Power bank that can be charged with apple "lightning" cord recommendation

[Poppy]

I'd like to get a power bank that can be charged with a lightning cord. This way I only need to carry a single cord and charger.

OR should I get an adapter that would take a lightning plug and convert to a micro usb. With that I could use any of my power banks my concern with that is that I might lose the adapter, and then be SOL.

 

[Rhodie]

I picked up this and have had it for a few months now and works great, even comes with an LED light and has the ability to charge up 4 devices at the same time. You can find it on Amazon and the name on the power bank is Bonai.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I would recommend against such as there is a possibility that apple may be dropping lightning altogether as the EU is trying to force one standard for all cell phone chargers this is what lead to only apple and mini then micro and now USB C as the standard. I also recommend if you invest in a power bank get one that does both power delivery (PD) and lightning to future proof things.

 

[Poppy]

@Lynx_Arc is PD a different kind of plug/jack?

 

[Lynx_Arc]

@Lynx_Arc is PD a different kind of plug/jack?

PD typically uses USB C and the standard supports up to 100 watts or 20V @ 5A currently but a lot of devices only use 18watts. It is very similar to Qualcomms fast charge in fact QC4 I believe is compatible with PD.

EU rules to force USB-C chargers for all phones

Manufacturers could be forced to change devices to a uniform charging system.

www.bbc.com

 

[Poppy]

@Lynx_Arc thanks

 

[hamhanded]

I bought an Aukey 20000mAh power bank with two input jacks, and can be charged via lightning or micro USB in March 2019.

This info might not help you much now, since it's gone from Amazon, but the model was PB-N36.

It seems well made, but now I'm wondering why they were removed from Amazon. When I say removed, I mean it's gone from Amazon completely, like it never existed, not just "unavailable". I get a 404 if I try to view the item from my previous order list. Aukey must have had some kind of falling out with Amazon, because I don't see any of their products for sale anymore.

If I die in a lithium fire, I'll be sure to let you know.

 

[Lynx_Arc]

I bought an Aukey 20000mAh power bank with two input jacks, and can be charged via lightning or micro USB in March 2019.

This info might not help you much now, since it's gone from Amazon, but the model was PB-N36.

It seems well made, but now I'm wondering why they were removed from Amazon. When I say removed, I mean it's gone from Amazon completely, like it never existed, not just "unavailable". I get a 404 if I try to view the item from my previous order list. Aukey must have had some kind of falling out with Amazon, because I don't see any of their products for sale anymore.

If I die in a lithium fire, I'll be sure to let you know.

Aukey and Ravpower apparently got caught playing games to get better Amazon reviews

Amazon's removal of Aukey, RAVPower and other brands is 'only the beginning'

What's really behind the incentivized reviews crackdown

www.tomsguide.com

 

[orbital]

+

Poppy, just get a USB PD to Lightning cable.

..many power banks will do true PD level charge,
just double check the charging specs.

 

[turbodog]

@Lynx_Arc is PD a different kind of plug/jack?

My info is that PD is 'power delivery' which means the battery can provide enough power to RUN & CHARGE the device and not just charge it. There are different levels of it. I had to get a PD battery for a MS surface tablet recently.

 

[orbital]

+

Another plus to PD is being more adapted to other stuff.
Really handy to have the extra voltage.


Another option for PD is this:
Picked one up on a super sale, It'll do 65W no problem.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P5KHBYX/?tag=cpf0b6-20

 

[Poppy]

+

Poppy, just get a USB PD to Lightning cable.

..many power banks will do true PD level charge,
just double check the charging specs.

Thanks, I have a USB-C to lightning cable, although I don't have a USB-C charger.

All of these power banks are charged with a micro USB input.
I guess I'll just have to bring a charging cable with them when I travel.
This is a sampling of the number of units I have.

I was thinking that I will always bring a lightning cable with me because I now have an iPhone.

 

[Poppy]

Won't fast charging the cell phone battery stress the battery and shorten its life?

