What's the one thing the UK's top smartphones like the iPhone 7, Samsung Galaxy S7 and Google Pixel all have in common? Well, these phones actually have much in common, but we'd say a less than ideal battery life is safe bet. Let's face it, smartphones in 2017 can do a lot, but in being able to multitask, stream HD video and more, your battery life can disappear faster than The Flash himself. To overcome the need for more juice, investing in a power bank is a sensible option.
A power bank (for example: GOAL ZERO SHERPA 100 KIT ) or portable charger is essentially a big battery that a user can take with them to avoid missing out on the chance to Tweet, text or call at a moments notice. They're perfect for a long-haul flight or if you're heading out into the countryside
Best portable mobile chargers: How much juice do you need?
The obvious answer to this is that a bigger capacity charger is better, but there are limits: eventually, the size of a phone charger will put the portable part firmly in inverted commas.
With that in mind, let's talk a little about battery capacity. Phone battery is measuring in milliamp hours (mAh): crudely speaking, the higher the mAh number, the better the phone's battery life, though in reality it's not that simple. Some hardware is more power hungry than others, and software can drain juice at different speeds too.
In any case, check your phone's battery size and then compare to the phone charger you want. As a rule of thumb, a tiny 1,000mAh charger will give you around a third of a modern phone battery, while a 20,000mAh battery pack will let you charge your phone around six to seven times.
Here's a list of some of the most popular current handsets and their relative battery size so you can get an idea of the charger size you need:
1. Aukey 20,000mAh Powerpack
Capable of holding 20,000mAh, this Aukey powerpack is a beast of a portable phone charger. Capable of charging two devices simultaneously, Aukey’s pack holds enough charge to charge up an iPhone 6s more than 11 times or keep your Nexus 5X ticking over for just over seven full charges. Best of all, though, you can charge it via a micro-USB or a Lightning cable, so iPhone users don't need to carry around two cables to keep it topped up. Seeing as it weighs a – not inconsiderable – 458g, though, it’s unlikely you’ll want to carry this around with you all the time. That said, dimensions don’t make it the most pocket-friendly device so if you’re always carrying a bag it should always be with you.
2. GamingFuel 12,000 mAh Pokéball
Most power chargers look pretty boring, but this Pokemon themed charger from Gaming Fuel is more unusual. Designed to look like a Pokeball, this power bank features a huge 12,000mAh of power – enough to charge an iPhone 7’s 1960mAh battery ten times. Throw in LED charge indicators, the ability to charge two devices at once, and even a nightlight function – and the Pokeball is a great choice.
3. Emtec U400 Power Clip
While not strictly a portable phone charger, Emtec’s Power Clip is actually a rather ingenious phone accessory. With a capacity of only 2,600mAh (still more than enough to charge an iPhone or iPhone 6s), the Power Clip is designed to be an emergency boost for your phone when it’s running low.
Due to its compact size, there’s no need to worry about carrying a spare cable with you to charge your phone, as you can simply plug the Power Clip straight into your device. Not bad really.