Portable Charger vs Alternatives

A portable charger is also known as a power bank, battery pack, or external charger. Simply charge your portable charger and bring it with you while you’re out and about. Then when your phone, laptop, or other electronic device needs to charge, you plug it into the portable charger to replenish your battery. This makes it perfect for when you are on the go and cannot plug into an outlet to charge.

A portable charger can come in many sizes, shapes and charging capacities. But there are some non-standard chargers that fall a bit outside the standard power bank mold. Some of these alternatives include solar chargers, charging cases, hand-crank power banks, and wireless chargers.

We’ll explore the best portable charger vs your other options in detail below.

For daily life or day-long excursions while traveling, this portable charger will be ideal. It has the capacity to provide a full charge for most phones, with some extra juice to spare. Plus, we love that the small size and weight really sets it apart from most other power banks.

Between the small size and the battery capacity, this power bank is convenient to have on hand wherever you go.

Details:

• Size: 4.21″ x 1.3″ x 1.3″
• Weight: 4.8 oz
• Output ports: 1 USB-A
  
• Battery Capacity: 5000 Millamp hours
• Voltage: 5 volts
• Watts: 25

If you are looking for a battery pack that can pack a ton of charge in a small device, this is a great option. The charger includes fast-charging capabilities and is able to charge laptops efficiently too.

Despite the power that comes with this long-lasting portable charger, it still is right at the cut-off to being allowed on carry-on luggage. This makes it extra convenient for traveling with a lot (or big) electronics.

Details:

• Size: 6.37″ x 5.27″ x 0.7“
• Weight: 17.28 oz
• Output ports: 2 USB-C + 2 USB-A
  
• Battery Capacity: 20,000 Millamp hours
• Voltage: 5 volts
• Watts: 100

A phone charging case is a great alternative to a portable charger. They are dual-purpose in that they protect your phone like a typical case, but they also provide back-up charging capabilities. It does this by charging both the case and the phone each time to plug in to a normal outlet. Because of this feature, you never have to worry about forgetting to recharge your battery pack. And it is always ready when you need it.

The biggest drawbacks to phone charging cases is that they make your phone much more bulky. So if you want to keep your phone small and slim, you’ll want to choose another portable charger type. You also won’t be able to charge devices other devices with your charger.

Solar power banks are a great option as a portable charger. Because they offer two ways to charge the device, by sunlight or outlet, they are more versatile than standard power banks. Also, because they are built for being outdoors, you have added protection like being waterproof and coming with a durable case. Therefore, if you are planning to have this charger during outdoor adventures, it could be a great fit.

The drawbacks to solar chargers are that they typically take a bit more time to charge via sunlight. But this solar power bank comes with a convenient carabiner so you can clip it to the outside of your backpack. This let’s it charge throughout the day until you need it.

Details:

• Size: 5.5″ x 2.9″ x 0.7″
• Weight: 7.05 oz
• Output ports: 1 USB
  
• Battery Capacity: 20,000 Millamp hours
• Voltage: 5 volts
• Watts: 100

Having the capability to hand crank power is a great feature for emergency power banks. Because in many emergency scenarios you won’t have access to electricity or to enough sunlight to charge devices.

This power bank does not have as much power capabilities as other options, but it comes with a whole host of low energy accessories. These include a flashlight, radio, and alarm. It also includes multiple ways to charge the power bank such as hand crank, solar, battery, and electrical charging.

Details:

• Size: 6.2″ x 2.9″ x 2.1″
• Weight: 10.9 oz
• Output ports: 1 USB
  
• Battery Capacity: 2,000 Millamp hours
• Voltage: 4.2 volts
• Watts: 2

Ready Aim Travel is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission to help keep the site free for everyone. We do not accept money for any reviews provided, and the views, opinions and recommendations are our own.