The Rolux Dynasty III is a 150Wh 14.5V V-Mount Battery that features D-tap, USB-C input/output, and DC barrel outputs.
Key features
- 2x D-TAP: 14.4V 15A
- 1x USB-C: Input 65W, Output 100W
- 1x USB-A: 5V 2.1A
- 1x 8.4VDC: 2A
- 1x 12VDC: 2A
- OLED Screen
- 1/4″Threaded Hole
- LED light
Batteries may not be the most exciting pieces of kit, but they are essential to just about everything we do. There are so many battery options available, and given the fact that there is actually only a handful of companies who make the cells that are inside lithium-ion batteries, it can be a tough choice deciding what to buy, especially when it comes to budget-priced options.
The Rolux Dynasty III 150Wh V Mount Battery (USB-C) is being targeted as an affordable, entry-level v-mount battery solution.
Size & Weight
The Rolux Dynasty III 150Wh weighs 900g / 1.98 lb and it has physical dimensions of 12.4 x 7.7 x 7.2 cm / 4.88 x 3 x 2.83″.
So how does the size and weight of the Rolux Dynasty III compare to some other similar-capacity V-mount batteries? Well, below I will list up some of the competition.
| WEIGHT | SIZE | |
| Rolux Dynasty III | 900g / 1.98 lb | 12.4 x 7.7 x 7.2 cm |
| Core SWX NANOX V150 Micro | 703g / 1.55 lb | 9.9 x 7.2 x 6.7 cm |
| Fxlion Nano THREE | 773g / 1.70 lb | 10 x 7.4 x 7.5 cm |
| Anton/Bauer Dionic XT 150Wh | 1.09kg / 2.4 lb | 9.6 x 12.9 x 6.6 cm |
| Hawk-Woods Mini V-Lok Data | 710g / 1.56 lb | 10 x 7 x 6.6 cm |
| IDX System Technology CUE-J150 | 890g / 1.96 lb | 9.7 x 14.6 x 5.9 cm |
| ZGCINE ZG-S150 | 940g / 2.08 lb | 13 x 9 x 5.5 cm |
| bebob V150MICRO | 800g / 1.76 lb | 7.5 x 10.1 x 6.5 cm |
| SmallRig VB155 | 760g / 1.67 lb | 10.5 x 7.3 x 7.1 cm |
As you can see, most of the batteries have fairly similar weights and physical dimensions.
The battery is quite tall, which means that on certain cameras it won’t follow the contour and shape. However, on larger-sized digital cinema cameras, they will fit nicely. This is a purely cosmetic thing, but I prefer batteries that are the same height as the camera I am using.
Build Quality
The build quality of the battery is pretty good. The casing is solidly made and the material being used on the side of the casing allows you to grip it easily.
The battery doesn’t have huge logos or writing all over it and the design is reasonably understated, which I personally like.
The battery display button is nice and tactile and easy to use.
As I just mentioned, the Rolux Dynasty III does feature a large gripping area on both sides of the battery, which is slightly recessed. This does make it easier to hold onto in inclement weather conditions and when wearing gloves.
The battery does have covers over all the input and output ports which is nice to see, especially if you are using it in inclement weather conditions.
I like that you can long press the battery display button and a small LED light will come on at the back.
I like that the battery also has a lanyard attachment, which makes it easy to hook the battery onto a light stand, etc.
It also has a 1/4-20″ thread on the bottom which is also handy.
The battery attaches nicely to V-lock plates and there is no wobble or gaps between the plate and the battery.
Who is ROLUX?
ROLUX International Group (HK) Limited was established in Nanjing, China in 2012. Their batteries use high-end brand cells, and have global certification, CE certification, transportation certification, UN38.3, and MSDS certification.
They make batteries for SHAPE, RED, iFootage, Tlta, etc.
What cells are being used?
Rolux is one of the few companies that actually publicly discloses what cells are being used in their batteries.
In the Rolux Dynasty III, they are using Samsung 35E 18650 Lithium-ion cells. The Samsung INR 18650-35E is currently one of the most powerful cells on the market.
A lot of the cells are manufactured by companies such as Sony, Samsung, and Sanyo. You also have manufacturers such as ANSMANN AG who make the cells for bebob. Regardless of who makes the cells, all cells are divided into three levels A, B, and C. The lower the rating, the cheaper the price and of course the worse the performance.
Very few companies selling batteries actually disclose what cells are being used in their batteries.
