PORTABLE CHARGER AND POWER BANK BUYING GUIDE
How to charge anywhere.
Mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets make life so much easier. That is, until the battery runs out and there is no longer an electrical outlet.
The answer is a portable charger.
A lightweight power bank or mobile battery pack that you can take anywhere.
They go by different names: battery packs, power banks, portable chargers, fuel banks, pocket power cells, and backup charging units, to name a few.
But whatever you call them, they all do the same thing.
Charge your phone or tablet without needing a socket.
Just charge it at home, put it in your bag or pocket and connect it to your phone when it needs a quick battery boost.
You will never suffer from 'low battery anxiety' again.
Charge anywhere.
Make sure you're always connected with backup battery power that's as mobile as you are.
Battery packs come in all shapes and sizes, smaller sizes for an important itemsmartphoneboost in your pocket, or larger sizes for multiple charges or to charge onetablet.
Choose one with included cables, or one with multiple ports to charge more than one device at a time.
Choose a powerhouse or something small and elegant, and take the power with you wherever you go to recharge.
HOW TO CHOOSE YOUR PERFECT
BATTERY PACK
SIZE & STRENGTH
Start by choosing the size of your battery (also known as a power bank).
It's not just about which one fits in your pocket or bag. The size of the battery is about the current it contains. Most batteries have a number on the front that indicates the number of batteriesmAhor "milliampere-hour".
Common sizes range from 2000 mAh to 10,000 or even 12,000 mAh. Larger numbers mean more power, which means you'll need to charge your smartphone more often, or charge larger devices that require more power, like a tablet.
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5.000mAh
Charges an iPhone 7 (with iOS 10) up to 1.5 times on a single charge during internal testing.
10.000 mAh
Charges an iPhone 7 (running iOS 10) up to 3 times on a single charge during internal testing.
15.000 mAh
Charges an iPhone 7 (running iOS 10) up to 5 times on a single charge during internal testing
We used smartphones and tablets to compare battery sizes, but most battery packs will charge any device that charges via USB, such as a GoPro camera, Kindle reader, or Bluetooth headset. Larger devices that use more power require larger batteries – more mAh – to fully charge them.
ASSETS
This way you ensure fast charging of your phone/tablet.
Technical standardUSB porton your battery pack (also called a power bank) fits any batterystandard USBcable. However, the amount of power it can supply can vary.
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= Minimum speed
= Better speed
= Highest speed
| TO UPLOAD | 1 UNIT | TO NOTE | |
 |  | ||
| 1 AMP/5WATT | | | A 1 amp USB port will charge your smartphone or tablet, but may charge slowly even if the battery is large enough to charge your smartphone more than once. |
| 2,4 AMP / 12WATT | | | This will charge most smartphones at the highest possible speed for smartphones. This is also called 'optimal charging'. |
| TO UPLOAD | 2 UNITS | TO NOTE | ||
 |  |  | ||
| 2,4 AMP / 12WATT (of the*) | | | | If you connect two smartphones, or a smartphone and a tablet, they will both charge, but probably not at the highest possible speed. |
| 3,4 AMP / 17WATT (of the*) | | | |
|
| 4,8 AMP / 24WATT (of the*) | | | | This has the power to charge 2 tablets simultaneously at the highest possible speed. |
* "Shared" is the combined power available on multi-port power banks
other than "total assets".More information >
ANTAL USB PORT
How many devices do you need to charge?
Larger batteries (also called power banks) – with more mAh – sometimes have more than one USB port, because why not share that power?
This can be useful for charging two smartphones at once - perhaps to give a friend a battery boost.
Or you can charge your smartphone and your GoPro at the same time.
Or your smartphone and your Bluetooth headset.
Or even a smartphone and a tablet if you choose a battery with enough mAh to deliver all that power.
With multiple ports, simultaneous charging is super easy.
CABLES
WHY CABLES ARE IMPORTANT
The quality of your cable can help determine how quickly your power bank (also known as a portable charger) and connected devices start up. Higher quality cables also protect your devices from overheating and harmful power surges.
A CABLE TO CHARGE THE POWER BANK
Every power bank (also called a portable charger) needs to be charged. This usually requires a standard USB to micro USB cable. Simply connect the input port of your power bank (usually micro USB) to a standard USB wall charger.
A CABLE FOR CHARGING YOUR PHONE, TABLET, CARRIER OR OTHER DEVICE
Most power banks (also called portable chargers) charge via a USB port. Simply plug your device into the USB port and start charging. Some power banks come with a cable or series of cables that can be detached. This allows you to easily switch between cables for your iPad, Samsung phone or other device. Other power banks have a cable that is firmly connected to the package. This prevents the loss of the cable, but makes the power bank less versatile overall.
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CHARGING THE BATTERY
There is no such thing as a magic battery pack.
Unfortunately, a battery pack has not been invented that magically charges itself when it is empty. But overall they are quite easy to charge.
If you need one right away, check the packaging to see if it's ready to use when you buy it. Some require charging at home before they can be used.
To charge, connect the supplied cable to the battery input port. Connect the other end, usually a standard USB, to a wall charger or other power source.
The input power of the battery pack varies from 1 Amp to 2.4ampere. Basically, the larger the input number, the faster it charges. Most wall chargers provide a maximum of 2.4A, but it's worth checking the charger if you're in a hurry as a 1A charger can take twice as long.
Some batteries have an LED indicator that shows how much power is left in the battery. This tells you when to charge the battery.
