18 best external batteries

The HIPER brand is deservedly popular with the owners of mobile gadgets. Compared to numerous competitors, the external batteries of this manufacturer are characterized by good durability and versatility. The integrity of the case is ensured by sufficiently thick aluminum, thanks to which the device is not afraid of falling. As for such a vague characteristics as universality, judge for yourself. First, the dimensions of the MP10000 model still allow it to be carried in pockets, and the battery capacity is enough to fully charge almost any device. Secondly, the battery comes with a solid set of adapters. Thirdly, the built-in microSD card slot, on occasion, allows the device to be used as a card reader. For example, when connected to a tablet. Finally, the brightness of the available flashlight is enough to illuminate the tent in field conditions.

This external battery is universal in the way it connects a power adapter or other charging device. In addition to the microUSB interface, the recommended Power Bank is equipped with Lightning and USB Type-C connectors. In other words, charging it will not be a problem for the owners of almost any mobile gadgets. In addition, as the name implies, Rombica NS240 Quick supports fast charging technology. And both its own battery and the batteries of the connected mobile equipment - of course, if the latter themselves are compatible with the Quick Charge 3.0 specification. As a result, one of the three available output connectors is capable of “outputting” the voltage in the 5-6, 6-9 and 9-12 V ranges with currents of 3, 2 and one and a half amperes respectively. It remains to add that this Rombica boasts a very capacious lithium-polymer battery (24,000 mAh).

In the ranking of the best banks, we simply could not ignore this model, as far as it is the best representative of a small group of external batteries equipped with a familiar electrical outlet. Anything can happen. And laptops that are not charged via USB Type C are still in service. And low-power devices with 220 V power supply autonomously include sometimes the need arises. Another thing is that the efficiency of the inverter circuit of the CS-PBHTBP-20800 is far from 100% and a similar usage scenario implies force majeure.The main functionality of this Cactus is good, but not impressive. Fast charging is supported, but only on the way out. Automatic start is provided, but it is necessary to turn on the 220 V generation mode manually. Charging in accordance with the protocol Power Delivery device can not. Well, they ask for it a bit too much.

A simple and very compact inexpensive external battery that fits easily even in a relatively small pocket and is almost lost in the average female handbag. The case of the device is made of anodized aluminum, which has a very positive effect on its strength. Unfortunately, the scratch and dirt resistance of this model is not up to par. If appearance is important to you - it is worth purchasing a case. The device has nothing superfluous: one connector per input and output, a control button and a four-level indicator. Actually, in order to provide energy, the mobile communication facility is simpler and more unnecessary. Especially if the latter does not support fast charging technology, which Xiaomi Mi Power Bank 5000 also cannot do. The usable capacity of the battery here is about 4300 mAh, so this power bank will not work for regular use with especially “voracious” portable equipment.

If earlier an external battery for a laptop meant a Power Bank, capable of delivering 19 V, and connecting it to a laptop computer could not do without using a special adapter, the wide distribution of the Power Delivery protocol changed this situation fundamentally. Now the owners of modern laptops have to pay attention to the energy transfer profiles that both devices can work with. In this sense, Deppa's external battery is quite versatile, as long as it supports the non-standard Apple profile (14.5 V / 3 A), among other things, both at the output and at the input. The same maximum 45 W can be obtained in the mode of 20 V / 2.25 A. In other words, the list of compatible notebooks from the NRG Station 20100 is large. Note. With Quick Charge technology, this Power Bank is “not familiar”, i.e. for fast charging smartphones unsuitable. For which he receives a rather modest final grade.

The ability of an external battery to charge laptops does not mean that this functionality is implemented in it anyway. When choosing a similar Power Bank, the owners of laptops have to make a start from the parameters of the standard power adapter, otherwise the desired Power Delivery profile will not turn on, and the process will either take a long time or not start at all. The PB24PD model is capable of delivering current up to 2 A at a voltage of 20 V and such output power is enough for fast charging of an average ultrabook. The same MacBook Air, DELL XPS or Mi Notebook Air, for example. In addition, the increased nominal capacity of the external battery from INTERSTEP allows you not only to rely on a full-fledged “refill” of the laptop, but also on a decent “remnant” that can reanimate any smartphone or tablet (5 proprietary fast charging technologies are supported).

The "chip" of this external battery is the ability to charge through one or simultaneously through two microUSB connectors. Accordingly, in the second case, the time of such an operation is reduced by half. The disadvantage here is the need for a couple of suitable current sources (at least 2.3 A each).

