As our devices have become larger and more powerful, so have their power requirements. Remember those small “lipstick” power banks? They’re difficult to find now!

The UGREEN 145W 25,000mAh power bank is built for those powerful devices with its large 25000mAh capacity and its ability to output a total of 145 watts. It has some weight to it at just over 1 pound, which is something to keep in mind if you plan to carry this around frequently. It could potentially add some extra heft to your laptop bag! Its dimensions are ‎6.3″ x 3.2″ x 1.1″. It looks sleek with its matte, silver-colored finish with an LED display on the side to show you the remaining capacity, which is a lot easier to interpret than the 4 blink LEDs many other power banks use.

Performance

Sure, this can charge your smartphone, but where this power bank really shines is its ability to charge your laptop! It can handle MacBooks with a USB-C port including the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air, and other modern USB-C devices such as the Dell XPS 15 and 13, Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and more.

This really comes in handy for both students attending class or professionals attending a conference, for example, where you may be moving from class to class (or session to session) and need a portable method to keep your laptop charged. Therefore, you don’t need to try and be the first person in the room to secure a desk by an outlet. And, thankfully, this power bank has 2 USB-C ports and 1 USB-A port, so you can share it with a friend.

It can also charge smaller devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Android phones. It also supports “trickle charging” (by holding down the power button for 3 seconds) to charge even smaller items like AirPods, Apple Watches, and Bluetooth earbuds which would normally draw so little current that most power banks would think they are done and would shut off.

If you have another USB-C device, you’ll want to refer to the “Technical Specifications” below to verify that the power bank is capable of the voltage and amperage that your device needs to charge, just to be safe. However, the UGREEN 145w power bank seems to conform to all modern charging standards, so I have yet to find a device that does not charge with it. Below are some of the devices I tested.

Apple MacBook Air M1

The UGREEN 145W power bank was able to charge my MacBook Air with 20V.

Nintendo Switch

The UGREEN power bank successfully charged my Nintendo Switch at 15V.

Lenovo 14W Laptop

My Lenovo 14W Laptop (running Ubuntu!) was able to charge with its normal 20V profile with this UGREEN power bank.

Dell Chromebook

The UGREEN 145w power bank supports the Dell Chromebook’s 20V charging profile, allowing it to charge at full speed.

Features

• Two USB-C ports: This power bank allows you to charge two USB-C devices at the same time, although, when you’re charging multiple devices at the same time, the maximum wattage gets split up among the available ports. Please refer to the image below to see how the number of ports in use affects each port’s maximum output.
• “Regular” USB-A port: If you have a charging cord with a rectangular USB connector, you can still make use of this power bank as it has a USB-A port in addition to the two USB-C ports.
• Trickle charge mode: By holding down the power button for 3 seconds, you can activate “trickle charge” mode, which allows device that draw very little current (such as AirPods, Apple Watches, and Bluetooth earbuds) to continue to charge even when most power banks would assume they’re done.
• LED Display: The unit displays a numeric readout of the remaining charge capacity.

Recharging the UGREEN 145W power bank

You can recharge the UGREEN 145W power bank by using the either USB-C port, but USB-C port #1 can accept up to a 65W charge for the fastest recharge (USB-C port #2 accepts up to 45W, but only one can be used at a time). For example, you could use UGREEN’s 65W USB-C charger to recharge the power bank in as little as 2 hours.

Additionally, lower-wattage USB-C chargers will work as well, just at a longer recharge time. For example, if you used a tablet charging brick (generally around 18W), it could take 12.5 hours or more to recharge.

