Fanttik sent me their T8 Apex car jump starter to test and review. I tested several aspects of the system and also compared it to other models.
The Fanttik T8 Apex is a 1.53 lb, 74Wh portable car jump starter with a 2,000A peak current. The T8’s battery provides 200 full recharges and can jump-start cars with engines rated at or below 8.5 liters (gasoline) and 6.0 liters (diesel). It also has a 65W USB-C PD input/output and a USB-A output.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| 2,000A peak current | Need separate charging brick for fastest recharge (65W max) |
| Lasts 3-5 years | Display doesn’t show watts/volts/amps output |
| Can store in your car for 24 months | USB-C port outputs 1/4 of total power when also using USB-A port |
The T8 Apex is a great solution for people looking to have a battery backup system for their car.
I recommend the T8 Apex because it is truly a high-quality jump starter. The following are a few characteristics that make it stand out:
- 24-months in standby (can keep in your car for 24 months before recharging)
- 24-month warranty
- IP65 rating
- 65W USB-C PD port (for charging and discharging)
- Smartshield chip (battery management system)
Fanttik T8 Apex – Overview & Specs
The Fanttik T8 Apex features a jump starter for 12V car batteries, two USB ports, a 400-lumen flashlight with three modes, a 3-inch LCD screen, and an IP65 (dustproof and water-resistant) rating.
| Dimensions | 9.21 x 3.7 x 1.83 in |
| Weight | 1.54 lb |
| Peak Current | 2,000A |
| Compatibility | 12V Vehicles |
| Gas Engine Rating | 8.5 Liters |
| Diesel Engine Rating | 6.0 Liters |
| Internal Battery | Lithium-ion (Lithium Polymer) |
| Battery Capacity | 74Wh (20,000mAh) |
| Working Temperature | 14°F to 131°F |
| Storage Temperature | -4°F to 122°F |
With all of this information, the most important is whether it can jump-start your car successfully.
Jump Starter Testing on My Car
Since I didn’t have a dead car battery, I tested the T8 on my car’s battery for every step except jumping the car.
I placed the alligator/shark clips on the car’s battery and the T8’s LCD screen was already on, which showed the car’s 12V battery indicator, the status of the T8’s battery, as well as the green “start” icon in the lower-left of the display.
Knowing this, I knew I could start my car engine at this point if my battery was truly dead.
The jump-starting procedure given by Fanttik is the following:
- Insert the jump cable into the booster and connect the clamps to the car battery
- Press the power button for two seconds
- The screen will display “start”
- Start the car engine
Testing the T8 Apex’s 3-Mode Flashlight
At 400 lumens, the T8’s LED light has three modes: flashlight, emergency strobe, and SOS mode. The flashlight is a typical white light, the emergency strobe flashes red light, and the SOS mode flashes white light.
I tested these three modes in my basement with only my LED strip lights in the background.
All three modes worked as intended and they were all very bright. If I were using these lights in a scenario where my car was on the side of the road at night, I am confident that they would be extremely useful.
As for the standard flashlight function, I would be able to see all areas of the engine for inspection.
For the SOS mode and strobe light, they could act as needed for oncoming traffic as well as for emergency situations where the SOS mode would be ideal.
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Fanttik Jump Starter – USB Charging & Discharging
The Fanttik T8 Apex Deluxe Package comes with a 12V car charger and 120V wall charger. Both chargers have USB-C and USB-A ports. The combined output of both USB ports from the wall charger is 20 watts.
The T8’s USB-A port is an output for charging other devices, whereas the USB-C PD port is an input and output (up to 65W).
When testing the output of the wall charger as well as the T8 Apex, I used my Sherpa 100AC power bank to read the exact wattage coming from each source.
I did this because the T8 doesn’t give wattage ratings on its LCD screen, it simply says “IN” or “OUT” to signal an input or output from the USB connections.
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Wall Charger Output
In my testing, I found that the wall charger will output 17-18 watts of power when using the provided USB-C to USB-C connection.
With the USB-A to USB-C cable, the wall charger output was at a consistent 12 watts.
When I combined both USB ports, the total wattage was 20W.
The T8’s recharge time given by Fanttik is 4.5-5 hours with the USB-C to USB-C wall charger.
The T8 Apex’s USB Output Performance
Using the USB ports on the T8, I connected both cables to the USB-C and USB-A ports to get a total of 20W of output power.
Since the USB-C port is rated for 65W, I decided to unplug the USB-A cable from the Sherpa power bank to measure the USB-C function from the T8.
