We all faced situations when the smartphone didn’t just sit down, but sat down at the most inopportune moment, when it’s still far from home or a meeting, or just the whole day ahead. For such situations, one thing has been invented, we will talk about it today and answer a very common question of our readers: “How to choose an external battery for a smartphone?”.
Power Bank Xiaomi for smartphone charging
An external battery is a plastic or metal box in which several lithium-ion batteries are connected in series. The charge-discharge cycle looks like this: we charge the Power Bank from any energy source via miniUSB, and then through the same cable we charge the device we need at the right time for us.
In the first part of the article, we will figure out how to find and choose a quality battery and deal with the technical characteristics that you should pay attention to when buying, in the second part we will look at the best external batteries and say a few words about each.
Very often, users complain about poor build quality or a defective external battery. This breadth of the problem is due to the great popularity of Chinese cheap devices that attract the unlucky layman with their price. You need to understand that it is impossible to buy a 16000 mAh battery for 400 rubles, yes, yes, such prices are sometimes found on Chinese sites. There is an option to buy a more or less expensive device from a Chinese site, but at the same time you still cannot be sure of the integrity of the manufacturer, and there is a chance to get a device that does not meet the declared characteristics or, in general, does not work. You can solve the problem by going to a specialized store, even if you are sold a low-quality product, you can return the money or exchange it under warranty. If you are still going to buy a Chinese "miracle", then pay attention to the number of sales and the presence of positive reviews on the product page.
Often the owner of a physical store in Russia buys a batch of batteries in China from an unknown manufacturer, brands the product to his taste and sells it four times more expensive at home. In this case, the “dark” person may get the impression that he has a high-quality expensive product in front of him. This problem can be avoided if you decide in advance on the brand that is preferable for you. Naturally, well-known brands such as Samsung or Sony produce very high-quality goods, but they will also cost much more. Other brands with an equally high-quality product: Xiaomi, Huawei, Asus, Lenovo.
Which portable battery to choose is up to you, but it can only be done effectively if you understand what you need to look at.
What characteristics to look for?
Appearance
Let's start with the most obvious - appearance. Basically, external batteries are produced with plastic cases, but there are also metal ones. As a rule, a metal case is much more expensive and in the pocket of weight it adds proportionately.
There are external batteries in the form of a case, they add mass and volume to the smartphone, but in some cases, when the charge for the day is sorely lacking, such a case can become an indispensable companion for your device.
A power bank can be quite small, smaller than a smartphone, but the size can increase significantly with more storage, so next we will figure out how to choose a battery for a phone based on its capacity.
Compact size
Capacity
The unit of milliamp-hour (mAh) is used to determine the capacity of an external battery. The higher the value, the more energy the device can store, and therefore the more energy it can give to charge your smartphone or tablet.
At first glance, it may seem that a smartphone with a 2000 mAh battery can be charged twice with a 4000 mAh battery, but in fact it is not. Why? Let's list the reasons:
- during charging, the phone consumes energy, as a result, it “sucks” an amount of energy from the Power Bank that is slightly larger than the capacity of the smartphone’s battery;
- the battery inevitably self-discharges;
- over time, the device loses the ability to store the full amount of charge for a long time and without large losses;
- very often the declared capacity does not correspond to the actual capacity due to the fault of the manufacturer;
- when selling, unscrupulous intermediaries or manufacturers simply deceive the buyer by declaring exorbitantly large capacities.
The actual capacity can be roughly determined by multiplying the declared capacity by 0.7. That is, with the declared capacity of 4000 mAh, in fact we will have 2800 mAh. Naturally, the figure cannot be considered final, in many cases it can be much higher, but, most often, on average, it reflects reality.
Conventionally, all Power Banks can be divided into three groups:
- For ordinary smartphones. The capacity of such devices ranges from 2500-5000 mAh. On average, for a not very powerful smartphone, such batteries are enough for 2-3 charges.
- For tablets and powerful smartphones. Devices with a volume of 5000-10000 mAh are suitable for several charges of flagship smartphones and a couple of charges of an average tablet.
