Power banks are growing fast and for good reasons too. The reason being that power banks are portable chargers that can be taken anywhere. Most of the time we use USB wall chargers. Even USB chargers have many USB charging ports and are powerful. The flaw with them is that we have to keep our devices in a single place for charging to happen. It can be frustrating to have to wait until your devices are charged up to a good point and then you’re free.
With that said, power banks are so popular. It has caused there to be tons of companies to start selling them. As a result, this has caused competition and that means more innovation has taken place with portable chargers. There are lots of different types. It can be difficult to know what types of power banks are best to get for yourself.
This is why I’ll be explaining the five best types of power banks that are able to add lots of value to your portable charging experience.
1. Rugged Power Banks
Most of the electronics that we use every day are fragile. If you drop your smartphone then it’s most likely going to break. We’re just now getting to the point where smartphones are becoming waterproof as most still aren’t. The same goes for power banks. Most power banks are able to break when they fall and get damaged when they’re exposed to too much water.
That is why there are Rugged power banks. Rugged power banks are ones that structural reinforcements that allow them to withstand things like falls onto the hard ground. So these power banks are shockproof. These tough power banks are also waterproof. With that said, a power bank is only waterproof when it’s not in use. Its USB charging ports are covered by a covering that most Rugged power banks have.
Another thing to know about waterproofing is that different Rugged power banks have different Enclosure levels, which means that they’re able to withstand different exposures to water. There are some that can survive Jets of water and the best ones are able to be submerged into water.
2. Power banks that have Built-in Cables
Charging cables are necessary with every charging electronic. With that said, power banks are the one charging electronic that you’re going to need them the most with. The reason for that is because stationary charging electronics such as USB wall chargers and car chargers almost always have a charging cable with them at all times. However, you may sometimes use the charging cable that you use with your USB wall charger and there are times that people can forget to take their charging cable with their power bank. That results in a useless piece of portable power.
That is why it’s best to have a power bank that has built-in cables. As these power banks are able to be useful as long as they have a power capacity. However, these power banks can go even further than just having a single built-in cable.
As there are some that can have two built-in cables that can charge two different types of devices, have a USB port to use any charging cable with, and have built-in ways to recharge the power bank. Built-in methods of recharging usually include either an AC Adapter or a USB cable.
3. Mini Power banks
Power banks that have low power capacities are among the most used. The reason for that is because they have low power capacities, which makes them very small and light. Ultimately, these power banks are able to go anywhere with us. With that said, as portable and easy to use as these power banks are, it’s important to know that their powering capabilities aren’t as impressive.
Since a power capacity of 3,000mAh to 5,000mAh is really only able to charge most smartphones about once or twice before it’s fully depleted and needs recharging again. They also only use a single charging port.
4. High Capacity Power Banks
If you want a more powerful power bank, then it’s best to get one that has a high power capacity within the 20,000mAh to 30,000mAh range. These types of power banks have enough power to charge smartphones and tablets to full power multiple times and still have power left over. These ones also have many USB charging ports so you can charge many devices at once
The downside of having powerful power banks that have high power capacities is that a high power capacity means that they’re larger and heavier than smaller ones.
5. Portable Power Sources
Going further beyond just high capacity power banks, there are ones that have power capacities that are within the 100,000mAh range. These go beyond just being a power bank, not just with their size but also when it comes to their charging abilities, as they have powering abilities too.
These portable power sources can have multiple USB charging ports, a V12 Outlet, a DC Output, and even an AC Outlet to power appliances. They’re quite large and not really meant for on-the-go purposes, but if you are going camping or hiking then these sorts of devices are very helpful. They’re also great to have in your house in case of a power outage.