If you’re in the market for a new portable charger, there are some distinct characteristics you should be looking for. Not all portable chargers are created equal and if you want one that will last for years down the road and provide adequate juice whenever you need a quick charger, then you have to be cognizant of your needs and the chargers which are on the market today.
This is a handy guide which will discuss what to look for in a charger depending on your needs and which brands provide the models you want for a price which won’t break the bank. Many characteristics like capacity, voltage, and amps should be weighed before you buy a new portable charger because they all contribute to the overall charging experience and will determine how long you have your charger for. Here’s a handy guide to what you need to look for.
Capacity
First, you’ll want to look at the capacity of your new charger. This is one of the most important questions to consider because different chargers will offer different capacities, most often depending on their size. For example, smaller charging sticks will only provide two thousand mAh, or milliamp hours, of power, while larger units can provide up to twenty thousand mAh of power for an assortment of devices.
When choosing your size and capacity, you need to consider how long you’ll use the battery pack and how many devices the batter will be used to power in the present and future. In addition, ask yourself if you’ll use the battery for multiple devices at how and how many times you’ll be able to use your battery in a portal manner before you have to charge it.
At minimum, you want your charger to charge your device in one go, which will require information about the mAh of your device. As a baseline, an iPhone X has a 2,716 mAh batter while a Samsung Galaxy S8 has a 3,000 mAh battery.
Size and Weight
Because this charger will be portable, you’ll want to find a device that’s small and easy to carry around while you’re out and about. You can buy a larger, bulkier, and heavier battery if you wish, but know that you’ll have to carry this around with you when you want to charge your devices.
The best portable chargers are often those which aren’t too big or too small, but just right. Additionally, chargers with smaller batteries, indicated by a small mAh, will have only one or two USB ports, meaning you won’t be able to charger multiple devices at once. There are some massive and abnormally heavy chargers you can buy with massive mAh numbers, which you can keep on a table or in a bag.
The true considerations you’ll have to make in terms of the size is knowing where and how you’ll carry your portable charger and how often you’ll be using it to charger your devices. Keeping the charger in your car or at home will mean you’ll want a heavier charger, and vice versa for taking it on the go more often. It’s entirely up to you on where you want to store your charger and how frequently you’ll use it.
Charging Time
There are two distinctions here. You’ll have to both charge your device with your portable charger and charge the actual charger itself. Now, charging the battery pack itself is usually a long process, but this length is mitigated by the fact that you can charge it at night and wake up with a fully charged charger. Charging your phone should take less time because you’ll usually have less leeway during the day to charge it quickly and efficiently.
When you look for a charger, pay attention to the charging times for each, because quick chargers will also charge large batteries more quickly and leave them fuller for longer. If you have large devices, such as laptops, you’ll certainly want a charger which advertises faster charging times. There’s nothing as frustrating as a charger which takes days to charge just one devices.
Looking for a New Portable Charger
There are absolutely a number of considerations to make when you’re in the market for a new portable charger. There are dozens of brands and hundreds of different chargers, of all different shapes, sizes, and capacities. The information presented here is intended to guide you to the correct decision and take some of the stress out of your decision.
Buying a portable charger is a relatively important decision because you don’t want to use it for only a day or two before deciding that it doesn’t measure up to the job you need it for. Portable chargers are sometimes finnicky and finding a long-lasting, reliable, and durable portal charger will save you a good deal of time and energy. Use the above considerations when choosing a portable charger and always remember why you need it, how often you’ll use it, and where you’ll store it when it’s not in use.
An Interesting Consideration
On top of these three considerations, there are additional features which sometimes come with the charger you purchase. These are a cherry on top of the charger you decide to buy and should only really come into consideration to break a tie between one or more chargers. For example, some smaller chargers will have two USB ports so you can charge two devices at once, while some will have built-in flashlights and other neat accessories.
Some even go above and beyond these features; the Champ Bodyguard, for example, has a panic alarm to press during emergencies, and some sophisticated chargers can be used to jump start vehicles and charger other, more niche devices. Some even come with speakers with USB ports. Additional accessories are nearly limitless in the portable charger sphere, it all depends on what you want.
The Bottom Line Choosing a portable charger is a large decision. When it’s time for you to buy your next charger, you should take a careful look at the capacity, size, charging time, and additional features the charger offers. These are the main characteristics which will determine how the charger functions, both throughout the day and the year. If you want a quality, durable portable charger, take a look around multiple vendors and be sure to read the reviews and spec information for each one.
