Pitaka makes some of the best smartphone cases available; I use their MagEZ Case daily (read our review) as well as the Pitaka MagEZ Mount QI car charger (read our review), and both are fantastic. Now I’m using the Pitaka MagEZ Juice 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Power Bank Dock. It’s a wireless desk charger and Qi-enabled portable external battery in one.
We’ve reviewed dozens of external batteries here on Gear Diary but few have offered the combination of simplicity, power and understated elegance of the mophie powerstation USB-C XXL. This external battery was made with the most recent MacBooks in mind but is also quite friendly with devices that employ a USB-C connector. Of course, USB-A is still present as well.
For a time, it seemed as if every external battery was alike; they all had some sort of housing, a charging port to power up the battery and one or two ports into which a device cable could be plugged.
For a while, backpacks and suitcases have been available that have built-in battery packs for on the go charging. The issue I’ve run into with these combo sets is that I’ve never found a backpack or suitcase that I really liked that came with built-in power. The solution?
I am a bit of a size snob when it comes to portable batteries; if there is an option to get it, I want the largest mAh available. Nothing gives me more comfort when I’ve got a 20-hour international journey than knowing I have enough battery power to keep all of my portable devices charged during the trip.
One thing that I’ve always hated when it comes to external battery packs is their bulky size when it comes to actually putting it in my pocket when on the go. Luckily when Mogix sent over two of their slim external battery chargers, I found my new favorite way to keep my phones charged up. Mogix Accessories sent over two models of their battery pack, the 5000mAh, and the Slim fit 10,400mAh units. Now first off, can I just say, carrying around an iPhone 6 Plus, anything less than 3500mAh I won’t even bother to use as a battery pack,…
While traveling, once thing that I’ve always hated is sitting in an airport, or on a long train ride somewhere and not having an outlet to plug up my MacBook Air. So I started looking for an external battery pack that was in my budget that wasn’t too gaudy, but would charge up my MacBook in the event I cannot charge my laptop when I get that red 5% alert. There aren’t many of said products on the market, but I did stumble upon the BatteryBox from GBatteries Energy. The BatteryBox certainly isn’t cheap. At $220, it’s cheaper than Lenmar’s…
For only $39.99 at Amazon, the Intocircuit 2nd Gen 15000mAH Smart LED External Battery offers you not only an extension to your draining smartphone or tablet, but the full speed charging, dual USB output offers up the ability to charge an iPhone 5s seven times, a Samsung Galaxy s5 more than four times, or an iPhone 6 Plus twice. When you need that extra 20-30% to keep you going, this is one that for sure will keep you going. When I first opened the box for the Intocircuit, it reminded me of more of a remote than a battery…
Simplicity is the name of the game when it comes to the Incipio offGRID 6000mAh Portable External Battery. It is a small, light but powerful backup battery that is designed to keep your devices charged on the go. Better still, thanks to its simple, dual-USB ports, the device will charge two devices on the go with simplicity.
Monster Mobile describes their PowerCard Turbo external battery as “The Universal Smartphone Charger.” And while I’m not sure I would call it “THE” universal smartphones charger, it certainly holds its own thanks to its small size and built-in 3350mAh battery.
Anker’s new 2nd Generation Astro External Battery may be one of the smartest external batteries that I’ve ever used. It’s PowerIQ USB port recognizes the power requirements of your specific device and sends just the right amount of power at just the right speed for that device. The 6400mAh capacity Astro External Battery retails for $59.99.
Anker has consistently shown that smartphone and tablet accessories don’t have to be expensive in order to deliver quality. Case in point, the Anker 2nd Generation Astro E4 13,000mAh External Battery. It has an MSRP of $89.99 but, when purchased through our Amazon Affiliate Store it is under $30! That’s an amazing deal!
If you have a mobile phone, then power management is something that just goes with the territory. Even the new iPhones and Sony Xperias with their larger batteries will still have their moments of inexplicable drains; it’s better to be safe than sorry, so just plan ahead and carry an extended battery pack like the TP-LINK 10400mAh Power Bank.
The Ventev Powercell 3015 External Battery is not the most powerful external battery we’ve reviewed, but its small size, light weight, and low-price make it a good option if you are looking for something inexpensive that will keep you from running out of juice three-quarters of the way through the day. Here’s our review and a chance to win one. As we have seen with other products from Ventev, the packaging is nothing to get excited about. That’s really not an issue, since this is all about having the practicality of a small, light, inexpensive external battery. Fancy packaging would…
I’ve written about many external battery packs that hold 9,000mAh or more, but I haven’t covered much in the sub-5000mAh area, and that’s a shame. If I’m going out for the evening, I’ll inevitably need a boost, but I won’t want to carry a bulky battery pack; that’s where the lipstick-sized Anker Astro Mini comes in. It’s evening bag friendly.
Lesson 1: External batteries are a must-have item when traveling. Even if it just for a day. Lesson 2: Pay attention to lesson 1. Each time I disregard Lessons 1 and 2 I have issues. Most recently I DID have an external battery, but it was too small for my needs. The Juno Power Konnect Two 9000 External Battery isn’t.
Do you need a way to keep your phone or tablet powered when you are out and about? Then you should look no further than the Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank External Battery. Able to charge your mobile phone or tablet repeatedly without being plugged in again, the Harmonica Style Power Bank is slim, powerful, and at $21, it’s amazingly CHEAP. For just a smidgen over $20, you might expect some cheaply made hulk of plastic that weighs a ton and is, well, ugly. But the Lumsing 10400mAh Power Bank is actually a very well made and classy looking tool. The battery’s packaging is…
I’ve written many reviews on extended battery packs for mobile devices, but this is the first time I’ve had an external battery that was capable of charging my MacBook Air or MacBook Pro along with all my other mobile devices at the same time. Why would anyone need or want something as big and powerful as the HyperJuice? Well …
The Ventev powercell 6000+ is a 6000mAh backup battery. Featuring dual USB ports, the 1A port charges phones while the 2.1A rapid charging port will keep your tablet running. A built-in US 110 plug means you don’t need a cable to charge the battery. Best of all, Ventev powercell 6000+ is under $75.
It’s hard to beat the 20,000mAh external battery Judie just reviewed, so I’m not even going to try. Still, while the $59.99 Trent PowerPak Xtreme External Battery Pack offers “just” 12,000 mAh of battery power (“JUST”!! lol), it comes in a rugged shell that built to withstand pretty much anything you can throw at it. And it is under $60.
External batteries are getting to be a necessity. If you want a great one, the RavPower and its 10,400 mAH capacity is one that you should look at. It’s only $34.99 on Amazon (with free Prime Shipping!). RAVPower was kind enough to send their latest RP-PB07 battery for review. Let’s take a look at it in terms of form and function. Form: This battery is simple in its design. It has a button on the front that allows you to check the current charge. On the back is the product label. The bottom of the battery has 2 USB ports…