Our ability to take our technology on adventures outside of developed areas is made possible by power banks. With regard to a power bank, the product’s working life is a reflection of its quality.
If you accidentally use the lifespan’s upper limit, it might be harmful. A portable charger can therefore be used for 1,000 days, or roughly three years if it receives a charge every two days. Please continue reading if you’re curious about how long a portable charger will last.
How Does A Travel Charger Work
Inside the hard shell case that your power bank comes in is where it’s actually located. Simply put, a power bank uses a USB cable to transfer energy that was previously stored in the battery during charging to your phone or other devices via the micro-USB cable.
There are other items, such as a circuit board for safety, inside that hard case, but in essence: it’s a rechargeable battery.
Power banks typically contain two main battery types with varying levels of capacity and voltage. As we’ll see, each of these factors can have an impact on how long your power bank lasts.
How Long Can A Portable Charger Last
All brands of portable chargers have a power bank service life of about 3 years on average. Many of the original Zendure customers who purchased the power bank in 2013 said they still have it. We are happy that our performance far exceeds the industry norm.
Duration Of Charging
A power bank should hold a charge for about 600 minutes on average, but it may last up to 2,500 minutes in the best scenarios!) depending on both how you charge it and the power bank itself.
The 600 estimate refers to a full power bank charging cycle, which is 100% to 0% charge, then back to 100% when the power bank is plugged into the wall to charge.
So, while each partial charge does not equal a full cycle, the fact that you only charge your power bank partially each time (which is the correct and best usage; more on this in a moment) contributes to the full cycle.
Some power banks have bigger batteries, which means you can charge them more frequently and they’ll last longer.
The power bank loses some overall quality in its capacity to charge each time a cycle is finished. Throughout the product’s lifespan, that quality gradually deteriorates. Better batteries in this regard are those made of lithium polymer.
Portable Charger Quality And Type
Depending on the original quality and use of the power bank, the lifespan of a power bank is typically between 3 and 4 years, and it will typically hold a charge for 4-6 months. However, depending on the quality at the beginning and how the power bank is used, the quality may decline by 2 to 5% monthly.
Numerous aspects of a power bank’s construction and quality, as well as usage, will impact how long it lasts. These include:
- Battery capacity – high to low
Either a lithium-ion or lithium polymer battery will power the power bank. The oldest and most popular battery type, lithium-ion, has a built-in circuit that regulates the power flow from the battery to your device to prevent overcharging and/or overheating (this is the type of battery your phone likely has).
On the other hand, lithium polymer does not heat up and does not require a circuit, though the majority do so that it can be used to detect other problems for safety. Stronger, lighter, and less likely to leak electrolytes are all benefits of lithium polymer.
Remember that not all power banks will be transparent about the battery they use. Using lithium polymer batteries, custom USB power banks are built with a circuit to recognize things like electrostatic discharge and overcharging.
- Quality of build/materials
Otherwise, the product’s lifespan will be much shorter, so look for a power bank with a high-quality build. Choose a reputable business that uses top-notch materials and offers a respectable warranty to protect you and demonstrate how confident they are in their own products.
The majority of power banks will have a 1–3 year warranty. A lifetime warranty is offered by CustomUSB.
- The capacity of the power bank
Due to their larger batteries, some devices, such as laptops and tablets, will require a power bank with a higher capacity.
Depending on the size, this will have an impact on the power bank’s lifespan because charging these larger items may use up more of the power bank’s charge capacity and require it to go through more cycles.
The capacity of a phone can also vary depending on its age.
Milliamp hours (mAh) are used to express capacity. So, for instance, if you select a power bank with a capacity of 5,000 mAh and your phone has a capacity of 2,716 mAh (like the iPhone X), you’ll get two full phone charges before you need to recharge the power bank.
You will require a power bank that has a larger capacity than the device(s) you intend to use it with.
- Bringing it all together
You may recall that a power bank with a higher mAh can charge your phone more frequently before it needs to be recharged, meaning it will last longer. In any case, you should combine the mAh factor with the others.
A lithium polymer battery, for example, won’t heat up as much and won’t degrade as much over the course of a month, so you’ll be able to use it longer. The item will also last longer if it is made of high-quality materials and comes from a reputable company.
How To Extend The Lifespan Of A Portable Charger
- Utilize the battery between 0 and 25 °C, which is its ideal operating range.
- Use caution when using it close to a heat source.
- Keep the portable charger away from warm, muggy places.
- Do not abuse the battery. Unusual usage (including, but not limited to, excessive use, improper technique, unfavorable environmental factors, etc.) will easily lead to performance degradation of lithium batteries, shorten the run time, affect the lifespan, and may even lead to bulging, smoke, and fire.
- Periodic (every three months) recharge of the lithium battery is advised.
Final Words
Most power banks can keep a charge for 4-6 months when not in use, but to keep the battery in good condition, the power bank should be recharged at least once every 6 months. When using a power bank, pay more attention to maintenance so that it lasts longer.
