9 things to keep in mind before buying a power bank – Times of India

A power bank is very nearly an indispensable accessory for smartphone users. If you have to travel frequently and/or live in an area where power outages keep happening, you should certainly invest in a power bank. Here are a few things you should keep in mind before purchasing a power bank.
The number of charging ports
The more the number of charging ports, the more devices can be charged via your power bank. These can include other smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, cameras, etc. Hence a power bank with multiple connectors is to be sought after. There are also some power banks that, in addition to multiple connectors, come with built-in USB charging cables which can be folded and stored within the units. That way, the chances of your losing the cable get reduced.
Build quality
The overall quality of the Power bank not only determines its performance but also how fast and accurate the energy transfer from it to the device being charged will be. If you use a low-quality power bank, your device won’t get charged properly and might get damaged also.
The output voltage
Before buying, you must ensure that the output voltage of the power bank matches your device. If the output voltage of the charger is less than the device, it won’t work.
Battery capacity
A power bank should have at least double the battery of your smartphone. Same as your smartphone, a power bank’s battery capacity is also listed in MilliAmp Hours or mAh. The bigger the mAh, the bigger the battery capacity of the device. For example, if your device has a 3,000mAh battery, it is advisable to go for a power bank with twice or thrice the capacity (i.e. 6,000mAh or above).
LED indicators
LED indicator lights can indicate battery level and/or charging status in a power bank. So whenever possible, try to go for a power bank with clear LED indicator lights.
Stick with established brands
Your gadgets are valuable and expensive and you wouldn’t want to use just any brand’s power bank to charge them as they could damage your device. So, stick with power banks from established brands only.
High-grade Lithium-Polymer battery
Low-quality power cells fitted inside some power banks can explode due to overcharging which is extremely dangerous both for the device and any person close to it at the time of the explosion. That’s why we advise always going for a power bank that has a high-grade Lithium-Polymer battery. A few power banks come with built-in protection against short circuits, overcharging and heating. Such devices are always worth spending your money on, even if they tend to be slightly pricier.
Ampere count
The Ampere count is the current that is supplied from the charger to the product being charged. Ensure that the ampere count of the charger and the device to be charged match. If the charger’s ampere count is more, then there is no issue but if it is less, then either the device won’t charge or will charge very slowly.
Cable quality
A good quality charging cable can not only help charge your device fast but is also more durable and can protect your device from sudden power surges and overheating. Therefore, ensure that the power bank you will ultimately buy comes with a good quality charging cable.