5 Cool Things You Had No Idea Some Power Banks Could Do

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A power bank has become a necessity for anyone leading an active lifestyle. When there’s no power outlet in sight, whether during a commute or a breakdown, a power bank can be an essential backup tool for smartphones and tablets. Some of them are even powerful enough to charge your laptop. However, there is no rule that says charging our devices is all they need. Some power banks have evolved beyond just being there when your phone needs a recharge. They have become multifunctional tools that you can carry with you every day.

These days, power banks can hold your keys. They can act as fans that keep you from overheating on a hot day. And when you tend to get particularly cold in the winter, they might just be what warms you up. It’s hard to say whether the external battery makes the other tool cool or vice versa. Either way, it’s great to see that manufacturers are willing to experiment and find ways to improve the utility of power banks. Here are some examples.

You’ve probably seen mini power banks before, as they sometimes take the shape of a lipstick tube. They can fit comfortably in your pocket, purse, or small bag without weighing you down. They typically have half the capacity of a standard power bank, giving your device just enough extra power to get you through the rest of the day, which is why they’re usually called mini backup power banks. But instead of being a device that takes up space when not charged, the folks at Porry turned theirs into a portable keychain.

The Porry Portable Charger is a 5000mAh power bank with a carabiner to place your keys. It comes in different colors, including black, blue, pink, and Christmas red, and costs $32.99. If you don’t want to use it as a keychain, you can clip it to your backpack or purse, making it easy to take with you whether you’re hiking or hanging out with friends. Due to its small capacity, it can probably fully charge your phone once, but it’s ideal for small devices like headphones. Its integrated cables make it even more convenient to use: no need to carry additional cables.

Porry portable charger also supports direct charging. This means you can safely charge the power bank while using it. Doing this on powerbanks without this feature can damage the battery, in addition to slowing down the charging of connected devices.

If you’ve ever found yourself in a crowded room without air conditioning, you know how uncomfortable it can become. You can look for the nearest magazine to fan yourself, but if the wait is particularly long, your hand can easily get tired. A portable fan like the JISULIFE Ultra2 Portable Fan can help provide much-needed cooling and air circulation when it’s hot and stuffy. It has a turbo fan with a 43,000 RPM motor, capable of providing rapid cooling. It also has 100 speeds, allowing you to find the perfect wind speed that maximizes your comfort. It costs $89.99 and comes in two colors: gray and brown.

The Ultra2 portable fan has a 9,000 mAh battery with a maximum runtime of 25 hours on a full charge, meaning you can use it for several nights before requiring a charge. It also has an 18W USB-C port to charge your devices while you cool off. Another nice feature is its LED flashlight with three brightness levels, making it a good gadget to have if you’re spending the night outside in a hot and humid place. Additionally, it works as a mini air pump to inflate an inflatable tent, and considering the blower, it can be an essential tool for a night out camping.

There are many reasons to have hand warmers on hand when temperatures start to drop. For example, the cold can make your hands stiff, making it difficult to do any work activity requiring dexterity. If you’re at home, they can also prevent you from turning on the heating just to keep your hands warm, helping you save on your electricity bill. Aside from that, they can also be a handy power bank like OCOOPA hand warmers. This is a pair of $39.99 electric hand warmers with a 5,000 mAh rechargeable battery on each hand warmer.

On the lowest setting, the hand warmers can run for up to eight hours, but they have four heat settings that reach a maximum of 137 degrees Fahrenheit. The hand warmers also feature an ergonomic handle that makes them comfortable to hold, making them ideal to take with you on a long walk in cold weather. They’re also small enough to fit in your pocket, and when not in use you can attach them with the magnets on the bottom and store them safely.

Another argument in favor of having a power bank with you when you go camping is that some of them can act as a mosquito repellent. One such device is the PathVenture Portable Mosquito Repellent, which creates a mosquito-free zone of up to 96 square feet in 15 minutes. It’s about the size of a small bedroom or walk-in closet. With this $31.99 device, you can be assured that mosquitoes won’t bother you whether you’re in your tent while camping or sitting on your boat or by the dock while fishing. The device is also IP67 rated, meaning it is water and dust resistant.

This electric mosquito repellent has a 9000 mAh battery that can charge your phone multiple times, but it can also power the device for 12 hours by heating a carpet on one side. When dual heating mode is enabled, it can work for approximately 5.5 hours at maximum range. On top of that, it also has a built-in flashlight for when your outdoor activities extend into the night.

Imagine getting a flat tire and hearing the words, “Let me grab my power bank.” One such power bank is the Warwolf Portable Air Compressor. This $59.99 device can deliver up to 160 psi of air pressure, making it suitable for high-pressure situations like inflating the tire of a truck, SUV, or motorcycle. It can handle objects that don’t have much pressure, like balls and bicycle tires, thanks to its four adjustable modes. Additionally, it has a digital display that provides accurate pressure readings so you can safely stop when the object you’re inflating has enough air.

Although it can easily handle the tires of various vehicles, it cannot inflate something as large as an air mattress or extra-wide tires. It has a 10,000 mAh battery that can fill up to four tires very quickly on a single charge. This means that the Warwolf Portable Air Compressor is not just a charging device, but a necessary tool to have in the car in case of an emergency, whether it’s inflating a tire or charging something like a Nintendo Switch 2 during a long trip. It is also compact and offers good build quality that can last you a long time. The manufacturer recommends keeping the battery charged regularly to increase the longevity of the device.

We basically looked at power banks that could provide much-needed utility in everyday scenarios and in some emergency scenarios (e.g. a flat tire). As for charging, we chose those that can at least charge a phone, which is why a capacity of 5,000 mAh is the minimum. We also ensured that if they were going to cost more than the more affordable power banks that users swear by, they needed to have a good price/function balance to reflect their usefulness beyond charging. Durability, safety, and practicality were also considerations, as well as good user reviews (for example, a minimum rating of four out of five stars on Amazon).