Technical Specifications

USB-C port #1 (marked “100 watts”)

Input: 5V-3A 9V-3A 12V-3A 15V-3A 20-V3.25A 65W Max

Output: 5V-3A 9V-3A 12V-3A 15V-3A 20V-5A 100W Max

Supported input protocols: PD3.0/PD2.0/FCP/AFC/BC1.2/5V Adaptive

Supported output protocols: PD3.0/PD2.0/QC3.0/QC2.0/FCP/AFC/APPLE 5V2.4A/BC1.2/5V Adaptive

USB-C port #2

Input: 5V-3A 9V-3A 12V-3A 15V-3A 20V-2.25A 45W Max

Output: 5V-3A 9V-3A 12V-3A 15V-3A 20V-2.25A 45W Max

Supported input protocols: PD3.0/PD2.0/FCP/AFC/BC1.2/5V Adaptive

Support output protocols: PD3.0/PD2.0/QC3.0/QC2.0/FCP/AFC/APPLE 5V2.4A/BC1.2/5V Adaptive

USB-A port (the regular, rectangular USB port)

Output: 5V-3A 9V-2A 12V-1.5A 18W Max

Supported output protocols: QC3.0/QC2.0/FCP/AFC/APPLE 5V2.4A/BC1.2/5V Adaptive

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Anker’s PowerCore Magnetic Wireless 5,000mAh power bank is about the size of a deck of cards with a black matte exterior. Although this Anker MagSafe battery pack makes your iPhone 12 feel much heavier when it’s attached, the power bank itself only weighs 4.6 ounces and is easy to carry.

Given the size and weight, this Anker MagSafe battery is meant to be more of a “temporary” attachment. You could attach it to your phone for an all-day event if you wanted to, but it’s easier to carry in your pocket or backpack and only attach it when needed.

On the bottom of the power bank, you will find the power button and 5 LED lights. Four of the LED lights are white and indicate the remaining charge of the battery. The fifth LED lights up blue to indicate when the Qi wireless charging feature is active. There is also a USB-C port that can be used to both charge the power bank or charge another device.

Features

• MagSafe attraction: The Anker MagSafe battery pack has a strong enough magnet to attach securely to the back of your compatible iPhone (the iPhone 12 series at the time of this review). This makes it very convenient for travel as you don’t need to attach a cable between the power bank and your phone. It will work best with a case that also has the MagSafe magnets, but might be OK if you use a thin enough case with your iPhone.
• Wireless or wired charging: You can charge most Qi-compatible devices by setting them in the center of the circle, or use a USB-C charging cable to charge items that cannot be charge wirelessly.

Performance of the Anker MagSafe Battery Pack

While many might refer to this as a “MagSafe” power bank, it does not provide the full 15 watt charge that “official” MagSafe accessories provides. This power bank will provide a 5 watt charge via Qi wireless charging. If you are using the USB-C port to charge another device, it can output up to 10 watts (5V⎓2A).

Since wireless Qi charger is not as efficient as wired charging, the 5,000mAh capacity won’t provide as much of a charge via Qi charging as compared to a wired 5,000mAh power bank. It will provide about 3/4th a charge to the iPhone 12 Pro Max or about 1 full charge to the regular-sized iPhone 12 Pro.

Using the official MagSafe silicone case with my iPhone 12 Pro Max, the Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K power bank stays put very securely (I can even pick up my phone by the power bank).

The Anker MagSafe battery pack can be recharged with a regular USB wall charger or slightly faster with a Power Delivery wall charger such as the Anker PowerPort Atom PD 1.

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The power bank features a black, matte plastic exterior with two ports:

• USB-C Power Delivery (PD) input and output port
• USB-A port

There is also a power button that, upon pressing it, lights up to 4 blue LEDs to indicate the remaining charge of the power bank.

Inside the package, the power bank includes an instruction manual and a 39.4 inch USB-C to USB-C charging cable. The dimensions of the power bank are 5.9 in x 3.4 in x 1 in.

Features

• USB-C output: The USB-C port on the power bank can output up to 90 watts of power max. This is enough to satisfy most Macbooks and USB-C Power Delivery-compliant laptops, but can also charge smaller USB-C devices such as the Nintendo Switch.
• USB-C input: The USB-C port also serves as an input for recharging the power bank itself. Most Power Delivery-compliant USB-C wall adapters should work to recharge the power bank. The power bank can accepts up to a maximum of 60 watts (20V⎓3A), so the more powerful the wall adapter, the faster the power bank will recharge.
• USB-A output: The power bank also has a standard USB port that can be used to recharge iPhones, iPads, Android phones, Bluetooth speakers and the like. There is no USB-A cable included with the power bank, so you’ll need to use the device’s charging cable to plug into the power bank.
• Programmable Power Supply (PPS) Support: This enables fast charging for Samsung Galaxy S20/20+ phones.
• 30,000mAh capacity: This is larger than many other power banks and it’s important to note that at this size, it cannot be taken on your carry-on on airplanes. Using the standard USB-A port, you can charge an iPhone up to 6-7 times with this power bank. When charging a laptop, you can expect about 1 charge from the power bank before the power bank needs recharged (some energy is loss in the power conversion to the higher voltages).