Safety
The battery is claimed to feature the usual array of safety systems such as short circuit and over-voltage protection.
Inputs & Outputs
The battery has a very good array of inputs and outputs.
There are two D-Tap outputs that can be used to power lights, a monitor, a recorder, or other accessories. They are both located on the top of the battery and they have an output of 14.4V 10A.
I personally prefer to have D-tap ports on the side of the battery rather than the top.
The USB-C port and USB-A ports are also located on top of the battery.
The USB-C (PD 2.0 & PD 3.0 Bi-directional) port allows users to either charge the battery via a compatible USB-C PD device or to power or charge other devices such as a laptop or phone. The USB-C port delivers 65W bidirectional PD fast charging. It can output up to 100W.
You can use both the USB-C and USB-A outputs at the same time.
The DC 8V can supply 8.4V 2A (max) and the DC 12V can output 12V 2A (max.) You can use these outputs with a cable that goes to a dummy battery to power certain mirrorless hybrids.
While they have a good collection of inputs and outputs I would have preferred to have seen a LEMO output instead of USB-A, but on a budget battery, it probably doesn’t make much sense given the likely target buyer.
I tried the USB-C out with a MacBook Pro and I was able to charge the laptop without any issues. It is really handy to have batteries with this capability because it allows you to charge crucial equipment such as phones and laptops in the field.
It is nice that Rolux includes a USB-C to USB-C cable with the battery.
You can charge the battery using a PD 65W wall charger and a USB-C cable in around 3 hours. You can also charge the batteries on any V-lock charger.
We are starting to see quite a few batteries coming to market that now feature Bi-directional USB-C PD ports.
Display
The battery has an OLED Screen that shows you voltage, current, and other parameters in real time.
The display is clear and concise, but it doesn’t show you the voltage that is being drawn on the outputs. The battery shows you the run time remaining in a % as well as time.
Price & Availability
The retail price of the Rolux Dynasty III 150Wh V Mount Battery (USB-C) is $289 USD. The battery is now available to purchase.
If anyone is interested in purchasing, they can contact the Rolux local distributors listed on the website.
Competition
There are a ton of 150Wh V-mount batteries on the market. All of the available options have different feature sets, so you need to look clearly at what battery works well for you.
Core SWX NANOX V150 Micro 
SmallRig VB155
The closest competition to the Rolux Dynasty III 150Wh V Mount Battery (USB-C) is probably something like the SmallRig VB155 or Core SWX NANOX V150 Micro.
Below you can see how they stack up when it comes to price:
| PRICE | |
| Rolux Dynasty III 150Wh | $289 USD |
| NEEWER PS150E | $259.99 USD |
| Core SWX NANOX V150 Micro | $275 USD* |
| Fxlion Nano THREE | $259 USD |
| Anton/Bauer Dionic XT 150Wh | $719.10 USD |
| Hawk-Woods Mini V-Lok Data | $329.99 USD |
| IDX System Technology CUE-J150 | $210 USD |
| ZGCINE ZG-S150 | $219.99 USD |
| bebob V150MICRO | $439 USD |
| SmallRig VB155 | $339.99 USD |
*Currently on special at B&H as of the 28th Nov 2024
As you can see, the price of 150Wh batteries varies dramatically. You can pay as little as $210 USD all the way up to well over $600 USD.
Specifications
Conclusion
As I have previously said in a lot of battery reviews, a lot of potential buyers of V-lock batteries are probably going to have a pre-conceived bias that will direct them toward a brand that they know. However, a lot of the cells being used in these batteries all come from the same select group of lithium-ion battery manufacturers.
A battery is just a battery, right? If the same cells are being used in a more expensive battery, are you simply just paying for the name on the casing? Maybe, but there is usually a lot more to a battery than meets the eye.
The Rolux Dynasty III is a solid offering and it features a nice array of inputs and outputs. I like how you can charge the battery either via USB-C PD or on a traditional V-mount charger.
Being 150Wh also makes it a good option for anyone who travels a lot and uses cameras, accessories, or lights that can be powered via flight-safe batteries. Having the added ability to power laptops and other equipment via USB-C is also very useful. The battery is well-made and easy to grip and hold.
If you are looking for an affordable V-mount battery with a good range of inputs and outputs then it is certainly worth considering. The battery does, however, face very stiff competition from options made by companies such as SmallRig, Core SWX, IDX, Fxlion, etc.
