Mapping issues in 7 of 8 power bank rental platforms tested by Hong Kong watchdog

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AdvertisementConsumer protection in Hong KongHong KongSocietyMapping issues in 7 of 8 power bank rental platforms tested by Hong Kong watchdog

Consumer Council also finds significant variance in rental fees across different stations within the same platform

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Two power bank rental machines at the North Point ferry pier. Photo: Jelly Tse

Harvey Kong

Seven out of eight power bank rental platforms tested by Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog displayed inaccurate navigation or positioning data on map applications, a problem that may waste users’ time and incur extra charges due to delays.

The Consumer Council on Thursday also found a significant variance in rental fees across different stations within the same platforms, with charges for a 30-minute rental differing by nearly 1.3 times and the daily cap on charges differing by more than 2.3 times.

“When in urgent need of a power bank, consumers’ phone battery is often critically low. Inaccurate navigation not only wastes time, but may also deplete the phone’s battery, preventing the user from logging in to use the service,” said the watchdog’s chief executive Alaina Shum Jiu-fai.

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“Incorrect station data during return could lead to fruitless trips and extra charges due to delays.”

Shum said that as smartphones were an important part of daily life, running out of battery while out and about had become a common problem for city residents, with shared power bank rental platforms offering a “flexible solution” to the issue.

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Staff from the Consumer Council conducted 48 rent and return trials across the eight platforms in Hong Kong between November and December in 2025, with the tests covering different days, time slots and districts.

“Although all eight platforms had positioning and third-party map navigation functions, seven of them experienced issues such as reversed navigation routes, target stations deviating from actual locations, or inaccurate starting points,” Shum said.

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