Performance

Nintendo Switch

The RAVPower PD power bank supports the Nintendo Switch’s 15V profile, allowing you to play in handheld mode and charge at the same time.

Acer R13 Chromebook

The Acer R13 Chromebook has a USB-C port, but does not seem to comply with the Power Delivery standards. However, the RAVPower PD power bank was able to support the Chromebook’s 15V charging profile.

Dell Chromebook

RAVPower’s PD power bank supports the Dell Chromebook’s 20V charging profile, allowing it to charge at full speed.

Lenovo 14W Laptop

My Lenovo 14W Laptop (powered by Ubuntu!) was able to be charged with its 20V profile with the RAVPower PD power bank.

Technical Specifications

• USB-C PD Input: 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓3A, 12V⎓3A, 15V⎓3A, 20V⎓3A, 60W Max
• USB-C PD Output: 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓3A, 12V⎓3A, 15V⎓3A, 20V⎓4.5A, 90W Max 
• USB-A iSmart Output: 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2A, 12V⎓1.5A, 18W Max
• Total Output: PD 65W + iSmart 18W, Total 83W Max

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The BC Master power bank has a textured, plastic shell that is easy to hold and easily slip in and out of a large pocket. On one end is a Micro USB input for charging, a USB-C port for input and output, and a regular-sized USB-A port for output.

The power bank is fairly thin and lightweight, making it ideal for travel. The dimensions are 5.70 inches long x 2.66 inches wide x 0.63” inches thick. There are four blue LEDs on top that indicate the current charge level when you press the side button.

Features

• Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0: The USB-A port can output up to 12 volts if a compatible Quick Charge device is connected. Otherwise, it will output the normal 5V ⎓ 2.4A standard for phones and tablets.
• USB-C Power Delivery: The USB-C port can output 5V ⎓ 3A, 9V ⎓ 2A, or 12V ⎓ 1.5A to support fast charging of compatible devices, such as an iPhone 8 or newer. While some USB-C compatible laptops may be able to charge with these higher voltages, in most cases they will charge very slowly.
• 10,000mAh capacity: Enough to charge many smartphones 3 to 4 times.

Performance

The power bank can output up to 18 watts via the Power Delivery USB-C port, which I found to be capable of charging my Dell Chromebook. This can also be used to charge other devices such as an iPhone 8 or newer (with a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, not included) or other USB-C devices such as the Nintendo Switch (while in “sleep mode”).

As you can see in the photo below, the power bank was able to deliver 18 watts (approximately 9V ⎓ 2A) to my Dell Chromebook. This can effectively charge compatible laptops when the laptop is powered off, but may not be enough power to charge and use the laptop at the same time depending on what you’re doing on the laptop while it is on.

Please note that the power bank supports a maximum output of 18 watts combined, so it would not be able to output the maximum 18 watt current via the USB-A and USB-C ports simultaneously. It also cannot be charged via the Micro USB and USB-C ports simultaneously.

Technical Specs

Micro-USB Input: 5V⎓2A, 9V⎓2A

USB-C Input: (18W Power Delivery 3.0) 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2A

USB-C Output: (18W Power Delivery 3.0) 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2A, 12V⎓1.5A

USB Output: (Quick Charge 3.0) 5–6V⎓3A, 6–9V⎓2A, 9–12V⎓1.5A

The post BC MASTER 10000mAh Portable Charger with 18W PD & Quick Charge 3.0 Review appeared first on Technically Well.

Design

The AUKEY PB-Y32 is a multi-textured power bank, feature smooth plastic around most of it with a soft, tacky surface on top to help hold your phone in place while charging on the wireless Qi pad.

