As you might expect from the title, there are things you should keep in mind when buying a power bank for your mobile devices. Before getting on to that though, it is worth considering the most important consideration of all – do you need one?
This is a question that is best answered with plenty of consideration for the thorny issue of battery longevity. Those old enough to remember cell phones when they weren’t smart, are most likely only too familiar with a certain technological progression that doesn’t seem like a progression at all. There is no denying it – those older phone batteries lasted considerably longer, a simple result of doing much less.
Indeed, smartphones (probably better referred to as pocket computers) are, as everybody knows, significantly more than a telephone. As these additional functions have grown and grown, battery life has become shorter and shorter.
These days, batteries are being constantly improved and existing batteries are being constantly updated. A fine example of this are the USB-C Type rechargeable batteries produced by tech startup Pale Blue Earth. These batteries resemble in most ways the traditional AA and AAA batteries that have been around households for many decades, but they have been updated with technology going considerably beyond the capabilities of these older batteries.
With mobile devices, we are usually talking about a lithium-ion battery, and these too are seeing development. So, if you have only a smartphone that you charge daily and require for the trip between the office and the home, then you probably don’t need a power bank.
When Do I Need One?
It is worth considering first the reasons why you might decide to buy a power bank. Here follows a few:
You Use Multiple Mobile Devices Daily
Naturally, if you have three or four mobile devices that you require on a daily basis, assiduously charging them all each day is an easily neglected task. For those who carry several devices around, a power bank is a good idea.
You Travel a Lot
Well, naturally. If you are frequently on the go and without access to power outlets, a power bank certainly makes sense.
Your Mobile Use on the Go is High
If you simply do not need your smartphone when you are on the go, or you only use it in emergencies, then your power use will be low. You probably won’t require a power bank.
What to Keep in Mind Before Buying
Here follows some tips for choosing the right one:
Your Average Power Use
Working this out in a little more detail is wise. There is no sense in shelling out on a power bank that supplies an amount of power you will simply never need.
The Number of Charging Ports
You should opt for enough ports for all your mobile devices and then add some more on top of this. The whole point of a power bank is being covered in a pinch.
Weight and Size
Over a certain size, a device cannot really be called mobile anymore (unless it’s on wheels). It should be as easy to carry about your power bank as your wallet, keys, and phone – even if it’s likely to be bulkier than any of these.
The Output Voltage
This should be a simple item on your power bank checklist. You need to make sure the output voltage of the power bank matches your device. Luckily, this only takes a second.
Life saver or superfluous bulk? What your power bank is to you will be determined by how much forethought you put into the process.
