Our smartphones are used for everything, and sometimes even for making phone calls. The problem is that the more efficient they are, the less battery they have. We all dream of a smartphone that would have the longevity of our good old 3310 …
Otherwise, there are back-up batteries. So to stop stressing when your phone displays less than 10% battery, follow the guide! We have tested the best products on the market for you.
To find out how to choose your charging battery, refer directly to our buying guide .
Belkin 10,000mAh – The best in everything
The Belkin external battery has a capacity of 10,000 mAh which will quickly recharge your Phone. Compact, fast and robust, it is intended for everyday use and can charge your iOS up to several times.
Once recharged via your Lightning cable, it has a battery life of 70 hours for the iPhone and 19 hours for the iPad. On the top you will find LEDs that show you the remaining battery level. You will also benefit from two USB outputs, one of 12W and the other of 5W.
It is available in black, white , rose gold and silver .
Charmast 10,000 mAh – The best with LCD display
- Most
- Price
- Design compact
- Quick Charge / PD Adapter
- The lessers
- Its weight
- Port USB-C
- Not currently available in the US
The Charmast external battery has a very practical LCD screen, which gives you the status of your battery and therefore the remaining autonomy.
It also has three outputs, which will be handy if you have multiple devices to charge. There are two full-size USB ports, plus a USB-C PD port that can serve as both input and output, and all three support 18W fast charging, but only one at a time.
On the side is an additional Quick Charge 2.0 compatible Micro-USB port, which can also be used to charge the bank. It charges in about 3.5 hours with a Quick Charge / PD adapter, but in about 5.5 hours with a standard 10W charger.
The downside to this design is that it is a bit larger than most super thin models of similar capacity on the market. This Charmast is roughly the same width as a phone, but it’s a bit shorter and a bit more massive. It weighs 228 grams, which is perhaps more suitable for a bag than your pocket.
Charmast provide soft mesh carrying case and short USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, a nice touch.
JIGA 30,000mAh – The most versatile
- Most
- Nice capacity
- Android and iOS compatible
- The lessers
- Plastic design
- No USB-C output
- $ 32.95
Despite its somewhat dated, plastic design and a built-in LED flash (certainly useful for camping trips), this JIGA also takes us back to the days when you didn’t have to sacrifice ports for some portability.
It is even surprisingly small for such a large capacity battery, although it is still more suitable for bags than pockets.
The JIGA has USB-C, Micro-USB and Lightning inputs, so you can charge it with any cable. It’s a shame that the USB-C port doesn’t work as an output, but each is rated at 10.5W.
These aren’t the Power Delivery speeds we’re more and more accustomed to, but it’s fast enough to charge a phone (or multiple phones).
If all you need is a healthy flow of energy to increase the range of your devices, then this external battery will be very handy to have on hand.
Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless – The best wireless power bank
- Most
- Total power of 18W
- Integrated phone holder
- The lessers
- Incompatible MagSafe, Apple Watch ou Samsung Watch
- $ 39.99
As the name suggests, the PowerCore III 10K has a decently sized 10,000mAh battery, which should allow you to charge your smartphone at least three times before it loses battery life.
The wireless charger has a nominal power of 10W. To work properly, you just need to place your device in the center of the circle. However, it does not start automatically, you must first press its Power button.
You can also charge your devices from its two USB-A ports located on one end, for a total power of 18 W.
Anker PowerCore Essential – The best value for money
The PowerCore Essential is a relatively compact black plastic battery. It has a textured upper surface which improves its grip.
Its USB output uses Anker’s intelligent PowerIQ charging algorithm. This is also connected to a USB-C port which plays both the role of input and output. On the top you’ll find a power button with four built-in LEDs that reveal its remaining capacity.
The latter is 20,000 mAh and it offers several charges, especially for the iPhone XS, the Samsung Galaxy S10 and the iPad mini. With support for Power Delivery technologies and fast charging, you can power almost any mobile device.
A USB-C to USB-C cable and a soft mesh carrying case are included in the box.
Anker PowerCore 10K Wireless – The best mid-range
- Most
- Two USB-A ports
- Total power of 12 W
- The lessers
- Qi at 5 W
- Absence de support MagSafe
- $ 35.99
The Anker PowerCore III 10K is a Qi wireless charger, you can use it at home or at work, plugged in, and carry it without the need for a power outlet.
As the name suggests, the PowerCore III 10K has a 10,000mAh battery, which should allow at least three charges.
In addition to wireless, you can also charge your smartphone via the two USB ports, they provide a total power of 12W sufficient for you to charge both your phone and your headphones.
Moshi IonGo 5K Duo – The best design
- Most
- Sublime design
- Integrated USB-C and Lightning cables
- Vegan leather
- The lessers
- Price
- $ 74.95
The IonGo 5K Duo sports an almost identical design to its predecessor the IonGo 5K, except that it has two built-in USB-C and Lightning cables. This beautifully designed battery packs away in a soft, vegan leather case and closes with a magnetic clasp.
It is a high-end device that offers a large charging capacity of 5,000 mAh.
This can reach 15 W with USB-C and 12 W with Lightning. If you use the two together, you will find that the charging speed is slightly slower, with a maximum total power of 3.4A (17W).
You will understand, this external battery is suitable for both Android and iPhone users, although it is specially certified iOS.
Backup batteries: what you need to know
Not all backup batteries are created equal. Before buying your portable battery, there are a few technical characteristics to be aware of.
The storage capacity of a portable battery is measured in milliampere-hour, mAh. The more mAh you have, the more electricity your portable battery stores.
It is good to note that regardless of the battery, there is a loss of energy due to the voltage conversion and the heat it produces. External batteries on the market are generally 60% or 70% efficient. Only a few premium products can boast of being up to 90% efficient.
To be sure that you can fully charge your device, you should choose a portable battery that has more mAh than your mobile phone.
Another aspect to consider is the input rate, which is the speed at which your portable battery charges. This is measured in amps, A (sometimes called “Amp” on packaging). The higher the number of amps, the faster the battery recharges.
Finally, you have to consider the output rate of the portable battery, that is, the speed at which the battery will charge your cell phone. It is also measured in amps.
Most smartphones charge with 1A (5W). However, some recent models, “quick charge”, can be recharged more quickly by absorbing 2A (10W) for example.
So choose a portable battery with the number of amps appropriate for your phone. Note, alas, an external battery with a 2A output port will not recharge a 0.7A cell phone faster, and vice versa. If your phone is “quick charge” and accepts an input flow of 2A but you recharge it with an external battery with a capacity of 1A, it will recharge less quickly.
Additional features: from the most gadget to the most useful
- The torch
- Auto-on / Auto-off: The portable battery turns on and off automatically when a device is plugged in, minimizing power loss.
- LEDs or LCD screen: they are used to display the level of the external battery.
- SMART or Power IQ: by recognizing the amperage of the device to be recharged, the backup battery optimizes the recharging time.
- “Passthrough charging” or Direct recharge: allows you to recharge the battery and the device (phone, tablet, etc.) at the same time. In one take two shots!
How to choose the right portable battery?
Choosing the right portable battery depends on your needs and your devices. The key is to find the balance between portability, cost, number of recharges and speed of recharging.
Some people will prefer a portable battery that fits easily in a bag and offers two full recharges of their cell phone, others will choose a larger battery that has some under the hood, and which can charge several devices at the same time.