How to choose the best power bank: which one to buy for your smartphone, laptop, or tablet

OBOZREVATEL has gathered tips on what to look for when choosing a powerbank and how to find the perfect option for your needs.

Characteristics of power banks

There are two types of batteries on the market today: lithium-ion (Li-ion) and lithium-polymer (Li-pol). The latter are considered the next generation of battery technology because of their durability, high energy capacity, and safety. However, their price is currently quite high. Therefore, lithium-ion batteries remain the most common type today, and they are used in the vast majority of gadgets. Household power banks mostly have the same filling.

The main characteristic of a device that all users pay attention to is its capacity. It is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh). And everything is simple: the more, the better. However, it should be borne in mind that the actual capacity of the power bank will be about 30% lower than the nominal capacity. This is because part of the charge is lost during voltage conversion.

You should also pay attention to the number of connectors on the battery. The more there are, the more gadgets can be charged from it at the same time.

There should be another important indicator above each connector: the current strength. The higher it is, the faster the connected gadget will charge. It is usually in the range of 1-2.3A. In a standard power bank with two connectors, the current is usually divided into 1A and 2.1A.

Additional functions of a power bank can be quick charging (Quick Charge), wireless charging, flashlight, charge indicator, display, etc.

How to choose a power bank

First of all, determine the conditions in which you will use it. A compact device with a small capacity (3000-1000 mAh) is suitable for quick recharging in the city. If you have limited access to an outlet if, for example, you spend a lot of time on the road, you should choose a power bank with a capacity of 10,000 mAh or more. For more extreme conditions, such as hiking or, as in our case, the risk of a long power outage, you should pay attention to power banks with a capacity of 20,000 mAh and above. You can also pay attention to such features as battery protection from moisture or dust.

You can calculate your need for a battery of a certain capacity yourself. Take the battery capacity of the device(s) you plan to charge, multiply this figure by a factor of 1.5, and divide the capacity of your power bank by the resulting number. This will be the number of charges available to you.

For example, let's take a smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery capacity and a 10000 mAh power bank. Let's make the formula 10000 mAh : (3000x1.5) and get the result 2.2. That is, the phone can be charged fully twice and once for about 20%.

Be sure to consider what devices you will charge with your power bank. Most of the models on the market are suitable for charging almost any digital device: smartphones, laptops, cameras, smartwatches, etc. If you need to power something more energy-intensive, it's better to consult with sellers and take into account many additional nuances.

How to choose a power bank for a phone

A phone charger is often purchased to be carried around with you at all times. That's why the size and weight of the device are also important characteristics. But the larger the power bank, the larger and heavier it is. It is important to find a balance here. You also need to pay attention to the battery cable connectors: it can be micro-USB or USB Type-C for Android and Apple Lightning for iPhone.

How to choose a power bank for a laptop

Here it is also important to pay attention to the USB connectors and ports that will be used to charge the gadget. In addition, a laptop will need a power bank with a voltage of 12 V or more, and for modern models, it is 15-20 V. The current strength should be higher than 3 A. In this case, the capacity should be at least 10,000 mAh.

How to choose a power bank for a tablet

The approach to selection is almost the same as with a phone. You will have to take into account the fact that due to the larger screen size, a tablet consumes significantly more power than a phone. Accordingly, it will need a power bank with a larger capacity. Therefore, it is better to choose a model with a capacity of 10,000 mAh or more.