Now electronic gadgets are used everywhere. They are needed for work, communication and entertainment. With active work, modern mobile phones and tablets are quickly discharged. Even if you always carry a charger with you, it is not always possible to plug it into the network. A portable charger for your phone, called Power Bank, will help you not to be left without communication at the right time.
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What is a Power Bank?
The device is called differently - external battery, portable or mobile charger, portable charger. In this case, we are talking about the same thing - about charging for a phone without an outlet.
The advantage of Power Bank is that it can be used to charge electronic gadgets when other methods are not available.This can happen not only in situations where there are no outlets nearby or they are all busy, but also during long trips, travel and even hiking. For those who like to often get out into nature, there are special external batteries equipped with a solar battery.
Power Bank is a battery that needs to be pre-charged and then used to power other devices.
The portable charger is small and light, so it is easy to carry in your bag. Gadgets are connected to the Power Bank via a cable connected to the USB connector, which makes the external battery a universal device. It can be used not only to charge the phone battery, but also for tablets, cameras, laptops, players.
Some portable device models have more than one USB connector, which allows you to charge several gadgets at the same time.
More about capacity
Capacity is a characteristic that indicates how long a portable battery can be used to power other gadgets without recharging. Most portable devices have an indicator light that flashes when they are low on power. To use the PowerBank again, you need to charge it in one of the ways - from the network, laptop or computer. Charging takes place via a special micro-USB connector on the case.
Most popular batteries have a capacity in the range of 1500-20000 mAh. What capacity is needed depends on the devices that PowerBank will be used to power.If you need a battery to charge your phone, a device with a smaller capacity than for recharging a laptop or photography equipment will do.
The weight of a portable battery directly depends on the capacity. You should know this in order to avoid buying a fake. On the Internet, you can find offers in which the low weight and low price of the battery do not match its capacity. An increase in capacity by 5000 mAh makes the weight of the model more by about 100 g.
Calculate the number of charge cycles
PowerBank can be used to recharge electronic devices as many times as its capacity exceeds the battery capacity of charging devices. When choosing a portable battery, it is advised to focus on several charge cycles. To do this, you need to multiply the battery capacity of the gadget that you plan to connect to portable charging by 2-2.5.
For example, if you are looking for a portable charger for mobile phones with a battery capacity of 2600 mAh, you should not buy an external battery with less than 5200 mAh.
Please note that PowerBank will not charge gadgets whose battery capacity is greater than the capacity of the external battery.
It should be understood that a portable battery will not be able to fully charge the device if the capacity of their batteries is the same, because the PowerBank battery is consumed to ensure its operation.
Charge currents
The current strength affects the charging speed of devices. In external batteries, USB ports of 1 A or 2 A are common. A 1 A connector is needed to charge phones, smartphones, players, e-books. A 2A USB port is suitable for large equipment - tablets, cameras, laptops.
There are PowerBank models with multiple connectors. Most of these chargers have ports with different current strengths.
Mobile batteries are equipped with controllers that limit the voltage supply to devices with a weak battery, so the player or phone will not be damaged if connected to a 2A connector. Otherwise, when connecting large equipment to a connector with a weak current, the charging process will be slow.
Battery type
Batteries come in 2 types: lithium-ion and lithium-polymer.
Devices on Li-ion
Lithium-ion chargers are more widely used commercially. This type of battery corresponds to most of the batteries installed in modern mobile phones.
PowerBank on Li-ion has a low price and allows you to charge most tablets and smartphones.
The disadvantages of this type of battery include the risk of damage if overcharged or overheated. There are PowerBank models that provide automatic shutdown in such situations.
Devices on Li-polymer
Lithium-polymer chargers are distinguished by an internal structure that allows you to get a large battery capacity with less weight compared to Li-ion devices.
Chargers on Li-polymer have a higher price. This is due to the need to install a special board to ensure the operation of the device, which has a complex internal circuit. The batteries are also equipped with a design that protects against overheating.
Cheap lithium-polymer chargers can neglect the installation of additional cells, because of which batteries can quickly become unusable.
How to choose?
To choose a good external battery, you need to build on the needs of the buyer. You should understand which gadgets you plan to charge, in what quantity and how often.
It makes no sense to overpay for a PowerBank with a large capacity if you choose an external battery for your phone that can charge at a fairly minimum performance. To charge a laptop, you need a device of at least 20,000 mAh, less capacious ones simply will not work. Keep in mind that the larger the capacity, the greater the weight, and some models may not be convenient to carry with you on a daily basis.
When using tablets and photographic equipment, it is better to opt for models with a higher current strength, which will ensure fast charging.
If there is a need to charge the battery of a phone or other gadgets that do not have a USB port, choose a model that includes adapters for connecting old-style devices.
Portable chargers can be made of plastic or metal. In the second case, the phone charger will be stronger and less prone to scratches, but its price and weight will be higher.
You can find PowerBank with an unusual design. They can be made in the form of various toys, animals or have any other shape. It should be borne in mind that such decorative devices, due to the original appearance, have a higher cost, although they may not differ in high performance.
If you need to use the device while traveling, you should pay attention to devices with a built-in solar battery. They will make it possible to recharge the phone for several hours even in extreme conditions where there is no electricity.
Sometimes it may be necessary to use the device while powered by PowerBank while standing or on the go.In this case, it is better to choose a small battery that will allow you to keep busy - it is not difficult to hold such a device in your hands.
Some models are equipped with additional elements that can make work more comfortable - LED indicators, a screen, a flashlight.
Top portable chargers
The demanded model is Xiaomi Power Bank 2 20000 mAh. This device provides the best value for money. Has a plastic body. A 20,000 mAh battery and 2.4 A connectors allow it to be used not only as a phone battery charger, but also for tablets and other more capacious equipment. 2 USB ports make it possible to power multiple devices at the same time.
ASUS ZenPower 10050 mAh ABTU005 is a portable phone charger made of metal and equipped with an LED that will let you know when the device is running low. Features allow you to charge smartphones, including newer iPhone models that have a higher capacity.
TP-LINK TL-PB10400 is a compact model, the dimensions of which allow you to use PowerBank on the go, while the built-in flashlight can help out on the road. It has 2 ports for connecting devices for 1 and 2 A.
One of the best options for portable phone battery charging is SONY CP-V10. Its advantages are in its compact size. The 10000 mAh battery and 1.5 amperage output keep the price affordable. Comfort in use adds a light indicator.
