Who is iWALK? A Guide to the Brand and Its Origins

In the field of portable chargers, “iWALK” has developed a range of products that balance compactness with convenience. Because they are commonly seen on Amazon and at electronics retailers, many may perceive it as a global brand.

However, in reality, which country the company is operated from, when it entered the market, and what its specific characteristics are are not widely known.
Here, we have organized what kind of brand iWALK is based on publicly available trademark information, official corporate history, and the latest product recall information.

This article has been adapted into a video↓

Which country is iWALK from?

iWALK is a Chinese company

iWALK is a brand developed by U2O GLOBAL CO., LTD., which maintains its headquarters and factory in Xiamen, China.
Since its founding in 2003, it has focused its business primarily on mobile power-related products. In addition to China, it has a design office in South Korea and a branch office in the United States, with manufacturing primarily taking place within China.

The history of iWALK

• 2003: Founded (Established in Xiamen with technical investment from South Korea)
• 2004: Proposed the concept of “mobile power” in China
• 2005: Released the first mobile power series, the “i-UP”
• 2008: Launched the “iWALK” brand
• 2009: Released the first mobile charger in China with Apple certification / Registered US trademark
• 2011: Established US branch office
• 2012: Sales partners in 41 countries
• 2013: Expanded to over 40 countries worldwide; received various awards
• 2015: Partnered with China Mobile
• 2019: Top 3 in the Amazon portable charger category
• 2023: Ranked #1 in the Amazon portable charger category
• 2024: Received iF & Red Dot design awards; featured in Forbes
• May 29, 2025: The US CPSC announced a recall of “iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Banks” due to fire and burn hazards (27,500 units)

iWALK was born in 2003 in Xiamen, Fujian Province, China, as U2O GLOBAL CO., LTD. From its inception, the company focused on developing power sources for mobile devices, and in 2005, it released the “i-UP” series, China’s first mobile power series. In 2008, the company began full-scale development under the brand name iWALK.

Subsequently, in 2009, they announced an Apple-certified model and registered their US trademark around the same time. In 2011, they established a US branch, and by the following year, they had expanded their sales partners to 41 countries worldwide, increasing their presence in the international market. In 2013, the company received international design and industry awards, which significantly boosted its name recognition.

In recent years, they reached the top 3 in the Amazon portable charger category in 2019 and secured the number one spot in the same category in 2023. They have also received world-class design awards such as iF and Red Dot, earning recognition for both their technical prowess and design quality.

2025 recall in the US

However, on May 29, 2025, the US CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) announced a recall of 27,500 units of the iWALK Magnetic Wireless Power Banks, citing fire and burn hazards. This event served as a significant turning point for the brand regarding the need for safety improvements.

The affected product models were also sold in Japan. They are still being sold today↓

Features of iWALK

Product-related features

iWALK’s product lineup is broadly classified into three categories.

1. Direct-plug type (LinkMe / LinkPod series)
   Small batteries that connect directly to a smartphone’s charging port. Since they can be used without cables, they help reduce the amount of gear carried when out.
2. Built-in cable type (Scorpion series)
   Features Lightning or USB-C cables integrated into the main unit, supporting devices with multiple standards.
3. Wireless magnetic attachment type
   Similar to MagSafe, these attach magnetically to the back of a smartphone for charging. They offer high convenience, but the products involved in the recent recall also fall into this category.

Brand strategy features

• International trademark protection: Registered in the US, EU, and major Asian countries, primarily under Class 9 (electronic devices).
• Multi-location operations: Manufacturing in China, design in South Korea, and sales offices in the US.
• Balancing design and function: Product design that aims to achieve both miniaturization and high output.
• Leveraging awards: Utilizing design awards and industry exhibition honors to build brand credibility.

Summary

iWALK is a mobile accessory brand developed by U2O GLOBAL CO., LTD., based in Xiamen, China, and has maintained a presence in the global market for over 20 years since 2003.

They are well-regarded for their product designs specialized in portability, such as direct-plug and built-in cable models, and boast high popularity on Amazon and at international exhibitions.
On the other hand, the 2025 US recall was an event that reminded the world of the importance of safety management. Their future development will focus heavily on ensuring quality and safety, in addition to design, functionality, and sales strategy.

Thank you for reading until the end!

• The evaluation in this article is unique to this site.
• Unless otherwise specified, product prices and information are current as of the time of writing.
• Please note that this site cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in this information.
• Product and service names mentioned on this site are trademarks of their respective companies.

We have other featured articles too!

This article was originally written in Japanese and has been translated.