Key Things To Know When Buying A Power Bank

Power banks are great companions

Technology has become the buzzword of our lives now. We are going through different levels of digitalism and find it hard to part with it. A few years ago, it was PC equipped with a large monitor and a tower. And then the monitor began to dwindle by size. Then came the mobile phone. Just a few years ago, internet – let alone other superior features – was a distant dream on a mobile phone.

And now the mobile phones have evolved magnificently over the years. Mobile phones are becoming a less and less frequent sight, paving the way to its advanced form: smartphones. Well, that seems the pinnacle of the digital revolution. You should be definitely among those who find it hard to survive without a smartphone.

The smartphone culture

The smartphone grew up rapidly pioneering various apps to keep its network knit together. At the same time, the apps made things difficult. The more sophisticated the apps became, it took a heavy toll on the batteries. If a basic phone battery lasted a day or three even following a full use of messaging and talking, the smartphone with its classy apps would struggle for a few days and soon the battery would begin to drain.

Convenience in one stage led to another form of inconvenience. The fast draining battery became a huge concern. It was worse especially when you on a long journey. It could be a trek in the wilderness, airport layover or a few days away from the luxury of mains.

What if you suddenly find out your smartphone battery below five percent, and no power supply within reach? You got a lot of to-dos in your schedule: drop a quick email to your work colleague, check an essential WhatsApp (Viber, IMO or any other online messaging app) message or simply kill time with an ebook. What will be your choice when you still have got a few miles to complete before locating a power socket? Sometime ago, you had no option left.

Things are different now, however, thanks to a gadget called power bank. What is a power bank then? Is it a bank where you deposit power? Exactly! You deposit money in a bank for later use. It could most probably be an instance of emergency. In a similar vein, the power bank is a device where you store power for later use: it could be an instance of emergency when you cannot find a power socket close by.

A power bank supplies arsenal to keep your digital life alive. However, you need to be careful enough to get hold of the best power bank 2017. It nourishes your smartphone (iPhone, android and other smartphones), tablet (or iPad) and laptop. But remember it may vary depending on the device you need to charge. For instance, any power bank cannot charge your laptop. The laptops require specific power banks equipped with adaptors.

How can you charge a power bank? It is simply like the way you charge your smartphone or any other electronic device. Connect the power bank charger into a power socket. A power bank generally comes with a USB port or two along with a USB-C port.

Importance of having a power bank

The charging method can vary from one power bank to another. Ideally speaking, you should read the manual to get a comprehensive picture on how to operate the newly purchased power bank. That is not completely necessary if you are techno-savvy.

However, power banks of different models and makes have different charging systems. For example, some power banks are built in a minimalist style with just one button, whereas some devices can have a button or two extra. You do not have to read the manual from A to Z, but just skim through to get an idea about its nature. It will give you a basic idea of the power bank.

It is even easier when the power banks come equipped with the cables and connectors.

A laptop power bank usually comes with an adapter, as it requires a relatively higher capacity to charge. If you need your power bank to charge the laptop, it is better to look up the manual to check if it is compatible with the laptop.

Most power banks do not support the pass-through charging procedure. The process enables the power bank to charge on its own while charging your smart device at the same time. This is a safety precaution taken in favor of the battery life.

The price of power banks can vary mostly based on its capacity. Some power banks with capacity over 20000 mAh can be a bit costlier than a 1000 mAh one. If your lifestyle is mostly spent outdoor with no power socket within reach for days, you should probably decide on a power bank with over 20000 mAh. Do not expect these devices to be slim because of its high capacity of power. If you do not need a power bank quite often, or if you need to charge your smartphone only on an occasion of emergency, you should opt for a 1000 mAh power banks usually slimmer in size and price.

The power banks are becoming an essential item simply like the smartphone itself. Whether to buy one or not is simply your choice. But whenever an occasion of emergency arises, you may regret your decision for not having a power bank. If you opt to keep a power bank with you, you will treasure it the most when it becomes useful at quite an unexpected moment.

What to consider when buying a power bank

Power banks come in different models and makes. You cannot just go and purchase them over the counter. There are some factors you should consider before purchasing a power bank.

CAPACITY

The smartphones have an unending competition when it comes to inbuilt features. Those features ultimately affect the battery life, which is precious for heavy smartphone users. The more your smartphone has inbuilt features, the worse it will be for your battery life. And now you know that is where the power bank counts in. And that is why you should consider its capacity too.

Capacity is the core point you should consider before you purchase the power bank. The capacity is generally measured in milli Ampere per hour – mAh in short. If you are willing to go for a power bank with capacity over 20000 mAh, it means you will be able to charge your smart devices several times. An iPhone, for instance, could be charged about five times while a Samsung Galaxy S7 could be charged about three or four times. However, if your choice is 1000 mAh, do not expect it to perform in the same way as 20000 mAh does.  The more mAH means the more it can charge your phone.

This is why you should consider capacity before purchasing the power bank. Your choice should be based on your needs. If you need a power bank frequently, you should go for a higher capacity power bank (over 20000 mAh, for example). If you need the power bank less frequently, a 1000 mAh capacity power bank will suffice.

INBUILT FEATURES

Like smartphones, the power banks too have a closely-fought battle. That battle ensures high quality for customers with a larger number of inbuilt features. Some power banks, for instance, have the capacity of super-charging. Some power banks of the latest model can charge three devices simultaneously with a high capacity such as 20,000 mAh. That said, the in-built features are where the latest power banks score better and the older power banks lagged behind. Most power banks come with ultra high-quality batteries. Plus, you need to check whether the power bank has the LED screen to show the level of power left in the device. Some power banks would even indicate the percentage of the power left in the device.

The inbuilt features are a sure fire indication of how useful your power bank is going to be. The sophisticated power banks come with lithium-ion cells. They serve the same purpose like the rechargeable batteries.

SAFETY

If the power bank has overcharge protection, then you can rest assures of its safety. Whether the device has overcharge protection or not is something you should find out before making the purchase. The best portable power bank stops charging once it reaches the peak. With overcharge protection, it will spare you the worry of short-circuit protection as well as over current protection.

In the meantime, you too have a duty to be mindful of your power bank safety. For instance, if your power bank manual does not indicate any compatibility with a laptop, do not try it out with one at any cost. Try to keep the power bank away from drinkable and other warm matter. Keep it out of the sunlight as well. The thumb rule is that you should keep it out of children’s reach.

DURABILITY

The best power banks usually allow over 500 charging cycles. Before purchasing the power bank, you must check with the manufacturer to the number of charging cycles it allows. And also check the duration of the warranty period. The manufacturer would usually offer a warranty period for one year. The prices of the power banks are also a decisive factor about the durability.

WEIGHT

The best power banks do weigh not more than 500 g. If it weighs more than 500g, it should be of higher capacity. If your power bank capacity is somewhere 1000 mAh, it should be below 500g. You need to be concerned about it when getting hold of best portable power bank. Higher capacity power banks are usually heavier. You cannot help but keep them in a backpack rather than in the pocket.

RECHARGING CYCLES

A portable charger should be able to offer at least 500 charging cycles. If it is less than that, you should have second thoughts about your purchase.

BATTERY TYPE

An average power bank has a lithium-Ion chemistry battery. It guarantees a good duration just like any other rechargeable battery.

LIFE

The life of your power bank depends very much on the number of occasions you need it to charge the device. Having said that, you must anyway check with the manufacturer the period of guarantee.