- For everything. The most powerful storages at the moment up to 20000 mAh, they can be charged once: a tablet, a smartphone, a flashlight, a GPS navigator, an MP3 player and an electric shaver. Real monsters for travel lovers, worthy devices, with the appropriate price.
Current strength
Current determines the rate at which power is transferred from an external battery to your device's battery, and is measured in amperes (A). To get an idea of what battery output you need, take a look at the battery of the device you are about to charge. For smartphones, the standard value will be 1 A. For tablets, most often - 2 A. On a Power Bank of medium and high price categories, you can often find two output ports at once: one ampere and two. You need to know the feature - if you connect two devices to the charger at once, then there will be approximately 1 ampere on both ports.
Size and weight
The larger the capacity and the more ports in a portable phone battery, the larger and more massive it will be. Choose a device to suit your rhythm of life, some will need a small 5000 mAh battery to sometimes check mail and chat on social networks, but if you like traveling and hiking, you want to listen to music and watch videos, then you just need a heavy battery for at least 15000 mAh to keep you satisfied.
If you meet a small device with an unreasonably high capacity and a low price - do not even think about looking in its direction, such devices simply do not exist, you are being deceived.
Rating of external batteries for smartphones
- GPGL301 is a very high quality 10400 mAh version with a one year warranty. For comparison, many manufacturers give a guarantee for high-quality charging for only a few weeks, which already says a lot. The price also does not bite much, on average in Russia it fluctuates in the range of 2000-2500 rubles. Two USB outputs for one and two amperes are included. Users note that, due to the high power, the smartphone is charged from this battery even faster than from the network.
- Gmini mPower Pro Series MPB1041 is another 10400 mAh option. Its main advantage is that charging and discharging of the device occur at the same power, which eliminates the possibility of overload when charging. This increases the service life of the device many times over. The device is pleasant to the touch and takes up little space, has the shape of a tablet. There is only one port - two amperes. The average price in Russia fluctuates in the range of 1450-2250 rubles.
- Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 10400 is an incredibly compact and incredibly roomy 10400 mAh portable battery for its size. Among analogues, it is hardly possible to find such a small and convenient device. The main disadvantage is the huge number of fakes in the Chinese market. Some believe that even Chinese fakes of this device are better than many European counterparts. In this case, it is better to abandon the online purchase and go to a physical store to verify the quality of the product, and, if anything, return it under warranty. If the purchase goes smoothly, then you will definitely appreciate the compactness and monstrous capacity of this device. The average price of the device is 2000 rubles.
Conclusion
Recently, the market for external batteries for the phone has been filled with both high-quality models and fakes. How to choose - we told, then it's up to you. Be careful and consider all the factors described in the article. Do not chase for large capacities, if you do not need them, do not pay attention to copies that are too cheap - most likely they are of poor quality. Approach the purchase wisely, and then the external battery will serve you faithfully for many years.
If you have any questions - ask them in the comments!
| Briefly about the main It is not necessary to purchase an external battery from a well-known brand, since it does not differ in reliability and performance from models from lesser-known manufacturers. That is why we chose the most affordable devices that will never let the user down. |
||
| The best external battery The best external battery today is the model. It is the best choice in terms of price / quality / performance ratio. | best power bank with flashlight If it is important for you to purchase a model with a flashlight, but that it also has high technical performance, then you can give preference. Although its battery capacity is slightly less than that of the Xiaomi model. |
|
Modern people prefer to use smartphones instead of tablets and laptops, because they are just as productive and at the same time more compact. But due to their small dimensions, their battery life decreases: it is impossible to install a capacious battery in a small case.
To solve the problems that arise because of this, you can purchase an external battery for your phone. How to choose which characteristics to pay attention to and which models are the most popular today, you will learn in the article.
Top External Batteries
| Name | Capacity | Number of USB ports | USB Port Current | Battery level indicator | Flashlight | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16000 mAh | 2 | 1000/ 2 100 mA | There is | No | Check Price |
|
| 10400 mAh | 2 | 1000/ 2000 mA | There is | There is | Check Price |
|
| 15600 mAh | 2 | 1000/ 2000 mA | There is | There is | Check Price | |
| 10000 mAh | 2 | 1000/ 2 100 mA | There is | No | Check Price |
|
| 12500 mAh | 2 | 1000/ 2000 mA | There is | No | Check Price |
Why is it needed?