On the front of the power bank is a regular USB-A output, a USB-C input/output port, and a Micro USB input. There are also 5 LEDs: The first LED beside the Micro USB port is an amber light indicating that wireless charging is enabled. The other 4 white LEDs indicate the power remaining in the power bank.

The dimensions of this power bank are 5.67″ x 2.64″ x 0.67″ and it weighs 8.01 ounces.

Features

• Qi wireless charging: Tapping the power button once will enable the Qi wireless charging pad located on the top of the power bank. An amber LED will light. Initially, the wireless charging pad will output 5W and if no other devices are connected to the power bank (and your phone supports it), the charging will increase to 7.5W or 10W. If no Qi device is detected, the wireless pad will automatically turn off after 15 seconds. Please note that the power bank cannot accept an incoming charge from another Qi wireless charging.
• Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0: The USB-A port can output up to 12 volts if a compatible Quick Charge device is connected. Otherwise, it will output the normal 5V ⎓ 2.4A standard for phones and tablets.
• USB-C Power Delivery: The USB-C port can output up to 12V ⎓ 1.5A to support fast charging of compatible devices, such as an iPhone 8 or newer.
• Low-Current Charging Mode: Many Bluetooth headphones and some smaller device such as fitness trackers may draw so little power that most power banks don’t detect them and stop charging prematurely. You can enable a “Low Current Charging Mode” for such devices so that the USB port stays on. To enable this mode, hold down the power button for 2 seconds until you see one of the LEDs turn green. This mode automatically turns off after 2 hours.
• 10,000mAh capacity: Enough to charge many smartphones 3 to 4 times via wired charging (wireless charging is less efficient on all chargers).

Performance

The power bank can output up to 18 watts via the Power Delivery USB-C port, which I found to be cable of charging my Dell Chromebook. This can also be used to charge other devices such as an iPhone 8 or newer (with a USB-C-to-Lightning cable, not included) or other USB-C devices such as the Nintendo Switch.

As you can see in the photo below, the power bank was able to deliver 18 watts (approximately 9V ⎓ 2A) to my Dell Chromebook. This can effectively charge compatible laptops when the laptop is powered off, but may not be enough power to charge and use the laptop at the same time depending on what you’re doing on the laptop while it is on.

Technical Specs

Micro-USB Input: 5V⎓2A, 9V⎓2A

USB-C Input: (18W Power Delivery 3.0) 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2A

USB-C Output: (18W Power Delivery 3.0) 5V⎓3A, 9V⎓2A, 12V⎓1.5A

USB Output: (Quick Charge 3.0) 5–6V⎓3A, 6–9V⎓2A, 9–12V⎓1.5A

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Design

An aluminum enclosure surrounds the power bank, giving it a premium feel and considerable durability. Due to the additional circuitry to support charging at different voltages, this power bank may be a little larger than other 10000mAh power banks you have seen.

There are two regular USB ports on the top, as well as one USB-C port that serves as both a Power Delivery output as well as an input to charge the power bank itself.

Features

This power bank features an LED display that shows you the precise charge level. When you are charging the power bank, the right-most digit will blink to let you know that the power bank is receiving a charge.

When charging another device, such as a laptop, you may notice the numbers decrease at a somewhat fast pace. This is most likely due to the energy loss when converting to the different voltages and is to be expected. With that said, you may not realize the full 10,000 mAh capacity as there will be a sizable energy loss as this power bank converts the 3.7V battery cells to a 5V, 12V, 14.5V, and 20V ouput.

In addition to USB-C Power Delivery, the orange USB port on the power bank supports Quick Charge 3.0 for smart phone that support the technology.

You can also charge other devices such as iPhones, iPads, and Android phones using either full-sized USB port, which output up to 5V 2.4A.

Included with the power bank is a USB-C to USB-C cable, as well as a USB to Micro USB (with an attached USB-C adapter) that can be used to charge the power bank. Using a regular wall USB charger (that outputs 5V 1A, such as the little white iPhone charging block) takes about 12 hours to recharge the power bank.

Performance

Nintendo Switch Charging

The Switch requires about 18 watts (15V – 1.2A) to charge and play at the same time in handheld mode, in which case the Omars Power Bank can provide the needed 15V to charge and play at the same time.

