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Recommendations for cell phones battery

terferiterferi Registered User new member
Hey guys

Since I'm going to pax (only been to one day at east this year) I am worried about my battery life of my phone. I have a iPhone 5s.

I'd rather not charge my phone at the hotel and I believe there are charging stations around.

Has anyone ever used a battery pack for their phones? Most reviews I've seen tend to be mixed. Any recommendations or helpful tips would be great.

See you there!

Posts

  • zerzhulzerzhul Registered User, Moderator mod
    edited July 2014
    These threads definitely pop up every year. I used to use an Anker, which served me well for a couple of years. I now have a limeade though and won't be going back.

    http://www.amazon.com/External-Battery-Pack-Limefuel-L156X/dp/B00BZDK3XK/

    edit: I guess they're called limefuel now, whatever.

    edit2: I have the 2-port version of the 18000mAh battery, but they now have a 4-port version http://www.amazon.com/Limefuel-L180X-PRO-Flashlight-Thunderbolt/dp/B00FW10L0Q

    zerzhul on
  • pelicanflippelicanflip Registered User regular
    Little bit of math:

    iPhone 5S have a 1560 mAh battery size. So if you get a 10000 mAh external battery, you'll be able to charge your phone up to 6 times + change.

    I have an external battery as well, from Anker, and it comes with 2 ports. I usually charge my iPhone and my 3DS at the same time, and it's been a blessing. I highly suggest getting an external battery.

    Trying to find a charge station is going to be a headache for you, if there even are any. You'll have to wait around for your turn, and you'll be tied to a single location.

    External battery + 3DS + waiting on line = win.

  • adias.angeladias.angel Tech-Savvy Wife Kalamazoo, MIRegistered User regular
    edited July 2014
    Huge fan of the external battery packs. Where is saved us a couple times is when were in line for a panel with no available outlets near us. Of my must pack items for PAX, it ranks in the top right next to my platypus water bottle and comfy shoes.

    adias.angel on
    Prime '12, '13, '14, '15, '19 .. East '12
  • terferiterferi Registered User new member
    Thanks guys. I'll just have to check them out and order one. That makes more sense than an iphone case battery

  • soozerellasoozerella Registered User regular
    I got this one a few years ago and it's served me well at multiple PAXes:

    http://www.amazon.com/New-Trent-iCarrier-Smartphones-Micro-USB/dp/B003ZBZ64Q

    PAX Prime attendee: '08, '09, '10, '11, '12, '13, '14, '15, and soon to be '16
  • BigRedBigRed Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    I was on all of limefuel's kickstarters so I have about 5 of their battery packs. They are very quality compared to other cheap Chinese shit that I see floating around.

    Their latest one is the ruggedized one:
    http://www.amazon.com/Waterproof-Limefuel-L150XR-Thunderbolt-Incredible/dp/B00FW0YEXW/

    That thing is sweet, ive put it through the ringer at camping and whatnot and its still kicking. I drop it constantly and it lives at the bottom of my backpack (so it hits the ground every time I set my backpack down). Also supports pass through charging on both ports.

    I also have two of the 15,600mAh regular ones that still say limeaid (name before they had to change it) and the *MASSIVE* 24,000 mAh unit (really its only like 2" longer than the 15,600 ones) and they have been awesome too. I treat them a little more gentle than the rugged one though.

    <MoeFwacky> besides, BigRed-Worky is right
  • LindabearLindabear Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    I use the Anker charger and I love it! It has two ports so you can charge two things at once ;)

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D5T3QK4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    PAX Prime 2013 [X]
    PAX Prime 2014 [X]
    PAX Prime 2015 [X]
  • I3izzyI3izzy Nonofficial member of the F5 brigade FG, ORRegistered User regular
    My advice is don't go cheap and test it before you go. I purchased a cheap one last year and my phone would throw and error when I tries to use it. I guess that is what I get for a $15 external battery

    ZYseqtZ.png
  • HingoHingo Minneapolis, MNRegistered User regular
    I usually have an Anker battery pack with me, as well as a usb charger for my PS Vita, and a micro-USB cable as well. Lastly, I keep something like this in my bag at all times, too - http://www.amazon.com/3-Grounded-Outlet-Adapter-White-58368/dp/B001UE7SC8/
    It's much easier to convince someone to "share" an outlet if you are tripling the amount of devices you can connect to it. That being said, the hotels usually have fairly open outlets, so if you don't have something like this and are in desperate need of an open outlet, just wander through the hotel lobbies, not the convention center.

