Comparison Huawei AP08Q vs Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro 10000

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 maximum power that the power bank, theoretically, is capable of delivering to one rechargeable device. Usually, this power is achieved under the condition that no other device is connected to the battery (although exceptions to this rule are possible). And if you have ports with different charging currents or support multiple fast charging technologies, this information is given for the most powerful output or technology.

For modern power banks, a power of 10 watts or less is considered quite low; among other things, it usually means that the device does not support fast charging. Nevertheless, such devices are inexpensive and often turn out to be quite sufficient for simple tasks; Therefore, there are many models with similar specs on the market. The power of 12 – 15 W is also relatively small, 18 W can be called the average level, 20 – 25 W and 30 – 50 W is already considered an advanced level and in some solutions this parameter may exceed 60 W.

In general, higher power output has a positive effect on charging speed, but in fact there are a number of nuances associated with this parameter. Firstly, not only the power bank, but also the gadget being charged should support the appropriate power — otherwise the speed of the process will be limited...by the specs of the gadget. Secondly, in order to use the full capabilities of the power bank, it may be necessary for it to be compatible with certain fast charging technologies (see "Fast Charging").

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.

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".

The time required to fully charge a battery discharged “to zero”. Features of the charging process in different models may be different, respectively, and the time required for this may differ markedly even with the same capacity.

Fast-charging batteries tend to be more expensive. Therefore, choosing this option makes sense if you do not have much time to replenish your energy supply — for example, for hiking. However, keep in mind that charging at full speed may require a charger that supports certain fast charging technologies (see below).

It must also be said that in most modern batteries, the charging speed is uneven — it is highest at the several first percent from zero, then gradually decreases. Therefore, the time required to replenish the energy supply by a certain percentage will not be strictly proportional to the total claimed charge time; moreover, this time will depend on how much the battery is already charged at the time the procedure starts. For example, charging from 0 to 50% will take less time than from 50 to 100%, although both there and there we are talking about half the capacity.

Low current charging allows you to seamlessly charge devices that do not require high current. This allows you to extend the life cycle of the devices and protect them as much as possible during charging. Such devices include smartwatches, headphones, headsets, etc.

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.

The main material used in the the body of a power bank.

In addition to traditional plastic, nowadays, external batteries are produced in cases made of more advanced and/or "prestigious" materials. Of these materials, aluminium is the most widely used; also you can find products made of steel, zinc, leather, fabric and even wood. Here are the main features of each option:

— Plastic. The most popular material for the bodies of modern power banks. Plastic, on the one hand, is inexpensive, on the other hand, it is quite durable and has a small weight, on the third hand, it makes it easy to create cases of any shape and colour, which is especially important for devices with an unusual design. In terms of strength and reliability, ordinary plastic is somewhat inferior to metals; however, in everyday use, this difference is not critical — except that scratches on such a case will appear faster. And for extreme conditions, cases can be produced from special impact-resistant plastic.

— Aluminium. Aluminium alloy housings are highly durable and lightweight; in addition, they look stylish, and the appearance is retained for a long time due to scratch resistance. The main disadvantage of aluminium is that it is more expensive than plastic.

...— Steel. Steel is notable for its high durability and reliability; according to these indicators, it surpasses even aluminium, not to mention plastic. On the other hand, this material has a significant weight, and therefore is used much less frequently.

— Leather. Solid body (plastic or metal) with additional leather cover. Such a coating does not affect the functionality and plays a purely aesthetic role: it gives the device a stylish and eye-catching appearance, allowing you to turn the power bank into a stylish accessory. However, note that in the design of such products (especially inexpensive ones), artificial leather (leatherette) is often used, which is noticeably inferior to natural leather in reliability, durability, and sometimes in appearance. Genuine leather, on the other hand, significantly affects the price — its cost can be more than half of the total price of the entire power bank.

— Fabric. A hard case (usually plastic) with a fabric outer covering. Such a coating not only gives the device a rather original appearance, but also gives some practical advantages: the fabric is pleasant to the touch and does not slip in the hand, which reduces the risk of dropping the power bank. On the other hand, various contaminants are poorly removed from such a surface, it has no fundamental advantages over plastic or metal, but it costs much more. Therefore, fabric cases are not very popular.

— Wood. Another design material used mainly for its original appearance than practical advantages. Nevertheless, wood is not inferior to plastic; and some users also consider the natural origin of this material to be an important advantage. On the other hand, wooden cases do not have noticeable advantages over plastic ones, and they cost much more.

— Zinc. Zinc alloys are similar in most properties to the aluminium alloys described above, however, for a number of reasons (in particular, due to the greater complexity in production), they are used extremely rarely.