5 Questions to Ask When Choosing a Power Bank

What is mAh and how much will I need?

Milliamp hour (mAh) is a measurement of battery capacity, or more simply how much power a battery is able to store. In order to select the right capacity for your use, you must first determine what size battery your device uses. The manual that came with your device will list this information, or it should be readily available with an internet search. Power banks come in a variety of capacities ranging from as little as 1,000 mAh, all the way up to 20,000+ mAh, so there is sure to be a size that will work well for your needs.

How do I intend to use my power bank?

If you intend to use your power bank simply as a backup for your cell phone, a standard one-port power bank will be sufficient for your needs. On the other hand, if you are a heavy electronics user and you wish to charge multiple devices, a more advance multi-port power bank would be more suited to your needs. To our previous point, the number of times you wish to charge your device also comes into play when making your choice. For instance if you want to have 2 full charges available for your iPhone5 (1440 mAh) without having to recharge your power bank, you will want to select something with a capacity of at least 3,500 mAh. While logically it would seem that you would only need 2,880 mAh to fill a 1,440 mAh battery twice, you must keep in mind that roughly 20% of a power banks stored energy is lost through the charging/discharging process.

Will my power bank be used to charge a Tablet?

If you are planning to use your power bank to recharge iPads or other tablets, one thing you will want to note when choosing a power bank is the Amp (A) output. Entry-level power banks typically supply 1A which is suitable for all smartphones and other smaller devices. It is recommended that you choose a power bank with a minimal output of 1.5A – 2A if you intend to use it to power your tablet. If you are unsure about the charging requirements of your tablet, this info is also available on your device or on the charger that came with your device.

How many times can a power bank recharge my devices?

Typically a properly cared for power bank will retain between 80% and 90% of its capacity for as many as 500 charge and discharge cycles. A cycle is defined as charging your power bank and then discharging it by powering up your external device. Whether or not you fully charge your power bank before discharging it does not matter, it is still considered a cycle, so it is best to make sure it is fully charged before using it to power your phone or tablet.

What cords will I need?

While the included cords and adapters do vary depending on the power bank you choose, the majority of them use an included micro USB to USB cord to charge themselves, so this cord may also be used to charge from the power bank to your micro USB device (all Android smartphones). The good news here is that if you plan to use your power bank with a non-Android device (iPhone 4/5/6), you may still use the USB cord that came with your device to transfer power from the power bank to your device.