Mobile chargers: 16 Best Portable Battery Chargers (2023): For Phones, iPads, Laptops, and More

Best portable chargers in 2023

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Reviews

What’s in this guide

• Best portable charger overall: Anker PowerCore 13000

• The most portable: Belkin Power Pocket 5K

• Best portable charger for iPhone: Belkin Boost Charge Power Pocket 5K

• How we tested

• Other portable chargers we tested

Benjamin Levin/CNN

CNN
 — 

So to help identify the best options for avoiding that dreaded “low battery” notification, we spent several weeks testing portable chargers — draining devices, charging them up and calculating capacities. Ultimately, we found three winners that each stole the show in their own way.

Anker PowerCore 13000

Best portable charger overall

Where the Anker PowerCore 13000 shone most was in charging capacity. It boasts 13,000mAh, which is enough to fully charge an iPhone 11 two and a half times. Plus, it has two fast-charging USB Type-A ports so you can juice a pair of devices simultaneously.

Starting at $39.99 at Anker

Belkin Power Pocket 5K

The most portable

The ultraportable Belkin Power Pocket 5K is almost the exact same size as an iPhone SE, but weighs even less. And, proving the old adage “big things come in small packages” correct, it packs enough power to fully charge an iPhone 11 from its singular USB Type-A port.

$24.00 at Amazon

Belkin Boost Charge Power Pocket 5K

Best portable charger for iPhone

The Belkin Boost Power Pocket 5K goes hand-in-hand with iPhones thanks to the inclusion of a Lightning port along with the USB Type A port. That means you can use the same cord to charge your phone and refill the battery.

$39.99
$29.99 at Amazon

$39.99 at Best Buy

Benjamin Levin/CNN

Simply put, the Anker PowerCore 13000 packs a ton of value.

You can charge a lot with this thing — and quickly. The PowerCore 13000 has enough capacity to bring an iPhone 11 to full charge two and a half times, or two Samsung Galaxy S20s from empty to more than 90%. And you won’t be sitting by idly for too long, either, as the PowerCore 13000 takes just 41 minutes to charge an iPhone 11 to 50%, tied for fastest charging in our testing.

While the PowerCore 13000 doesn’t fully live up to its promise of 13,000mAh (we found it delivers 7918mAh), it hit a respectable 61% of what’s advertised — a percentage that put it about average among all the batteries we tested. In other words: None of the portable chargers we tested fully lived up to their claims, and the PowerCore 13000 still has more charging capacity than most others we tested. (You can read more about how we measured mAhs by scrolling down.) Plus, it’s just a few more bucks than the Belkin Pocket Power 5K for more than double the mAhs.

The side of the battery houses three ports: dual USB Type-A ports (which are fast-charging) and a micro-USB port to charge the battery itself — allowing you to run several USB-C cables to different devices all at once. When we charged an iPhone 11 and a Nintendo Switch simultaneously, the battery barely heated up. Four LED lights alert you to the charger’s remaining battery life, with a button on the edge to turn the lights on.

The charger’s matte plastic design feels nice to the touch and resists smudging surprisingly well. It’s about the size of a full wallet, so it’s easy to carry around. And it’s durable: The charger survived our drop tests, which included a 3-foot drop onto grass and a 1.5-foot drop onto carpet, with neither external nor internal damage. (You can read more about our durability testing below.)

Overall, not only does the Anker PowerCore 13000 pack major mAhs, but it’s got two ports for your USB cables and is fairly small and durable.

Benjamin Levin/CNN

When we first encountered the Belkin Power Pocket 5K, it was hard to believe its size: just 5 inches long, 2.5 inches wide and a half-inch thick. There are few places this battery won’t fit, yet many devices it’ll charge.

It was the smallest and the lightest charger we tested; you might even mistake it for the phone in your pocket. This portable charger is really the definition of a personal power bank, easily whipped out of a pocket and held alongside your mobile device.

The charging capacity of the Power Pocket 5k is modest, but it did come closest to living up to its claimed output out of all the models we tested. While its maximum capacity is stated to be 5,000mAh, we measured it at about 3,655mAh. That’s 73% of the expected value, which is 12% better than average in our testing. While its capacity isn’t huge, it’s more than enough to bring an iPhone 11 or Samsung Galaxy S10 battery back to full life. The only significant downside we could find was the charging speed: It takes a little more than 51 minutes to charge an iPhone 11 to 50%.

