Ultimate Guide to Cell Phone Power Banks

Cell phones are not just an accessory – they are a part of our every day lives. We use our phones not just to make calls and texts. We also use our phones to surf the Internet, interact with friends on social media, make video calls, take pictures and videos, play games, and listen to music.

The smorgasbord of capabilities of modern cell phones, which we call smartphones, is incredible indeed. We access our information, transact businesses, and connect with our friends and loved ones  at just the tip of our fingertips anytime, anywhere. With a lot of things our smartphones can do, they require battery power to keep us constantly connected while on-the-go.

You simply dread the image of a red draining battery, especially when you have forgotten to charge your phone in full, bring your wall chargers, or you cannot find a place to recharge your device. While batteries of smartphones today have improved considerably, they’re still far from being great. Especially if you use your phones heavily, chances are, the batteries won’t last throughout the day.

Fortunately, there are power banks to add the much-needed “juice” to your devices, especially during the times you need to use them the most. They are a life-saver. Plus, they have become a lot more affordable.

Not only can you use power banks to re-charge your smartphones. You can use power banks also re-charge tablets, gaming consoles, digital cameras, and other mobile tech devices. Some larger power banks with greater battery capacity can even charge laptops. But for now, let’s discuss power banks for mobile phones.

How to charge a power bank?

When you buy a brand-new power bank, it usually comes uncharged (or half-charged). Charge the power bank via a USB wall charger or by connecting it to the USB port of your desktop PC or laptop.

Charging time depends on your power bank’s battery capacity. The higher the power bank’s capacity, the longer it takes to reach a 100% or full charge.

What is mAh?

This is a very important consideration when buying a power bank. “mAh” means milliamps per hour, which indicates how long (per hour) a power bank can deliver a specific amount of current (mA). When you charge your smartphone for one hour, your smartphone has 1000 mAh. If you have a power bank containing mAh, you can charge your phone ten more times.

Did you know that not all power banks are made the same? Well, check out the different types of power banks and see which of them exactly meets your needs.

1. USB-C power banks

In recent years, USB-C power banks are becoming more popular, mainly because a growing number of devices have Type-C USB ports. So, if you are using a smartphone that has a Type-C USB port, then you should find a power bank that is 100% compatible to your device. A USB-C power bank will likely recharge your USB-C phone a lot faster.

2. Quick Charge power banks

Power banks that use Quick Charge are generally compatible with phones that allow… well, quick charging. It enables charging at blazing fast speeds while you’re on the go. But the great thing about Quick Charge power banks is that they are quite reliable. They can even recharge devices that don’t use “quick charge”, as most Quick Charge ports can restore battery life of standard devices at their maximum charging speeds, as well.

3. Small or slim power banks

A lot of people prefer small or slim power banks because they’re the easiest to carry and store. You can fit a small or slim power bank into your pocket, and you can even stack it on top of your smartphone while it’s charging. But small as they are, such power banks have surprisingly great battery capacity! Some small power banks come as cute keychains, such as BUQU Power Poof Portable Charger 2500mAh Cute and Fashionable Power Bank (featured here in this article).

4. Power banks with built-in charging cables

Many people encounter problems with finding missing cables of their power banks – it’s either they forget to bring the cables along, or they have misplaced them. One of the best reasons for having this power bank is that it already has a cable built within it. No need to bother plugging in a separate USB cable into your power bank. Power banks with built-in charging cables increase portability and ease of use.

5. Power banks with two or more charging ports

If you are the type who uses two or more phones and/or other devices, you will need no less than this type of power bank. With this power bank, you can recharge two or more devices at the same time. Some power banks can charge up to six devices simultaneously. But if you need to charge one device at a time, it is also possible to do it with this power bank.

6. Waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof power banks

One of our worst fears while carrying our power banks is that they may get damaged if we accidentally drop them or if they come in contact with water. Good thing that there are waterproof, dustproof and shockproof power banks to take our fears away. Even if they’re dropped or doused with water, no worries, because they will still function normally. These rugged types of power banks can also withstand harsh weather conditions, which makes them ideal for people who love to go outdoors, or whose jobs require them to be outdoors (such as a forest ranger or a landscape architect).

7. Solar power banks

Solar power banks typically have built-in solar panels wrapped in a compact and durable casing. Many solar power banks have the features of “outdoor” power banks as depicted in the No. 6 option – waterproof, shockproof and dustproof. Some models have 10,000 mAh of capacity, which makes them enough to recharge your phone a couple of times the most. So wherever you go, battery drainage is now a thing of the past with the solar power bank.