    Pins for trade!
    2015 PAX Prime Omeganaut (I will forever hate Katamari)
  • bacon_avengerbacon_avenger Defender of Pork Products Pacific NW, USARegistered User regular
    I have one of these and it has served me well at PAX as well as day to day (especially if I'm out playing ingress).
    http://www.monoprice.com/Product?c_id=108&cp_id=10831&cs_id=1083110&p_id=10392&seq=1&format=2

    It's now been made into the backup as I picked up one of these:
    http://www.amazon.com/15000mAh-Portable-Ultra-High-External-Motorola/dp/B00D5T3QK4

    I got my anker for less than the posted price via a code found on fatwallet.

    iuh6zc0qzpt7.png
  • Gunnar405Gunnar405 Registered User new member
    http://amzn.com/B00IP1OTOY
    amazing quality and comes with a nice suede bag for it to. Impressed with the price/cost/build quality of this.

  • contendrcontendr Registered User regular
    Lindabear wrote: »
    I use the Anker charger and I love it! It has two ports so you can charge two things at once ;)

    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00D5T3QK4/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o03_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    I have a similar Anker one that one of the PA guys suggested last before PAX last year. It charges an iPhone and MotoX about twice each.

  • PikaPuffPikaPuff Registered User regular
    Aw just bought a second Anker the other day. I kinda want to try LimaAide/Fuel now :(

    jCyyTSo.png
  • Robert KhooRobert Khoo Registered User, ClubPA staff
    Trying to balance capacity and size, the PAX team settled on these a few years ago:

    http://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Dual-Port-Compact-External-Portable/dp/B009USAJCC/

    They've come out with newer models since, but none were quite as slim as these.

    Some guy.
  • Star ForgeStar Forge Registered User regular
    +1 on the Anker units. I got myself an Astro Pro2 20000 mAh. Saved my butt numerous times. It is a bit big, but still very manageable.

    Attending [E]nforcing: PAX East 2015 Vacation: [x] Flight: [x] Hotel: [x] [E] Schedule: []
    Attended: PAX Prime 2014
    Considering: PAX Prime 2015
  • LazorzLazorz Tokyo, JPRegistered User regular
    Folks who own Limefuels, what makes them superior to Anker? I'm considering dropping the extra cash to get one, but I'm curious as to what the benefits are.

  • GoogalashGoogalash Registered User regular
    Throwing another vote out there for the limefuel batteries. Like BigRed I also got them via their kickstarters and highly recommend them.

  • GoogalashGoogalash Registered User regular
    edited August 2014
    Lazorz wrote: »
    Folks who own Limefuels, what makes them superior to Anker? I'm considering dropping the extra cash to get one, but I'm curious as to what the benefits are.
    For me I found the design quality to be better and I like the fact they have a flashlight built in. Another nice feature is that they charge off a min USB cable where as the Aniker battery (well the one I got awhile back) charges off a DC plug.

    That being said I would say Aniker is a close 2nd to limefuel and I would not have a problem recommending either brand. I personally wouldn't buy anything else.

    Googalash on
  • StarYoshiStarYoshi Game Designer / Data Scientist USARegistered User regular
    edited August 2014
    Jackery makes a great portable charger. I'm rocking the 5600mAH model for my note 3. It's good for almost 2 full charges - my battery is 3200mAH though :)

    StarYoshi on
    Attendance
    PAX Prime / PAX Dev 2014
    PAX Prime 2013
    PAX Prime 2009
  • youngeric86youngeric86 Registered User new member
    I have enjoyed my new trent pack. It had the best mAH to cost ratio i could find.