The Anker PowerCore 13000 features four battery-indicating LEDs on its side alongside a button to turn them on. Around the corner are the ports: a single USB-C input along with a micro-USB port to charge the battery with the included charging cable. Like the PowerCore 13000, the Pocket Power 5K received no superficial or internal damage during our drop testing. And you can rest assured that even if you do break it, it comes with a two-year warranty along with a generous $2,500 connected equipment warranty (which covers unlikely electrical damage to tech that was properly plugged into the Pocket Power 5K).

The wee-as-can-be Belkin Pocket Power 5K is impressive for its size. Although the capacity isn’t huge, it’s more than enough to fulfill the needs of most personal devices and small enough to keep in your pocket everywhere you go — and a bit lighter on the wallet for those on a budget.

Benjamin Levin/CNN

The Belkin Boost Charge Power Pocket 5K offers a bit less capacity than the Belkin Power Pocket 5K, but it’s a match made in heaven for iPhones — and it charges faster, too.

Along one side of the Belkin Boost Charge resides a USB Type-A port and a Lightning port (MFi-approved) to charge the battery. This is the big deal here — that’s the very same kind of port that your iPhone and iPad has. In other words, as long as you have a Lightning cable to charge your iPhone (we’re going to assume you do), you have a cable to recharge your battery, too. Consolidating cables is a big win in our book. This charger also pairs better alongside a smartphone because it’s lighter than the Anker 13000 and sports more of a rectangular shape, so it fits a bit more snug in the hand.

The Boost Power Pocket 5K has more than enough juice to fully charge an iPhone 11. It also took a little more than 45 minutes to charge an iPhone 11 to 50%, which is faster than the Belkin Pocket Power 5K by six minutes. The capacity of the BOOST Power Pocket 5K is advertised as 5,000mAh and, during our testing, we measured about 3,415mAh. That’s nearly 70% of the advertised value, making it one of the top three batteries we tested in terms of living up to its promise (the average was about 61%).

All in all, the Belkin Boost Charge Power Pocket 5K is a terrific personal charger for your iPhone. With both MFi certification and cable consolidation thanks to the Lightning port, it should really stand out to iPhone users.

We ran each and every portable charger through a series of tests. We charged each battery to full, ran it dry juicing up one or several devices, calculated its capacity and compared charging speeds. At the same time, we took a look at properties like weight, size, build quality and visual design. Whether it was a chunky battery that could charge all our tech, or a slim, sleek battery with enough to fill an iPhone, we put these things through the ringer.

Read on to see the breakdowns of all our testing categories.

• Battery Size: We noted how many milliamp Hours (mAh) each battery promised.
• Meets Estimation: This is where we measured how much each battery could actually provide in mAhs. To do so, we charged a variety of devices with each battery, recording how much battery life (aka what percentage) each device gained. When a device was at about 95%, but the battery was not empty, we immediately swapped it for a different device. Once a battery was empty, we calculated how many mAhs it provided in total across all the devices it charged and then divided the promised total by the recorded value. This allowed us to figure out what percentage of its promised total each battery provided. We used a 0.3M Nomad Universal Cable, plugged into a battery’s USB-A port (fast charging if available), to charge each device. The device pool we chose from for charging was: iPhone 11, iPhone 8, Fire HD 10 tablet, Nintendo Switch and Bose QuietComfort 35 II.

• Design and materials: We researched what materials each battery was made of, as well as how many color options are available. We also felt out the quality of each battery’s build. Visually, we checked out how each device looked alongside a variety of tech, noting if it appeared too big or small beside it, as well as if you could hold a battery and a phone in the same hand or pocket. The device pool we chose from for this was: iPhone 11, Fire HD 10 tablet and Nintendo Switch.
• Size and weight: We checked each battery’s dimensions, volume and weight. In our scoring, we favored smaller, lighter devices.

• Dust resistance: We checked whether the product is rated to resist dust, and to what extent it does so. This test was incorporated into our drop test below. After dropping a device onto grass, we checked how much dust and dirt it picked up. We also look into whether these particles could be dislodged from the ports via shaking the device or using compressed air.
• Drop Test: We performed two drop tests: 3 feet onto grass and 1.5 feet onto carpet. The former was to simulate a likely drop scenario outdoors, and the latter indoors. After each test, we examined the battery for superficial damage and checked whether it still functioned.

