How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (2024)

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (1)

Written by Bob

The capacity of your power bank determines how often you can charge your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Due to energy loss and voltage conversion, the actual capacity of a power bank is approximately 2/3 of the stated capacity. That makes it harder to choose. We help you choose a power bank with the right capacity.

  1. Overview
  2. 27.000 mAh
  3. 20.000mAh
  4. 10.000 mAh
  5. 5000mAh
  6. Duration of charging
  7. Actual capacity

Choose a power bank with the right capacity

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (2)

The capacity of a power bank depends on the devices you want to charge. It is also important to think about how you will charge your device. We have listed all power banks for you:

  • 27,000 mAh: charge multiple devices
  • 20,000 mAh: Charge your tablet or laptop once or twice
  • 10,000 mAh: Charge your smartphone once or twice
  • 5000mAh: Charge your smartphone once

View all power banks here

Number of times you can charge your device

iPhone Android-smartphone Tablet (klein, 7/8 inch) Laptop or tablet (large, 10+ inches)
5000mAh 1 me Barely once X X
10.000 mAh 2 to 3 times 1 to 2 times 1 me Barely once
20.000mAh 4 to 6 times 2 to 4 times 2 times 1 me
27.000 mAh 6 to 8 times 3 to 5 times Three times 1 to 2 times

Compare the power banks

BlueBuilt Powerbank 20.000mAh
  • Charge your smartphone 3 or 4 times.
  • Take it with you in your bag or backpack, but not in your pocket.
  • You can also charge your tablet.

48,99

BlueBuilt 27,000 mAh laptop-power bank
  • Charge your smartphone 4 or 6 times.
  • Take it with you in your backpack or suitcase, but not in your pocket.
  • Also charge your tablet and laptop

104,-

View all portable power banks

BlueBuilt Powerbank 10.000mAh
  • Charge your smartphone once or twice.
  • Carry it in your pocket.
  • You cannot charge tablets or laptops.

45,99

View all 10,000mAh power banks

BlueBuilt MagSafe-powerbank van 5000 mAh
  • Charge your iPhone once.
  • Attach the power bank magnetically to your iPhone and take it with you easily.
  • You cannot charge tablets or laptops.

49,99

View all MagSafe power banks

27,000 mAh: more devices

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (7)

A large 27,000 mAh power bank has an actual capacity of 18,000 mAh, which allows you to charge multiple devices. It is useful if you want to charge your laptop, business smartphone and personal device. These large power banks always have multiple USB ports. This means you can charge your devices at the same time. If you only want to charge your smartphone, you can do this 6 to 8 times. This way you can charge your device every day during a week of camping. Or share the power bank with your friends at a festival.

20,000 mAh: Also charges laptops and tablets

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (8)

For laptops and power banks, it is best to choose a power bank with a capacity of at least 20,000 mAh. Tablet batteries have a capacity of between 6000 mAh (iPad Mini) and 11,000 mAh (iPad Pro). The average is 8000 mAh, which also applies to laptops. A 20,000 mAh power bank has a capacity of 13,300 mAh, which allows you to charge your tablets and laptops at least once. You can even charge small tablets twice. Particularly large laptops such as the 15- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models require at least a 27,000 mAh power bank.

View all 20,000mAh power banks

10,000 mAh: Charge your smartphone 1 to 2 times

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (9)

A 10,000 mAh power bank has an actual capacity of 6,660 mAh, which can charge most new smartphones approximately 1.5 times. The size of a smartphone battery varies from device to device. While 2-year-old smartphones sometimes still have a 2000 mAh battery, new devices have a 4000 mAh battery. Make sure you check how big your battery is. Do you also want to charge other devices in addition to your smartphone, such as headphones, an e-reader or another smartphone? Choose a power bank with a capacity of at least 15,000 mAh.

View all 10,000mAh power banks

5000mAh: charge your smartphone once

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (10)

Do you want to know how often you can charge your smartphone with a 5000mAh power bank? Check how high the actual capacity is. That's 2/3 of 5000 mAh, which is about 3330 mAh. Almost all iPhones have a smaller battery, except larger models like the 12 and 13 Pro Max. This means that you can fully charge your iPhone once. Android smartphones such as those from Samsung and OnePlus often have a 4000mAh or even 5000mAh battery or larger. You cannot fully charge these devices.

View all 5000mAh power banks

How long does it take to charge your smartphone?

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (11)

Does your smartphone support fast charging? Choose a power bank with a fast charging protocol that supports your smartphone. All iPhones from iPhone 8 support Power Delivery. This allows you to charge your smartphone to 55 to 60% within half an hour. New Android smartphones support Power Delivery and Quick Charge. This ensures that your battery is back to 50% within half an hour. Do you have a Samsung S2/S22? Super fast charging is the fastest available. For smartphones that do not have a fast charging protocol, it takes about 2 times longer.

1/3 of the capacity is lost

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (12)

The technical side of it is complicated, but the rule is simple. The actual capacity of a power bank is approximately 2/3 of the stated capacity. The rest disappears due to voltage conversion or is lost during charging, mainly as heat. This means that power banks with a battery of 10,000 or 20,000 mAh actually only have a capacity of 6660 or 13,330 mAh. This rule only applies to high-quality power banks. Budget power banks from discount companies are even less efficient, meaning they lose even more energy.

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How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (13)

Article by:

Bob Power bank expert.

Which power banks are allowed on the plane?

How do you choose the right power bank?