Samsung Galaxy Book 12 Charging

My Samsung Galaxy Book 12‘s stock charger maxes out at 25 watts (12V – 2.1A), but the Omars Power Bank actually exceeded it and charged the tablet at 30 watts (20V – 1.5A).

Dell Chromebook Charging

The Dell 14-inch Chromebook charged almost as quickly as the stock charger. The stock charger can output 45 watts (20V – 2.25A) while the Omars Power Bank charged at about 22.5 watts (15V – 1.5A). However, at this level, the Chromebook still seemed to gain a charge while I used it at the same time (albeit slower than using the wall charger).

Acer R13 Chromebook Charging

My Acer R13 Chromebook is not compliant with the USB-C Power Delivery standard, and unfortunately, this power bank was not able to charge it. Instead, the power bank itself charged from the Chromebook instead of the other way around. The manual for the power bank does not provide instructions for reversing the power flow, and despite my different button presses, I could not find a way to reverse it either. To be fair, the Omars Power Bank does not advertise to charge non-compliant Power Delivery devices.

Omars USB C Power Bank 10000mAh Portable Charger Battery Pack 3-Port USB-C PD 30W Power Delivery...

Omars USB C Power Bank 10000mAh Portable Charger Battery Pack 3-Port USB-C PD 30W Power Delivery...

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Design

The Anker PowerCore Jump Starter Mini comes in a hard carrying case that houses the main power bank, the jump cables, a DC car charger and an AC wall charger.  While the entire kit might be too large to fit in your glovebox, it should work fine in the trunk of your car.

The power bank itself has a hard plastic shell that can withstand some bumps and small drops.  The recessed power button is large and sits on the top of the unit beside 4 blue LED indicators that indicates the charge level of the unit.  The charging ports and the jumper cable connections are all protected by rubber flaps which help keep out dust and debris when not in use, but please note that this unit is not waterproof.

Performance

Important! This jump starter only supports engine up to 2.8L.  Make sure you check the vehicle you are jump starting to make sure that the engine is not larger than 2.8L.  I made this mistake jump starting a friend’s Mustang with a similar unit from another manufacturer and it ended up damaging the jump starter.

Obviously, the biggest feature is the fact that this portable power bank can start your car!  One of Anker’s previous generation of portable jump starters saved my hide after a concert when I ran the car’s radio too long (waiting for the exit lines to die down) and my car then would not start.  My friends were upset as they wanted to get home, but once I pulled the jump starter out of my trunk, we were on the road in no time.

Shortly after receiving the new Anker PowerCore Jump Starter Mini from Anker to review, I noticed a co-worker in the parking lot and that familiar “clicking sound of failure” as she tried to start her car.  I walked over and offered to test out this unit and she happily agreed.  I simply pulled out the PowerCore, connected the jumper cables to her car’s battery, connected them to the PowerCore and she was able to start her car up quickly.  She was so thankful and she even made me a batch of cookies the next day!  Not bad for the minimal effort on my part!

Again, I must stress that this unit is intended for smaller cars with a 2.8L or smaller engine.  Many larger vehicles, such as trucks, may exceed this and you will not be able to jump them (and you risk damaging the unit).

Features

In addition to jump starting your car, the Anker PowerCore Jump Starter Mini feature two Power IQ USB ports so you can charge your smartphones and tablets.  The 9000mAh capacity of this unit would provide about 3 full charges to most smartphones and almost 1 full charge to most tablets.  With the two ports, you can split the 5V 3A output to charge a tablet and a smartphone at the same time (two tablets would likely require 5V 4A, so they would charge a little slower).

There is also a flashlight located on the back of the unit. To activate it, hold down the power button until it powers up.  You can then press the power button to toggle between steady light and flashing mode.  This is handy for looking under the hood of you car at night or for alerting other drivers that you’re stranded on the side of the road.

The unit comes with two proprietary chargers (one for the car and one for home), so make sure not to lose them as it may be difficult to find replacements.

