Power Banks and Portable Chargers Buying Guide

 
Smartphone battery flat? No way to charge where you are? What you need is a portable charger…

There is nothing worse than losing all of the charge on your smartphone. Usually this happens at the most inconvenient time – possibly when you are using your phone for directions, in the middle of a phone call or when you are desperate to send an important email. That being said, in our new online connected world, there is never a good time!

Never put yourself through this agony again with one of our portable chargers.

You can view our complete range here, however have a look at our handy guide below to find out more about power banks and portable chargers and why they are such a ‘must have’ accessory…

Index:

• What is a power bank / portable charger?
• Portability factors
• External power or within a case
• Charging capacity
• Charging rate
• Compatibility
• Extra features

 

What is a power bank / portable charger?

Power banks and portable chargers are available in a variety of forms, however essentially they provide extra power for your smartphone when you are unable to charge your device. With smartphone applications becoming more and more useful and intensive, the amount of power they require to operate often drains your phone’s battery quicker until eventually it runs out.

A power bank and portable charger will either top up your phone’s battery when you are running low or even bring it right back up to 100% when completely flat. This makes it an essential accessory for any smartphone and ensures you can always contact and be contacted should you need assistance.

 

Portability factors

As power banks and portable chargers are designed to be carried, they are typically very small and light – although you will be balancing size and weight with the amount of battery power the accessory can provide. Generally, the larger the power bank / portable charger is, the more power it can provide to your smartphone. If you are looking for a quick boost, a compact design is ideal – however, if you need a full charge a compromise on size and weight will be required.

Regardless, most will fit into your pocket or handbag and therefore will be with you when you need it most.

 

External power or within a case

Power banks and portable chargers connect to your phone’s charging port and feature a variety of shapes and sizes that best suit you.

If you don’t like the idea of carrying around a separate accessory, there are also power banks / portable chargers that are actually part of a protective phone case. So, not only is your phone provided with extra battery power, but you can also relish in the fact the case will also protect your smartphone from scratches and accidental drops.

 

Charging capacity

The term ‘mAh’ (milliamp-hours) will often be used to show how much power the power bank and portable charger can store. The higher the mAh value, the longer the charge that can be provided to your phone.

Smaller mAh values may provide your phone a boost just so you can make a phone call or send an email, while larger mAh values may fully charge your device at least once, if not many times.

The iPhone 5S battery for example features a battery capacity of around 1500mAh – so if you buy a power bank / portable charger that is around 3000mAh, you can fully charge your iPhone from completely flat not just once, but twice.

 

Charging rate

The term ‘A’ (amps) will often be used to show how quickly your device will be charged.

For example:

1A (or 1 amp) will provide a steady flow of power, 2A (2 amps) will charge your phone twice as fast* compared to 1A (1 amp).

*A maximum charging rate may be forced by your device in order to protect the longevity of the battery.

 

Compatibility

It’s important that the power bank / portable charger you purchase works with your phone. Your phone will include a port where you connect your charging cable, so you need to match this type of connector with a power bank / portable charger.

Micro USB is used on the vast majority of smartphones, however Apple use Lightning on their latest releases. If you are unsure, please refer to your phone’s user manual.

For greater flexibility, there are power banks and portable chargers that include a set of adapters that will connect to a variety of smartphones – so not only can you charge your current phone, but also your friend’s. If you upgrade your phone to the latest model, chances are the adapters will still work – even if you change to a different smartphone manufacturer.

USB ports can also be a feature, so you can use your existing charging cable to charge your phone.

There are also Qi wireless solutions, if your device supports this feature.

 

Extra features

Although charging your phone is a power bank’s / portable chargers’s primary goal, many offer additional useful features.

How about a torch to light up your way or find that elusive key hole? A USB memory stick? An SD card reader so you can transfer your camera’s photos to your computer or even a full QWERTY keyboard so you can type your emails on a ‘real’ physical keyboard? Yes, there are power banks and portable chargers that feature these benefits too if you desire a little extra functionality.