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- Main selection criteria
- How to choose an external battery for your phone
- Top phone battery manufacturers
How to choose a battery for a mobile phone: what to look for
The main criteria for choosing a battery for a mobile phone are:- Compatible with the phone in use;
- Capacity.
- It is also worth considering that the battery can be internal and external. Batteries of the last type, the so-called “power banks”, are not installed in the phone case and are intended to be used as portable chargers.
- The manufacturer of the battery is also important.
Main selection criteria
The most important selection parameters are type, compatibility and capacity.
Battery type
By type, batteries are divided into internal and external (portable).
Internal batteries
The internal battery is a vital functional element of the phone. It is from him that all other microcircuits are powered by electricity. In fact, no mobile phone can work without an internal battery installed.
Internal batteries are always supplied with the mobile phone. They are distinguished by a long operating period, so they will have to be replaced either in case of damage (for example, due to drowning or swelling), or after significant wear.
The “symptoms” that signal the need to replace the internal battery are:
- Its swelling or any other spontaneous deformation;
- Quick discharge of the phone with an unexpectedly fast or, conversely, slow charge;
- The appearance of heat during normal use.
Of course, a long operating period is achieved only with proper handling of the phone – it does not stay near the heating elements, in direct sunlight, it is not used in conditions of extremely low temperatures or very high humidity.
Internal batteries are usually not cross-compatible. That is, they are designed to be used with one specific phone. Moreover, such “specialization” is achieved both structurally – the battery has the dimensions, shape and arrangement of contacts that allow it to be installed only in the lodgement of a specific model; and at the electrical level – the current and voltage of the battery are intended for use only in compatible electronics.
As a result, it is not worth trying to install a battery from one phone into the cradle of another – even if it is structurally possible, it is not a fact that it will not “ditch” the delicate electronics inside the device.
Portable batteries
Portable batteries (external, “power banks”) are not an alternative to internal. The phone will not be able to work only on such a battery. Portable batteries are designed for “emergency” recharging of the device when a regular household network is unavailable – on long trips, hiking trips or when there is a banal power outage.
The principle of operation of an external battery is quite simple. First, it charges itself, then it stores energy for some time (usually quite a long time, about several weeks), and when the phone is connected, it recharges it.
Compatibility
As mentioned above, various mobile phone manufacturers make devices with different forms of battery cradles and battery current-voltage characteristics. Therefore, it is very important to determine compatibility.
Usually it is indicated directly on the battery packaging. Its specifications list the devices it will fit.
An alternative is to search for a battery by a specific model of the battery itself. It can be found on the sticker on the same battery.
Battery capacity
The battery life of the device depends on the capacity of the battery. Therefore, the higher it is, the better. But it is worth remembering that very high-capacity batteries are usually quite large in size and therefore may simply not fit under the back cover of the device.
It is desirable that the capacity of the new battery matches the capacity of the replaced one or slightly exceeds it. This will ensure maximum compatibility.
How to choose an external battery for your phone
An external battery, also known as a portable charger, is designed to restore the energy reserve in the internal battery of a smartphone. Therefore, the main criterion for selection is the capacity of this device. Additionally, you can also pay attention to the output current and the material of the case.
External battery capacity
The higher the capacity of the external battery, the more times it will be able to recharge the phone. However, the peculiarity of mobile phones is that they are initially equipped with rather “small” internal batteries. On average, their capacity is about 1000-1500 mAh.
Therefore, they simply do not need a really large external battery. Even a budget model with 5000 mAh will be enough for 2-3 recharges. It makes sense to purchase a more “capacious” battery only if long trips are planned.
It is worth remembering that the battery capacity indicated on its packaging differs slightly from the real one. This is due to a number of factors, including self-discharge, transmission loss, and other purely physical phenomena. Therefore, an external battery designed for 5000 mAh will be enough for 2 recharges of the phone, the built-in battery capacity of which is 1500 mAh.
For urban use and short trips, a 5000 mAh battery will suffice. For long trips, it is advisable to purchase models with 10,000 mAh or more.
Charging current
The charging current determines how fast the phone charges. The higher it is, the faster the internal battery of the device will restore its reserve.
But there are also a few “buts”. Old mobile phones are not designed for high charging current – if powered by more than 1 A, they can simply burn out. In addition, such a high current may damage the internal battery.
Therefore, for use with mobile phones, it is advisable to purchase external batteries designed for 1 A or even less. Of course, in this case, a full charge will take quite a long time (up to several hours), but the risk of damage will be minimal.
New mobile phones (for example, those released by Nokia in 2016-2017) can handle high charging currents. For them, you can purchase a power bank designed for 2.1 A.
Housing material
Some practical and operational properties of a power bank depend on the case material. Typically, such devices are made in metal or plastic.
- Plastic is a cheap and quite practical material. However, it is not scratch resistant and can be damaged if dropped. Therefore, it is advisable to use plastic power banks very carefully.
- Metal is more expensive, but also more stable. It doesn’t scratch or crack. The disadvantage of the metal is its thermal properties. It freezes quickly and leads to intense self-discharge of built-in batteries in the cold. Therefore, metal external batteries are not suitable for use at low temperatures.
Top phone battery manufacturers
Among the manufacturers of the highest quality internal batteries for phones, the following companies can be distinguished:
- Craftmann;
- TF1 (TelForceOne);
- partner.
Of course, the best internal batteries are original ones, that is, produced by the same company that made the phone.
Among the manufacturers of external batteries are:
- Inter Step;
- Xiaomi;
- Hyper.
- Canyon products are also suitable for modern phones.
In the following articles, our experts tell you how to choose a smartphone case and the secrets of choosing a protective glass for your smartphone.