These power banks will fuel you with much needed juice for your next trip

By on September 2, 2015 | Spotlight , Technology

No matter how long your smartphone battery lasts during a normal day at work, it is not going to survive even a fraction of it when you are travelling. While travelling, people are usually hooked to their smartphones or tablets for entertainment and clicking photos from their camera. Along with that, factors like increased use of GPS and fluctuating network coverage further takes toll on the already overworked battery. That is why an external power bank has become a must have travel accessory.

In a bid to find the best travel companion for our gadgets, we spent days trying out different power banks, from the smallest pocket friendly ones to the relatively bigger powerhouses.

Here is our list of the chosen ones with their pros and cons.

Huawei Honor AP007

This is the biggest power bank on our list and when we say biggest, we aren’t just talking about the capacity, we are talking about the dimensions and its looks as well. The Huawei power bank might be boxy and bulky but you can be very sure that you won’t have to bother about plugging your phone into a wall socket for days. The build quality is good with a metal casing but the power button on top feels a little flimsy (though you might not need it at all).

Honor power bankHonor power bank

It has an output of 2A which means that newer devices that support fast charging can be charged quickly. There are 2 USB ports for output so you can charge multiple devices at the same time. This is a great choice for people who carry multiple devices and are often disconnected from power for days.Pros

  • Impressive build quality and looks
  • Great value for money
  • Very high capacity
  • Two USB ports

Cons

  • Large dimensions
  • Weight

Capacity- 13,000 mAh

Price- INR 1,399

Buy from- Flipkart

Xiaomi Mi Power bank

Just like their smartphones, Xiaomi managed to offer excellent value on their power banks as well. The 10,400 mAh powerhouse by Xiaomi is so well built that it wont look out of place kept between a bunch of Apple and HTC devices. It is considerably smaller than the Honor powerbank which makes it slightly easier to handle as compared to the Honor AP007.

Xiaomi 2Xiaomi 1

While the battery capacity and price tag is impressive, the Xiaomi Power bank comes with just one USB port. Another output port would have been really appreciated considering that 10,400 mAh is plenty to charge multiple devices.

Pros

  • Good value for money
  • Well built

Cons

  • Only one USB port
  • Limited availability

Capacity- 10,400 mAh

Price- INR 999

Buy from- Mi Store

Asus ZenPower

The Asus ZenPower was launched alongside the Zenfone 2. Offering almost the same capacity as the Xiaomi Power bank, the engineers at Asus have managed to squeeze in the batteries in an even smaller package. It is still not small enough to be carried in hand along with the phone but still any reduction in size or weight is always welcome.

asus zenpower power bank

Similar to the Xiaomi alternative, it has an aluminium casing that contributes to its ergonomic feel. The output current is slightly higher at 2.4 A allowing for faster charging of high capacity devices like Tablets.

Pros

  • 2.4 A output
  • Premium looks
  • Smaller than similar capacity alternatives

Cons

  • Pricier compared to Xiaomi Power bank

Capacity- 10,050 mAh

Price- INR 1,599

Buy from- Snapdeal

Pebble 2600 mAh PocketCharger

If you are looking for a pocket friendly power bank, you won’t have to look further. The Pebble PocketCharger might not come with huge battery like the other options on this list but it surely scores full marks on portability. With a 2600 mAh battery, it will be able to provide a single charge for a mid range smartphone but for a traveller who would be heading back to the hotel room at the end of the day, that should be good enough to last for a day.

pebble black power bankpebble black power bank

It comes in an attractive cylindrical design which gives it a funky look. The light weight and small size makes it suitable to carry in hand or trouser pocket.

Pros

  • Small size
  • Funky design
  • Easy to carry

Cons

  • Scores low on value for money
  • Low capacity

Capacity- 2,600 mAh

Price- INR 1,299

Buy from- Pebblecart

Lenovo PB 410

If portability is what you are looking for, this power bank for Lenovo scores high as well. It isn’t very small but unlike the first three on the list, it is slim and can be carried easily in your pocket. It is well put together and the brushed metal finish adds a premium feel.

Lenovo power bank

The battery capacity is 5,000 mAh which sort of puts it at the sweet spot between high capacity and portability. It comes with two USB ports with one of them capable of 2A current. There are minor issues like inaccurate capacity indicator or the lack of pass through charging but nothing that would cause you to drop the idea of getting this power bank.

Pros

  • Sleek design
  • Two USB ports
  • Light weight

Cons

  • Inaccurate charging indicator
  • Doesn’t support pass through charging
  • Costlier than the alternatives

Capacity- 5,000 mAh

Price- INR 1,749

Buy from- Amazon

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