The choice between a portable power station and a power bank will depend on your needs. A PPS is more effective, especially for outdoor camping, motorhome trips, or emergency backup for your home. A power bank is best for short-term, low-power output applications, such as charging your smartphone while traveling. There is no difference between a power bank and a portable charger.
Both names can be used to refer to the exact same battery pack that you use to charge a device. Lead-acid batteries are generally not recommended, but if you really need a cheap backup power plant to use in case of emergency, then a lead-acid power plant should do. The external battery pack of the TG90° 6000 mAh portable charger is one of the smallest and lightest power banks we've tested, weighing just 4.1 ounces and its nominal capacity (6000 mAh) is higher than that of the power banks we've tested, which are twice the size. Many companies are trying to add more and more features to their portable power plants to entice you to buy their products.
But if you want something safer, quick-charging and with the lowest passive discharge rate, a power station with a Li-Po battery might be the best option. Even if you're lucky enough to have a plethora of charging options in your daily life—maybe you spend most of your day at home, in the office, or in the car—you can probably still benefit from a portable power bank. Through the power bank, with the exception of the small one, certain intensive uses are obtained with high voltage and power specifications. We've been testing 16 portable power plants for 73 hours, and the Jackery Explorer 1000 is the best option for disconnecting from the power grid or preparing for an emergency.
After examining all the charging ports and power outlets of a portable power plant, you should also look for the ports that are used to charge the power plant. Maximum and continuous power are also important specifications that you should consider when buying a portable power station. Doing so will ensure that you get a durable and reliable power station that will power your devices when needed. We recommend that you buy a portable power station with several USB and USB-C charging ports for your portable devices, a 12 V charging port for your Internet router and at least 2 AC outlets.
In the case of the rechargeable batteries found in power banks, the mAh show how much charge the battery can hold and how long it can power another electronic device before needing to be charged. This makes a power generator a better choice for powering tools and appliances, while a power bank is better suited for charging electronic devices while traveling. But before you buy that portable power station with NFC and wireless charging, make sure it meets your needs first before you buy it.