Other Notes

• Don’t leave this in your trunk and forget about it.  Anker recommends using the power bank  and recharging it at least once every 4 months to keep the electrons moving.
• Anker also recommends avoiding extreme temperatures, but the manual doesn’t state what exactly qualifies as “extreme”.  If your local forecast calls for a heat wave or an abnormal cold spell, you may want to consider bringing the PowerCore inside with you instead of leaving it in the car.
• Specifications
  • Size: 6.1 x 3.3 x 1.2 in
  • Input: 15V 1A
  • USB Output: 5V 3A
  • Starting Current: 200 A
  • Peak Current: 400 A

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Performance

Like the Bar, the Jackery Bolt features a 6000mAh capacity is a good balance between power and portability.  Most smartphones can get about 1.5 to 3 charges from this power bank, so it’s ideal to have on hand even for short excursions away from a power outlet.  Tablets, such as an iPad, can get about 50-75% of a charge from this power bank.

The Bolt can supply up to 2.4 amps of power, but this is shared between the 3 output methods (I’ll get to more on that in a bit).  This 2.4 amp output allows a tablet to charge at full speed.  If you’re charging both a smartphone and a tablet at the same time, the phone would like pull 1 amp, leaving 1.4 amps for the tablet.  The tablet can still charge, just at a slower speed.   Most iPhones charge at 1 amp, although some newer models (iPhone 6 and up) can go up to 1.6 amps for a faster charge.

My testing with an iPad backs up the 2.4 amp output claim, but it’s important to note that the 6000mAh capacity will not completely recharge a tablet from 0%.    While using the power bank, it did become fairly warm, but thankfully did not get very hot.

Design

One of the best features of the Jackery Bolt are the two built-in charging cables. There is both a Micro USB cable and a Lightning cable, allowing you to charge Android and iPhone devices alike.  When not in use, the cables tuck nicely into either side of the unit.  There is also a full-sized USB port on the unit that allows you to connect a 3rd charging cable of your own choice (for example, a USB-C cable to charge your Nintendo Switch).

When I originally reviewed the Jackery Bolt last year, my biggest complaint was that the Lightning adapter did not extend enough to reach the Lightning port of my phone when it was in a case.  I’m happy to report that the issue has been resolved in this new, orange version of the Jackery Bolt as it has an extra little “nub” that extends the Lightning adapter enough to fit through my phone case.  No more removing my case in order to charge!

The cables are short, so it can be awkward to carry both a phone and the power bank in your pocket while they’re connected.  It would be best to use this power bank on a flat surface (for example, on a table while you’re grabbing something to eat) so you do not put undue stress on the cables.

The dimensions of the Jackery Bolt are 4.3 x 0.9 x 1.9 inches, making it slightly larger than the Bar.  It fits in my jeans pocket fine, although it can get a little uncomfortable if stacked with my phone or wallet.  At only 5.3 ounces, you likely won’t notice the additional weight in a backpack or purse. For comparison, the iPhone 7 (not Plus) weighs 4.9 ounces, so the Bolt only weighs slightly more.

The Jackery Bolt can be recharged with a standard Micro USB cable (not built-in) and USB wall charger.  It accepts a 2 amp input which can recharge the power bank in as little as 4 hours when using a 2 amp charger, such as an iPad power brick or Jackery’s own multi-port charger.  You can recharge the power bank at any time; you do not need to wait until it is empty.

The exterior of the Jackery Bolt is made mostly of brushed aluminum with plastic on the top and bottom.  This makes the power bank more durable than an all plastic power bank, although it can still get cosmetically damaged or dented if dropped.

Extra Features

Again, the best feature of the Jackery Bolt is the fact that the charging cables are built-in.  This makes it an ideal “grab-and-go” solution as you don’t need to remember to bring your charging cords with the power bank.

The Jackery Bolt also features a built-in bright white LED that can serve as a flashlight in a pinch.  This is handy for walking to your car in the dark or finding the charging port of your phone in the middle of the night.

There are no Quick Charge capabilities included in the Jackery Bolt, which likely won’t matter to you if you have an iPhone or a phone that does not specifically support Quick Charge technology.