An external battery (another name for Power Bank) is designed to charge a smartphone or other mobile device if there is no access to power supply networks. To do this, the device is connected to a mobile gadget using a special adapter cable.
Using a second battery to replace the main one is not always convenient. In addition, many modern flagship smartphones have a molded case in which the battery is non-removable. In this case, using a Power Bank is the best option.
Principle of operation
An external battery is a set of batteries that are interconnected and enclosed in a case that has a universal output (usually a USB port) for connecting an adapter. For the manufacture of the case, plastic (cheap models) or aluminum is used.
After connecting the smartphone to the Power Bank, the standard charging process will begin. These steps can be repeated until the external battery is completely discharged. Due to the fact that it has a large capacity, you can simultaneously or in turn charge two or more gadgets, or one mobile device several times in a row.
Characteristics
When choosing an external battery for your smartphone, pay attention to the main characteristics that will help you choose a high-quality and durable device.
Capacity
This is the main characteristic that determines the performance of an external battery. It shows how long the device will provide the mobile gadget with energy.
This parameter is measured in ampere hours (Ah) or milliamp hours (mAh). In order for the Power Bank to work effectively and there are no problems with it, its volume must be at least 2 times the battery capacity of the device that it recharges. But the larger this parameter, the better.
The larger the capacity of the external battery, the longer the period of its operation. But this increases the time for recharging.
In addition, it should be borne in mind that the larger the capacity of the selected device, the more expensive it will cost. The golden mean is 6000 mAh models. And the Power Bank with a capacity of 15000 mAh and more is suitable for charging a smartphone or even a tablet.
Current strength
The strength of the outgoing current affects the charging time of the device. The higher it is, the faster the smartphone will charge. For a mobile phone, the standard indicator is 800-1200 mA, for tablets 1500-2000 mA.
Good to know! It is desirable that this parameter matches the recommendations of the smartphone or tablet manufacturer.
Dimensions
Please note that the larger the capacity of an external battery, the larger it is, because more batteries are placed inside. But in this case, everyone chooses a model for himself, depending on the requirements that he imposes on it.
For fans of hiking trips, a Power Bank of large capacity and dimensions is suitable. And for users who recharge their smartphone to "sit" in social networks, a compact and less capacious option is suitable.
Don't buy models that offer a lot of storage capacity in a compact package. These are tricks that are used to increase sales.
Peculiarities
Different Power Bank models may have their own characteristics.
- Number of nests. On some models, there are several sockets for connecting two or more gadgets at the same time. In most cases, they have different outgoing current strength: 1000 and 2000 mA for charging smartphones and tablets, respectively.
- Cable with a set of adapters. Such devices are suitable for new, as well as for older smartphones that do not use Micro-USB or USB Type-C sockets, but other connectors.
- External battery charging method. When buying an external battery, choose a model that charges via a Micro-USB socket. This will allow you to use a regular smartphone charger to charge it.
There are Power Bank models with solar panels installed on the case. Basically, they compensate for the effect of self-charging of batteries, but they are not suitable for fully charging the external battery itself. - Battery level indication. The indicator will tell you how much energy is left in the external battery and when it needs to be connected to the network for charging. This is a convenient option, but it affects the cost of the model.
The best choice
Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 16000
The best choice!The main advantage of the model is excellent quality, high reliability and affordable price. Thanks to the metal case and large battery capacity, you can easily charge the same gadget several times in a row (from 5 times or more).
The presence of two USB ports allows you to simultaneously charge several devices, but their close proximity will not allow you to connect two massive plugs at the same time. In general, this is where the cons of the model end, so it is the best choice to buy.
Advantages
- frame;
- battery;
- battery level indicator;
- 2 USB ports;
- price;
- output current 2000 mA.
Flaws
- the location of the USB ports.
