Power banks by how much they hold
The number in mAh on a power bank is how much charge it holds, and it is the first thing to decide on, because it sets the size, the weight and how many times it can fill your phone. These pages gather every power bank in the shop by the capacity in its own name and description. Many power banks come in more than one size, chosen on the product's own page; each is listed here under the size in its name.
The four sizes
- 5,000mAh: a top-up, small enough for a pocket. A little under one full charge of a phone with a 4,000mAh battery.
- 10,000mAh: the everyday size, about one and a half full charges, still small enough for a coat pocket or handbag.
- 20,000mAh: for trips, festivals and two phones, about three full charges. More for a bag than a pocket.
- 30,000mAh and over: for camping, days away from power and power cuts, about five full charges, and heavy.
Why the number is bigger than the charges you get
The mAh on a power bank is measured at its battery cells, which run at about 3.7 volts. A phone charges at 5 volts or more, and raising the voltage costs some energy as heat, as does the phone's own charging. Anker, a large power bank maker, uses an overall figure of about two-thirds in its worked example, and that is where the charges above come from. A phone with a smaller battery gets more; a tablet gets fewer; using the phone while it charges costs more again.
The other figure is watt-hours, the energy in the battery, which airlines use. Multiply the mAh by 3.7 and divide by 1,000: a 10,000mAh power bank is about 37Wh. The guide to power banks has the full table.
Questions people ask about power bank sizes
Which sizes can I take on a plane?
Power banks go in your hand luggage, never in a checked bag. The UK Civil Aviation Authority allows two per passenger, they must not be recharged on board, and each should be in a pouch or its packaging so its sockets cannot touch keys or coins. The limits are in watt-hours: under 100Wh is allowed in the cabin, 100Wh to 160Wh needs the airline's approval, and over 160Wh is not allowed in passenger baggage. A 20,000mAh power bank is about 74Wh, inside the first limit; a 30,000mAh one at 3.7 volts is about 111Wh, so it needs the airline's approval. Check your airline's own rules as well, as some are stricter.
Should I buy the biggest I can?
Buy the biggest that you will really carry. A heavy power bank left at home charges nothing. Many people keep two: a small one for every day and a large one for trips.
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