At present, everyone has been using power banks since its inception. They are in various forms, colors, sizes, and functions. But one significant difference in all of them is their prices. Some may appear exactly similar, but they have a massive variance in their costs.
Finding the right power bank may be a bit of a challenge these days. It is wise to know the basic features and functions and their distinction from others. But above anything else, they must have top-grade performance, since consumers are willing to spend if they are worth it.
Before paying for it, learn some essential factors to consider so you don’t waste money and will be able to maximize the product.
1. Charging Capacity
One of the essential elements is its charging capacity. Determine what gadgets will be using the charger, is it a tablet or a mobile phone. Tablets may require more charging capacity than smartphones. However, there are some smartphone models that may require higher charging capacity. Before buying, check if power banks have the ability to charge several units before it gets empty.
The milliamp hours or mAh is what they use to measure the charge capacity. Breaking this down means a thousand mAh battery has the ability to provide 1000 mAh. For other types of phones, they have lower capacities than 1000 mAh. On the other hand, the newer models can reach up to 3000 mAh, like iPhone X has more than 2000 mAh capacity.
To be able to fully charge a unit, the power banks must have higher capacities. It is imperative to have a bit more than the mobile phone to charge it completely. With tablets, they have much bigger batteries, so that they may require bigger power banks.
2. Output Charge Current
Another factor to note when looking for power banks is the charge current since it can significantly affect the charging time.
Make use of the chargers that go with the device since they can tell how much is needed. Most of the small USB gadgets only have half an amp; tablets have roughly 2.5 amp while phones have about an amp. If such a power bank has a fast charging feature, it necessitates more current, which is about three amps.
3. Ports
The first model of power banks only had one output port. But with the increase in individuals using more gadgets, they want to charge all their gadgets simultaneously. With bigger power banks, some models that come with more than one port. Ensure to check every output current capability for every port if they are enough. When all the gadgets are charging altogether, the power bank may not provide the full current output since it will be spread to all outputs. Hence, it may take more time to fully charge the devices.
4. Weight and Size
Buyers should look into the power banks’ size and weight, particularly if they travel very often. Bear in mind that the bigger the capacity of the portable charger, the heavier it gets.
5. Types of Main Battery
Power banks use two battery technologies, which are lithium polymer and lithium-ion. They may work almost the same, but they have minor differences, such as their memory effect and price. Generally, lithium-polymer batteries are studier and more flexible. They have better memory effect, lightweight, and lower chance of having electrolyte leakage.
Written By Vishal Sharma