TP-LINK TL-PB10400
Unfortunately, due to the large volume of batteries, the battery case had to be made square, which is not always convenient to use. In addition, it is made of plastic, albeit reliable. This reduced both the weight and the reliability of the Power Bank.
The current strength at the two outputs is different: 2000 and 1000 mA, so you can choose which device and where to connect.
The presence of two USB ports, a flashlight and a battery charging indicator allows you to operate the device comfortably and easily. Although the flashlight is of average quality.
Advantages
- battery;
- charge level indicator;
- 2 USB ports;
- flashlight;
Flaws
- frame;
- flashlight.
Yoobao YB665
Price: 3 000 r.
Glossy plastic made the device stylish, but easily soiled, so it will need to be constantly wiped down. The cost of Yoobao YB665, although quite high, but the set of functions and reliability will allow it to be used for a long time. In addition, the Power Bank comes with a charger and adapters for the iPhone.
Once again, my phone ran out of power by lunchtime - a couple of hours on social networks, downloading new 400 MB podcasts using the 3G network, a few photos - and the battery waved at me. Unfortunately, for many people, this scenario is becoming a reality on a daily basis. Sometimes, when talking with acquaintances, I hear a squeak, and then the conversation is interrupted. They call back from the second number and say the sacramental: "The phone is dead." The presence of chargers in the car, at the workplace is by no means a panacea. Someone is used to carrying a charger with them and in restaurants chooses places closer to outlets. As my friend jokes, phones are wired again, but now we're tethered to an electrical outlet.
One of the partial solutions to this problem is the choice of an external charger that you can carry in your bag, take on trips and hikes. The cost of such devices varies in a very wide range, the number of manufacturers is large, and often the eyes run up from the diversity of the offer. This guide will focus on how to choose the right external charger, but before I get to that point, let me dissuade you.
Energy consumption in modern smartphones - how to save energy
In the comments to the Buyer's Guide. Choosing a smartphone” I came across statements in which people claimed that the given operating time for certain devices differs from the real one. For example, the article says that the device can easily work a full day, and it sits down at the commentator's place by lunchtime. An attempt to understand this issue thoroughly showed that many people do not think that their smartphone already has all the tools to reduce power consumption and extend the device's operating time without sacrificing performance. This point of view was also popular - having bought an expensive phone, I am not going to set it up or use it not one hundred percent, I want it to work out every penny. It is impossible to agree with such a view, since any technical device has operating modes, settings that are unnecessary for many consumers, turning them off does not affect the comfort of use. I am sure that people with such a position in life do not need to buy an external battery, they still will not have enough of it for a long time. Marketing often takes the place of common sense - when you hear people say they don't want to downclock the processor in their smartphone, you realize that they don't know or even realize that the processor runs at a very low frequency most of the time. High frequencies are needed for “heavy” computing tasks, for example, three-dimensional graphics in games, in which case the smartphone automatically gives the maximum frequency, otherwise applications will not work.
Therefore, it is possible that you do not need an external battery, but you should deal with the power consumption on your smartphone (for tablets, this is not so critical and important, although exactly the same rules apply there). And having already exhausted all the possibilities for extending the operating time with regular means, it is worth resorting to an external battery.
In the next two videos, I provide power management tips for Android as well as iOS. These tips are universal, you can apply them on different devices, but you should remember that not all settings and features are present on all.
External battery - what types are there, what to look for
When buying an external battery, they often choose the one that comes to hand, not paying attention to technical details, which leads to disappointment in the future. I will try to talk about all the pitfalls and start with the obvious - the size of the device. Unfortunately, there are no miracles in the world, and the larger the battery capacity, the more space it takes. You need to decide what you need the battery for - only for a smartphone or do you still plan to charge the tablet as well. Psychologically, we want to choose universal solutions and very often buy into the fact that on the box they promise us charging not only smartphones, but also tablets. Unfortunately, these promises very often turn out to be wrong or misleading. To charge modern tablets, you need a battery that delivers a current of 1A, and also has a capacity of 12,000 to 16,000 mAh, which will allow you to charge the tablet at least half. Such a device will weigh about 350-400 grams or even more. Calling it compact is a bit of a stretch, although simpler external batteries with a capacity of 4000 mAh may not be small.
