The 10 Best Battery Packs & Power Banks for iPad & iPhone

eyephonesapplications.com 9:13 PM 1 comment



A Power Bank Can Save Time & Increase Productivity By Allowing Your Work On the Go Longer

If you have an iPad or iPad mini or an iPhone, chances are that more than once you've run out of juice and not been anywhere you can plug in and recharge. That "20% Battery Remaining" message can cause mild panic if you won't be getting home in a while. Even if you pack a charger for the time away from home, you might not be able to plug it in any place convenient.

For the times when you can't plug in to an outlet, the only way you can ease the worries of losing power on your iPhone, iPad or iPod is to use a portable battery pack, also called a power bank. A portable battery pack or power bank plugs into your phone or tablet anywhere, and recharges it on the go. You can use the iPhone or iPad normally after you plug it in, or you can stow both in your backpack or travel bag while it charges.
The best option available is of course to make sure you can be somewhere to recharge, either in the car (with a car charger or one of those really cool solar powered chargers) or at a friend's house or hotel room with free, unlimited access to the outlets - but for any long periods of time spent traveling when you don't have an outlet nearby, the battery pack is essential and incredibly convenient way to recharge your iPad, iPhone, or other tablet or smartphone.
Detailed review of the RavPower 5600: RavPower Element 5600 power bank review.
Things to consider when shopping for a backup power bank include size, Amp-hours (the capacity of the device), and connectivity. Also consider the amp rate it charges at, and make sure does so at around 1 Amp for smartphones and over 2 Amps for tablets.
I've reviewed the smartphone-ready packs first, and then smartphone/tablet backups, and finally the best ones for tablets at the bottom.

1. Anker Slimtalk 3200 - Ultra-slim Design Adds 100%-200% Battery Charge for Most Cell Phones

The Slimtalk 3200 is a fantastic device not only for it's sleek design and small size that adds to it's convenience, but also for the punch it can pack. A full charge of the Slimtalk power bank can add up to 200% battery charge on most cell phones - and for the full-featured, Retina-display iPhone, it will add 100% to the battery - effectively doubling your battery life.
Anker Slimtalk also comes with a USB output for other mobile devices that support USB hookups with their own cables.
The Slimtalk is less than half and inch thick (0.4" to be exact) and about the size of a credit card. It can easily be stowed in either a backpack of even your pocket without adding a tremendous amount of bulk.
As a side note, the quality of Anker is really good: They have five in the of the top ten products on Amazon's Cellphone Batteries category, and they provide 18 months of full-service coverage - and excellent customer service.
  • Capacity: 32 Amp Hours (3200mAh)
  • Size: 4.17" x 2.24" x 0.4" at 3.2oz
  • Charging Amps:0.6 - Smartphone Ready
The #1 feature of the Anker Astro Mini is just that: It's mini. The 'lipstick tube' shape can easily fit into a pocket and not be noticed. It's not bulky, it's not brick-shaped, and it's still powerful enough to give your iPhone a full charge or an extra 8+ hours of talk time, and up to 80 hours of additional time listening to music. All this in a tube 3" long by under 1" around.
Barely bigger than a tube of lipstick, the Astro Mini will still give your iPhone a full 100% recharge on the go.
Like other Anker products, this backup is covered by an 18 month guarantee and has top notch build quality and good customer support.
Many buyers reports the Astro Mini is all the backup they need - making this the best value for the dollar compared to much larger iPhone power banks that are way more than you might actually need.
  • Capacity: 2600mAh
  • Size: 3.5" x 0.9" x 0.9" at 2.7oz
  • Charging Amps:0.8 - Smartphone Ready

Measuring 4.1" by 2.3", and about 0.5" thick, the Powerstation is small and compact, but still gives you over two full charges on an iPhone, and provide an additional several hours of use for a tablet. One of the few top-rated models you where you can choose the color (for those who feel this is important), the Powerstation is just as stylish as the rest of the offerings here, but a bit more like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5 for the industrial look.
Industrial looks compliment the Powerstation nicely in company with the newer iPhones - and it has power enough to make it worthwhile.
It's marketed as being 'able to charge any USB device in the world' and offers higher output charging for tablets - so it doesn't matter whether you have a Nintendo, an iPhone, or a Droid. Or a Nook... you name it, the Powerstation can charge it.
It's built like a tank and can store power for well over a week between being recharged with little or no loss.
  • Capacity: 4000mAh
  • Size: 4.1" x 2.3" x 0.5" at 4.4oz
  • Charging Amps:1-2.1 - Smartphone/Tablet Ready

