The batteries of electronic devices have evolved a lot in recent years. But, keeping pace with them, the current smartphone and tablet hardware also started to demand much more resources. This has a simple reason: as the devices have become true miniaturized computers, the energy required for operation is increasing.
Even the most advanced devices today are not able to withstand continuous use without the energy draining quickly. In fact, the more powerful the device, the more it tends to suck battery forces.
Who can save us?
One way to maximize the time of use of your smartphone, tablet or camera away from the outlet is through a portable USB battery, which can be connected to the device to increase its duration.
But which option to choose among so many different models, sizes and prices? Basically you need to pay attention to three details: the load capacity, the battery power and the life of the device to choose the best solution for the accessory. Check out these and other tips below.
Duration
Amperage is the first issue you should be aware of. It is indicated by the abbreviation mAh (milliampere-hour), a sub-unit of measurement (derived from ampere-hour, or simply Ah) used to identify the transfer of electric charge through a steady current of one ampere over an hour.
It looks complicated, but it isn’t. Explaining in a simple way, your proposal is to establish and inform the battery life time. So, in theory, the higher the milliampere-hour indicated on the battery, the longer the period your smartphone or tablet can be disconnected from the outlet.
It must be made very clear that this metric does not directly measure the energy of a battery (which is done by the joule or watt-hour units).
Wattage
It is also necessary to pay attention to the output power of the battery, which must be equal to or greater than the charging power of the device. This value is specified in Watts (W) and can be calculated by multiplying the values in Volts (V) and Amps (A).
If the electrical current coming out of the portable battery is less than that needed to charge the device, it will not be charged. In addition, the higher the value, the faster the loading will be done.
If the values for Volts and Amps are not visible on the device, you can find them in the device’s manual, on the manufacturer’s website or even in a service center.
Lifespan
The load cycle is another factor that needs to be evaluated by users. With each recharge, the energy of the external battery will be lost, limiting its use time more and more. That way, it can only be used a certain number of times before it runs out.
You can check the maximum number of refills in the device description or manual. In addition, this cycle can be calculated by comparing the mAh values of the battery’s payload capacity and the indication of mAh in the device’s battery specifications.
