Power banks are awesome, eh? They’re instant sources of energy, designed to assist in a desperate situation. Is there anything more desperate than your car breaking down in the misery of a winter’s night, with the rain thrashing the windscreen?
In an emergency, such as a collision or vehicle breakdown, you don’t want to run out of mobile phone battery. After all, you’ll likely be using it quite heavily; contacting roadside assistance, tracking their progress, making sure they know your location, contacting family and friends, using the torch and perhaps whiling away the wait with emails, games or a streaming show, for distraction.
To help understand the numbers. the capacity of a power bank is measured in milliamps per hour (mAh) and there’s roughly 5000 mAh to one full charge of a smartphone – though this can vary depending on the technology of the handset.
A lot of devices come in black, so we’d recommend some awesome dayglo stickers so your black devices don’t get lost in the depths of the glove box.
Here’s a list of some of the best power banks, suitable for keeping in your car, in case of emergency.
QUICK ADVICE: Don’t forget that these banks are pretty much useless without a cable. Make sure you have a compatible charging cable stored with the power pack in your glove box.
Best power banks to keep in your car
Anker PowerCore Slim
Editor’s choice
Price: £22.99 | VIEW OFFER
If there’s one name in all the power banks brands of the world, Anker is arguably the most recognisable. Producing great products, that are practical and reasonably priced, these rugged packs last for years, if treated well. There’s a 10,000mAh capacity and technology which will deliver a charge at high-speed and it supports all the latest cable technology, recharging itself with a USB-C port.
Belkin 10,000mAh Portable Power Bank
Runner-up
Price: £26.49 | VIEW OFFER
This Belkin 10,000mAh portable power bank reckons it can squeeze out as many as three full charges of a smartphone handset. What’s more, simultaneous charging has been enabled, supporting up to two devices, thus if your emergency torch hasn’t been suitably maintained, you know you’re only a short wait from a brave new world of light and communication. There’s also a handy retractable phone stand.
NOCO Power Bank
Most power
Price: £134.95 | VIEW OFFER
The most expensive option on our list, the NOCO Boost X is actually a battery-operated, handheld jump starter, complete with positive and negative crocodile clips. Obviously, this device is super handy in a pinch, especially if the problems you have are battery-related. You may not even have to call for roadside assistance, but if you do, the power pack doubles up as a charger for mobiles, laptops and other electronic devices, with 5000mAh.
Anker Power Bank 633 Magnetic Battery
Best for iPhone
Price: £69.99 | VIEW OFFER
Designed for use with select Apple iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, this battery from Anker wirelessly charges a smartphone and acts as a stand, allowing the phone to be easily viewed. At 10,000mAh, it’ll fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro just shy of two times. If you’re an Apple user, this will serve you well.
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