We have already written about how to save charge on a smartphone . In order not to worry too much about this, it is worth buying a power bank. They will help in many situations in war, in civilian life, at home or at work. We made a guide on external batteries so that you can choose a model according to your needs and not overpay for extra, and possibly unnecessary features. At the same time, modern power banks can do a lot, so their additional features can be useful to every user. Read the details below.
Power bank capacity
The capacity of an external battery primarily affects its size and weight. It also determines the number of devices that the power bank is able to provide with energy for one full charge.
It should be borne in mind that the declared battery capacity does not correspond to the real one and is usually less by 10-20%. That is, the real capacity of a 3000 mAh battery is 2700-2800 mAh. The fact is that the standard battery voltage is 3.5 volts, but the power bank often gives out more, for example, 5 volts.
After converting 3.6 volts to 5 for supply from the battery, the energy is again reduced to 3.6 volts and only after that it enters the device being charged. Thus, one part of the energy is spent on converting and increasing the voltage, and the other is dissipated in the form of heat. So the above-mentioned couple of tens of percent of the capacity are lost.
Most often, power banks are made of plastic. This reduces the cost of production and reduces weight, but does not protect when dropped. Therefore, with such models it is worth being as careful as possible. But there are options with a metal case, as well as rubberized ones for maximum protection.
The most compact external batteries are from 3000 to 6000 mAh. Typically, such models weigh no more than 200-400 grams, but they are almost unable to charge large gadgets, such as a tablet or laptop. Such models fully charge an ordinary smartphone or a couple of three wrist and portable devices one or two times.
Next come power banks of medium capacity from 7,000 to 15,000 mAh. The most common models are made for 10,000 and 15,000 mAh. They are not much larger than the previous category, but they allow you to charge your smartphone, tablet or even laptop several times. And the number of charges for wrist and portable gadgets, for example, TWS headphones, is in the tens.
A large external battery can be called a model from 20,000 mAh and above. The market has long had power banks for 30, 40, 50 and even 100,000 mAh. Options for 100,000 mAh and higher with 220 V sockets are not rare. But this is a completely different category, which deserves a separate material. We are interested in more mass and popular models.
Power banks of 20,000 mAh and above are not much larger than options with a lower capacity. But much harder. If you have looked after a model for 80-90,000 mAh, then get ready for not the most compact size and weight within a few kilograms. You can no longer put such a device in your pocket, but it fits in a bag or backpack, or is carried separately. It also charges the entire set of user gadgets: from smart watches to laptops.
Power bank charging
The standard USB Type-A input for charging devices at the power bank produces a current of 2 amperes and a voltage of 5 volts. With such indicators, even the simplest smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery will charge for several hours.
External batteries with a small capacity and at a minimum price are equipped with one such input. But if you need more and faster, then you should look at other models.
Modern power banks are capable of delivering much more than the standard 5 volts, and models with fast charging technologies provide 9, and 12, 20 and more volts, which significantly speeds up the process. If we translate these figures into watts more familiar to users, then modern external batteries are capable of providing normal charging at 5-10 watts, and fast charging from 18 to 100 watts. With such power, a smartphone, if it also supports this technology, charges in just half an hour.
Particular attention to the power bank model should be paid to users who are going to charge their laptop. To charge a laptop external battery, it is not enough to have an impressive capacity. To do this, they must support fast charging. The laptop requires a minimum of 15 volts (30 W), which means that the power bank must have at least one port with this power. Most often, batteries with a capacity above 15,000 mAh are equipped with such an input, especially if they have USB Type-C, but not always. Therefore, before buying, make sure that the model you like has the power output you need.
Additional features and capabilities
Ports and Connectors
Most often, power banks are equipped with three types of connectors: USB Type-A, Micro-USB and USB Type-C. Do not forget manufacturers and users of Apple technology. Therefore, some power banks are also equipped with a Lightning port. Pay attention to this if you have an iPhone or other company gadgets. You need a power bank model with at least one such input.
Some models are equipped with multiple USB Type-A ports so that you can charge multiple devices at the same time. The Micro-USB port is most often used to charge the external battery itself. For the same purposes, the available USB Type-C port can be used.
If you plan to charge a smartphone or other device through it, make sure that IN / OUT is written below the port. In this case, USB C is designed for charging the power bank and gadgets. Sometimes it happens that an external battery is supplied with two USB Type-C. Then one labeled IN is intended only for charging the battery, and the second labeled IN / OUT works in both directions.
Solar panels
Some models of external batteries are equipped with solar panels. They have a small area, so it will not be possible to fully restore the spent charge. But the panel can partially replenish it. Pay attention to such models if you are often outdoors. Especially in summer.
Fast, pass-through and wireless charging
We wrote about fast charging above. This is an important feature that most modern power banks are equipped with, especially those with large capacities. It is also worth remembering that a fast-charging battery can not only quickly charge other devices, but also replenish its capacity faster. And this is very important, because instead of three to six hours or more with normal power, a power bank with such a function is one and a half to two times less at the outlet.
If you expect to charge your smartphone using fast charging, then make sure that the bank and the phone support the same technology. They are different and depend on the manufacturer. Now there are many such standards (USB Power Delivery, Qualcomm Quick Charge, Apple’s Power Delivery). Some of them are universal and work with smartphones and devices from different manufacturers. Some companies use their own standard and equip only their own external batteries with it.
All this must be taken into account and checked before buying a power bank. If it does not support the required standard, then it will simply charge the device at a base power of 5-10 watts.
Many power banks also provide wireless charging. Such models have a specially marked area on the case where you need to put a device with Qi technology support. It can be a watch, headphones, smartphone or something else.
Under the place for wireless charging at the power bank, an induction coil is placed. She then provides such a convenient opportunity. True, it also dissipates a lot of energy when transferring it to devices, so charging is much slower and provides 5 or 10 watts of power.
Some power banks are equipped with a pass-through charging function. This is when the bank can simultaneously charge itself and charge other devices. Not all models have this feature, so if you need it, look for an option with this feature.
Microcurrent charging of low-power devices
In modern power banks, microtome charging is also often added. This is necessary for smart watches, fitness trackers, TWS headphones and other portable devices whose batteries wear out faster when using conventional power. True, in most cases, power banks without this function simply do not charge such gadgets, because they do not “see” their miniature batteries.
Increasingly, manufacturers are releasing external batteries, where this feature is available by default. If you have a lot of such devices and you plan to charge them with a power bank, then look for a model that supports charging low-power gadgets.
Charge indication
All power banks are equipped with a charge indication. It’s just that early and affordable models use a few LEDs to show battery status. In more expensive versions, simple, one-color, but informative screens are already being installed. They display the percentage of charge, and also displays additional information about the active fast or wireless charging.
Surge and overload protection
Most modern external batteries are by default protected against voltage surges and overloads of the electrical network. Power banks of well-known brands necessarily provide this function. Often this information is so self-evident that manufacturers do not even indicate it on the site or write it somewhere at the bottom in small letters. And sometimes, on the contrary, they stick out and make one of the main chips.
Torch
Sometimes power banks are equipped with lanterns. Depending on the size of the model and the capacity of the battery, these can be compact light bulbs to illuminate surrounding objects or powerful enough options to replace camping lights. Flashlights work for a long time, because they consume very little, and there is a large supply of energy at hand.
Shock and moisture protection
External batteries are also made protected from shock drops and moisture. This provides them with a longer service life, but makes them more expensive, heavier and larger. Whether one is worth the other is up to you.
