Top 10 Things to Know before Buying a Portable Battery Pack

We have arrived in an era where our smartphones and laptops have become an essential for everyday life. Our smartphones have not only become a means for communication but also a medium of entertainment and a daily resource for useful apps that make life just plain easier. Being the multitasking, multi-functioning machines that they are comes the much dreaded battery drain. You may be in the middle of a very important work activity on your smartphone, tablet or laptop, and there goes your screen blacking out and all the progress goes to waste while you scramble to find an AC outlet. That’s why a portable battery pack is your gadget’s best friend.  Here are some factors to consider in buying your very handy lifesaver:

Power Capacity/mAh

You may need a portable battery pack from simply powering your smartphone/tablets for your mundane daily activities to powering your laptops for work.  Considering the vast usage of your devices daily, taking into account the power capacity of a battery pack to be sure it’s sufficient should be on the top of your list.

The power capacity is measured in milliAmpere Hour or mAh.  There are portable battery packs out there that packs up power of up to 24,000 mAh that can juice up multiple devices at the same time, or power your smartphone multiple times over.  While you can get one with a lower power capacity, considering buying a higher capacity battery pack that can power up numerous devices and even minor appliances may be a better idea and will be more beneficial and cost effective.  One product that stands out from the rest would be PLUG (insert hyperlink for PLUG) from ChargeTech. It boasts of 48,000 mAh power capacity and has two AC outlet plugs that can power up any electronic device up to 250W.

 

Durability

There may be hundreds of portable battery packs in the market today, but few may just stand the test of time and usage.

As with any functioning electronic device, durability should also be a priority.  The type of material and the manufacturer in this regard is very important.  Buying from a reputable company that is focused on creating quality products would also help give you the guarantee that you will be acquiring a reliable product.

Ports

Naturally, if you are using multiple devices, it is best to purchase a portable battery pack that has sufficient number of ports across the number of your devices.  Purchasing a portable battery pack or a power bank that has less than the ideal ports would not be beneficial for you.

 

Size

Although most of the portable battery packs today are generally small and very convenient to bring, this is still a factor that you can include in your considerations.  Generally, the higher the capacity, the bigger the portable battery pack will be.  For some, this is not an issue as the main objective of buying a battery pack is to power up as many times and as many device as possible.  However, some do lean on getting the pocket friendly versions that can easily fit on a jean pocket or a small carry-on.

 

Input Current

Another factor to consider is how long it would take to top up the charge and this is determined by the portable battery pack’s input current.  Majority of the battery packs accept between 0.8A and 1.5A, with the higher currents typically found on the higher power capacity ones. If you come across two seemingly identical battery packs and both are in the same price range, this little detail could be your deciding piece.

Safety

With all the exploding battery problems that surrounded the Samsung Note 7, one may beg to ask, is it really safe to own a portable battery pack?  Though there are very few instances of portable battery pack explosions, buying from a reputable and esteemed charging solution company is a must.  They offer well-made batteries that have safety features built into the battery itself to avoid overcharging and overheating which is why exploding batteries are relatively rare.

Cables

Portable battery packs usually come with connecting cables. Since they all function off the USB ports, you can easily use the charging cables you already own. If they do come with connecting cables, it’s best to check that the cable inclusions suit your needs.  Ideally for iOS users, you can also look into if the lightning cable connector that comes with it is MFI certified.  You could also check out the cable lengths as some do offer different lengths of cables.

Design

To some the design is a minor aspect of the decision making, but it is more often than not that you will choose an aesthetically pleasing device. You wouldn’t really want an unpleasant-looking piece of furniture or gadget in tow regularly. Color is also a factor as normally there are color choices available for the different models available in the market.

Price

The price of the power bank may be the make or break deciding factor in your purchase.  Cheaper portable battery packs may tend to easily break or do not have after-sales service to offer.  So if you’re going to buy something that will be powering up your expensive devices, you might as well consider investing in a pricier alternative – something that you will be satisfied in the long run.

 

Brand

As with the other factors to consider, brand is crucial. You do not want to buy a portable battery pack that will cause you further problems along the road.  Sticking with a brand who is a pioneer in the charging industry should always be amongst your choices – a brand that has a proven track record of providing the best charging solutions.

 

Do remember that owning a portable battery pack does not only mean you get to power up your devices on the go as some even offer ones that have AC outlets to power up any equipment/appliance that needs an AC.  Surely, investing in a sturdy and highly powered battery pack from a reputable brand has its lifetime advantages.