Comparison Hoco DB81 Apollo vs XO PR201

The real capacity of the power bank.

Real capacity is the amount of energy that a power bank is able to transfer to rechargeable gadgets. This amount is inevitably lower than the nominal capacity (see above) — most often by about 1.6 times (due to the fact that part of the energy goes to additional features and transmission losses). However, it is by real capacity that it is easiest to evaluate the actual capabilities of an external battery: for example, if this figure is 6500 mAh, this model is guaranteed to be enough for two full charges of a smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery and smartwatches for 250 mAh.

The capacity in this case is indicated for 5 V — the standard USB charging voltage. At the same time, the features of milliamp-hours as a unit of capacity are such that the actual amount of energy in the battery depends not only on the number of mAh, but also on the operating voltage. In fact, this means that when using fast charging technologies (see below) that involve increased voltage, the actual value of the actual capacity will differ from the claimed one (it will be lower). There are formulas and methods for calculating this value, they can be found in special sources.

The number of modern ports USB-C and built-in USB-C cables that can be used to charge smartphones, tablets, headphones, consoles, and other current devices. This format is particularly convenient today because USB-C has become the main connector for most new devices and usually supports higher charging power than USB-A. One USB-C output is usually enough for everyday use, while two and three are convenient if you need to connect several gadgets at the same time.

The number of USB-A ports available for charging smartphones, headphones, accessories, and other devices. This format is still in demand because USB-A is widely used and fits a large number of existing cables and devices, although it usually falls behind USB-C in terms of relevance and power. A single USB-A output is typically sufficient for basic everyday use, while two, three, four, or more are convenient for connecting multiple gadgets simultaneously.

Maximum output power of the second USB-C port, which usually lags behind USB-C1, but can still be suitable for fast charging smartphones, portable consoles, and other modern devices.

The maximum power of the second USB-A output, which is usually slightly less than USB-A1, but is still suitable for charging smartphones, accessories, and other everyday devices.

The power on the USB-A3 port indicates the maximum power at which the third USB-A port operates, which is often used as an additional output when charging multiple devices simultaneously. It should be noted that simultaneous charging on multiple ports reduces the maximum output power values.

The limit of the fourth USB-A port, which in many models is the weakest and primarily intended for accessories. It is convenient to use it for devices that prioritize just charging over receiving the maximum wattage.

The total charge power provided by the power bank on all connectors overnight - when devices are connected simultaneously to all charging ports.

This parameter is given due to the fact that the total charge power does not always correspond to the sum of the maximum powers of all available ports. The built-in battery of a power bank often has its own limitation on the output power. Therefore, for example, in a model with two 18 W USB ports, each total charge power can be the same 18 W. Note that the distribution of power among the connectors may be different: in some models it is divided equally, in others it is divided in proportion to the maximum current strength (if it differs on different ports). These nuances should be clarified using the detailed characteristics of the charging connectors.

If you plan to regularly use all power bank connectors at once, you should pay attention to this indicator.

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".