LED-INDICATORLAMPEN
0 %
TO UPLOAD
100%
= Flashing light
WITH GREAT POWER...
A power bank (also called a portable charger) seems like a good idea. But is it safe?
Some power banks are carefully designed and rigorously tested to provide complete peace of mind, backed by robust warranties and guarantees. Some warranties protect the power bank itself, while others also protect the electronic devices you connect to it, such as your phone, tablet or smartwatch.
Some batteries may not provide such peace of mind. Choosing cheap or counterfeit products can be expensive and even dangerous. You can easily prevent this by following these simple steps.
REGISTER YOUR DEVICE
Some power banks (also called portable chargers) require you to register your purchase by entering the serial number online or through a helpline. This is a good way to activate your returns policy and ensure that your product is not counterfeit.
CHECK THE WARRANTY
Manufacturer, country of origin and type of power bank can mean differences in the types of warranties and what they cover
Guarantees
LIMITED WARRANTY
Covers the power bank (also called a portable charger) for a specified period of time from the date of purchase and usually requires you to keep your receipt to prove the date of purchase.
LIMITED LIFETIME WARRANTY
Covers the power bank (also known as a portable charger) for the reasonable life expectancy of the product, which may vary by manufacturer.
EQUIPMENT WARRANTY OFFERED
A more robust warranty that not only covers the power bank itself (also called the portable charger), but also provides the ability to repair or replace devices that are damaged while "properly connected" to the power bank, in accordance with guidelines from the manufacturer. Such guarantees usually have a clause stating "up to $1,000" or something similar. The amount should be sufficient to cover the types of devices recommended for use with the power bank, such as a smartphone or tablet.
THE IMPORTANCE OF QUALITY
Robust quality assurance ensures durability and peace of mind.
Rigorous testing and thorough research into product performance ensures your battery lasts longer and is less likely to damage you and your valuable electronics.
Safe battery packs must have undergone the following tests
efficiency
More efficient battery packs have a lower operating temperature, meaning less energy is wasted, resulting in a longer lifespan.
Overcurrent protection
OCP prevents excessive current from entering the battery and flowing to the connected equipment, protecting the delicate circuitry of both devices.
OVERRIDE PROTECTION
Like OCP, OVP protects both the battery pack and the connected device by keeping the voltage within recommended safety parameters to prevent damage.
Over-discharge/charging protection
High performance batteries should not be overcharged or fully discharged to extend their service life. Some batteries continuously check the charge status to prevent this.
Heat test at extreme temperatures
While it is not recommended to use batteries anywhere in extreme temperatures, this can be a good indicator of weaknesses in design and construction. Batteries that pass such rigorous testing will be more durable and provide better guarantees of overall safety and performance.
CERTIFICATION
Compliance with legal safety standards.
These logos or marks, usually found on the packaging, indicate that they meet the necessary industry standard regulations to meet and achieve the following certifications.
For more information, seeCHARGING ANYWHEREabove, orThe cheat sheetbelow.
MOST IMPORTANT FEATURES
While many batteries may look identical, when it comes to safety it's what's inside that counts.
- Quality stitch
- LED indicator light
- Input voltage regulator
- CPU-controller
- Battery protection
- Battery regulation
- Temperature sensors
- Quality stitch
- Universele USB-ID
- Low noise inductor
Cheat sheet
mAh
mAh stands for Milliamp Hours and quantifies the energy storage capacity. It is based on how long a battery will last if current is constantly drawn, e.g. a 2000 mAh battery can power a device that consumes 100 mAh for 20 hours.
ampere
Abbreviation for ampere, this is a unit of current, not a unit of charge. It describes the constant and average current passing through the circuit.
Delt versus total
Shared power banks will provide power where it is needed, e.g. a 2 x 1.7 A [3.4 A shared] charges two smartphones at 1.2 A each, or a tablet at 2.4 A. Some multi-port power banks (also called portable chargers) have fixed outputs on any port, e.g. a 2 x 1.2 A [2.4 A total] and charges two smartphones at 1.2 A. This is what is referred to as "total" power.
Smartphone
A mobile phone with an advanced mobile operating system, usually with Internet access, touchscreen interfaces, cameras, media players, and the ability to run third-party apps.
Tablet
A mobile computer with a touch screen, circuitry, and battery in one portable unit, usually featuring pop-up virtual keyboards for typing.
USB port
Short for Universal Serial Bus port, a USB port is designed for use with an industry standard connector to communicate data and provide electrical power between devices.
Standard USB – also known as USB-A
The most common, universal connector on the "other end" of most current USB cables is a USB-A. These are often suitable for use with computers, car chargers, wall chargers and many other devices.
Micro USB
Micro-USB is a USB connector that is smaller than USB-A and is often found on smaller or thinner mobile devices, such as Android smartphones, digital cameras, battery pack input ports, Kindle readers, and many others.
USB-C – Also known as Type-C
USB-C is a new type of USB connector, hailed as the new standard. USB-C is smaller, faster and easier to use than previous USB types and is widely supported by industry leaders, meaning USB-C will replace all other USB types.
Lyn
A connector developed by Apple to replace the 30-pin connector. Used in all iPhone, iPod, and iPad releases since iPhone 5, iPod Touch (5th generation), and iPad 4th generation.
Optimal charging
The fastest possible charging for the connected device is optimal charging. Larger devices require more power, so a charger with limited power may still start up, but it will take longer to fully charge
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