4. New Trent iTorch - 5200mAh - The #1 Choice for Truly Mobile, Portable Battery Power for Your Smartphones

The iTorch is hands-down the best option for smartphone users who want the best balance between power and portability. The New Trent iTorch measures only 3.5" by 1.5" and under 1" thick - smaller than the iPhone (but just a bit thicker). It carries a 300% charge for the iPhone 4S, and provides hours of video playback and audio time for enjoying movies and music on the go, or just charging up your device overnight.
iTorch is marketed for iPhone users - and it shows in the small size, powerful battery, and ease of use that New Trent has packed into this power bank.
A built-in flashlight can also come in handy if you have to deal with a dark hotel room or bottomless cargo bag. the iTorch power bank is aimed at the iPhone user and needs a USB connection to recharge - it does not come with an AC adapter for wall socket charging. Buyers regularly get three full charges of an iPhone with the iTorch.
  • Capacity: 32 Amp Hours (3200mAh)
  • Size: 3.5" x 1.5" x 0.9" at 4.6oz
  • Charging Amps:1 - Smartphone Ready

5. Targus Backup Battery - 4800mAh - Slim & Easy to Carry, with Enough Power to Take on Short Trips

Targus has long been a player in the field of mobile computing accessories, and this entry into the power bank field keeps their reputation alive with solid performance. This model is tablet ready with a 2.1 Amp output and provides an additional 5 to 10 hours of solid usage from your iPad. But it does have a pretty solid size as well, so it might be best stowed in your backpack while it recharges the iPad.
Targus keeps it's mobile accessories reputation alive with this backup power station for tablets.
Targus has designed this power pack for iDevices: It can be used with the USB Lighting cable that came with your iPad 4th Generation, iPad mini or iPhone 5 (but the cable is not included).
  • Capacity: 4800mAh
  • Size: 6.5" x 5.2" x 1.2" at 7.2oz
  • Charging Amps:2.1 - Tablet Ready

Power Banks for Tablets/iPads

Tablets do better if they charge at a higher Ampage. Smartphones can do okay with around 1 Amps, but for your iPad look for a battery pack that offers at least 2 Amps output. All of these models I recommend offer at least this much.

6. PowerGen PGMPP8400 - 8400mAh - Pocketable, Portable, Powerful: A Great Pocket Charger for Smartphones

Compact, stylish design marks the PowerGen 8400 - it looks very nice sitting with an iPhone, and has the power to back up the good looks. It will give you an extra 50 hours of talk time or 25 hours of video play back time for an iPhone. Often, this extra life is enough to get you around for several days if you're without a recharge because standby time this pack offers is even better (standby time uses much less power than actual talk time, of course).
PowerGen 8400 offers a huge bang for the buck: stylish & small enough to leave plugged in during use without sticking out like a sore thumb. Powerful enough to last a long time.
A big pro with this battery backup is it's style and size: It's small and stylish enough that you can leave it plugged into your iPhone even while you use it. Many power banks are just big or heavy enough that you can't easily carry them around while you use the device. 8400mAh ensures your iPhone 5 has more than enough juice to go around, given the iPhone 5 has a battery rating of 1440mAh.
One thing to note is that the PowerGen 8400, like the battery bank above, is best suited to smartphones rather than to tablets. A tablet needs A LOT more power than even the biggest smartphone, so consider how your battery pack will primarily be used when making your purchase.
  • Capacity: 8400mAh
  • Size: 3.8" x 2.5" x 0.8"
  • Charging Amps:0.6-2 - Smartphone/Tablet Ready

7. uNu Enerpack Vault - 11000mAh - What It Gives up In Size It Makes Up for In Power

Tablet battery banks are big, but this one squeezes 11,000mAh into a 7.5" by 4.5" square that's 1.5" thick. In other words, it's big. But the size is easily offset by the power it packs, allowing you to complete charge your iPhone 5 several times over and use your iPad at full capacity for hours longer than you other could - it can provide a standby time of 1400 hours (!!!)
Big and beefy, the Enervault gives you a generous power supply and up to 1400 hours of standby time.
uNu uses what they call "uNiversal" technology to provide two different amp ratings for charging - 2.1 for the iPad and 1 for smaller devices like smartphones. This, coupled with the what uNu calls "leading edge internal circuitry" give you some really impressive battery numbers for the price and size.
Like most backup devices, It can power your Apple iDevices with their original cables.
  • Capacity: 11000mAh
  • Size: 7.5" x 4.5" x 1.5" at 12oz!
  • Charging Amps:1-2.1 - Smartphone/Tablet Ready
The Yoobao 11200 charger is highly recommended for several reasons, including good quality, relatively small size, and good power - but one thing that really makes it pop out from the crowd of other iPad or iPhone battery pack is that with the Yoobao 11200 charger you can charge two devices at the same time.
The included device connectors ensure that the Yoobao is adaptable with almost any popular modern gadget - adding to the convenience of this battery pack.
To give you an idea of the power this power bank can hold, it has an 11,200mAh capacity capacity... the iPad 2 has a battery rating of about 6900mAh, and the iPad 3 at about 11,600mAh, making the Yoobao 11200 a very attractive device for the price.
The power pack is compatible with all kinds of tablets, phones, and other devices thanks to a fleet of connectors that come with it: For extra juice connect it easily to your iPhone, iPad, Nintendo DS, Kindle or Kindle Fire, Sony PSP, etc.
  • Capacity: 11200mAh
  • Size: 4.7" x 3" x 1" at 9.3oz
  • Charging Amps:2.1 - Tablet Ready

