Buying power bank can seem like a daunting task, especially if you’re going to be relying on it as an emergency source of electricity or battery life. It’s important to choose one with the right number of battery cells and power for your particular laptop, especially if you’re going to be using it in less-than-ideal conditions away from your normal outlet, but there are other factors involved as well.
If you want to know how to choose a power bank for your laptop, read on!
What Size of Power Bank Should I Get?
So you’re ready to buy a power bank for your laptop and want to know what size to get. There are some factors you’ll want to consider before making your decision:
- How long will your laptop battery last?
- How long do you need the power bank to charge in order to charge your laptop battery?
- Is there an outlet nearby where you can plug it in and recharge the power bank or do you need a USB-C PD cable (which allows for charging with a usb-c port)?
With these questions in mind, you may be wondering which size of a power bank is best. The answer depends on how many times per day you’ll need to charge your device (every day or every other day) and whether or not the outlet is close by.
If you have a short commute and an outlet at work, then getting a smaller power bank would be sufficient. On the other hand, if you drive across town each morning and don’t have access to an outlet until noon, then it’s probably better to get a larger power bank so that it doesn’t die out before lunchtime.
Read: How To Compare The Best External Webcam For Laptop?
Buying Power Bank: What Features Should I Look For?
A laptop power bank should be able to charge your laptop without having a separate charger or AC adapter. It should be compact, lightweight, and easy to travel with. Check the battery capacity of the power bank you are considering to see how long it will last on a single charge.
You’ll also want a laptop power bank that is capable of providing enough current for your laptop model. If this matters to you, look for a power bank that advertises compatibility with specific laptops. The downside of this is the power banks may not work with other devices as they only advertise compatibility with certain models.
Some people like smaller devices because they can’t carry a laptop around much anyways, so they just need something small to keep their laptop running until they find an outlet somewhere else.
On the other hand, some people need more power than what’s provided by one single device and require multiple devices hooked up together in order to make it through the day – usually in combination with outlets at public places like airports, coffee shops etcetera – while other people don’t mind carrying around the extra weight in order to have one less thing to worry about at any given moment when out and about.
Read: How Long Will A Power Bank Run A Laptop?
How Do I Know The Power Bank Is Compatible With My Laptop?
If you’re looking for a power bank, the first thing you should do is figure out what type of device it’s compatible with. There are a few things you can do to help find the best one for you:
- Check the input and output current ratings of both your laptop and your power bank. The power bank should have at least as high an output rating as your laptop’s input rating in order to charge it with ease.
- Check how many watts or amperage (A) is allowed through on each device by looking at the plug specs on each device and comparing them with what’s listed on the store page for the power bank in question. If these numbers don’t match up, then it may not be compatible with your laptop.
- You should make sure that the connector type of the power bank matches up with your laptop – there are usually three different types: USB-C, micro USB, and Lightning. You can tell which connector type you need by finding the spec number on your laptop charger cable box.
- Look at the shape and size of the power bank – if you want something small enough to fit in your bag then pick a more rectangular shape over a cylindrical shape like most other chargers because they’ll take up less space. The smaller ones are usually lighter because they have less battery life in them than larger ones do but they are more portable. With laptops now being smaller than ever before, it’s easier to find a compact option that won’t weigh down your backpack or messenger bag when traveling.
There are plenty of other things to consider when choosing the right power bank such as battery capacity, number of ports, and price point, but these are just some basics to get started on your search for buying power bank. The one thing most recommended for checking before buying power bank though is whether or not the product has an input port as well as an output port. Without an input port, there will be no way to charge up the power bank once it runs out of battery life.
What Should I Look For In A Power Bank?
A good power bank should be able to provide enough power to charge a laptop and should be small enough to fit in a laptop bag. Look for one with at least 20,000 mAh of battery capacity. If you need to charge your phone as well, look for one with two ports so you can charge them at the same time.
It should also have an LED light that indicates how much power is left and come with a USB-to-micro-USB cable. Additionally, if it has a USB output on it, you will be able to charge other devices from it. These devices include smartphones and tablets.
Read: How Much Power Does A Power Bank Need To Charge A Laptop?
Conclusion
When it comes to choosing a power bank for your laptop, you need to think about the following:
- How much power will be needed on average to charge your laptop?
- What size of battery should be used?
- How many USB ports are required for charging your laptop?
- Does the power bank have a power display and input indicator lights?
- Is there overcharge protection and auto-shutoff to avoid damage to the laptop being charged or the battery itself?
- How long does the charge last?
