Do you need an external battery pack?

Modern gadgets are power hungry. If you want to make it through a long commute or a cross-country flight without having to plug your tablet or gaming device in, you're going to need an external battery pack to keep the electrons flowing. Read on as we show you how to shop for a pack that will meet your needs and keep your screens glowing.

Should you buy a portable battery pack?

Batteries tend to dwindle down after prolonged use (a few years), so spend what you can afford on a quality pack that does at least two or three full charges. Better to get one great power bank than a couple of mediocre ones that will be relegated to landfill after a single use. What does 'mAh' on portable battery packs mean?

What is a battery pack?

A battery pack is a portable energy storage device that consists of multiple individual batteries or cells connected together to provide electrical power. These battery cells are typically rechargeable and are used to power a wide range of electronic devices, from smartphones and laptops to electric vehicles and power tools.

When should you use a battery pack?

You use battery packs most often when you're traveling, and since you'll likely have the battery pack in hand when you're rooting around in your bag or luggage looking for cables and whatnot in an unfamiliar setting, that burst of light is more than handy.

Does a battery pack or power bank work?

A word from Captain Obvious: a battery pack or power bank only works if you charge it, so make sure you’re fully loaded up by plugging into mains power before you head out of the door. Scroll on to find the best portable battery packs, power banks and chargers to keep your device going as long as you do.

Which high-capacity battery pack should I use?

As part of the process for writing this guide, we used two higher-capacity battery packs the RAVPower Deluxe 14,000 mAh Power Bank ($29.99), seen above right, and the Jackery Giant 10,400 mAh Power Bank ($39.95), seen above left. We'd highly recommend both of them as perfectly serviceable high-capacity external battery packs.