Choosing the right external battery is difficult not only because it must adapt to the demands of our mobile devices, but also because there are many counterfeit cells promising absurd capacity. Today we are going to choose five products from five different manufacturers, which in addition to having some recognition in the market, meet the stated specifications.
"Don't buy batteries on eBay" is a basic recommendation that you will find in any forum or portal dedicated to portable power solutions. Unless you can get a good quality cell on your own and plan to build your own charger (for which you will need a housing and a small module), the ideal is to stay away from brands like UltraFire, TrustFire, UltroFire, and other similar variants. The problem is simple to understand: any manufacturer that offers an 18650 cell above 3,600 mAh is lying. As far as I have been able to find out, the only legitimate cell in that format and capacity is the Panasonic NCR18650G, which, by the way, is practically impossible to obtain in the general market (the NCR18650B has 3,400 mAh, and costs 24 dollars for a pack of 4). So, when we talk about external batteries and portable chargers, cheap tends to be expensive. Today we are going to choose five options, based on brand, overall quality, and user comments.
AmazonBasics PB3S
Some of our readers may not know, but AmazonBasics is the "in-house brand" that Amazon applies to certain direct-distribution products. Its AmazonBasics PB3S battery has a capacity of 3,000 mAh, and a very compact design, which does not exceed eight millimeters in thickness. Amazon offers higher capacity variants, although this model is an excellent entry point. (9 euros)
CoolReall Power Bank
I was forced to go into "detective mode" to learn a little more about CoolReall. Apparently it is a Chinese distributor that works exclusively through Amazon, and a good part of its site (without forgetting its social media channels) is in French. Its Power Bank of 15,600 mAh has an excellent online reputation, offers two USB ports that charge two gadgets at once, and also includes a flashlight. (20 euros)
Xiaomi Mi Power Bank
How many times have we talked about this company? The main complaint is that its products never manage to leave Chinese territory, but if there is an exception to the rule, it is the Mi Power Bank. Its official site reports three different models (this is the 10,000 mAh one), however, the most important data is that it uses LG or Panasonic cells. Its aluminum design and its size similar to a business card (without considering the thickness) complete the package. (20 euros)
PNY T5200
Better known for its solid-state drives and graphics cards, this American company also entered the external battery market, and one of its most compact models is the T5200. It comes with 5,200 mAh capacity (I calculate two cells of 2,600 mAh), a plastic design that goes relatively unnoticed (many users want that), LED charge indicator, and (according to the official site) three years of warranty, although you must register the product within 90 days of purchase. (22 euros)
Samsung EB-PG850B
Yes, it is the most expensive external battery in the group, but with the support of Samsung and what seems to be an impressive online discount, I think it deserves our attention. The capacity of the EB-PG850B battery amounts to 8,400 mAh, its cable is stored "inside" the housing to avoid knots, the LED indicator reports four different levels, and despite being Samsung, there are no compatibility restrictions. (29 euros)
That's all for today. Do you want to suggest another battery? Do you have technical details to share? The comments are open. Good luck!
