Technology runs the world - you're probably rarely without your cell phone, or even your laptop. In fact, 76% of cell phone users under the age of 50 only rarely or never turn their phones off at all.
With all that constant connectivity comes a lot of power. And when you're out and about, you can't always plug in.
That leaves you worried that your technology is going to run out of power, and you won't be connected anymore. This doesn't have to be a problem anymore with portable power banks. When you carry a power bank with you, you can have a backup charge on the go.
Make sure you know the best power banks to choose from for whatever your needs are before you're out there stranded with now power because you didn't do your research.
What to Look for in a Power Bank
There's an endless amount of options out there, so it's good to narrow down what you're looking for from the start before you get overwhelmed when it comes to shopping for power banks.
Check the Capacity
Probably the most important thing in a power bank that you're going to look at first is the capacity. When you're shopping around, however, it's impossible to test how the capacity works in accordance with your own phone.
You'll see that power banks are measured by mAh. That's milliampere per hour, which describes the energy that a battery holds and how long that battery will last before it depletes its energy. Essentially, it measures electric power over time.
With that in mind, it makes sense that the more mAh a device has, the more powerful it's going to be. As a base mark, remember that an iPhone 6 has 1810 mAh. So if you're looking at a 4,000 mAh battery, it can charge a typical iPhone about two times.
Don't Take it at Face Value
Some power packs may claim that they can charge your Galaxy S8 five times on one charge. This isn't always true, because a battery pack's ability to charge depends on a number of factors. While this could be a true claim, it's important to pay attention to the statistics instead of the marketing tactics.
If you really don't want to be duped, get in the know about the basics of how battery power works. You'll be able to make the most informed decision this way and feel happiest about your choice.
Get a Fast Charge
Besides the amount of power it stores, the quickness of the charge may be the other most important factor in a portable charger.
Look for a device that's PD certified. That means Power delivery, and that you'll get a faster charge time because the power delivers much more quickly than other chargers.
You can also look for Quick Charge 2.0 or Quick Charge 3.0 if you have a compatible device. These features tend to make the power bank more expensive, so if you think it's worth it to have the quick charge time, it's a great option.
If you look into the specs of the battery and see that it has a slow charging input like a 5V/1A, skip out - this means that your battery pack itself isn't going to charge quickly, which means less time for you to get out there and use your technology.
Know Your Use
Are you going to be using your battery pack walking around Disneyland for your phone? Are you using it in your car on a long road trip? What about in a coffee shop with no outlets on your laptop?
Before shopping around, know what you're going to be primarily using your power pack for. If it's for a laptop you're going to require much more power, but with a phone, you're going to want to find the smallest and most powerful pack to bring along with you.
The Best Power Banks of 2021
You can do basically anything you want to with technology now. Perhaps you're looking to split your signals on your TV. Or you simply just need to power up your dying cell phone.
Whatever you're looking to do, get the best type of power on your side. Anyone with a smartphone also needs a smart power bank. So you need to make a smart buying decision when it comes to which one you choose.
Best Overall Power Bank
This Mophie power bank is that all-star of the group. It'll cost you a hundred dollars, but it will give you all the power you could possibly need, and it will do it quickly.
It's got 12,000mAh packed into it, and it's extremely lightweight. You can use any device with it, as it comes with a lightning adapter and a Micro-USB adapter. It also comes with a USB port and has a built-in cable for charging that tucks right into the pack itself.
It's the most efficient pack out there, with a 93% efficiency rating on how well it charged devices at its capacity. It has a 5V/2.1A output - that means it will charge your device fast and can charge them for a long time.
Best Power Bank For A Road Trip
This power bank charges in only 3.5 hours to full capacity. That might sound like a long time, but now when you realize that it carries 26,000mAh in the tiny pod.
It claims to be able to charge your iPhone 7 up to eight times, which, unless you're going on an incredibly long journey, will likely be more than enough to power you through the day.
It contains so much charge, you can power up just about anything up to 80w. Plug in a projector, a hair dryer, even a drone if need be. Reviewers call it a monster power bank. If you're out there on the road and need to use your laptop at any point in time, there's no need to worry.
Leave it in your car and you have backup portable power for days on end without having to recharge the pack. It's also a solid choice to consider for camping trips.
