Comparison BASEUS Bipow 15W 30000 vs BASEUS Mini JA 30000

A standard USB A port is characterized by the rated power supplied by the power bank when a load is connected to the first or only USB A output and the current strength. If there are several connectors of this type, the first one is considered to be capable of delivering more power.

The speed of the charging process directly depends on this indicator. Power is traditionally calculated by multiplying current by voltage; However, the standard voltage for USB power is 5 V, so current is considered to be the main indicator of power.

The charging power and, accordingly, the speed of the process depend on the current strength. Nowadays, on USB ports, a current of 2 A or 2.1 A is considered basic and quite modest, 2.4 A and 2.5 A are average, 3 A and more are noticeably above average, and certain fast charging technologies allow you to achieve values of 4 A. 4.5 A and 5 A. However, it is worth considering that to operate at high current, such an opportunity must be provided not only in the power bank, but also in the gadget being charged. So when purchasing a model, it doesn’t hurt to check whether the devices being charged suppo...rt high charge currents.

It is also worth noting two nuances associated with the presence of multiple USB charging ports. Firstly, they may differ in the current they produce. This allows you to select the optimal connector for each device: for example, to quickly charge a tablet with a capacious battery, it is desirable to have a higher current, and a device with a low charging current can be connected to a “weaker” port, so as not to create unnecessary load on the battery and controller. The second caveat is that if all USB connectors are used simultaneously, the current supplied by each of these connectors may be lower than the maximum; in other words, not all power banks allow you to simultaneously use USB ports at the maximum possible power. You can understand whether such a possibility exists by looking at the charge power (see below); if the charge power is not indicated, you should refer to detailed documentation from the manufacturer.

Characteristics of the second USB A port. Read more in the paragraph above.

The type of input used to charge the power bank's own battery. Simply put, this paragraph indicates which connector on the cable you need to charge the power bank. At the same time, some models provide several inputs for charging at once, which simplifies the search for a cable. Also note that for models with a built-in power bank charging connector (see below), the type of this connector is specified separately.

Most often in modern power banks there are standard connectors microUSB, USB type C and/or Apple Lightning. A lot of accessories are produced for such connectors — cables, network and car chargers, adapters, etc.; so there is usually no difficulty in finding a source of energy. Less common are models with DC input, they are usually equipped with their own power supply (or at least a cable under such a connector). Here is a more detailed description of the different types of inputs:

— microUSB. A smaller version of the USB connector, still very popular in portable tech, despite the active spread of the more advanced USB type C. It has relatively modest capabilities — in particular, it does not allow the implementation of some advanced fast charging technologies. On the other hand, it is very easy to find a source of energy for such a connector: both modern and many of the frankly outdated cables and chargers are...suitable for it.

— USB type C. A miniature type of USB connector, positioned, among other things, as the successor to microUSB. The most noticeable improvement is the reversible design, which allows you not to worry about which side of the plug is inserted into the connector. However, in the case of power banks, this is not the only or even the main advantage: USB type C has more extensive capabilities, allows more powerful currents and use a wider range of fast charging technologies (and Power Delivery was originally created specifically for this connector). Note that in some models the same connector of this type can be used both as an input for charging the battery and as an output for charging external devices — moreover, with automatic switching between these modes.

— Apple Lightning. Initially, this connector is designed for portable gadgets made by Apple. However, in the case of power banks, it can also be found in third-party devices: the idea is that the presence of Lightning allows you to charge an external battery using a cable from an iPhone or iPad and eliminates the need to look for a separate wire. For a number of reasons, this charging input is rarely used as the only one, more often it is provided in addition to microUSB or USB type C (see above).

— DC input. DC is a standard covering several types of connectors at once. Their common feature is a signature round shape, but the diameter, rated voltage and power can be different. In this sense, such connectors are not as convenient as USB type C, Lightning and other generally accepted standards — with a DC socket, it is best to use a native power supply (usually it comes bundled right away), and finding a third-party power source can be a problem. On the other hand, inputs of this type have practically no power limitations, it is easier to achieve high power supply with them than with the connectors described above. Therefore, DC inputs are used mainly in high-capacity power banks, where charging through a "weaker" interface would take an unreasonably long time. However, such models can also be equipped with standard microUSB or USB type C connectors "just in case".

Nominal charge current supported by the power bank when charging its own battery via microUSB, USB type C, or Lightning (see "Battery charging inputs").

This is the maximum and, in fact, the recommended power bank charge current. If the amperes supplied by the power source exceed this value, the charge current will still be limited by the built-in controller to avoid overloading. And using a charger with a lower output current, in turn, will lead to an increase in charging time.

Data on the charge current via USB (Lightning) is especially important due to the fact that modern power banks are usually not equipped with their own chargers for these inputs, and energy sources must be separate. On the other hand, if a high charging speed is not critical for you, you can ignore this parameter: any USB connector is suitable as a power source for the corresponding power bank inputs.

The power in watts at which the power bank is charged under normal conditions.

