As we are tired of commenting on our podcast or in the articles that talk about the news of the next smartphones, many of us would change that 20Mpx camera or that curved screen for a battery that would give us several days on our smartphone or Apple Watch , without having to worry about finding a plug wherever we are. While this is happening, in the search for the perfect external battery for my use I have come across several candidates that I would like to share with you.. What is the best external battery for your iPhone? Better to go for a sleeve or a 'bundle' style?
Mophie: the leader's guarantee
When you talk about external batteries, the name that comes to mind is necessarily Mophie. It is a brand that has been in this business for years, I at least remember it from my first steps with the iPhone, and has a wide catalog of batteries of all kinds of sizes, colors and capacities, although perhaps the best known are its battery cases.
- PowerStation Mini: Despite its small size and slimness it has a capacity of 3000mAh which is more than enough to fully charge even an iPhone 7 Plus. It has a USB port to which you can connect any charger cable, whatever the smartphone or tablet you want to recharge. It also has several LEDs that inform you of the remaining charge. The most interesting thing is its price, since for just over € 20 you have it available en Amazon Spain.
- PowerStation XL: very similar to the previous one but with 10.000mAh capacity, which allows you to fully charge your iPhone 7 Plus several times. It also has two USB connections, so you can even charge two devices at the same time, like your iPhone and your Apple Watch.. It also has LEDs that indicate the remaining charge, and is available in the same colors as the iPhone so they do not clash. It is usually around € 75 in Amazon Spain.
The official one: a battery case
If what you are considering is an external battery that always goes with you and that you do not have to carry any other cables, without a doubt the option offered by Apple is the one that seems most appropriate to me, since it combines a silicone case that completely protects your device along with a battery that can give you up to 24 hours of browsing using LTE. By using the same iPhone Lightning connector for charging, you don't need to carry any other, which is also a plus. It is more expensive than the alternatives that Mophie offers, it is true, but personally I like its aesthetics more, although surely not everyone agrees. Of course, it is only available for the iPhone 7, so if you have an iPhone 7 Plus the option to Mophie with its Juice Pack Air is what you are looking for.
Kanex GoPower Watch: the versatility
The alternative that Kanex offers us combines a compact size with the versatility of being able to charge your Apple Watch and your iPhone at the same time. The Apple Watch charger already incorporated to simply place your watch on top of the external battery is an excellent idea to use it as a travel charger without having to take twenty cables with us, and at the same time we can use the USB port to charge the iPhone, It has a capacity of 4.000mAh, which is enough to charge the Apple Watch up to 6 times and the iPhone 1,5 times. If we do the math we could charge the iPhone and the Apple Watch at the same time without problems. It has a circular blue LED indicator that indicates the remaining charge. You have it available in Amazon por 119 €.
Which to choose? Depends on your needs
In my case, what I'm looking for is an external battery that I can take with me when I go to sleep away from home. If we take into account that in addition to my iPhone I have an Apple Watch, I think it is clear that the best option seems to be the Kanex GoPower Watch battery. But if what you want is a battery that you can carry in your pants or bag without bulging too much, and also be inexpensive, the Mophie PoweStation Mini seems the most appropriate, or a battery case, either Apple's or the from Mophie, although the price is already rising considerably. If you need something with much more capacity to hold you for several days or to charge an iPad, then the PowerStation XL is your ideal option.
I've had two questionable quality (Chinese) powerbanks that have lasted no more than 50 cycles. I spent a little more on a 20.000mAh Xiaomi Powerbank and it's a blast. That yes, weighs his.
What do you think of those that bring sunscreen to charge them?
I have tried them on occasion, they are slow but they can get you out of a hurry. On certain occasions I see them useful.