Size and weight - this is the first parameter that you need to pay attention to. For myself, I came to the conclusion that I need an external battery only for a smartphone, after all, to put the battery on a tablet, you need a full day of light and continuous play. I admit honestly that I fail faster than the battery in the tablet, I just get tired of playing or watching movies so much. On hikes where I would have time to work on a tablet in the forest, I don’t go either, there are always sockets and time to recharge the tablet. But it is possible that you have a different usage scenario and then you need to look at a universal device or buy two different external batteries.
For a smartphone, I need an external power supply. Given my lifestyle, I was looking for a device that would allow me to charge a smartphone with a 1500-2100 mAh battery or so at least twice a day. Since I was going to wear it both in my hands and in clothes, sometimes in a bag, the size of the device became a priority. I bought a 6000 mAh battery in Hong Kong under the name VTank, I was bribed by the size and metal case. Of the minuses, I note the weight of the device, it delays the pocket (about 250 grams).
I am sure that you will decide on the size and weight of the device on the ground, based on how you will carry it. Even in a lady's bag there is enough space for such a battery. But there is a little trick to keep in mind - when you charge your smartphone, you will most likely want to use it. See how these two devices fit in your hands while charging (or imagine if you can't feel it).
Case materials - this is another parameter that is not very important, but from an aesthetic point of view it warms the soul of many. Metal or plastic case - what to choose? There are no features here, it is worth remembering only that their reliability is approximately the same, but the weight of the metal one is greater.
Battery capacity and current are two main parameters that will be important to you. There is no universal rule, but you need to select a battery with a capacity of at least twice as much as the capacity of your battery in a smartphone (for a tablet, this rule does not apply for obvious reasons, there are champion batteries). At the moment, the most common batteries are 4,000 - 6,000 mAh, they are standard. There is no point in choosing batteries of a smaller capacity, their cost is not much lower, and there is almost no sense from them.
When choosing Chinese batteries, there is a high risk of encountering a discrepancy between the declared parameters and the real ones. For example, they will tell you that the battery capacity is 12,000 mAh, but in fact it will be only half. On the other hand, this deception is innocent, since you will not be charged extra money for a “large” capacity. Usually, the seller wants to please you and talks about a larger capacity to convince you that you made a good deal - bought such a good battery for cheap.
There is no point in looking for batteries from unknown companies, there are many offers from different manufacturers on the market, the prices are about the same (I'm not talking about retail, rather about the Internet).
The best choice is a 6,000 mAh battery (this is the middle ground that will suit most people), or a 12,000 mAh battery or higher. It should be borne in mind that external batteries have a discharge current, depending on the design, manufacturer, it can vary greatly.
Batteries often use 3.7 V batteries inside, while 5 V is required at the output. The boost circuit is not ideal and eats up most of the external battery capacity, so this parameter should be taken into account when calculating how many times you can charge your phone. Many external batteries with a capacity of 4,000 mAh can only give 2,000 mAh, that is, one charge a phone with a battery of 1,500 - 2,000 mAh.
Another important point is the current strength that the battery produces. To charge most smartphones, 0.5 A is enough, this is the minimum current strength in such devices. Often, to charge tablets and a number of smartphones, a current of 1 A or more is required, this parameter should be paid close attention. If the battery has several outputs, then the connected load can vary in the range of 1-3 A. In order to determine what charging current you need, look at the marking of the charger from your tablet or smartphone.
Charging the battery is another non-obvious point that is not paid attention to, but in vain. By and large, all external batteries can be divided into two large classes - those that are charged only from the computer's USB connector, and those that can be charged from the AC mains. In the second case, use a standard miniUSB, microUSB connector, or a charger that is included in the kit. It makes no sense to discuss the first type of devices, they have almost disappeared and are of no interest.
The lack of charging from a regular network is a serious disadvantage, since in this case you will have to recharge the battery only from the computer and it will take much longer, and you will not be able to charge it to its full capacity (the USB port does not provide enough current). It is necessary that the external battery be able to charge from a regular USB connector, but also be able to use ordinary sockets.
