We would advise caution when using pass-through, as it can also cause portable chargers to heat up. Anker discontinued support for pass-through because it found that differences between the output of the wall charger and the input of the device charging can cause the power bank to cycle on and off rapidly and shorten its life span. The Nimble, GoalZero, Elecjet, Biolite, Mophie, and Zendure portable chargers listed support pass-through charging. Pass-Through: If you want to charge your power bank and use it to charge another device simultaneously, it will need pass-through support. There are also other proprietary fast-charging standards, but you won’t generally find power banks that support them unless they come from the smartphone manufacturer.
Many phones also support Qualcomm’s proprietary Quick Charge (QC) standard. A few phones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy S range, support a supplementary PD protocol called PPS (Programmable Power Standard) that goes up to 25 W. Many smartphones, including Apple’s iPhones, support the Power Delivery (PD) standard and charge at around 20 W. Unfortunately, getting that maximum rate also depends on your device, the standards it supports, and the charging cable you use. Thankfully, you can calculate the wattage yourself simply by multiplying the voltage and amperage. We try to provide an estimate of what you’ll get in terms of charges for devices.Ĭharging Speeds and Standards: The charging rate for devices like smartphones is measured in watts (W), but most power banks list the voltage (V) and the amperage (A). There are a few things worth thinking about when you’re shopping for a portable charger.Ĭapacity: The capacity of a power bank is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), but this can be a little misleading because the amount of power you get out depends on the cable you use, the device you are charging, and the charging method (Qi wireless charging is less efficient). Subscriptions help fund the work we do every day. com and our print magazine (if you'd like). Special offer for Gear readers: Get a 1-Year Subscription to WIRED for $5 ($25 off). Updated May 2022: We added a new honorable mentions section and new power banks from Zendure, RUGD, EcoFlow, Chargeasap, and others.
Even if you're not living in an off-grid solar setup, good power banks will come in handy. I had a proper 12-volt battery bank in the bus, but since I was out and about much of the time, portable power was more flexible and let me take energy where I needed it rather than having to be beside a plug.
That experience taught me that the key to solar power is good batteries. This obsession started when I (Scott) lived off-grid in a vintage RV, powered primarily by solar panels. To help, we've spent years working our way through them all. There are hundreds of portable battery packs out there, and picking one can be confusing. If you keep a battery-powered portable charger handy, all those situations are a thing of the past. Portable devices have a Murphy's law-like ability to run out of power at the least convenient moment: as you step on the bus, right in the middle of an important meeting, or just as you get comfortable on the couch and press Play.