• Number of ports: We counted the number of ports on each device that could output power. We noted each port type, which could be one of the following: USB Type-A, USB Type-C, micro USB or Lightning. We also noted how many, if any, USB Type-A ports supported fast charging.
• Wireless charging: We noted whether a device supported wireless charging.
• Speed of charge: We charged an iPhone 11 from about 5% until it received 50% battery, recording how long the process took.

• Warranty: We researched the duration of each device’s warranty.

The Otterbox Otterspot is unlike any portable charger we’ve seen before. The system works as follows: A disk-shaped charging pad can charge mobile devices wirelessly, as well as the included disk-shaped battery via charging pins. The battery, which can be stacked up to three on the pad, can charge devices wirelessly or with a cable and then be recharged upon the pad. Wirelessly, it only delivered 2,519mAh to an iPhone 11. With a wired connection, it provided 3,134mAh. This is significantly less than, say, the 3,655mAh from the Belkin Pocket Power 5K with the same 5,000mAh promise. Overall, the Otterbox Otterspot is an awesome concept that may need some work on the capacity end.

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TheAnker PowerCore III Sense 10K is a beautiful charger. It comes in multiple vibrant colors and features a woven yarn surface on top and matte plastic below. Unfortunately, it only provided 4,189mAh of its expected 10,000mAh capacity. This is 42% of the expected value, compared with the 61% the Anker PowerCore 13,000 was able to achieve. Despite its aesthetic beauty and quality build, this battery dropped the ball on capacity.

The Anker PowerCore II 20000 is the same price as the Anker PowerCore III Sense 10K, but provides 12,300mAh of its promised 20,000mAh. This is a more respectable 61.5% of what’s expected. The battery is pretty hefty and large, but it feels very durable and has a unique texture that eliminates most smudging. Compared to its 20,000mAh counterpart, the Elecjet PowerPie Power Bank, it weighs way less and provides more mAhs.

The Aukey 8,000mAh Power Bank was a favorite among those we tested. It’s quite slim, and a little lighter than the Anker PowerCore 13000. Out of the 8,000mAh expectation, it delivered 5509mAhs, which is almost 70%. That’s impressive, made better by three functional output ports and wireless charging (a feature that didn’t end up working on our unit). But despite this battery’s promising properties, it fell short of the PowerCore 13000’s capacity at a higher price, and it didn’t charge an iPhone 11 nearly as fast.

The Elecjet PowerPie Power Bank lists the same 20,000mAh capacity as the Anker PowerCore II 20000, except it reached just 11,969mAh, or about 60% of what we expected. It also weighs more and has a less sleek design, which didn’t help it score-wise. Overall, it’s got a lot of juice to provide, but it didn’t find a place among the winners.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers’ listed price at the time of publication.

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The Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks for 2023

Watching your phone or tablet steadily run out of power when you’re nowhere near an outlet is stressful. Fortunately, third-party portable batteries are available in many sizes and capacities. Some power banks offer fast charging, wireless charging, built-in cables, AC adapters, and LED flashlights—and even the ability to jump-start your car. Regardless of your budget, you can find a portable charger that keeps your device going when your battery icon starts to dip into the red.

But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Read on for our tips, followed by the most important points to consider as you shop.

Recommended by Our Editors

10 Tips to Boost Your Android Phone’s Battery Life

Don’t Run Out of Juice: How to Save Battery Life on Your iPhone

What Is Fast Charging?

Best Affordable PD Power Bank

Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD

$29.99 at Amazon

See It
(Opens in a new window)

Why We Picked It

Despite its reasonable price, the Anker PowerCore Slim PD 10000 offers high-end features like USB Power Delivery for fast charging, as well as both types of USB ports.

Who It’s For

This 10,000mAh charger doesn’t have the highest capacity, but it’s more than enough for people who need just a little extra power throughout the day and don’t have the patience for slow charging speeds.

Best Ultra-Portable Power Bank

Anker 321 Power Bank (PowerCore 5K)

$24. 99 at Amazon

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Why We Picked It

A huge battery capacity is convenient, but sometimes you need a small device that you can carry around without a backpack. The 5,200mAh Anker 321 Power Bank fits that need perfectly, especially because it offers both a USB-A and USB-C port.

