The Reality of Power Banks: Why the Capacity You See Isn't What You Get

META: Buying a 10,000mAh power bank doesn't actually mean you're getting a 10,000mAh. Sounds strange? Find out more here.

Photo by Steve Johnson on Unsplash

There's a lot of confusion about what the "capacity" actually means when it comes to power banks. Many people believe that if they see a power bank with a capacity of 10000mAh, for example, then they will be able to charge their phone 1-3 times.

The problem is that this is not always the case. 

In this guide, we'll explain what the "capacity" of a power bank really means and how it can be misleading for consumers. We'll also explore how power losses affect the real-world performance of a power bank and why you should consider this when purchasing one.

Let's go.

Power Bank Capacity: Explained

A modern power bank usually has a capacity between 1000mAh and 20000mAh, measured in milliamp-hours (mAh). 

This number is important because it gives you an idea of the amount of charge the power bank can store. The higher the number, generally speaking, the more times you can charge your device before having to recharge the power bank itself.

But it's not quite that simple.

The capacity you see printed on the power bank is actually called its "battery capacity." This means that the actual real-world capacity of the power bank can be significantly lower than this number due to power loss and voltage outputs.

Once you subtract the power losses and voltage output differences, you're left with the 'rated capacity', which could be far different from the capacity you think you're buying or the number printed on the box.

Power Loss: What Is It?

Power loss is the amount of energy lost in the charging and discharging process. This can occur due to various factors, such as resistance, heat generation, power conversion, etc.

The result is that a power bank with a battery capacity of 10,000mAh might actually have a real-world capacity of only 8500mAh or even lower, sometimes as low as 6000mAh- and this is something that many consumers don't consider when they're making their purchase.

In addition, you should also consider that power banks lose their capacity over time as they age. This is because parts get old, and general wear and tear on devices lower performance. 

This means that a new power bank may deliver more power than an older one with the same rated capacity. On average, a new power bank will lose an average of 2%, although some models can lose up to 10%.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right Power Bank for You

When choosing a power bank, it is important to understand the difference between rated and real-world capacity. The battery capacity is the number you see on the packaging, but this doesn't necessarily reflect what you will get in practice.

However, when you use Veger power banks, you hedge your bets with one of the highest real capacity rates in any power bank. With devices that range between 10,000mAh and 50,000mAh, Veger power banks use intelligent technology to reduce power loss.

This means minimal loss of power through heating, transferring, and charging, and higher quality components mean less performance and capacity loss as the device ages. All in all, you get more bang for your buck when you opt for a Veger power bank.

So if you're looking for a reliable, high-performance power bank that gives you what it says on the tin, then look no further than Veger.

Shop with Veger today.