The Best Value Bank
While most power banks lie in the range of a hundred dollars depending on what you're looking for, this little powerhouse is only ten dollars. It's roughly the size of an iPhone, and carries 10,000mAh.
It has a double USB port so you can charge multiple devices at once at high speed. It also comes with a built-in flashlight in case your phone is completely dead and you need that flashlight app.
It also has an anti-fingerprint design, so you don't have to worry about it getting cloudy with touch. Reviewers say it's convenient enough to slip into your jean pocket, even though it could be a little heavy.
The Teeniest Power Bank
This Anguo power bank is tiny and affordable at nine dollars and about the size of a regular flash drive.
For being able to carry 3,000mAh, it's remarkably small. It works with any USB powered device, so you can charge anything from a smartphone to a speaker. It comes with a USB charge cable, so you don't have to worry about buying extra gear.
Its beautiful wood grain finish makes it one of the more appealing powerbanks, especially because it's small enough to stick into your pocket and not even think about.
It has a LED flashlight as well in case you need to see your ports in the dark.
Best USB-C Power Bank
A USB-C plug, also called USB Type-C, is a fairly new type of connector that gives your computing devices power. It's a symmetrical plug that can be inserted into either side of a device - like the reversible Lightning plug from Apple. It offers increased data transfer speeds can power more devices like projectors, and delivers more power.
That being said, this USB-C capable power bank is the best one out there with its 26,800mAh monster charging capacity. With this type of power, it can charge a MacBook Pro with M1 chip up to three times. With the press of a button, you can see whether it's fully charged from the lights on the display.
It claims to charge devices 85% faster than other power banks, and the power bank itself charges with high speed - about four hours. With all that power, it's still small enough to fit in your pocket so you can take your charge along with you.
It also comes with an eighteen-month warranty, so if anything ever goes wrong, you can simply get it repaired or replaced. It also boasts high-quality charge cells that won't lose power over time and use.
Best Solar Power Bank
This Ayyie solar power bank is truly the power bank for someone on the go, with 10,000mAh of solar rechargeable power. It's water-resistant, dust-proof, shock-resistant, and powers up by the light of the sun.
It's the perfect solar charger to take with you while you're camping, backpacking, or just on the road. You can charge it with an outlet just like a regular power bank, but also lay it out in the sun and let it get its power from there.
It has two USB ports and several different lighting options with the built-in flashlight. The ports are covered in order to keep dust, sand, or whatever you run into on your travels out so that the device stays safe. It also has a compass and comes with a carabiner so you'll never get lost and you'll never lose it.
It's extremely rugged and durable, so you can throw it in your bag or backpack and not worry about damaging it while you're on the go.
Best Power Bank For a Laptop
When you're looking to power your laptop, you're obviously looking for a power bank with a large amount of charging power. This external battery pack has a whopping 50,000mAh of power to get your laptop going.
Whether you're just surfing the web or working on a project like amplifying your internet speeds, you have the battery power to do it without ever having to think about running out of juice.
Charge multiple devices at once and still never worry about running out of power. Phones, iPads, laptops - there's nothing that this power bank can't charge. It recharges itself in about six hours.
With all this power, it only weighs under three pounds, so can be carried around with ease. You're given a one-year warranty, and it even comes with a carrying bag so you can protect it with a custom-made case.
You don't have to limit this pack to just charging your laptop, as it has many other ports, including four USB ports. It claims to be able to charge your iPhone an astounding eleven times. If you charge your iPhone once a day, this pack will last you for almost two weeks without needing a recharge.
Get a Charging Case
An alternative to a regular power bank, if you're looking to charge up a cell phone, consider getting a phone case that charges your phone.
You can buy a charging phone case for virtually any cell phone, and it's ultra convenient when it comes to backup storage.
Most phone cases that offer charging charge your phone up to one entire full charge, so you can have double the battery life when you choose this option.
Also, you don't have to carry around an excess power bank with you if you're really on the go. It's essentially like giving your phone a one charge backup without any extra gear, especially because some of the cases are feather light.
Other Gadgets of 2021
We do live in the information age, and our technology keeps getting better and better. There's an endless amount of fun toys for you to play without there other than power banks.
Maybe you need to play with your TV and get a signal splitter. Or you just like playing with radio signals in general. Whatever it is, you can find it and play with new technology to your heart's content.