Who It’s For

This is ideal for people who care more about portability than capacity. It won’t charge your phone multiple times, but it can still get you through a long day.

Best for Charging Laptops

Anker 737 Power Bank

$159.99 at Amazon

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Why We Picked It

The Anker 737 features 140W output, which means it can charge bigger, more power-hungry devices like a laptop just as effortlessly as it can juice up a phone or tablet.

Who It’s For

If you often need to charge a laptop when you’re nowhere near an outlet, this 24,000mAh backup battery can lower your stress levels. It’s more expensive than other options on this list, so people who tend to charge smaller devices like phones or tablets are better off with the more affordable choices.

Best for iPhone Owners

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

$94.00 at Amazon

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Why We Picked It

True to its name, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack is notable for its MagSafe support. You can simply stick it to the back of your phone to charge it wirelessly.

Who It’s For

If you need to keep your iPhone running while away from home, you won’t find a more convenient solution. People with older iPhones (before the iPhone 12) need to look at other options, though, as MagSafe isn’t supported.

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack Review

Best High-Capacity Power Bank

Mophie Powerstation XXL

$49.99 at Amazon

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Why We Picked It

The Mophie Powerstation XXL does it all—it has a considerable 20,000mAh capacity, 18W PD charging, and both USB-A and USB-C ports.

Who It’s For

If you’re looking to recharge a phone or tablet several times on the go (and quickly), this is a top choice. The only drawback is that it doesn’t support larger devices like laptops.

Most Durable PD Power Bank

Otterbox Fast Charger Power Bank

$38.66 at Amazon

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(Opens in a new window)

Why We Picked It

Many people know Otterbox for its durable phone cases, but the company is now bringing that expertise to the world of power banks. In addition to its strong build quality, the Otterbox Fast Charger Power Bank has all the key features you need, such as fast charging with PD, both types of USB ports, and several options for battery capacity.

Who It’s For

If you are worried about damaging your backup battery when you travel or commute, this is one of the safest bets. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.

Best Solar-Powered Portable Charger

QiSa Solar Charger

$49.99 at Amazon

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(Opens in a new window)

Why We Picked It

The QiSa Solar Charger can use the sun to recharge itself, supports both wired and wireless charging, and even has a built-in flashlight. Best of all, it offers a massive 38,800mAh capacity.

Who It’s For

If you spend a lot of time outdoors, this is among your best choices for keeping your devices running while off of the grid. In other words, it’s camping approved.

What Size Battery Do You Need?

On the pocket-friendly front, most smaller batteries have a capacity of around 5,000mAh, which is typically enough to top up most phones once.

Meanwhile, a 10,000mAh battery can give today’s flagships two full charges. A 20,000mAh battery can charge a flagship four times, or two phones two times. Some power banks have enough juice to power laptops. Of course, a higher capacity often translates to a heavier, larger, and more expensive battery.

Most companies advertise how many times their products can recharge popular phones, but if you want to calculate that number for yourself, RAVPower has a useful guide(Opens in a new window) that can give you an estimate.

In the end, it’s best to assess your typical needs before buying. If your phone hits the red zone by mid-afternoon and you only need enough juice to get you to the end of the workday, a 5,000mAh battery should be plenty.

What’s the Difference Between Power Input and Output?

You’ll find three types of ports on today’s portable batteries:

Generally speaking, you charge the battery itself via micro USB or USB-C (input). Some batteries charge faster than others and USB-C charges much faster than micro USB.

Nearly all batteries include a standard USB-A port (output). This is for plugging in USB-A-to-micro-USB, USB-A-to-Lightning, or USB-A-to-USB-C cables for charging your iPhone or Android device.

Some batteries include built-in output cables and these generally have micro USB, USB-C, or Lightning connectors.

The most important thing to do is to match the battery’s output to your phone’s input. For example, if you have an iPhone, be sure the battery has its own Lightning connector or supports USB-A-to-Lightning or USB-C-to-Lightning cables.

Larger batteries with higher capacities might include a multitude of ports to support input and multiple outputs at the same time. You may see two USB-A and two USB-C ports, for example, though micro USB ports are becoming less common.

