Are you tired of hugging a wall to power your gadgets? There is a huge marketplace for batteries, cables, cases and chargers to power the most popular handsets like the iPhone 6S and Samsung Galaxy series. Finding the best or most compatible for each is nearly impossible. Fortunately, over the last few months, I have tested and utilized multiple batteries, cables, cases and chargers from crowd funded projects to large corporations.
(This roundup was so huge, that we had to split it up into two parts. Today, we’re covering batteries of all brands and types. Tomorrow, we’ll cover cases, charger, and cables.)
All backup batteries offer some type of USB port or integrated power cable to charge gadgets. LifePower created something truly different with their 25.6k mAh battery that includes a full three prong (North America) charging port. It can produce 100W of continuous power, from a handheld battery that fits nicely into a bag. The US model outputs at AC 120V, 60 Hz and a max 120W peak. Its full sized USB port can charge high drain gadgets like iPads at 3A – 15W. Remarkably, it can be fully charged in about three hours via its 19V at 2.1A wall charger. This is the perfect battery for when train rides or flights do not have a charging port at the seat.
LifePower A2 25,600 mAh Backup Battery With Power Plug $299
The myCharge brand is well known in airport travel stores because they come pre-charged and offers plenty of backup power for long trips. The HubUltra with its 12,000 mAh of power arrived pre-charged. It charges via a special charging dock with a 4A output and has a full sized USB port to power high drain devices like iPads. Typical batteries charge from the wall at 1A or 2A, so at 4A this is one of the highest performing backup batteries in this review roundup. I like this battery because it has a sleek anodized aluminum design and two strong integrated cables. One is a lightning cable and the other is a micro USB cable.
myCharge HubUltra With Fast Wall Charger $149.99
Bezalel makes one of a few power banks currently on the market that also includes a wireless charging pad on top. It combines wireless power with a full sized USB port on the side for charging other devices. Four blue LEDs display its current charge level. The Prelude pairs well with Bezalel’s Latitude iPhone 6S wireless charging case.
Bezalel Prelude 7k mAh Wireless Battery $79.99
Choetech is the only provider of fast Qi charging pads I have tried with compatible Samsung Galaxy smartphones such as the Note 5. The company says this pad is also compatible with the newer Galaxy S7 smartphones, though I have not been able to test that yet. It is rated to power fast Qi capable devices up to 1.4x of normal wireless charging. The Galaxy S7 charging adapter will not work with this pad, a Quick Charge 2.0/3.0 adapter is required for fast wireless charging. This pad will also charge standard Qi wireless enabled products. It will wirelessly fast charge the Galaxy S7, S7 edge, Note 5 and S6 edge+ from Samsung.
Choetech Fast Qi Charging Pad Compatible with new Samsung Galaxy Smartphones $23.99
Batteries that contain flip out wall prongs are more convenient than those that require their own power adapters. TYLT’s ENERGI 6k mAh battery has that and a few other tricks. The model I tested came with an integrated lightning cable and a full sized USB port. It is designed to charge device batteries first, and then charge its own internal battery. The internal hardware of the ENERGI 6k+ charges gadget batteries fast, depending on if they are 1A or 2.1A capable. High drain devices like iPads, will see a faster charge time with this battery, rather than when powering up via a standard 1A iPhone charger.
TYLT ENERGI 6k+ Portable Battery With Lightning Cable $59.99
Limefuel has produced a beast of a portable 20k mAh battery pack with four full sized USB ports for simultaneous charging that output a max of 4.2A. Each port is capable of 2.1A of power output. If you connect multiple high drain devices, the third and fourth port will then balance any remaining output amperage. Charging the Limefuel BLAST L200X is done via its micro USB port at 2A. A fully charged battery takes between 11 and 21 hours depending on what charger is used. The recommended charger is Limefuel’s own dual USB 4.8A model.
Limefuel L200X Pro 20k mAh 4 USB Auto Off External Battery $49.99
The Powercell 6000+ has two ports, one with an output of 1A at 5W and the other with 2.1A at 10W. Its internal 6,000 mAh battery can charge an iPhone 6S up to two times. Integrated folding AC prongs are included for even greater convenience from the stylized black and orange accented battery with a soft rubberized feel.
