to V-mount batteries in its class. Depending on where you're shopping and whether or not there's a discount running, a Nano One (with the updated design that includes the wireless charging pad) runs you at least £122. There are certainly cheaper alternatives, even if it might not come with the Nano One's many features.
Limited Battery Capacity - Another noteworthy point of consideration is the battery capacity of the Nano One. 50Wh is more than sufficient for a lot of enthusiasts and pros, like myself. But, for those long shoots and filming sessions, it might not be enough. At least, not if you're willing to carry a few Nano Ones with you. Therefore, if you need that added peace of mind and convenience, consider the Nano One's bigger siblings, the FXLion Nano Two and FXLion Nano Three, with 98Wh and 150Wh battery capacities, respectively.
Is The High Cost Of The FXLion Nano One Battery Worthwhile?
The FXLion Nano One is undoubtedly a premium product, given its relatively high price tag compared to a lot of other V-mount batteries that feature around 50Wh capacities. Nonetheless, the Nano One positions itself as a really unique contender in the market, given its inclusion of a 15W wireless charging pad in this new, updated model. That uniqueness alone and its robust feature set give it a pretty distinct edge.
When looking at a price-to-feature ratio then, the FXLion Nano One is definitely worth considering for any mobile, on-the-go photographer or videographer. It has a compact design that packs versatile power, and with its flexible nature of equally doubling as a power bank for your phone and other electronics, FXLion's Nano One V-mount battery is sure to find a place in your toolkit, particularly for those out in the field.
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About the Author - Ross Jukes is a professional Photographer and Videographer with over a decade of experience. Working in both Digital and Analogue formats, Ross has worked with international clients, had his worked published numerous times and exhibited his work extensively. With a passion for all things photographic, Ross combines his experience, enthusiasm and dedication to his art form to create engaging and educational content for the photographic community.