If you picked up an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 and were surprised by the lack of an included wall charger, see our article on charging your iPhone.

What Is Fast Charging?

Another factor to consider is how quickly a power bank can charge your device. Battery output is measured in voltage and amperage. Amperage (or current) is the amount of electricity that flows from the battery to the connected device, while voltage is the amount of potential energy. Multiplying volts by amps gives you wattage, the measure of total power. To make devices charge faster, most manufacturers either vary the voltage or boost the amperage.

Today’s devices support a wide range of rapid-charging technology, such as Qualcomm QuickCharge, USB Power Delivery, or proprietary fast-charge systems.

Quick Charge works by increasing voltage rather than amperage. This standard typically allows you to charge supported phones to 50 percent capacity in 30 minutes, which is especially helpful when you need power in a pinch.

Power Delivery is a newer protocol in which two compatible devices negotiate on the fastest charging option available based on the charger, cable, and circuitry. It also allows for power to flow both ways.

The most common devices (Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxies) support charging rates of 27W and 45W, respectively. It’s best to look for batteries that can support charging in that range.

Is Pass-Through Charging Safe and Useful?

Pass-through charging is another feature to consider; with it, you can charge devices and the portable power bank simultaneously. That’s convenient if both your phone and backup battery are running on empty. You shouldn’t encounter any safety issues if the manufacturer of the portable battery you buy advertises pass-through charging as a feature, but the power output might change in this mode.

How Does Wireless Charging Work?

Wireless charging has become popular because it allows you to power up compatible devices without a cable. Qi is the dominant standard for compatible Android phones (up to 18W) while Apple iPhones rely on MagSafe charging (up to 15W). iPhones will charge wirelessly on Qi chargers, but only at 7.5W.

Some battery makers have built Qi or MagSafe-compatible wireless charging into the surfaces of their portable batteries. Such batteries mean you can leave the cables at home.

Should You Buy a Battery Case Instead of a Power Bank?

If you find that you often forget to carry your backup battery when you need it most, you should consider a dedicated battery case instead. These combine the portability and protection of a case with additional battery capacity to keep your phone topped off at all times.

There are several drawbacks. First, they have limited additional capacity on board. Second, they are limited in terms of the number of phones they support (mostly just iPhones, Galaxies, and Pixels). Third, you can’t charge much else with them.

The Best Wireless Chargers

Why fumble around for a charging cable when you can rest your phone on a wireless charging pad? Whether you’re an Android user or an iPhone fan, check out our roundups of the best wireless chargers and the best MagSafe chargers to help you cut the cord.

Steven Winkelman contributed to this story.

Mobile phone chargers

What is the capacity of the charger?

The capacity of the memory is an indicator that reduces the charging time of the device. On original chargers, power is indicated in W or W. To calculate the appropriate power when buying a new charger, you need to multiply the voltage (V) by the current (A). These indicators are written in the technical characteristics of the device or on the original memory. For example, if the recommended voltage is 5V and the output current is 2A, the optimal charging power should be 10W.

What is the difference between original and non-original mobile phone chargers?

A good analogue of the original charger is no different from the original. It is made of quality materials, it has power, frequency and voltage controllers. Some original chargers are adapted specifically for a specific type of battery and power supply, while choosing a worthy analogue is quite realistic.

What should I pay attention to when buying a non-original charger?

Buy your charger from a trusted, reputable store that sells quality accessories.

Choose models with a suitable output current: 1 A or 2 A. The required value is written on the plug of the original charger or in the specifications of the smartphone – choose the same or more.

The optimal voltage for smartphones is 5V, otherwise it can damage delicate electronics.

When choosing a cable, you should carefully examine its appearance: the more it looks like a classic charger, the better. If the cable is thinner or thicker than usual, made of soft braid, looks flimsy, and is too light to weigh, don’t buy it. Creases, protruding pieces of plastic, poor assembly or low-quality parts are also a reason to refuse a purchase.

What else should I pay attention to when buying a phone charger for a car?

Choose models with multiple USB ports to charge two or more phones at the same time.

If the wire is damaged on a model with a built-in cable, you will have to buy a new charger, so pay attention to chargers with a USB port.

Models with twisted wire are more compact and break less often.

