How Long Does a Power Bank Last?
A power bank can save you in an emergency by charging up a dead cell phone or tablet. However, it won't help you much if it dies or runs low on juice. Also called a power pack or portable battery, battery power banks don't last forever. They last between 1.5 and 3.5 years, or 600 to 1,000 full-cycle charges and depletions. Read on to learn how long a power bank usually lasts and how to maximize its life.
What Is a Full-Cycle Charge?
Some power banks come pre-charged, so you can open and use the device immediately. This means that the manufacturer completed its first full-cycle charge for you. The device had zero power stored, but the manufacturer plugged it into an electrical outlet and charged it to 100% before sending it to you.
If you rarely charge your battery packs because you only use it in emergencies, it could potentially last longer than 3.5 years. It will last longer if you only partially charge it regularly and if you never deplete it to 0%.
How Long Should the Power Bank Remain Charged?
Typically, power banks holds their charge for about six months if not being used. This makes them ideal on-hand backup devices to have for emergency situations, like an outage during storm season. For example, you can charge it in February before the start of hurricane season and know that when the electricity goes out in June from a tropical storm, the power bank still has a full charge.
Things To Keep in Mind
Here are a few factors that influence the life expectancy of your power bank:
- Battery type
- Power bank capacity
- Battery care or recharging
Battery Type Matters
Power packs use one of two types of battery: lithium-polymer or lithium-ion. The latter battery type uses a built-in circuit for power flow control that protects the device from overheating. A lithium-polymer battery weighs less and has no such circuit because it doesn't heat when used.
Power Pack Capacity
Power bank capacity determines the frequency you need to charge the device. These devices communicate their capacity in mAh or milliamp hours. mAh stands for milliamps per hour and is what indicates how long (per hour) a power bank can deliver a certain amount of current. Each one has a different capacity so it's important to know its mAh based on what you are looking to charge. If your power bank's capacity measures 5,000 mAh, it houses the capacity of nearly two full charges of an iPhone X. Larger items, such as laptops, will require larger power banks.
Battery Care or Recharging
While you don't need regular maintenance on your charging device, you can maximize its life with proper care. Start by storing your portable battery in a cool, dry area when it's not in use. Avoid hot or humid storage areas that could deteriorate the electronics. It's also important to consider how often you're charging your device. Remember, the internal battery will degrade slightly each time you recharge it. For this reason, power banks will last longer if you charge them weekly or monthly rather than daily. It's important to know how to charge a power bank to use it efficiently.
Choosing the Best Power Bank for Your Needs
A large power bank capacity with a strong battery from a trusted brand provides optimum performance and longevity. This combination requires fewer full-cycle charges to charge a cell phone or other smaller-capacity device. Easily maximize the life of each battery pack by charging it with partial cycle charges.
Empower your business customers with emergency power by offering them promotional power banks. USB Memory Direct can include your business's logo for free on the face of these devices, so your thoughtful gift provides you with advertising every time your customers use it.
We offer round and square power banks the size of a USB drive with a capacity of 2,600 mAh and one USB-A port. Our cell phone-sized power banks offer 10,000 mAh with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. Check out our Volt power bank which is a great option if you are looking for a promotional product with a large print area your customers or employees will enjoy and hold on to.