Safety and Reliability

Jackery includes their standard set of safety features in the Bolt to prevent overcharging and overheating, although you may notice it gets fairly warm when charging at its full 2.4 amp capability.  Be sure to watch Jackery’s safety video for more information on the testing that goes into Jackery’s products.  I’ve used several of Jackery’s products for years and have yet to encounter a safety concern with their products.

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Power Banks to the Rescue

A power bank is one of your best choices for staying powered during a storm.  As long as your remember to keep it charged, it’s one of your most convenient and effective options.

What to look for

• Capacity: A quick rule of thumb: every 3,000mAh of capacity can recharge your phone about 1 time.  So a 10,000mAh power bank can get you about 3 charges, while a 20,000mAh power bank would get you about 6.  A tablet requires more power and needs about 10,000mAh per charge.
• Output amperage: Most power banks can output at least 1 amp at 5 volts, usually indicated by something like “5V 1A” on the label.  1 amp is enough to charge your phone. If you plan on charging your tablet, then you’ll want to look for a power bank that can output at least 2 amps.

Some Recommendations

• Large: The Anker PowerCore 26800 can give you up to 9 phone recharges and, if you can get to a power source, the dual inputs allow you to recharge the power bank quickly.  Three USB outputs allows multiple people to charge at the same time.
• Medium: The Jackery Titan packs 20100mAh in a durable aluminum shell has enough capacity for about 6 charges to your phone.  The two outputs so 2 people can charge their phones at the same time.
• Small: The Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 can net you up to 2 phone charges, but the main advantage of this charger is the built-in AC charger, allowing you to plug it into a wall when power is available.  So you do not need to remember to bring a separate wall charger with this power bank.

Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger, 26800mAh External Battery with Dual Input Port and...

Anker PowerCore 26800 Portable Charger, 26800mAh External Battery with Dual Input Port and...

$58.64

$65.98

in stock

5 new from $58.64

8 used from $43.99

as of October 6, 2023 12:30 am

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Amazon.com

Jackery Titan 20100 mAh Portable Charger Battery Pack 3.4A Output for Each Port Superior Charging...

Jackery Titan 20100 mAh Portable Charger Battery Pack 3.4A Output for Each Port Superior Charging...

out of stock

as of October 6, 2023 12:30 am

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Amazon.com

Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 2-in-1 Portable Charger and Wall Charger, AC Plug with 5000mAh...

Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 2-in-1 Portable Charger and Wall Charger, AC Plug with 5000mAh...

$29.99

in stock

1 used from $18.99

as of October 6, 2023 12:30 am

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Amazon.com

Last updated on October 6, 2023 12:30 am

Solar Charging Can Help, Too

If you search for solar power banks on Amazon, you’ll see many external batteries with a small solar cell built-in.  Unfortunately, smaller solar cells are not very efficient and it could take several days of bright, sunny weather to completely recharge the power bank.

Instead, invest in a larger, dedicated solar USB charger and then use your own power bank to collect the power.  Some good options include Anker’s 15W Dual USB Solar Charger as well as AUKEY’s 14W Solar Charger.

Use Your Phone to Stay Informed

Information is power. Be sure to download some weather and news apps to keep you informed during the storm.

• Download Local News Station Apps: Search your phone’s app store for the name of your local news station and you’ll likely find their app and maybe even a dedicated weather app.  Be sure to enable push notifications so you can receive breaking news and weather alerts directly on your phone.
• Bookmark Your Local Power Company: If your power utility does not have a dedicated app, bookmark their website in your mobile Safari or Chrome browser app.  In particular, look for a dedicated “outage map” page that shows local power outages and the estimated time to restore power.  Also be sure to add your local power utility’s phone number to your phone’s contact list so you can report that your power is out!
• Follow Local Resources on Twitter: Create a free Twitter account if you don’t have one and start following your local weather professionals, local official county accounts and your state’s emergency response resources.  If you already have an active Twitter account, create a Twitter list so you can focus on the important information and filter out the less urgent tweets.
• Additional App Suggestions: FEMA, The Weather Channel, Emergency: Alerts & Notifications

