Choosing The Right Power Bank
A Power Bank is simple – they work like extra batteries for our phones, tablets, laptops, or other mobile devices. All you have to do is plug a device into a battery pack to charge it on the go – and voila – no need for another power source.
Our phones play an essential part in our modern day lives, and for many of us, they’re what we use to socialise, communicate, shop, and play through. With this in mind, running out of battery while on the go can cause chaos and seemingly cut you off from the world.
With so many portable battery charging options out there, it can be difficult when it comes to choosing the right one for your specific needs. For example, do you want fast charging, or do you prefer a portable charging bank that doesn’t take up too much space? We’ve looked at all the different choices you have when it comes to choosing the power pack to keep your mobile device fully charged no matter where you are.
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What Are the Benefits of Owning a Power Bank?
First and foremost, let’s look at why we may want or need to use a charger over a plug-in the wall phone charger. The most common reason people purchase and use a portable charging device is in the name; for portability. The beauty of a portable phone charging battery is that you can charge your Android, iPhone, Samsung Galaxy and even other electronic devices on the go – anywhere and everywhere! The fact that portable these devices are so popular nowadays means that no one should have the excuse of running out of battery while out and about… unless of course you choose to!
Additionally, if you live rurally or somewhere that is prone to power cuts, a high capacity power bank can be an excellent way to get some juice into your phone when there’s no other option. A battery pack can also help to charge other electronic gadgets such as your iPad or tablet (as long as they have a USB connection), so you should be able to stay connected to the outside world no matter what happens.
Get your power bank hereWhat Exactly is mAh?
When researching the best device, you’ll come to realise that all portable battery packs have a specified mAh and this is usually mentioned in the description or specifications. In a nutshell, and without getting too “technical”, the higher the mAh of your portable battery pack tend to last longer than those with a lower rating of mAh. But what exactly does mAh stand for? It means, milliAmpere hour. One milliAmpere hour is basically the amount of capacity needed to allow one milliAmpere of electrical current flow for one hour.
When a mobile phone battery is fully charged – it will effectively have a reservoir of charging capacity. Therefore, the higher the mAh, the more use you should get out of your Sleeki and the higher battery capacity you’ll have! This also means that you will be effective when it comes to charging more than one device, depending on how many ports it has, of course.
How Many Times Can You Charge Using a Power Bank?
As briefly mentioned above, the number of charges you can get is dependent on the quality of your portable charging device, and it’s mAh. The best way to calculate how much battery life you may get from a portable charging device is to divide the mAh by the device battery. So, for example, let’s say your portable charger has 10000mAh – it should be able to charge an iPhone 6 plus from 1-100% 3.5 times (10000 / 2915 = 3.45).
This, of course, varies by device and levels of usage, but it’s certainly an effective way to determine how much charging life you can expect to get from your portable phone chargers. The most important thing to bear in mind before any long trip or outing is that it has a full charge so you can get the most use out of it for all of your portable devices.
What's What When It Comes to Ports and Cables?
It can be tricky working out which cables you need and the function of each port – especially if you have a mobile device that doesn’t use a standard fitting. However, most when bought new, will come with instructions, so for a start, this should keep you right. Most charge via a usb cable which means that you can simply connect your device to the USB port and begin charging straight away, no matter where you are.
Some come with a built-in cable like our Sleeki, or a variety of cables like lightning cable, USB-C, but this will be dependent on the model you choose and which device you have. Not many offer everything like a Sleeki does. Having a selection of cables, however, makes it really easy to switch between cables for your iPad, your Samsung phone, or other portable devices. Most portable charging devices come with a standard USB output, but some also come with a micro USB connection. Again, it’s down to what device you’re using and what your individual requirements are.
Variations of Size and Weight
With so many options on the market to choose from, there is literally something for everyone, and they come in many shapes and sizes. If you want a battery charger that really packs a punch, but you’re not concerned about size, there are big powerful ones that will last a long time. If you’re looking for one that will fit comfortably inside your pocket, no problem, there are many on the market.
The size and weight don’t always necessarily determine how effective it will be. However, it is usually the case that the more substantial the portable battery, the more powerful it will be and have a higher mAh. Weights and sizes do vary between the different devices, but all of the specifications should be available before you make your purchase.
The Speed of Charging
When it comes to choosing the right portable charger, for many, quick charging is a crucial aspect. Most are designed to charge gadgets at 5 volts at a given amp. For instance, a 10000 mAh power bank could receive and give charge 1 Amp at 5v for 10 hours, or 2 Amps for 5 hours. If you have a 3000mAh battery in your phone and a 2A charging port (2000mA), then it would take 3000mAh / 2000mA = 1.5 hours to charge.
It all gets a bit technical but the higher the Amp, the quicker they will charge up. Plug in phone chargers do tend to charge faster, but the portability is often preferred. Essentially, you could actually have the ability to charge multiple devices if need be if it has the ability to do so.
Portable Wireless Charging
Across many devices, wireless is all the rage these days – why have cords and cables when you don’t need them, right? Well, this is no different when it comes to portable chargers. A wireless option gives you the advantage of recharging your phone on-the-go with the convenience of no cables. A feature we’ve included with our Sleeki range.
What makes it wireless? A nifty a coil which conveys energy to the Android smartphone or iPhone via magnetic induction is how the magic of wireless charging takes place. This means that once the portable wireless charger has been charged up and is ready to go, the wireless chargers does not need to be connected to a power source in order to provide battery power to your mobile phone.
Usually, wireless versions are used by placing the phone or mobile device on top of it and the coil within charges the device – just like magic! With wireless models, gone are the days where your belongings get all tangled up in your bag or pocket.
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Make Sure Your Phone Doesn't Run out of Juice
Of course, you want a mobile charger that can keep your devices juiced up as long as you need them up and running, but you should also consider how many charging ports the battery pack should have while also weighing the price. There’s a lot to think about.
Therefore, if you’re fed up of using a plug-in phone charger or often need your phone to have full charge while out and about, it’s time to invest in a portable battery charger that won’t let you down.
Think Before You Buy
If you’re ready to buy a portable mobile phone charging device, consider the following questions when conducting your research:
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Which device or devices do you plan to use with the battery pack?
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For how long will you be away from a wall charger?
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How many times do you think you’ll need to use the portable battery before youare able to recharge it?
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How many different devices do you plan to use with it at once?
(this will require more than one port)
Fast charging portable chargers are so common nowadays so conduct some research and find out which one is best for you. After all, your mobile phone is probably one of your most valuable and frequently used items, so it should always have enough battery in it for you to be able to use it.
Take a look at all the features with our Sleeki range.