9. NewTrent iCarrier - 12000mAh - A High Quality Battery Pack Great for Smartphones & Tablets Alike

NewTrent has offered some good quality products for mobile devices before (including the top-rated click-style Arcadia stylus), and this power bank is no different. The iCarrier is a 12,000mAh back-up power plant packed into a very portable package about 3" square and a bit over 1" thick - making it truly portable. Compatible with all popular modern devices by 5 USB ports, it boosts battery life on the iPhone 5 by over 600% (!!!!), which they credit for supplying an extra 55 hours of movie time for the device.
New Trent iCarrier features a durable case to compliment it's hefty battery life, making it able to withstand the bumps of travel without sustaining damage.
Some buyers also love the high quality packaging that the iCarrier arrives in - almost matching the same quality you expect from Apple itself. The durable casing on the iCarrier also ensures it will stand up to most uses for a long time (although a 10 month guarantee is included).
The New Trent iCarrer is compatible with all current Apple cables out of the box. If you have both a smartphone and a tablet and need a more portable power bank, this is definitely a choice you cannot go wrong with. Plus, New Trent customer is very fast and professional.
  • Capacity: 12000mAh
  • Size: 2.9" x 2.8" x 1.1"
  • Charging Amps:1-2 - Smartphone/Tablet Ready

10. EasyAcc - 12000mAh - The Best Power Bank for Tablets

This model from EasyAcc is perhaps the best you can find for charging tablets on the go - it's 12,000mAh battery bests even the latest iPad (and an up to 150% charge for the iPad 2 battery) and offers the same higher-end Lithium-Polymer battery that Apple uses in the iPad (but please note that you can use a different type of battery to charge your device with no harm).
The EasyAcc offers over-charging protection, over-current protection, and short-circuit protection - keeping both this and any plugged in devices safe.
The EasyAcc also features four USB ports to charge devices simultaneously - although battery charge will go down as you plug in more devices. It features power enough for a charge of 600%~700% of iPhone 4 and 4S, and a 200%~250% charge of Google Nexus 7 battery life.
One thing to note is that for a battery of this size and power it is also bigger - less portable for some people than others.
  • Capacity: 12000mAh
  • Size: 5.5" x 2.8" x 0.9"
  • Charging Amps:0.5-2.0 - Tablet Ready
iPad 3 battery life a5x chip
iPad 3 battery life a5x chip

Plan Your Day

Planning Ahead Can Help You Maximize Battery Life and Minimize Battery Drain

If you're heading out for a regular day, you know what to expect and chances are the built in battery of the iPad or the iPhone will be enough - and if you're like me, you hook it up once you get in the car so the only real battery use comes when you get out physically and use the phone on the go. The iPad 3 marked a big boost in battery life over the iPad 2, more than enough for a lot of people.
However, you can still plan ahead for high-use occasions to get the most from your battery. Some common sense tips I've found can really be a big help. Basically, just plan ahead - but I'll share my own experiences to give you a leg up.
  1. Batteries have lifecycles. Often, giving the battery a long charge (say, going from 12% up to 100%) may give you better results than hovering around 70-80% and popping it into the charger for a half-hour.
  2. Plan Messages & Phone Use Time When You're Out. Being attached at the hip to your iPhone isn't the problem (well, not as far as battery life goes) - it's the incessant checking most people seem to do that really wears down the battery. Instead of checking your phone every ten or fifteen minutes, or even responding to a text every time one pops in, set a limit for yourself: Decide ahead of time that you'll only check your phone twice an hour, for example, and take care of all the business at once.
  3. If you work in an office, can you buy a second USB cable to bring to work each day or leave in your drawer? This will let you always be connected to a power supply and most employers will allow a charger to be connected in at your workspace.
  4. Use a Bluetooth (or for the radiation-conscious, Bluetube) headset to answer and set up replies without using the screen. Siri makes it possible to respond without touching the screen - and capacitative touchscreens like the iPad and iPhone have means a lot of touching and tinkering can chew through the juice pretty quickly.
  5. Open up settings and toggle off as many battery-sipping features as you can. I talk more about this in my Lens "ImprovingYour iPad's Battery Life", but the exact same process is involved in saving juice on the iPhone.
I hope these last few tips help you save some juice - again, they're common sense and you may already be using them but every little bit helps. If you need a battery pack or power bank, plan on how you'll be using your device to figure out which one you need. Will you be going on a safari, with more than a few days away from the outlet? You'll need a much bigger one than if you just plan on a day away. Also, if you only need a minimum backup, then the Anker Astro Mini is likely all you'll need.

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1 comment:

  1. UnknownNovember 24, 2017 at 5:58 AM

    I look the site it was a very good and very informative in many aspects thanks for share such a nice work. Biggest Battery Bank in the World

    ReplyDelete

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