Ventev Powercell 6000+ 2 USB Battery $69.99
This car charger offers 2.1A of output power from its single USB port when powered from the vehicle. It charges at 1A when disconnected from the car. Its internal 900 mAh battery is good to top off gadget batteries. If you do not need a small internal battery with a car charger, consider Ventev’s dashport r2240 dual USB that provides 2.4A per port.
Ventev Car Charger Powerdash r900 $34.99
Charge an iPhone 6S fully and provide some backup power to an iPad from the goBAT II with 5,000 mAh. High drain devices like the iPad will power up faster via its 2.1A USB port. The other USB port outputs at 1A and works well to charge low drain devices. Its unique design slips nicely into a back pocket.
Scosche goBAT II 5,000 mAh Dual USB external battery $39.99
There are portable batteries with multiple USB ports and large capacities at 10k mAh or more. Then there are pro versions of these batteries. The WeeGo Tour 10400 rechargeable battery pack comes with a few unique benefits that make its cost worthwhile. First, the Tour charges at 2A via its micro USB port. The majority of large batteries over 6k mAh charge at 1A or 1.5A. Spend less time waiting on your backup battery to charge and get moving sooner.
The types of battery cells in power banks are not normally a topic of discussion, however with the Tour, it has premium Samsung SDI Lithium-ion cells. Because WeeGo believes in their workmanship and quality of battery cells from Samsung, they provide an 18 month long warranty. A longer warranty, higher quality battery cells and auto off functionality should keep gadgets going all day.
WeeGo 10.4k mAh Battery Pack $54.99
Power Practical knows what busy travelers need in a rugged yet premium power pack, a quick charge in one hour for its 4,500 mAh of internal charging power, with a specialized power adapter. The top of the battery has a flip lid and an aluminum shell that protects its USB ports and charging hardware. Charge high drain devices like tablets with its 3A output, one of the highest I have tested or seen available. I like its smart dials on the front that display battery and charge rate levels. To power up this backup battery at an hour’s notice, it will require the special wall charger.
Power Practical Pronto 5 Super Fast Charging Battery $79.99
This 15,000 mAh slim dual USB Quick Charge 2.0 enabled battery fits many of my go bag requirements. Fast charging technology from Qualcomm called Quick Charge 2.0 charges QC 2.0 enabled devices up to 75% faster than a standard charger. Road warriors will enjoy its 18-month extended warranty and integrated flashlight to see which side is up on USB cables. I have used multiple AuKey batteries and cables, which are all still working well.
AuKey 15k mAh Quick Charge 2.0 Battery $27.99
Hyper makes some of the most highly engineered batteries for MacBooks and tablets. They have a few of my favorite batteries from all of the brands I have tested over the years. Their latest battery is integrated into a dual mirror compact that comes in multiple colors. The single full sized USB port on this battery can produce 2.1A to fast charge larger iPhones and partially charge a tablet. This compact also comes with six integrated white LEDs that are arranged around in a circle.
Hyper Pearl Gold Compact Mirror 3k mAh Backup Battery $29.95
Echo and their batteries are part of an expanding line of card sized power packs for those who need to get a complete iPhone 6S charge. I first became aware of the UK based Echo brand from their Connect Key, a full sized USB short cable with micro USB and lightning tip ends. The PowerConnect comes with 4,000 mAh and an integrated cable that has micro USB and lightning connectors. They also make mini versions with 1,600 mAh and singular $15 micro USB or $19 lightning connectors that are good to top off a gadget battery.
Flux Chargers Flux Card 2500 mAh Fast Charging Battery $25
Choetech, who also makes a high grade braided nylon lightning cable with metal ends in this review roundup, has engineered the first Quick Charge 3.0 portable battery with 10,400 mAh. Two full sized USB ports, one lightning charging port and one additional micro USB charging port round out the inputs. This premium battery offers LG battery cells. Charge 4X faster than standard chargers with QC 3.0 supported devices. Choetech’s new battery can charge compatible devices to 80% in about 35 minutes.
Choetech Quick Charge 3.0 10k mAh Battery $39.99
That’s it for part 1 of our big roundup. Come back on Thursday for our big finish, when we’ll cover cases, charger, and cables! See you then!