Another feature of this model range is the original gesture control, resembling a way to unlock a smartphone. The external battery is turned on by swiping along the touch panel to the right, dragging it with your finger to the left turns it off. Interestingly, HIPER XP17000 is much more compact than the less capacious 15-thousand model of the same line. True, it is noticeably thicker than the last and a bit heavier. As a “place of residence”, the big pocket of the jacket to the battery is quite suitable, and its capacity is enough for 3-4 recharging a powerful smartphone.

Even a pair of phones in a pocket or purse is a commonplace today, what can we say about other wearable electronic gadgets, without which a modern person simply does not leave the house. The rapid rhythm of life dictates its own rules, and there is simply no time to recharge the entire existing “farm”. The only sensible solution is to buy a capacious external battery with several output ports, such as the MPX20000. Three simultaneously connected devices, high load capacity, support for Quick Charge, Power Delivery and MacBook Charging, the ability to pass-through charging - a weighty list of arguments in favor of the recommended model.

Power Bank is universal both in terms of supporting proprietary variations of fast charging technology, and in terms of the variety of connectors available. There is also an unpleasant moment - not any combination of loads from among those stated are possible.

The manufacturer modestly calls its device an autonomous power system, emphasizing the ability to charge this external battery in three ways: traditional and fastest - using a network adapter, using a USB connection to a computer and a high-performance solar panel. The power of the latter is not indicated in the technical specifications, but if it is indeed made of monocrystalline silicon, the rate of charging the battery from sunlight will be quite high. Another distinctive feature of this device is the maximum value of the output current. If the bulk of products of this class has single-ampere ports, then the model from Sititek is able to charge more voracious consumers.

Against the background of the same type of “suns” made in China, this device looks very unusual. In fact, it consists of two devices: the Nomad 7 fabric-based solar panel itself and a block of replaceable finger batteries. The kit includes 4 AA elements, but there is also a special adapter for AAA size. The choice in favor of NiMH-batteries now looks very strange. On the other hand, this is after all a solar battery! Consequently, severe frosts during its operation are not assumed. Respect is already a solid packaging in the form of a book with a cover on magnets. The problem with the amount of charging current that the solar panel is capable of generating here was decided by the most obvious way - by increasing its area. And to reduce the size in the transport position allows folding design. Agree - a simple and elegant solution. On the reverse side of the solar panel there is a mesh pocket with a zipper, in which it is convenient to store various adapter wires, and the charging gadget itself fits here easily.

If the previous model of the company Canyon, presented in our review, has a proud epithet “ultrathin” in general, by right, the name of this external battery is ultra-intensive - pure marketing. For example, among the proposals of this manufacturer there are poker banks and with a larger capacity. But among the latter there are no models with such an original design as the CNE-CPB130. It is possible that you will like the painting for Khokhloma or Gzhel more than the trite black or white color. Otherwise, this is a typical 13-thousandth, with one input and two output connectors for different currents, focused on recharging powerful enough smartphones or tablets. It is only necessary to take into account that the claimed 13,000 "moves" is an abstract value that does not take into account the loss of capacitance during voltage conversion. And further. The model is extremely simple, so no support for Quick Charge technology should be expected from it.

The second generation of Xiaomi's banks is equipped with batteries with an increased operating voltage, so new external batteries of the company are able to store and give more energy. By the way, now honestly indicated on the device packaging: 10,000 mAh (3.85 V) and 6900 mAh (5.1 V). If we also take into account the efficiency of the converter, it becomes clear that the powerful ten-thousand Xiaomi portable devices can fully charge only once, and the average smartphone is 2-3. In other words, we are dealing with a typical urban model that supports Quick Charge technology, as well as having a special mode for servicing gadgets with low charging currents (headsets, fitness bracelets, etc.). The latter is activated by double pressing the control key and is valid for 2 hours. Perhaps the best external battery for a smartphone, and the only complaint that Power Bank 2 can present is a very branded case.

This external battery not only frees you from the need to quickly search for an electrical outlet to revitalize a dead smartphone, but also greatly simplifies the process of charging the latter. Of course, if he supports technology Qi. It was the convenience factor that became decisive for us when choosing the INTERSTEP 10DQi model as the best wireless Power Bank, despite the clearly inflated price tag. It's just that competitors do not have such a cool chip as a docking station, which turns an external battery into an elegant stand, and at the same time blocks “normal” ports to eliminate the possibility of overload. Those. In the normal state, the end-to-end mode with several consumers is not provided, and this is very reasonable, since there is not enough 18 W of input power for everyone. All proprietary variations of fast charging technology and low power sources are supported.