There is nothing worse than being out for the day and your phone conking out right at the wrong moment. With the amount of things we use our phones for these days, and all the apps that run in the background without our knowledge, it has led to the battery life of most smartphones becoming rather inadequate for our daily needs.
However, the invention of battery packs has been a saving grace to us all on many occasions, whether you’re just out for the day or away for the weekend. They are a handy pocket-sized device which can provide you with that much needed boost so you can stay connected on the go.
But don’t be fooled into thinking every portable charger is the same. Yes you can get ones in all shapes, sizes, colours and designs, but just because one is pretty doesn’t mean it’s going to provide you with all the juice you need, when you need it. Contrary to what some may say, in the case of portable chargers, bigger does mean better. You’ll want to check out the battery pack’s mAh (milliampere hours) as this will help you estimate just how many charges you’ll get for your device in question. The average smartphone has a battery capacity of anything between 1,000 and 3,000mAh, with tablets being a lot higher.
Bigger may mean more charge, but it also means a larger and heavier battery. These are ideal for those who are travelling, or for camping at festivals and they can provide multiple full charges of your smartphone. However, if you want one just to keep in your bag for when you find you’re running low throughout the day, a smaller and slimmer power bank is easy to carry and normally provides 1 full charge of your phone.
We’ve picked out a range of power banks for all devices and budgets, so take your pick and ensure you never run out of charge again!
For a serious battery pack that can provide multiple charges while you’re away from home, this is the best battery pack for you. It carries 20,100 mAh which is enough to charge the latest iPhone up to 7 times and the latest Galaxy smartphone up to 5 times. You can even charge your iPad mini with the power in this charger. It also ensures your device is charged quickly and safely.
This lipstick-sized battery pack is one of the best portable chargers for handbags and is ideal for taking on a night out to ensure your phone doesn’t die. It is not as strong as some other larger packs but it provides the boost you need for most smartphones when you’re battery is running low on the go. It also comes in a cool design and would make a good stocking filler for someone who’s always running out of charge.
If you have lots of gadgets that you want to be able to charge on the go, then this battery pack can really pack a punch. It contains a whopping 50,000 mAh and has enough power to charge your laptop twice over. It is pretty much the size of a laptop in itself though, and if you’re considering taking it on your travels then think again as it cannot be taken on planes. However, if you’re going on a camping trip, this portable charger will be able to keep your phone, camera and tablet going all week.
This solar powered battery pack is by far one of the best portable chargers for festivals as it charges your devices via sunlight. It has two USB ports so you can charge more than one device at once, and it is also great for charging your other battery packs. It is very compact and folds up neatly so it can easily fit in a backpack or handbag, and it is weatherproof making it perfect for any outdoor activities such as hiking or camping.
If you tend to be impatient when waiting for your phone to charge, then this portable charger has a digital screen which tells you what percentage your phone is on while charging. This will give you an indicator of when your phone will be ready to go. It is a compact battery pack that is smaller than the Iphone 6 but is still quite heavy, and can charge an iPhone up to 8 times or a Galaxy smartphone up to 5 times. A handy little pack for holidays or day trips.
If you want something with a lot of power but don’t want to carry something huge and heavy around, the Anker PowerCore II contains 10,000 mAh but is still small enough to fit in your pocket or handbag. You’ll get a number of full phone charges from the power bank when fully charged, however it may not be as quick as some of the other chargers on the market. This is a sleek and smart looking power bank that would be ideal for business trips.
This is one of the best portable chargers for travel because not only is it lightweight but it is incredibly powerful and can charge two devices simultaneously. It is also one of the safest portable chargers on the market with overcharge, short circuit and surge protection features. The charger comes with two different lengths of micro USB cable, a power adapter and a handy travel pouch for packing in your suitcase or backpack.
Kit yourself out with one of our picks of the best portable speakers to complete your portable travel tech kit.
