Good kit

The resulting impact on battery life is profound, roughly 50 per cent less than using your tablet on the ground. Putting aside the various techniques you can utlise to keep your device cool, and the processor ticking along at a canter rather than a gallop, what options are available to avoid the black screen of death? In this month’s Good Kit we look at the latest and greatest in portable chargers.

We have something here for you, whatever your needs, from a bucketload of power to keep you and all your passengers connected to a pocket-friendly solution that slips neatly into your map pocket. Interestingly, many of the latest and greatest portable devices are not available in Australia so you’ll need to register for an Amazon account. Note, too, the devices do not support Australian power points so you will need a US adapter.

We’ve also learned that when it comes to buying a portable power source there is one number you MUST be aware of: the battery capacity. To charge an iPad or similar tablet drains almost four times the power of a smartphone so you’ll require a minimum of 20,000mAh.

A rough rule of thumb for the number of charges you get from your portable charging device is: portable battery capacity/device capacity = number of charges
iPad Mini = approx 5,000mAh
iPad Pro = approx 11,000mAh
You can do the sums…..

‘‘There is one number you MUST be aware of: the battery capacity.’

OMNICHARGE OMNI 20

Capacity: 20,400mAh
Outputs: Four ports (100W, 70W, 3A, QC 3.0)
Weight: 630g (1.4lb)
Price: US$249 www.amazon.com
Time to fully charge: Around 3 hours
If you’re craving the versatility to charge any device in the room but still want something reasonably portable, then the Omni 20 is set to become the new object of your desire. This unassuming square with sloping corners packs a multitude of speedy charging options. While Omnicharge may have literally cut corners on the exterior, you’ll find everything you could need inside.

There’s a proper AC outlet, just like a wall outlet, capable of putting out 100W to power a laptop or other large devices — you could even plug your TV into it! There’s also a DC outlet that can put out 70W, and two USB ports — the first is rated at 5V/3A while the second supports the Quick Charge 3.0 standard. So whatever smartphone you own you should be able to charge at top speed from this power bank.

Next to the power button, you’ll find a small OLED screen that shows the remaining power as an amount and as a percentage. It also displays how much power is currently coming in, how much power is going out, how much time before it runs out of juice, and the temperature. On the other side of the screen, there’s a rocker to turn on the USB ports and the AC outlet. The DC port can act as an output, but it’s also the best way to charge the Omni 20 and if you use the adapter and cable provided it can charge up fully in just three hours — not bad for a 20,400mAh capacity device. You can also use a laptop adapter to charge it which is handy for travellers who don’t want to pack any superfluous extras. The Omni 20 is FAA approved for air travel.

RAVPOWER SUPER-C SERIES

Capacity: 26,800mAh
Outputs: Three ports (USB-C 3A, 2.4A, 2.4A)
Weight: 462g (16.2oz)
Price: $105.95 www.catch.com.au
Time to fully charge: Around 4-5 hours
This versatile charger has three output ports and supports USB PD (Power Delivery). There are two standard USB ports, both rated at 2.4A, but the maximum joint output is 3.4A. More importantly, there’s a USB-C port that can deliver up to 30W for your laptop or tablet or charge your phone at top speed. There’s a power button up top with four blue LEDs to show remaining power.

Not only can it charge devices with USB-C, but it can also be charged through that port which means it’s very fast to juice up, provided you have a powerful wall charger (you don’t get one in the box). What you do get is two tangle-free USB-to-Micro USB cables at different lengths and a longer USB-C-to-USB-C cable. It also comes with a soft mesh bag sporting a drawstring closure.

It’s not the most portable device in the world, but it’s impressively compact and light for the capacity. This is a good solution for you if you have multiple gadgets, an iPad EFB and Android Smartphone for example. You can expect at least five full charges for an iPhone XS, four full charges for a Samsung Galaxy S9 Plus, and it can even charge an iPad with change.

ANKER POWERCORE SPEED 20,000 PD

Capacity: 20,100mAh
Outputs: Two ports (USB-C 3A and 2A)
Weight: 373g (13.1oz)
Price: $129.95 www.cablegeek.com.au
Time to fully charge: 4 hours
If you want something fast charging, then Anker’s PowerCore Speed 20,000 PD is tough to beat. This long, slim power bank is packing 20,100mAh which is enough to charge your smartphone at least three or four times over, maybe more depending on the model. You can also charge an iPad twice over.

It has a sleek, understated design with the usual power button on the side and four blue LEDs to show remaining power. There are two ports: one standard USB-A rated at 5V/2A and a USB-C PD (Power Delivery) output that can deliver up to 24W. You may be thinking it looks a little pricey, but you also get a slim 30W power delivery wall charger in the box, alongside a USB-C to USB-C cable, a USB-A to Micro USB cable, and a drawstring carry pouch. That’s everything you need for fast charging on the go.