Preserve the Power You Do Have

1. Turn on Low Power Mode. If your phone has a special “battery saver” or “eco” setting, enable it.
2. Dim your screen. Go into your phone’s display settings and see if your phone is usable at the lowest setting, even if it means cupping your hand over the screen to see it.  The backlight can be one of the biggest drains on your battery.
3. Don’t let weather apps drain your battery.  If you’re staying put until the storm lets up, consider disabling the GPS (also referred to as “location services”) for your weather apps.  Most weather apps will let you enter your zip code in order to retrieve your forecast instead of requiring the use of the GPS.
4. Reduce notifications.  During an emergency, you probably don’t care that it is your turn in Words With Friends, so disable unnecessary notifications to prevent your screen from lighting up every few seconds.  Many phones allow you to change the notifications to “sound only” which helps preserve battery power that would otherwise be used to light up your screen.
5. Keep it plugged in.  If you haven’t lost power yet, keep your phone plugged into the charger (connected to a surge protector, of course).  That way, if your power does go out, your battery will start out at 100%.

Wisely Use Your Devices to Stay Entertained

It’s no fun to sit in the dark watching the weather outside for hours on end.  If you have sufficient power available via external batteries, you can download offline movies and TV shows on Netflix and Amazon Prime ahead of the storm to watch during the outage.  Also, check with your local library to see if the participate in OverDrive which allows you to download various eBooks and videos for free.  You’ll want to download the media while you still have WiFi available.  Once the power goes out, your WiFi will go out, too, and you could then incur data overages from your cellular provider if you stream videos using your phone’s data plan.

Please remember to save your primary phone for emergency communications and ensure you have enough power for it to ride out the power outage.

The post Charge Your Phone When The Power Is Out appeared first on Technically Well.

Performance

The Jackery Bar can output up to 2.1 amps

The Jackery Bar features one USB output that can supply 2.1 amp of power.  This allows both smartphones and tablets to charge at full speed.  Most iPhones charge at 1 amp, although some newer models (iPhone 6 and up) can go up to 1.6 amps for a faster charge.

My testing with an iPad backs up the 2.1 amp output claim, but it’s important to note that the 6000mAh capacity will not completely recharge a tablet from 0%.    While using the power bank, it did become fairly warm, but thankfully did not get very hot.

The 6000mAh capacity is a good balance between power and portability.  Most smartphones can get about 1.5 to 3 charges from this power bank, so it’s ideal to have on hand even for short trips as you can share the charge with a friend.  Tablets, such as an iPad, can get about 50-75% of a charge from this power bank.

Design

The dimensions of the Jackery Bar are 3.8 x 1.8 x 0.9 inches.  It fits in my jeans pocket fine, although it can get a little uncomfortable if stacked with my phone or wallet.  You likely won’t notice the additional weight in a backpack or purse.

The Jackery Bar can be recharged with a standard Micro USB cable and phone charger.  It accepts a 1 amp input which can take up to 6 to 7 hours to recharge, so you’ll likely want to charge it overnight.  You can recharge the power bank at any time; you do not need to wait until it is empty.

The exterior of the Jackery Bar is made mostly of brushed aluminum with plastic on the top and bottom.  This makes the power bank more durable than an all plastic power bank, although it can still get cosmetically damaged or dented if dropped.

Extra Features

The Jackery Bar features a built-in bright white LED that can serve as a flashlight in a pinch.  This is handy for walking to your car in the dark or finding the charging port of your phone in the middle of the night.

There are no Quick Charge capabilities included in the Jackery Bar, which likely won’t matter to you if you have an iPhone or a phone that does not specifically support Quick Charge technology.

Safety and Reliability

Jackery includes their standard set of safety features in the Bar to prevent overcharging and overheating, although you may notice it gets fairly warm when charging at its full 2.1 amp capability.  I’ve used several of Jackery’s products for years and have yet to encounter a safety concern with their products.

Jackery Bar Pocket-sized 6000mAh Ultra Compact Portable Charger (External Battery Power Bank)...

Jackery Bar Pocket-sized 6000mAh Ultra Compact Portable Charger (External Battery Power Bank)...

out of stock

as of October 6, 2023 1:03 am

BUY NOW

Amazon.com

Last updated on October 6, 2023 1:03 am

The post Jackery Bar 6000mAh Power Bank Review appeared first on Technically Well.