Temu Finds Tested: XS 18 Pro Mini Phone and DeWalt-Compatible Replacement Batteries

Introduction

We bought a table full of Temu products to answer a simple question: is the app still the dumpster of the internet, or are there genuine finds hiding in the listings? Two products from that haul tell the full story in miniature. The XS 18 Pro mini phone is exactly the kind of absurd gadget you expect to be junk, and it mostly is not. The DeWalt-compatible replacement batteries, on the other hand, look like a bargain and behave like a hazard.

We ranked everything on a one-to-ten scale: one being a scam, ten being something you should put in your house immediately. Here is how these two fared, so you can decide where your money is better spent.

Evaluation Criteria

Every product got the same treatment: unboxing, build quality inspection, a real-world function test, and a stress test when it was safe to run one. Pricing was checked against the listing, including the ever-suspicious Temu discounting, where original prices often look invented.

For the battery packs specifically, safety carried extra weight. Lithium-ion cells in poorly constructed packs are the reason workshops catch fire when batteries are being charged, so internal construction mattered more than how well the casing mimics the real thing.

XS 18 Pro Mini Phone: The Good

The XS 18 Pro is an itty-bitty smartphone that looks remarkably similar to a full-size flagship, down to the shape and camera layout. It cost $29.29 before Temu discontinued it, which is a shame, because for the money it genuinely functions.

It boots with a welcome screen in English, runs an Android system, and even came pre-loaded with content. The form factor is the whole appeal: it is a real, working phone that fits in a palm, and there is something genuinely charming about it. Anyone who has wanted a distraction-free pocket device, or a novelty backup phone for calls, will understand the appeal immediately.

The Catch

The camera is absolutely terrible, with a delayed shutter and image quality that an old wind-up point-and-shoot could probably beat. The Android system is janky, and the manual insists on using only the included 5V charging cable, warning that higher-voltage cables will destroy the phone.

Our Verdict

We both scored it a seven. It is a functioning mini phone that does what it promises, and at around thirty dollars that is more than fair. If you can still find one anywhere, it is a fun, low-risk purchase.

DeWalt Replacement Batteries: The Risk

Now the part that should change how you shop. These are 20V lithium-ion replacement batteries advertised as compatible with DeWalt DCB200, DCB205, and DCB206 packs, listed at $76 on sale for $23.45 for a set of two. On the surface, that is tempting.

They look and feel like the real thing. They fit snugly, charge up, and run a drill fine. But the listing itself contains warnings that a damaged battery is subject to explosion, and the fine print about fire hazards is doing a lot of heavy lifting.

Inside the Knockoff Battery: Why We Passed

Opening one up told the real story. Compared with a genuine DeWalt pack, the knockoff has a smaller motherboard, no insulation over the connections, and wiring routed differently. The pack claims 8 amp hours in the exact same size shell as DeWalt’s 5 amp hour battery, which does not add up.

Loose connections and missing insulation are exactly where battery failures start. Cells heat up, connections crack, and that is how fires happen. The imitation DeWalt color scheme makes it harder to spot at a glance, which is part of the problem.

Our Verdict

One of us scored it a zero, the other a one, purely because the listing is technically honest about being a replacement. We would not put these in a shop, a house, or anywhere near our lives. The small savings is not worth the fire risk.

Buying Advice: Which One Is Worth It

If you want a cheap novelty gadget that delivers smiles, the XS 18 Pro mini phone is a legitimate Temu win, provided you temper expectations about the camera and software. Buy it for the fun of it, not as a daily driver.

If you are tempted by third-party power tool batteries, resist. The genuine article costs more for a reason: bigger internal boards, proper insulation, and connections that will not work loose over time. Stick with batteries from the tool’s own brand or a reputable authorized alternative.

Conclusion

Temu can still surprise you in both directions. The XS 18 Pro mini phone earned a seven and a place on our desk as a genuinely fun little device. The DeWalt-compatible knockoff batteries earned the lowest score of the entire haul and a firm recommendation to stay away. Cheap is fine when the only thing at stake is a bad photo; it is not fine when the thing at stake is your workshop.