It’s the game that has swept over the globe – and shows no signs of stopping. Pokémon Go is immensely popular, being played by an estimated 147 million active users as of May 2018. If you’re a fan and love getting out in the great outdoors to play, you’ll have noticed one important issue: the game is a battery drainer. But what are the best power banks for Pokémon Go players?
Power banks are an important part of the modern phone user’s life, particularly if you have an iPhone. You need something that can keep up with you as you roam, and provide you with enough power to maintain screen brightness. Plus, you want something portable and light – and it can be a minefield finding the right one!
There are a range of options out there for people who want to catch them all. This blog will help you explore why you need a power bank and which types are the best power banks for Pokémon Go!
Why Do You Need A Power Bank for Pokémon Go?
First off, you need a power bank full stop. Smart phones nowadays aren’t smart enough to have a battery that powers you for even a full day, and any potential benefits of 5G and over air charging are a long way off. If you haven’t already got one it’s a smart move, and is beneficial in a number of situations including traveling, commuting, and for just when you can’t be bothered to plug your phone into the outlet far away from where you’re sat.
Secondly, everyone knows that it’s way to easy to start playing games, forget about the time, and before you know it it’s hours later and you don’t know where the day has gone. We’ve all been there.
But this kind of playing has consequences – and not just for your square eyes. It’s a battery drainer, with a high-tech game like Pokémon Go using an incredible amount of power. This is particularly the case for older phones, which are just not built for this type of game play. Their batteries will fail relatively fast, reducing the amount of time you can play and potentially reducing the life of your phone battery.
Thirdly, you play Pokémon Go outside. This means that unless you’re willing to go and buy a drink or some food in a cafe, or have friends/apartment nearby, you’re unlikely to come across a power source. When being portable and having power is key, you don’t want to waste time tethered to a wall or searching for an outlet.
Key Features of the Best Power Banks for Pokémon Go Players
1) Light and Portable
This might sound like an obvious feature. But you’d be shocked at just how heavy some of the most powerful power banks are. Let’s face it, food and water are also important to bring and will lighten your load as you use them. Using a power banks power will only make it a dead weight. If you want the extra work out, that’s no problem. But if you’re looking to play for a while without dragging a heavy backpack along with you, keep it light.
2) Powerful
Again, this seems like it goes without saying. But you’ll need to figure out how powerful you want your power bank to be. For smaller and lighter ‘one charge’ power banks, which might be the best power banks for Pokémon Go occasional players, you’ll need to look for around 6,700mAh battery. For people wanting two or more charges, check out power banks at 10,000mAh. Anyone searching for a power bank that will last you a few days with regular use should go for 20,000mAh or above.
3) Quick Recharge
It’s all well and good having a power bank, but it’s not great if you need to spend hours recharging it. Most modern power banks should have quick recharge features, meaning it only takes two to four hours to fully charge the power bank instead of eight to ten. What’s more, you can get power banks that charge themselves as they charge your device. These might be the best power banks for Pokémon Go players who want something for day-to-day use as well as for gaming.
4) Safety Features
Certain safety features are a must if you’re phones charging for a long time. Primarily, protection from overcharging, overcurrent and overvoltage is key to ensure that your phone maintains the right charge at all times. Newer power bank models can also include PD fast charging. This means if your phone is fast-charging equipped, you can charge quickly and not have to use it whilst it is charging for so long. Or, take a quick lunch break and by the end of it, you’re charged again!
5) Well Priced
Power banks shouldn’t break the bank. You aren’t looking for state of the art tech; the best power banks for Pokémon Go players should be under $60. This is widely achievable even for power banks with the largest battery sizes with many e-commerce companies, and Amazon Marketplace is a great source for your power bank needs. Set the budget you need and see what’s available, then you can weigh up if you need to spend any extra. You might be surprised with the savings you can find!
6) Good After-Sales Customer Service
As with any electronic product, your power bank should come with a warranty. Make sure you check this out before you buy, and that it lasts at least a year. Some companies offer additional warranty if you register your product as well, which is a big bonus. You should also read reviews about the company themselves and their customer service levels. There’s no point getting an extra-long warranty on a product if a company is likely to mess you around.
RAVPower’s Best Power Banks for Pokémon Go Players
RAVPower 6700mAh Power Bank and Wall Charger
For light use; people who want one charge, and a multifunctional power bank. This is both a wall charger and a power bank, and charges itself as it charges your device. Perfect for gamers on the move.
This 6700mAh power bank is a compact 9 x 2.5 x 4cm, but don’t let that fool you into thinking light = weak. It uses LG 3350 battery cells with a 2.4A output and 2A input, meaning the power bank itself charges twice as fast as the standard. Indeed, it’s capable of being fully charged and ready to go in under three hours.
Moreover, it uses iSmart Technology, RAVPower’s industry leading protection standards. iSmart prevents overcharging, overvoltage, short-circuiting and more for your peace of mind, even if you’re charging overnight. Just slide it into your bag and head out with enough juice to keep you going all day.
If you’re looking for a power bank that’s adaptable, and light enough and powerful enough to use daily, look no further.
RAVPower 10400mAh Wireless Power Bank
For people who want to cut the cord. This means the power bank can be used by any Qi enabled phone, so that you and your friends can charge your phones without carrying extra cables around with you.
At 10,000mAh, this wireless portable power bank is a good middle ground for gamers. It will give you enough charge for your phone and a friend’s, and you can give it a fast recharge via its 2.4A input port (it’s fully charged in only 2.5hours!) What’s more, you can charge two devices at once. One via the iSmart 2.0 USB port, and one wirelessly! Again, iSmart means you’ve got all the protective features you need to charge safely including overvoltage, overcurrent, and short-circuit protection.
As a Qi enabled charger, this is the best power bank for Pokemon Go players who game with a friend. Qi (pronounced ‘Chee’) charging is a form of wireless charging supported by all major phone manufacturers. Phones that use Qi include iPhone X / 8 Plus / 8, and Galaxy Note S9 / S9 Plus / S8 / S8 Plus.
It’s also light and portable, and one of the most practical, best power banks for Pokémon Go players who want to remove the need to carry multiple cables around. What could be better!
RAVPower 25000mAh 3 Port Outdoor Solar Charger
This is up there with the best power banks for Pokémon Go players who are dedicated to long days, and need hours of battery. It will keep you going for as long as you need, and has a built-in solar panel for eco-friendly charging options.
25,000mAh is a great amount of power to have in one easily portable device. To put it in perspective, that’s over 6 days of use for smartphones and smaller devices. It can also simultaneously charge 3 phones via its up to 5V/6.4a with quick charge, USB-C, and iSmart charging ports. Again, all the safety features you need; especially important when you’re doing simultaneous charging.
Something that really stands out about this power bank is how sturdy it is. The solar panel is rugged and, while you have to be careful carrying it about so it doesn’t get damaged in your backpack, the case is protective. The solar panel can see you through the daylight hours as a last resort. It even has a built in torch for anyone who wants to game at night – or just went out for too long and needs a light for getting home…
This, then, is one of the best power banks for Pokémon Go players who need a weeks’ worth of impressive power. It’s a popular power bank as well – it will once again be AVAILABLE FOR PURCHASE FROM THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST!
Want to see RAVPower’s full power bank range? Check out our website here, or search us on Amazon!