We tried the power bank with a Pixel 3 and found it was capable of rapid charging. The included wall charger can also rapidly charge an iPhone X or an iPad Pro (Apple’s 30W wall charger costs $49 on its own). When the power bank runs out you can fully recharge it in just four hours with the charger and USB-C cable provided. If you are looking for USB-C PD support, then this package is for you.

JACKERY POWERBAR

Capacity: 23,200mAh
Outputs: Four ports (85W, 15W, QC 3.0, 2.4A)
Weight: 749g (26.4oz)
Price: US$129.95 www.amazon.com
Time to fully charge: 8 hours
It’s a hefty chunk of a power bank, but this rugged option could be ideal for a camping trip at the end of your flight (Birdsville Races?), or varied power needs, because it includes a proper AC outlet at one end capable of delivering 85W. On top of that, you get a USB-C port that can put out 15W, a USB-A port that supports Quick Charge 3.0, and a final USB-A port that’s rated at 5V/2.4A. You can fully charge your smartphone at least four or five times with this, or even fully charge a 12-inch MacBook with change.

It comes with a sturdy USB-C to USB-A or USB-C cable in the box (the USB-A top can slide off to reveal a USB-C plug). Press the button power button and you get a precise percentage readout of remaining power. You have to hold the power button down for two seconds to turn the AC outlet on or off and it’s important you do turn it off when you’re done or it will drain the power. You’ll hear a fan start up when you turn it on, which keeps it from overheating.

This is a really sturdy feeling power bank and it’s ideal if you want to charge multiple devices at the same time. We were able to charge up a MacBook Pro from the power outlet (though not fully) and it also charged a Pixel 3 at full speed from the USB-C port. It is also TSA approved. It takes around eight hours to fully charge up, and sadly doesn’t support pass-through charging.

*Currently no Australian A/C plug; US or UK only.

EASYACC MEGACHARGE D20

Capacity: 20,000mAh
Outputs: Four ports (3A each)
Weight: 370g (13oz)
Price: $182 www.amazon.com.au
Time to fully charge: Around 4 hours
This chunky battery pack in black plastic has a distinctive orange stripe around it. The green USB port supports Qualcomm’s Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0, and also Huawei’s fast-charging standard, FCP. There are two black USB ports capable of up to 3A and there’s also a USB-C port
that can deliver the same. Move round to the side and you’ll find a Micro USB port and another USB-C port for charging the battery up. Interestingly these inputs can be plugged in simultaneously to enable you to charge the battery up faster — bringing charging time down to around four hours, which is pretty impressive for this capacity.

You’ll find the standard four LED array on the top to show you remaining power in 25 per cent chunks. There’s a power button on the side and you can double press it to fire up the LED flashlight, which is a handy extra that makes this a good choice for camping. EasyAcc includes a short, 24-inch USB-to-USB-C cable and a USB-to-Micro USB cable that’s the same length in the box. It does support pass-through charging so you can plug it in to charge and plug your phone into it to charge at the same time.

We think you can expect at least four full charges for the majority of smartphones out there and probably more than that for phones with smaller batteries, like the iPhone 8. Weighing up the complete package we think this is good value for money and worth considering if you need a lot of power and want to be able to recharge it in a hurry.

CYGNETT CHARGEUP PRO

Capacity: 20,000mAh
Outputs: Three ports (18W, 10.5W, 45W)
Weight: 450g (15.87oz)
Price: $99.95-$149.95 www.smoothsales.com.au
Time to fully charge: 5-6 hours
Cygnett has revamped its power bank range and this understated offering packs plenty of power. It also boasts a USB-C port with Power Delivery support, which means it can output up to 45W — enough to charge a laptop. You’ll also find two USB-A ports — one only goes up to 10.5W, but the other supports Quick Charge 3.0 for up to 18W. You can charge up multiple devices at once, and the Cygnett ChargeUp Pro offers a maximum total output of 63W. However, there’s no support for pass-through charging, so you can’t connect other devices when you’re using the USB-C port to charge the bank itself up.

It has a soft-touch finish in teal or black with rounded corners and glossy black plastic at the business end where the power button are positioned. When you turn it on, four blue LEDs on the top give you an idea of the remaining power. There’s a very short USB-C-to-USB-A cable included in the box, but that’s all you get with it. We’re a bit disappointed with the charging speeds of this unit. The maximum input via the USB-C port is 30W and you’ll need a decent fast charger to get top speeds, but even then it’s going to take the best part of six hours to charge fully. On the other hand, the generous 20,000mAh capacity will fully recharge a USB-C laptop at least once, a tablet a couple of times, and a phone several times.

It is on the expensive side for the capacity offered, but it seems to work well. It’s a solid option if you want something to sling in your backpack that will keep your laptop and phone charged up throughout the day, as long as you don’t mind charging it overnight.