In high-quality products, the wire is protected by a corrugated sheath at the mount – in this case, it is less prone to breakage.

If you buy a quick charger for a regular phone, will it charge faster? How to choose a fast charger for my phone?

For the fast charging feature to work, both the phone and the charger itself must meet certain technical standards, such as Quick Charge, Adaptive Fast Charging, Motorola Turbopower, and others. If the charging and smartphone standards do not match, the process of obtaining energy will not be accelerated.

In addition, an adapter with a current of 2 A or more is more efficient.

What is Power Delivery?

USB Power Delivery (PD) is a standard that uses high-speed ports and cables to charge devices faster. To charge faster than standard charging, your device must support the USB PD standard and come with a dedicated USB Type-C cable and adapter. This information can be found on the packaging, less often on the device itself.

I heard that wireless charging is bad for phone battery and human health, is that true?

The electromagnetic field that is generated during the operation of a wireless charger is very small – 1-2 cm, and its negative impact on a person has long been recognized by WHO as a myth.

Also, there is not a single scientifically proven study that the operation of an induction coil inside wireless charging affects the wear and tear of batteries. However, battery life is affected by the heating of the phone’s battery during wireless charging, so powerful wireless chargers have a built-in fan.

When should I change my charger?

The charger does not have an expiration date – it is replaced in case of unstable operation or failure. The cause of a breakdown can be both internal and external damage: breaks, twists, overheating. It is important to know that even small defects can lead to fire and other serious consequences, so change the charger in a timely manner and in no case use a damaged one.

How to take care of the charger?

It is enough to wipe it from time to time with wet wipes without touching the plugs. White wires can be cleaned with alcohol or hydrogen peroxide. Do not use thinners, benzine, nail polish remover or other products that may damage the braid.

If dust and small debris get into the connectors, they can be carefully removed with a needle or blown out with compressed air from a cylinder. Just don’t forget to disconnect the device from the network before doing this so that you don’t get electrocuted.

Water got into the charger: dried it, checked it – it works … Is it safe to use it now?

It depends on the degree of immersion and the duration of the charge in the water. Even a small amount of water that gets inside can lead to oxidation, breakage and incorrect operation of the device in the future.

What does the MFI marking on an iPhone charger mean?

MFi, or Made For iPod/iPhone/iPad, is the name of the certification program. It involves companies that work in collaboration with Apple. They are responsible for the quality and performance of the accessories they produce – that is, MFI-certified chargers are guaranteed and do not create problems when connecting to a device or computer.

Is it possible to charge low current devices with a powerful charger?

Can. The current strength is determined by the power controller of the device being charged. Headphones, a fitness bracelet, a speaker and other similar devices will take exactly as much as they need – regardless of the maximum current rating of the charger.

Read the original article in Journal.Market.

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Portable external mini batteries for charging phones, smartphones, tablets

Autonomous power supplies, portable mini batteries, chargers for mobile phones, smartphones, tablet computers, laptops and netbooks

What do you use your mobile phone for today? Games, the Internet, working with documents, photo / video, chatting with friends and much more. But, to our deepest regret, autonomous gadgets currently exist only in the form of concepts and there can be no talk of any real application of them. But devices that run on batteries are used everywhere and differ from each other only in the power of the gadget itself and the size of the battery. And not always powerful smartphones , mobile phones and tablets get a fairly capacious battery. Rather, on the contrary: its size is sorely lacking, so the owners of modern gadgets become hostages of the power supply network. They charge their devices several times a day, especially when they use all their features. This is very annoying, because the opportunity to sit for an hour at the outlet and wait for your gadget to come to life is not always there. Leaving it in a discharged state is quite harmful for the battery: it loses its ability to work effectively and quickly decreases in size (we are talking about capacity, of course).

The solution to this problem was invented a long time ago – portable external battery for charging the phone, tablet, laptop and any other portable electronics. These devices work without an outlet and allow you to recharge your gadgets anywhere: at this moment you can be on the subway, ride a bike along a mountain road or bask in a sun lounger by the sea. A portable battery can operate both from batteries and from a built-in power source, it all depends on its type and intended purpose. There are also unusual options for mobile charging: it can use the energy of the sun, water, or convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The cost of these devices varies and you can buy them for a few dollars, and for tens or even hundreds. It all depends on your personal needs, the capabilities of the gadget itself and the additional features that portable charging is equipped with.