 

[roostre]

Three years ago (when they where frequently offered as "Amazon Lightning Deals") I purchased two of these power banks that include both a micro-USB input port and an Apple Lightning input port for charging the power bank (but only one of these power banks is still functioning unfortunately):

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07GJT61J4/?tag=cpf0b6-20

The specifications on the back of the power bank state "24000 mAh (milli-Ampere hours) and 88.8 Wh (Watt-hours)" but my testing with a USB meter showed a fully charged power bank provided about 53 Wh for charging other devices before the power bank was fully discharged and then it took about 70 Wh to fully recharge the power bank.

The quickest recharge times I could obtain using the different chargers and cables I owned were about 10 hours to recharge the power bank using the Apple Lightning input port (with the current measuring approximately 1.5 Amperes) and about 15 hours when using the battery pack's Micro-B USB input port (with the current measuring approximately 1 Ampere). I did not try using both the micro-USB and Lightning input ports at the same time to recharge the power bank since I was not sure if that was safe.

I now prefer power banks with properly designed USB-C ports which allow for quick recharging of the power bank and quick charging for the devices being charged by the power bank.

If I only want to carry one cable, this or a similar (less expensive) cable will adapt a USB-A power port to devices with micro-USB, Apple Lightning, or USB-C inputs:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07215381G/?tag=cpf0b6-20

And this cable or a similar (less expensive) cable will adapt a USB-C power port to USB-A:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01COOQIKU/?tag=cpf0b6-20

NOTE: the above cable is "directional" and it's USB-C connector needs to be plugged into the source of power. This is the cable I use when I only have access to a USB-C power port but need to charge a flashlight with a built-in USB-C charging port that will only charge with a USB-A to USB-C cable (as some flashlights with incorrectly designed USB-C charging ports will not charge with a USB-C to USB-C cable).

 

[aznsx]

Aukey and Ravpower apparently got caught playing games to get better Amazon reviews

Amazon's removal of Aukey, RAVPower and other brands is 'only the beginning'

What's really behind the incentivized reviews crackdown

www.tomsguide.com

Thanks for that link. What a sleazy cesspool. I already use that distribution channel only when circumstances effectively demand it (practically never), and now I have two more names (manufacturers) I'll avoid like the plague. I can overlook some things, but not sleaze factor.

 

[turbodog]

I have used this one a good bit.

Capacity is accurate, not inflated.

Strong unit. Will charge via micro-usb OR usb C.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08THCNNCS/?tag=cpf0b6-20

 

[orbital]

Won't fast charging the cell phone battery stress the battery and shorten its life?

+

PD will adjust to the voltage of the device as needed.
The device will use only Amps as controlled by the unit.

So your phone or whatever isn't going to just start charging at some huge/out of voltage range rate @ like 100W
It'll charge as 'determined' by the unit/phone/device.

= Take this powerbanks' specs {a 65Watt PD unit} 5V-3A / 9V-3A / 12V-3A / 15V-3A / 20V-3.25A (65W Max)
see the wide voltage range w/ PD...It can charge as little as 15W or as much as 65W for that unit

Hope that helps & yes Poppy, it was a good question.

 

[Poppy]

LOL, so it looks like you guys are going to talk me into getting a USB-C charger, and higher capacity power bank. Or two or three. 😃

 

[Lynx_Arc]

+

PD will adjust to the voltage of the device as needed.
The device will use only Amps as controlled by the unit.

So your phone or whatever isn't going to just start charging at some huge/out of voltage range rate @ like 100W
It'll charge as 'determined' by the unit/phone/device.

= Take this powerbanks' specs {a 65Watt PD unit} 5V-3A / 9V-3A / 12V-3A / 15V-3A / 20V-3.25A (65W Max)
see the wide voltage range w/ PD...It can charge as little as 15W or as much as 65W for that unit

Hope that helps & yes Poppy, it was a good question.

Talk about mind boggling.... I just read that they "upgraded" PD to 36v and 48V over USB C giving you up to 240W using it....... YIKES!
It also is supporting bi-directional and low power from 15V and up for devices with I believe variable voltage?

USB Charger (USB Power Delivery) | USB-IF

www.usb.org

 

[Lynx_Arc]

LOL, so it looks like you guys are going to talk me into getting a USB-C charger, and higher capacity power bank. Or two or three. 😃

I think it comes down to how much you can spend as you could get by otherwise but PD is the future of power for perhaps most devices and likely even Apple may use it in everything in the future although they would be reluctant to conform as it would cost them a lot of revenue in lighting licensing etc.