Device charging indicators - usually there are three, sometimes four LEDs on the case that show the battery charge. Unfortunately, they give a very rough idea of how long the battery will last. In the case of a battery that has been used for about a year, you can completely forget about the last division, as a rule, the indicator starts to lie and the charge is no longer enough. There are external batteries with digital indicators, they are much clearer and more visual, but you will have to pay 20-30 percent more for them than for similar batteries without such displays. The add-on is nice, but it's up to you to decide whether it's worth the money.
The number of USB connectors on the device is an optional parameter, but it should also be taken into account. Many devices have two, and sometimes four, or even five USB ports. This allows you to connect multiple devices to the charger at once. In my opinion, two USB ports are enough for the eyes, and their simultaneous use is a very rare case. In my practice, this is rather an exception, a couple of times I powered the devices of my colleagues like that, but I didn’t use it myself.
On / off button - must be recessed into the case to avoid accidental pressing in pockets and subsequent battery discharge. In most models, this parameter is not given any importance, which is sad.
I hope that, remembering what to look for, you will not get into trouble when choosing an external battery for your smartphone or tablet, although I doubt the second use case. But without recommendations on what to look for and how to buy such batteries, this guide would be incomplete.
Where and how to buy an external battery - prepare a sled in the summer
Unfortunately, my job of choosing the perfect external battery is complicated by the fact that there are so many of them and it is impossible to describe everything. Models of one manufacturer may be presented in your city, and completely different ones in the next one, there is no universal recipe.
Most of the 4,000 mAh batteries sold in Russia cost in the range of 2 to 3 thousand rubles, 8,000 mAh batteries cost from 3,500 rubles and more, sometimes reaching 5-6 thousand rubles. In my opinion, there is no point in buying such expensive batteries, since you overpay at least two or even three times the real cost of such devices. A reasonable purchase looks like ordering a battery from China or from sites selling electronics, then its price with delivery will be much lower. For information on how to buy abroad, we have a separate Buyer's Guide.
To search for various models of external batteries, you can use the Focalprices website (link is the search result for such devices). A fairly wide selection of such batteries on eBay. Or you can look at such batteries.
If for some reason you do not want to deal with delivery by mail, then you can look for batteries in Russian online stores, the offer is varied, but the prices are higher.
I hope that in this article I have described in detail all the pitfalls and principles for choosing external batteries. It is worth remembering that over the course of a year of use, the battery capacity is reduced to 80 percent of the original face value. You should also treat batteries (both external and built-in phones) as consumables. Once every few years they should be replaced, they, unfortunately, do not last forever.
If one of the manufacturers of external batteries wants reviews of their devices to appear with us, then write to us, we will be happy to test them.
P.S. I would like to express my special thanks to Daniil, who left a very capacious comment about the use of external batteries, much of this comment was included in the "Guide".)
Modern mobile phones amaze with graphics and functionality, allow users to run 3D games and watch videos in HD resolution, but they have one significant drawback: they run out quickly. Of course, the user can wear a Philips budget dialer as an addition to the main gadget, which will allow you not to miss an important call, but this is inconvenient. It is much more efficient and rational to buy an external battery for a smartphone instead of a spare phone.
External batteries for smartphones and tablets are portable power sources that are structurally similar to conventional batteries: the controller board integrates up to 10 batteries placed in a reliable case.
Using such a charger is simple: you first need to recharge it from a 220-volt outlet (you can also use USB, but it will take longer), then, when the smartphone’s battery is depleted, connect the external battery and the gadget with a cable. The battery will begin to transfer energy. A fully charged portable battery is usually enough for several smartphone charges from 0 to 100%.
There is a modification of a portable charger: a battery case that also performs a protective function. Such covers are made for specific models, and therefore are more expensive.
External batteries: types of products
There are only three types of portable chargers:
- Lithium-ion. On the windows of shops, these products are most often found. The advantages of these chargers include safety and energy efficiency. There are two disadvantages: firstly, they fail quite quickly (especially with constant use), and secondly, the purchase of such a device will cost a pretty penny.