The higher the charging power, the less time it takes to charge (given the same battery capacity). For example, fast charging of a power bank typically means a charging power of 30W or more. However, this parameter does not directly affect compatibility with charging devices: modern portable batteries can work with chargers of both higher and lower power. In the first case, the battery controller will automatically limit the charging current, while in the second case, charging will simply take more time.

A function that allows a power bank connected to the mains to transfer power to other external devices for charging. Note that pass-through charging can be implemented in different ways. In some cases, a portable battery can supply all incoming power from an energy source through a USB port, in others, the power bank coordinates the power consumption with the gadget being charged and accumulates the remaining energy in the cells of its own battery. In the latter version, both devices are charged at the same time. However, the presence of such a function is not often specified by the manufacturer. Sometimes even the manuals do not provide information on end-to-end charging. Therefore, it is better to focus on the reviews and, before buying, further clarify the availability of pass-through charging.

Types of cables and/or adapters for charging external devices included in the power bank set.

The type of such cables is indicated by the plug used to connect to the gadget being charged; connection with the power bank itself is usually carried out through a standard USB A or USB type C output. We emphasize that in this case, we are talking about detachable cables/adapters; types of built-in charging cables are specified separately (if any — see below).

In general, this parameter allows you to evaluate the possibilities of a power bank available out of the box, without purchasing additional accessories. As for specific interfaces, most often external batteries nowadays are equipped with microUSB, USB type C and/or Lightning cables/adapters; more specific connectors are extremely rare. Here are the features of the most popular options:

— microUSB. A connector that is extremely common in modern portable gadgets. It is inferior to the newer USB type-C in terms of convenience and several performance specs, but still has not lost popularity.

— USB type C. A relatively new standard for miniature USB connectors, used for charging both portable equipment and larger devices — in particular, some ultra-compact laptops. Physically, it differs from microUSB in a slightly larger size and a two-sided design that allows you to connect the plug b...oth ways. In terms of performance, USB type C is notable for better compatibility with fast charging technologies (see above): more fast charging technologies can be used with it, and Power Delivery was created based on this connector. At the same time, the presence of a USB type C cable does not mean support for fast charging.

— Lightning. Standard original connector for Apple gadgets; other manufacturers do not have such a port.

Note that if several types of bundled cables/adapters are claimed in the specs, the specific format of such accessories may be different. For example, "microUSB plus USB type C" could mean two separate cables, one cable with two plugs, a cable with one plug plus an adapter to another, etc.

Additional functions and features provided in the design of the power bank. Such features may include, but are not limited to, an info display, a USB hub mode, a photocell for solar charging, a lighting source ( flashlight or lamp), and a shock -resistant body. Here's a more detailed description of each of these options:

— Info display. Own display installed on the power bank body. As a rule, it has a simple LCD matrix capable of displaying 2 - 3 characters and, in some cases, individual special icons. However, even such a screen provides a lot of additional information, makes it easier to manage the power bank and monitor its status.

— USB hub. Possibility of working as a USB hub (splitter). In this mode, the external battery’s own USB connectors act as USB inputs of a PC or laptop to which the power bank is connected. The connection itself, as a rule, is also carried out using the USB standard, and the battery can be charged. This function is convenient primarily because it allows you to use one USB port simultaneously to charge the power bank and connect a peripheral device (or even several). However, it does not hurt to make sure that the power supply of this port is sufficient to provide all these functions; and the charging speed may be quite slo...w. If the power bank is fully charged, it can also be useful as a classic USB hub: to increase the number of ports available for connecting peripherals, and also as a kind of remote USB extension cable (for example, if there is a free USB port only on the rear panel of the system unit, which is difficult to get to).

- Flashlight. In this case, a flashlight means a built-in light source of relatively low power, usually directional (as opposed to the lamp described below). Such a source performs an auxiliary function; it can be useful, for example, for illuminating the road at night, for short-term illumination in a dark room (basement, cellar), etc.

- Lamp. Built-in light source, usually in the form of an oblong panel of several LEDs; such a panel can be made folding. Unlike flashlights (see above), lamps provide not directional, but diffused light, which has a shorter range, but covers a larger space. Such lighting can be useful, for example, for reading, for illuminating a room during a power outage, and even for creating a certain atmosphere.

- Shock protection. Enhanced protection against impacts and shocks. The specific degree of such protection may vary; it should be clarified according to the official characteristics; however, most models in this category are capable of at least transferring a fall from a height of about 1 - 1.2 m onto a flat hard surface without consequences. Well, in any case, such devices will be more resistant to mechanical stress than conventional ones. It is also worth noting that shock protection in modern power banks is most often combined with protection from dust and moisture (see above), although there are exceptions to this rule.

— Charging from the sun. Possibility of charging the power bank from the sun or other bright light source. To do this, a corresponding device is installed in the body - a solar battery (photocell). This function can be especially useful during a long stay away from civilization - for example, on a hike. And although the efficiency of solar panels in general is not very high, when exposed to bright light for a long time, you can accumulate quite a lot of energy.