What is the average lifespan of a portable battery bank?

Portable batteries can be very useful during long days when you know you won’t be near an outlet and need to keep your devices charged. If you’re shopping for one, there’s no shortage of options with various features like wireless charging and built-in cords, as well as a range of capacities, charging speeds, and styles. External batteries can last a while before noticeably degrading, although this lifespan depends on their quality and how you use them.

It shouldn’t surprise you to learn that the longevity of a portable battery depends on how often it is used and recharged. This can be measured in charge cycles or the number of times a rechargeable battery is used and recharged to 100%. According to Anker, most power banks last between 300 and 500 full cycles, which should equate to between two and six years depending on how often you use them. There are exceptions like Belkin’s BoostSolid, which the company says can last 1,000 cycles. Apart from quality, there is another factor that affects the lifespan of your portable power bank and that is whether it is wired or wireless.

By its nature, wireless charging – including methods like MagSafe – emits more heat than traditional wired charging. This is one of the main disadvantages of using wireless phone chargers. This happens because wireless charging works by transferring energy between the charger’s magnetic coils and the device being charged, losing energy in the process and releasing it as heat. Wired chargers also experience heat loss, but in much smaller amounts, making them more energy efficient.

Many manufacturers haven’t shared the number of charge cycles expected from their wireless devices, but heat shortens battery life. But it stands to reason that a portable wireless charger won’t last as long as a wired one. Additionally, the heat generated can also cause your device’s battery to degrade faster. Although quality wireless chargers have safety features to prevent overheating, constant use is bound to cause damage over time.

It should be noted that after going through all of its charge cycles, a portable battery will generally not fail. Instead, it will begin to lose capacity, dropping to around 60-80% of the battery’s initial maximum capacity. That said, it’s important to pay attention to any signs that your battery is no longer safe to use, such as excessive heat and swelling.