Earphones might be essential accessories for any smartphone, but the power bank is next on that list. It’s handy, not just because you can charge your smartphone but also because you can charge all your other accessories such as your earphones, tablets, smartwatches, and others. Battery packs are inexpensive, and the highest capacity models don’t cost more than Rs. 5,000. Most of us could do with a battery pack that costs less than Rs. 3,000. How do you choose one? We are here to tell you just that.
Choosing the right capacity and size
Power banks are available in a range of capacities. Some of them are designed to be small and are ideal for phones with smaller battery capacities. As battery technologies have advanced, power banks with higher capacities can now be built into smaller bodies. The entry-level models have battery capacities of about 2,600mAh. This is enough to charge most basic phones once. They may be better suited for earphones and accessories like those. It makes good sense to choose battery packs with 10,000mAh capacities since most phones today have batteries ranging from 3,000mAh to 5,000mAh. That way, you can charge a phone a couple of times before having to recharge the battery. If you use many more devices, consider power banks with capacities higher than 13,000mAh. There are models available that go as high as 20,000mAh.
Number of USB ports
Being able to charge more than one device at a time is important these days. Back in the day, most of us only had one phone to charge. Today, we carry earphones, even smartwatches and tablets. Most battery packs these days come with two ports but look out at the specifications, and don’t choose one with just one port.
Ability to charge faster
Most battery packs with two ports have two power outputs. Most newer phones allow for fast charging, so they can pull in more amperes of power. Higher the amperes, faster the charging, if your phone supports it. They typically work best with the bundled power adapters. Older battery packs used to only have 1A charging. Now, you can find battery packs that support 2A to 3A charging. It is just the feature you need when you are constantly on the move and need to get your phone charged quickly.
Wireless charging
This is still a rare feature, but it is one to have for the future. The trend seems to be pointing at wireless charging as the feature, as rumours of smartphone manufacturers skipping out the wired port altogether. Most smartphone manufacturers are including wireless charging on their smartphones. These phones can be charged using a wireless charger. Of course, you can use a power bank along with a wireless charger, but some models may include a wireless charging pad that lets you place the smartphone directly on the power bank and charge it. If you’re looking for a future-ready power bank, look out for this feature.
Construction and build quality
Power banks, like smartphones are being manufactured to be sturdy, and sometimes, these can be bulky. Figure out your priorities. Do you want a power bank that’s light and thin, that you can carry in a pocket, or do you want something that is rough enough to handle rough use. Most of the power banks sold these days use Lithium-Polymer batteries too, so they are safer, and efficient. Older devices and power banks used Lithium-ion batteries.
Built-in LED light
Most battery packs today have a built-in light that can be used during power outages. Another product that works well with power banks are USB lights. They are really affordable and can be connected to a power bank. That way, in case of a power outage or a late might walk, you can attach them to your battery pack and you have yourself a light backup. Most battery packs these days can power an USB light for hours.
Presence of charge indicators
Indicators on battery packs are quite important. They can tell you exactly how much charge the power bank has left. That way, you can know when you ned to recharge your battery pack. Some battery packs only have a single indicator, some others use up to five small LEDs that give you a more accurate idea of the remaining charge. Some premium battery packs may even have an actual numerical display that tell you exactly how much charge there is left.
Common advice for smartphones and laptops stands true even for battery packs. It is not a good idea to keep your battery packs for charging all the time. Make sure you disconnect it when it is full, and try to discharge it entirely before recharging again. If you haven’t already bought one, Reliance Digital is a great place with several battery packs to choose from, for your needs. Just head over to your nearest Reliance Digital store or you can check out the models right here on RelianceDigital.in. Order now and you can have one home-delivered in no time.