Large external independent power supplies – chargers

Universal battery for tablet, laptop, iPhone 6S, Samsung and many other gadgets must have a lot of power so that all gadgets have enough electrical energy and they get the coveted charge. So far, it has not been possible to combine large capacity, compact size and low cost in one device. There are, of course, expensive and miniature drives with sizes over 10 thousand mAh, but they are experimental options, which can be ordered by investing in development. The capabilities of such external batteries are limited by their intended purpose, and their acquisition threatens the new owner with a number of possible troubles: the external unit can “die” at one simple moment or, even worse, explode, because. his work is not fully understood in practice.

The remaining boosters are actively used for cars, hiking or trips, as well as when you need to charge several gadgets in one day. By weight, they almost always exceed 200-300 grams, but the price starts almost from zero: it is influenced by the size of the battery, the technologies used in production and the number of charge / discharge cycles that will be completed before the device “dies”. A glowing lantern is needed here to see the road at night, because. this gadget is usually rarely used for recharging during the day due to its size. It is the ideal travel solution for smartphones as mobile communications are now everywhere, but charging a gadget in the mountains is unlikely.

Small pocket battery models

This is a slightly different type of device. Designed for everyday use, they boast a small physical size, but have a fairly small capacity. Photos and videos of such devices are in bulk on the network: they work from a built-in battery, from rechargeable or conventional batteries, sunlight and much more. This is a rather bad hiking option, because. their power is not enough in the long run.

But you can always carry them with you easily and simply even in summer shorts. Such a device will be an excellent addition to a mobile phone, including the iPhone 5, because it will be able to support its functionality throughout the day and will not interfere with the owner. It can range from a small lipstick-sized unit that typically has a capacity of 2600 mAh to a larger variant with up to 8,000 mAh of power, which also looks compact but is stable at the same time. It all depends on the needs of the owner and his preferences: someone needs to provide and maintain charging of several devices throughout the day, and someone wants a small battery that you can always carry with you and use in emergencies.

Unusual stand-alone chargers for phones and tablets

Perhaps you have repeatedly heard the name of this or that type of gadgets, but could not understand what they are for. Most likely, you will read about them again now, but we will explain in detail the device, its purpose and tell the advantages and disadvantages of each of them.

“Toad”

Universal charger, called frog or toad. Initially, it was a power supply that allowed you to charge the battery from any phone (as well as cameras, camcorders, smartphones, tablets and players) on your own: you had to remove it, combine the contacts of the battery and the “frog”, and then insert it into the outlet and “Voila !”. A few hours later, the owner received a fully charged battery, even if before that the gadget was completely “dead”.

To date, there are options that operate from the network, manual “frogs” and power bank with the appropriate connector. Hand “toads” convert the mechanical energy that a person produces with his movements into electricity, which is then supplied to 2 contacts and can serve for anything: you can start a scooter, a car, charge a battery from a phone and laptop, and much more.

External batteries with a toad connector can be used in the same way as manual batteries, with one exception: no effort is required to operate them, because The battery does all the work for the person. These devices are also usually quite large and not very suitable for constant wear.

Charging case

For new branded phones, such as iPhone 5 and 6, as well as HTC One, special covers have already been invented, which are an external battery and serve to constantly recharge the internal battery of the device. They look much more compact than their counterparts, charging cases can boast a fairly large capacity (up to 10 thousand mAh), which directly depends on the size of the case itself and the dimensions of the entire gadget as a whole.

The efficiency of such batteries is much higher than that of conventional Power Banks. There are nothing fundamental factors here: a stable connection ensures high-quality contact, and the absence of extra wires eliminates the possibility of a broken contact or accidental disconnection during charging. Because of this, the charging case has become widespread and is now actively used by owners to ensure the continuous operation of their gadgets.

Starter chargers for phone, tablet, laptop and car

This is an unusual equipment that combines a large battery, a flashlight and the ability to recharge mobile gadgets. The main application of such a device is to start the engine in cold weather or a dead car battery. They are usually equipped with an LED flashlight that works even when completely discharged. This will help you never be in trouble, because the LED bulbs will send an SOS signal for a long time. For recharging mobile devices, USB ports are provided here, which allow you to simultaneously charge several devices.