The total output was clocked in at 58 watts.
After this, I solely tested the USB-A cable and got a 12W output.
With this in mind, I think it’s best to use the T8 with only the USB-C PD port to charge a single device. This is because the USB-C’s power will drop significantly to about 12 watts when both the USB-A and USB-C cables are connected.
Since the T8 is a battery bank secondary to its car jump starter function, it might be best to get a separate power bank to have in your car in case you need it.
I recommend reading my review of the Sherpa 100AC power bank, which I believe is one of the best large power banks on the market.
It has an AC outlet, two USB-A ports, two 60W USB-C PD ports, and a Qi wireless charging pad. Most importantly, it has a solar panel input capable of 50W max.
Check out my analysis of the Sherpa 100AC here: The #1 Fastest Charging Solar Power Bank.
Finding the Best Storage Area in Your Car for the Fanttik T8
The storage temperature of the T8 Apex is rated from -4°F to 122°F.
With this in mind, adverse weather conditions can affect the health of the T8’s battery in storage when you’re parked outside.
I tested the temperature in my car during a hot summer day and found the following temperatures in specific areas:
- Trunk: 109-121 degrees F
- Back seat (with rear windshield sunshade): 135-135 degrees F
- Floor (front & back row): 103-105 degrees F
The best area to store the T8 Apex is on the floor of your car. Storing it in the back row under the driver or passenger seat will typically be the coolest part of the vehicle on hot days.
If you can store it in a glove box or backseat storage compartment, these options may work better depending on the sunlight.
Overall, I recommend thinking about where your car is parked compared to the sunlight on a hot day to store the T8 in the coolest part of your vehicle.
On cold days, I think the same areas mentioned for hot days will work best to protect the battery since the cabin of your car will be more heated than the trunk.
Portable Car Jump Starter Comparison
I browsed Amazon to compare the T8 Apex to some similar portable car jump starters.
Although there are several to choose from, I picked out three other systems and compared my findings below.
| Model | Fanttik T8 Apex | DBPOWER Portable Car Jump Starter | NOCO Boost X GBX55 | NEX POW Car Jump Starter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Peak Current | 2,000A | 800A | 1,750A | 2,000A |
| Maximum Engine Size Rating | 8.5 liters (gasoline) 6.0 liters (diesel) | 7.2 liters (gasoline) 5.5 liters (diesel) | 7.5 liters (gasoline) 5.0 liters (diesel) | 7.0 liters (gasoline) 6.5 liters (diesel) |
| Price | $109 | $69 | $169 | $69 |
| Battery Capacity | 74Wh | 67Wh | 46Wh | 67Wh |
| Additional Features | 3-mode flashlight 24-month storage 65W USB-C PD USB-A output 3-inch LCD display IP65 rated | 3-mode flashlight 2x USB-A outputs Compass LCD screen | 60W USB-C PD USB-A output Hot and cold indicators | 3-mode flashlight 15W USB-C PD 2x USB-A outputs |
| Where to Find | Fanttik's Website | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
Out of all of these jump starters, the T8 Apex has by far the best LCD screen.
The DBPOWER is the only other jump starter with a screen from the table and it is only about an inch wide.
The T8 can power the biggest gasoline engines (8.5 liters) but it falls short by 0.5 liters to the NEX POW’s 6.5-liter diesel capacity.
Here’s where the T8 is best or close to best in this comparison:
- Gasoline engine rating – 1st
- Diesel engine rating – 2nd
- Peak current rating – Tied for 1st
- LCD screen – 1st
- Battery capacity – 1st
- IP rating – 1st
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Is the Fanttik T8 Apex a Valuable Jump Starter?
The Fanttik T8 Apex is a valuable car jump starter because it has all of the capabilities needed for a successful and long-lasting jump starter.
It is easy to read what is going on within the system and your car’s battery and provides the power needed for a successful jump-start.
It has the only IP65 rating when compared to three similar jump starters, making it more effective in rain/snow with port protection.
When it comes down to it, the T8 is not as cheap as other jump starters in terms of pricing, but it is clearly of a higher quality than the less expensive systems available.
If I were looking for a jump starter, I would want the best one available at the best price.
The T8 Apex has the most important feature needed, which is a high-powered jump starter.
But it also has water resistance and a clear display screen which are very important for times when my car battery happens to die when I least expect it to.
After testing and comparing, I recommend the T8 Apex.
For my video review of the Apex, find it below.
Find the Fanttik T8 Apex on their website here and get 10% off your purchase when you sign up for their email newsletter.
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