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue (2024)

FAQs

How do you choose a power bank with the right capacity? - Cool blue? ›

10,000mAh: charge your smartphone 1 to 2 times

How do I know what size power bank I need? ›

The most important feature of a power bank is its capacity, measured in mAh. To fully charge a smartphone with a large battery, you need a power bank with at least 5000mAh capacity. Tablets require even higher capacity. Consider the devices you need to charge and the desired charge percentage when choosing a capacity.

Is 5000 mAh better than 10000 mAh? ›

5,000 mAh can charge your smartphone once, and 10,000 mAh can charge your phone 2-3 times; of course, this is not the case. Higher capacity is better, depending on your needs, as higher capacity tends to be heavier.

Should I get a 10000mAh or 20000mAh power bank? ›

Power banks vary in capacity, ranging from around 3000mAh for a single charge to over 20,000mAh. Considering most modern smartphones have a battery capacity of roughly 3000mAh, a 10,000mAh power bank should recharge a smartphone up to three times, while a 20,000mAh power bank can provide more than six full charges.

What capacity power bank should I buy? ›

For daily use with a phone or while on the go, consider power banks with a capacity of between 3,000-5,000 mAh. Power bank users with special requirements or for certain scenarios will find that 7,000–10,000 mAh is a viable alternative. And definitely get a 10,000+ mAh power bank for your tablet or laptop.

Is higher mAh better for a power bank? ›

Like we have mentioned in a previous portable power bank article, battery capacity is rated by milliampere hours (mAh), which is “the amount of capacity needed to let one milliampere of electrical current flow for one hour.” The more mAh, the more power a battery pack has to keep charging your mobile devices.

How to pick a good power bank? ›

Tips to Choose the Fine Quality Power Bank
  1. Determine Your Power Needs. ...
  2. Look for Fast Charging Technology. ...
  3. Consider the Number and Type of Output Ports. ...
  4. Evaluate Safety Features. ...
  5. Consider Brand Reputation and Quality. ...
  6. Think about Portability and Design. ...
  7. Read Customer Reviews. ...
  8. Check Compatibility.
Jul 17, 2023

Which is better 3000mah or 5000mAh? ›

Could be, the difference between 3000 mah to 5000 mah, it is basically that the 5000 mah it's going to last longer than the 3000 mah at least an average of 20 - 25 minutes more.

How many hours does a 20000mah power bank last? ›

20000mAh large capacity, filled to the brim with power. It lasts up to a week on a single charge, so whether you're on a personal business trip or a family trip, you just need one.

Which one is better 4000mAh or 5000mAh? ›

What is the difference between a 4000 mAh and a 5,000 mAh battery? The 5,000 mAh battery has 25% more energy storage capacity than the 4,000 mAh battery. If the smaller battery can power your device for 8 hours, then the larger battery can power that same device for 10 hours.

What is the best brand of power bank? ›

Never run out of juice again, no matter where you are with these best portable battery chargers.
  • Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K) Best MagSafe-compatible power bank. ...
  • Anker Nano Battery (Foldable USB-C) ...
  • BioLite Charge 40 PD. ...
  • More options. ...
  • Nimble Champ Pro. ...
  • Lion Energy Eclipse Mag. ...
  • More options. ...
  • More options.
6 days ago

What is the best size power bank for travel? ›

The good news is that you can take your power bank on board with you as long as its capacity is 27,000mAh or below, but you'll need to take it as a carry-on rather than checking it with your luggage. Our best power banks for air travel are the 10K Power Bank or the 20K Power Bank.

What is the lifespan of a power bank? ›

The average lifespan of a power supply unit is around 3 years. The most powerful element that influences the lifespan of the battery is its cell. Generally, battery cells contain 18650. Most instructions of the battery charge-recharge cycles are around 500 times, with some extending to about 800-900 times.

Are cheap power banks worth it? ›

Are cheap power banks worth it? Yes, cheap power banks are worth it if you seek a budget solution. You can get a decent-quality power bank already for just a few dollars, and they'll keep your phone charged once a day.

How to tell if a power bank is good? ›

It is measured in terms of Milliamp Hours (mAh). The more the mAh, the bigger is the charging capacity of the device. At the time of buying a Power bank, ensure that its output voltage matches with your device. If output voltage of the charger is less than the device being charged, it won't work.

What specs should I look for in a power bank? ›

Capacity: The capacity of the power bank should be at least 60Wh to provide enough power to charge your device. 3. Output current: The power bank should have an output current of at least 3A to charge your device quickly.

How long will a 10000mAh power bank last? ›

The lifespan of a power bank can vary depending on the factors mentioned above. However, in general, a high-quality power bank with a capacity of 10,000mAh can last for around 500 charging cycles. If you charge your devices once a day using the power bank, it should last for approximately two years.

How long will a 20000mAh power bank last? ›

The typical smartphone requires somewhere between 2000 to 3000 mAh to charge fully. So, you should get ten charges from a 20000mAh power bank in theory. However, you will probably get closer to 5 or 6 charges in reality.

Is a 10,000 mAh power bank enough for travel? ›

The good news is that you can take your power bank on board with you as long as its capacity is 27,000mAh or below, but you'll need to take it as a carry-on rather than checking it with your luggage. Our best power banks for air travel are the 10K Power Bank or the 20K Power Bank.

How many times can a 20000mAh power bank charge a phone? ›

20,000 mAh: you can charge a phone up to 8 times (depending on the smartphone battery being charged) you can charge up to 2 devices simultaneously. In this case, the total power delivered will be 45 Watts. USB-C port used individually supplies 45 Watt power: mobile phone charges in 15 minutes*

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