- Lithium polymer. These batteries are considered advanced: they have adopted all the positive characteristics of lithium-ion chargers, while getting a nice price. However, it is difficult to find them in salons-shops: you have to order via the Internet, and the cost of delivery kills all the benefits.
- Nickel—cadmium. These are aliens from the "past era" - such batteries were used to charge the first phones and were popular due to their minimal cost. Now they are almost not produced: firstly, their harmfulness to health has been proven, and secondly, their impressive size does not allow them to be called portable.
The type of battery should be indicated on the packaging and on the price tag (less often). You should first decide which type is more suitable, and already on this decision to base the choice of an external battery for your smartphone.
How to choose the best external battery: basic criteria
It is worth paying attention to 3 main parameters of portable batteries:
- Total battery capacity. This parameter characterizes the battery life from a single charge and is measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). The rule applies: the capacity of the external battery should be at least twice the capacity of the gadget's battery.
- Current strength. This parameter is indicated on the factory charger. For smartphones, a current of 1A is usually suitable, for tablets - 2A. You can also charge smartphones from a 2-ampere battery (charging will be even faster), however, tests confirm that gadgets fail with increased current. The best option is to pick up a battery with two connectors of different strengths.
- Size and weight. The larger the battery capacity, the more massive the device itself. The buyer should proceed from personal needs: if he purchases a battery for occasional use in urban areas, then 5000 mAh is enough, but if he intends to travel and wants to charge several gadgets at once, you should not take less than 10 thousand mAh. It is important to remember: a device with a compact size cannot have an outstanding capacity. The offer of such a device is simply an attempt to mislead the buyer.
Top 3: rating of external batteries
According to the reviews, you should pay attention to the following models of portable chargers:
Conclusion
Choosing which external battery is best based on color, shape, or the presence of a monochrome display is stupid: these are secondary criteria. First of all, you need to pay attention to the current strength and battery capacity - an inattentive attitude to these parameters can lead to the fact that an expensive gadget will be disabled. The brand should also be evaluated: it is better to put aside the Chinese "know-names" and prefer products from such well-known manufacturers as InterStep and Hiper.
Every year new smartphones appear, more and more powerful and voracious. Innovations in the field of batteries are not yet foreseen, which means that a power bank (power bank, external battery, portable battery) remains the only way out for those who often live far from outlets.
What is the difference between external batteries
Portable power supplies, unlike the same smartphones and other types of advanced technology, cannot boast of a special variety. And this is quite logical. Batteries - they are batteries, but you still need to know something about them.
Capacity and related dimensions
The most important parameter of an external battery is its capacity, which is usually indicated by the manufacturer in milliamp-hours (mAh). Roughly speaking, this is the amount of energy that a battery can store (but not transfer).
Please note: due to the fundamental laws of physics, no external battery can transfer 100% of the stored energy and no smartphone is able to fully assimilate the received energy. Part of the resource is always lost during voltage conversion, and some goes into heat.
On average, the combined losses are between 30% and 40%, although some (and usually more expensive) models of external batteries and smartphones can boast about 90% efficiency.
Thus, it is incorrect to determine the number of possible charges of a smartphone with a known capacity of a built-in battery from a power bank with a known capacity using a simple division. The loss factor must be taken into account. Moreover, for reinsurance, it is better to take it along the upper limit, that is, at least 35%.
To put it simply, a power bank with a declared capacity of 10,000 mAh in practice will transfer about 7,500 real mAh, which means it will fully charge a smartphone with a 2,500 mAh battery not four times, but only three.
Please note that the above calculation is very average and quite optimistic. It is possible to check the real losses when charging a specific smartphone from a specific external battery only in practice.
In addition, physics requires a direct relationship between the capacity and mass of the power bank. To store more energy, the battery needs to be heavier and bigger.
Connectors
The vast majority of external batteries, and especially, are sold without cables. It is assumed that you will use the wire that comes with the smartphone. Accordingly, the connectors on the battery and cable must match.
It may seem that you don’t need to pay attention to the connectors, because all smartphones have the same wire with a standard full-size USB on one end and microUSB on the other, but this is not the case.
