SOLUTION Power arrangers
WE’VE come to rely on our phones so much for so many things that a day when the battery gauge hits the red zone is a stressful one.
When the juice drains completely, it’s a crisis.
So while battery technology and capacity has improved dramatically over the years, you might want to carry some way of keeping things powered up on the go.
This hasn’t been much of a problem for quite a while… but as we get out and about more we’ll find the need for a boost becomes more and more frequent.
Here then are some simple ways to get the electricity flowing, whether you’re just heading for a day out, or spending a few days off grid…
APPLE MAGSAFE BATTERY PACK They say:
Its compact, intuitive design makes on-the-go charging easy. And its perfectly aligned magnets keep it attached to your iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro — providing safe and reliable wireless charging.
We say: New from Apple, this is perhaps the most elegant solution for users of all varieties of iPhone 12. Expanding the MagSafe system, this pack attaches to the back of your phone magnetically.
Apple doesn’t say just how much power it’ll provide, and it’s so new we haven’t seen any numbers on that yet.
While it’s quite a chunk of extra bulk, it has a couple of neat features. When your phone is charged up and plugged in, it’ll charge up the battery pack, too. Plus when the battery pack is plugged in it can double as a wireless charger itself.
£99 from apple.com/uk
BELKIN POCKET POWER 5K They say:
With a slim, lightweight power bank in your bag or pocket, it’s easy to charge up anywhere. The universal USB-A port delivers up to 2.4A to quickly and safely charge your favourite devices. With a 2.0A input the battery recharges quickly between uses.
We say: Simple, quick, and easy – this is the one to carry with you for a quick boost when you’re out and about for the day.
The 5,000 mAh pack can provide an additional 35 hours of video playback on a state-ofthe-art smartphone.
£24.99 from belkin. com
MOPHIE POWERSTATION
WIRELESS XL
They say: Effortlessly charge your Qi-enabled devices anywhere with the powerstation wireless XL power bank. You can also use the superfast 18W USB-C PD or USB-A ports to charge your wired devices, so you never have to worry about running out of power. say: No plugging in required with this powerhouse – just lay your phone down on the top of the pack, and it’ll power it up relatively quickly.
If speed is of the essence, it also provides quicker ways to get going again.
It’s a bit bulky, but can charge up a regular modern smartphone at least twice on one charge.
£64.95 from zagg.com/mophie
BIOLIGHT CAMPSTOVE 2 They say:
Turn fire into electricity with BioLite’s award-winning stove. Patented combustion technology creates a vortex of smokeless flames for a portable campfire that can cook your meals and charge your gear, all at the same time.
We say: This is the one if you’re going off grid – you can charge up your phone with fire.
Yes, this is a camping stove that generates electricity. It uses some of that to power a built-in light and an internal fan that helps produce a good burn, which means you can fuel it using twigs and branches you find on the trail.
But there’s extra juice available, which you access for your phone via a USB port on the stove.
£149.95 from uk.bioliteenergy. com
NOVOO POWERBANK
They say: Life doesn’t wait for you to be fully charged. Stop hanging out by the outlet and power all your smart devices faster with Fast Charge technology. NOVOO power bank with an AC Outlet supports Quick Charge 3.0 (USBA) and USB Power Delivery charging technology.
We say: This monster offers a huge capacity and is useful for those wishing to keep larger devices powered up on the go – it actually features a standard UK three-pin plug, so you can use it for devices like laptops.
It won’t keep them going all day, but it’ll extend use-time for those extra minutes that might be crucial in helping you get the job done.
£109.99 from amazon.co.uk
IF YOU DON’T WANT TO
SEE RED WHEN YOUR BATTERY IS LOW, WE HAVE THE