If you have an old device that you love to use, although it is a struggle due to its age, then using one of the best power banks could help you extend its life.
This is something I discovered when trying to get the most out of my iPad Pro 12.9, because while I still like using it for creative and professional tasks, several years of heavy use have made it hard to rely on for periods of work.
That is, until I used a portable charger to help me improve the way it works.
taking a battery
What affects a device most over time is battery life : constant cycles of discharging and recharging can greatly reduce its power capacity, meaning it lasts less and less while unplugged.
You may not notice it with daily use, but after several years of use, the power consumption will become noticeable. If you have an old iPhone that seems to burn through battery percentages, you’ll know what I mean.
I used to take my iPad with me during work days in coffee shops, spending six to eight hours on the screen between walks to different cafes and breaks to do other things.
Today, though, I’ll have about half that time. Having white documents open on the screen will eat up the battery, even if I’m not connected to Wi-Fi and have other features turned off as well.
Get into a power bank
I have several power banks (for testing purposes), but the several I’ve been using clock in at a whopping 20,000mAh. That’s generally the highest capacity charger you’d consider buying, as bigger and you’ll get an absolutely massive device, but smaller and you won’t get too many charges.
With that capacity, I’ll be able to charge the iPad’s 9720 mAh battery twice, with a little left over for whatever headphones I’m using (or to give my smartphone a little more oomph).
I wouldn’t actually turn it on full power twice , that would give me a lot more screen time than I really need , but the versatility of having this amount of power is really helpful.
This amount of extra battery is useful if I have a smartphone that needs a lot of power. It’s also handy for days when I completely forget to turn on the portable charger before taking it with me; I’ll know I’ll have at least enough left over to power up the iPad once.
A power bank is easy to use in a coffee shop as I can keep it connected to the iPad while I work. Sure, the banks actually charge at a slower rate than the iPad, but if it’s plugged in all the time when I’m using it, this download isn’t fast at all.
Many of the power banks I’ve started using actually have built-in displays that tell me how much charge they have left, which is really helpful when I’m looking for which one to take. Most of the others have LED strips that light up based on how powerful they are, which is a rudimentary but useful way of letting me decide which one to take.
My only concern is that most of the power banks I’ve used are powered via micro USB, so they don’t power up too quickly if I find all my portable chargers are low on power before I leave the house. It also means I have to dig up my one and only micro USB charger from time to time, which I otherwise only use for my Kindle and PS4 controller , and stash it in the bottom of a drawer as a result.
Keeps an old appliance running
If it wasn’t for my portable power bank, I probably would have stopped using my iPad Pro for work when I’m away from home, as the power drain and sore joints would make it difficult to use on the go (when I’m always near an outlet). of current and a charger).
This is the same for other devices : if you find that your old iPhone runs out of juice at lunchtime, or your smartwatch needs constant power to keep going, a portable charger will be great for a mid-day top-up.
Sure, in that case you won’t need 20,000 mAh like me : 10,000 mAh or even just 5,000 mAh will suffice, and more laptops to boot.
Our list of the best power banks contains a range of different types of power banks, so if you need a chunky charger or a baby power bank, you’ll be fine (it also has some cool ones like solar or cordless). So if, like me, you have an old device that you want to get some extra life out of, you really should take a look at this list.