For example, the bundled Nexus 5X cable has USB-C on both sides. And in order not to buy additional wires, you will have to look for an external battery with just such a connector, both output and input, or purchase an adapter.
Kanex GoPower Slim Aluminum USB-C
Some manufacturers, such as Motorola, include a plug with a non-removable wire in the package of certain smartphone models. In this case, the purchase of an additional cable is inevitable.
There are power banks with a built-in cable. In this case, it is important to make sure that the connector fits your smartphone.
EasyAcc iChoc 5000 mAh Ultra Slim Power bank output current and fast charging
The external battery charges the smartphone, and it's great. It's even better if he does it quickly, right? The charging speed depends on many parameters, but the output current of the power bank is decisive. It should be no less than that provided by the smartphone manufacturer.
It is easy to find out the optimal current strength for your smartphone. Take the plug that came with the device and look at the OUTPUT value.
Output current It will say something like 5 V - 2 A. You need the number next to A because current is measured in amps.
You can find out the output current of a power bank in the description or instructions. If an external battery has more than one output connector, then the current strength is sometimes indicated directly on the case next to each connector.
HP 7600 mAh Power Pack Slim Portable If there are two or more connectors, you need to remember that the total output current of the power bank is limited. For example, a battery can have two outputs of 2.5 A each, but give out no more than 4 A in total. Accordingly, when two devices are connected at once, each of them can receive no more than 2 A.
If the output current of the external battery is less than that for which the smartphone is designed (for example, 1 A for a power bank and 1.5 A for a smartphone), then charging will still occur, but noticeably slower.
There is no need to be afraid if the output current of the external battery is higher than that for which the mobile device is designed (for example, 2 A for a power bank and 1 A for a smartphone). Mobile devices have built-in protection that limits the value of the incoming current to an acceptable value. Simply put, your smartphone will not explode or melt.
For the same reason, the mobile device will not charge faster if you use a plug or power bank with an output current higher than that provided by the manufacturer.
Let's say you found an external battery with a suitable output current, but the included plug still charges your smartphone faster. What's the matter? Most likely, your smartphone supports some kind of accelerated charging technology like Quick Charge 3.0, Quick Charge 4.0, or a variant with its own name from a specific manufacturer (for example, mCharge from Meizu). Look for a power bank that is friendly with exactly the same fast charging technology that is used in your smartphone.
Now power banks with smart fast charging technologies like PowerIQ are gaining popularity. In theory, they recognize the device connected to them and supply the optimal current for it, but in practice this does not always work and not with all smartphone models.
External battery input current
Whatever capacious external battery you buy, its own energy supply will be exhausted sooner or later. It's nice when a power bank quickly charges a smartphone, but it's even nicer if it charges quickly itself.
The charging speed of a power bank is determined by its input current, voltage and the presence of one or another technology that provides more rapid replenishment of its own charge. There are now external batteries that can be fully charged in less than 30 minutes.
Please note: the power bank's own charging speed does not affect the speed at which it charges the smartphone.
But the lack of understanding of technology and gaps in knowledge of English can mislead the user. For example, you see a power bank that says something like 5 minutes charge. You might think that this miracle device charges a smartphone in 5 minutes, but in reality everything is different.
Let's say the capacity of a particular battery is 10,000 mAh and it fully charges in 20 minutes. In this case, in 5 minutes it will replenish approximately 2,500 mAh. And this charge is really enough to charge a typical smartphone.
The problem is that the charging time of a smartphone is limited by its own maximum input current and the presence of support for one or another fast charging technology.
Simply put, the pompous phrase 5 minutes charge actually means: “This power bank needs 5 minutes to get the charge it needs to fully charge the smartphone.” Do not get caught on marketing noodles and upgrade your technical literacy.
The best external batteries
Lifehacker invites you to compile a reader's top powerbank. Write in the comments the names and characteristics of the models that you use, and your opinion about them. If there is already a comment with your model, plus it and supplement it with your experience of use.
The models that get the most positives will be included in the "Best External Batteries of 2017" selection, which we will publish.
Other guides for choosing equipment from Lifehacker.