  • Ghostly ClockworkGhostly Clockwork Registered User regular
    I had an idea for a way to help out other people while standing in line. I've got a limeade power brick, and there's no way I could ever use all of the power in one day. What would people think if people who wanted, could have a patch or button or something on their bag that let people know that if you needed power, I've got a battery you can hook onto for a bit. Do people think that might be something interesting?

    FTC: honk.
    FTC: HONK.

    HLRpxno.png
    PAX Prime 2014 Resistance Tournament Winner
  • pogoplaypogoplay Writer/Blogger/Gamer Calgary, AlbertaRegistered User regular
    zerzhul wrote: »
    These threads definitely pop up every year. I used to use an Anker, which served me well for a couple of years. I now have a limeade though and won't be going back.

    http://www.amazon.com/External-Battery-Pack-Limefuel-L156X/dp/B00BZDK3XK/

    edit: I guess they're called limefuel now, whatever.

    edit2: I have the 2-port version of the 18000mAh battery, but they now have a 4-port version http://www.amazon.com/Limefuel-L180X-PRO-Flashlight-Thunderbolt/dp/B00FW10L0Q

    I bought this one Zerzhul based off your recommendation... Liking it so far. It if fails me though, I will find you... and I will kill you (In like Halo or some shit). :P

    Attended: PAX Prime 2010, PAX Prime 2011, PAX Prime 2012, PAX Prime 2014.
    Attending: PAX Prime 2016
    Twitter @Pogoplay
  • BouwsTBouwsT Wanna come to a super soft birthday party? Registered User regular
    ^ Classic Liam. :relieved:

    Between you and me, Peggy, I smoked this Juul and it did UNTHINKABLE things to my mind and body...
  • kube00kube00 SE WA StateRegistered User regular
    I got this one for East and it worked pretty well
    Maxboost Electron 10000mAh Dual-port
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00C13YSIO/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    1st PAX was Prime 2010. Made it to several more Primes/West. Been to East and South. Headed back to West in 2019 for my 12th PAX.

    Twitter:kube00
  • jukkakhanjukkakhan Registered User regular
    I'll chime in and show my love for Anker as well. I'm using an Anker Astro E4 and could not be happier. It kept my phone charged all day, plus charging my 3DS on occasion and friends phones.

    PimDtoK.png
  • creid8creid8 Registered User regular
    jukkakhan wrote: »
    I'll chime in and show my love for Anker as well. I'm using an Anker Astro E4 and could not be happier. It kept my phone charged all day, plus charging my 3DS on occasion and friends phones.
    Is there an official USB charger for 3DS, or is there a good 3rd-party one?

  • BigRedBigRed Seattle, WARegistered User regular
    creid8 wrote: »
    jukkakhan wrote: »
    I'll chime in and show my love for Anker as well. I'm using an Anker Astro E4 and could not be happier. It kept my phone charged all day, plus charging my 3DS on occasion and friends phones.
    Is there an official USB charger for 3DS, or is there a good 3rd-party one?

    I use this one:
    http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0071BJK34/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

    Works well enough off of my battery packs and even my computer.

    <MoeFwacky> besides, BigRed-Worky is right
  • PDX PaulPDX Paul Portland ORRegistered User regular
    Trying to balance capacity and size, the PAX team settled on these a few years ago:

    http://www.amazon.com/10000mAh-Dual-Port-Compact-External-Portable/dp/B009USAJCC/

    They've come out with newer models since, but none were quite as slim as these.

    Thanks for the recommendation, this was exactly what I was looking for.

    Climb to the top of the world. And as you stand tall, you will see...
    That when you fall... You will fall from a height most men will never reach.
  • ElmoFuntzElmoFuntz Portland, ORRegistered User regular
    Along with a previously mentioned battery pack I carry one of these for those times when you are near a plug which suprisingly can end up fairly often depending on the lines you are waiting in. http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00GTGETFG/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o00_s01?ie=UTF8&psc=1 They are amazing at charging and you can share with people near you then in the hotel you only need 1 wall slot. I never bring any other USB wall plugs (used to have 3 or 4 before this).

    Go for the eyes Boo, GO FOR THE EYES!
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