Let’s face it, no smartphone or tablet has a long-lasting battery. It will only last if you are not connected to the Internet, not taking pictures or selfies, not listening to music or not watching YouTube. Both my phone and tablet always quickly run out of power, especially when my LTE-enabled iPhone’s tethering feature is activated and my iPad Mini with Retina display uses it as a hotspot. The iPad’s power also quickly gets drained when Bluetooth is on and connected to my wireless keyboard. It will be impossible to stay connected or work using the devices the entire day even if they were fully charged.
That’s why I always bring along a power bank. If I can’t charge my phone using an establishment’s power outlet, I use my power bank to charge my devices. My most powerful power bank used to be a 4,000mAh battery pack, which is only good for two charges for my phone or a half charge for my iPad. Then came the mobile power pack from APC by Schneider Electric.
The mobile power pack I got, which is the M10BK model, has a 10,000 mAh battery. After charging the battery for 8 eight hours (the manual says you have to charge it for 8 hours before initial use), I used the device to revive my dead iPhone. At first, I thought the M10BK was defective because I found it turned off when I got back to check on it and the phone. Apparently, the power pack automatically turns off when your device is fully charged. That is an important feature because it avoids overcharging the phone. A feature of the M10BK powers down the battery temperature to a safe and cool operating range. Some phone batteries have been known to overheat which has the potential to cause everything from dead phones to explosions.
So I used the power pack three more times to charge my phone. After the fourth charge, it ran out of juice so I recharged the battery again for 8 hours. After an overnight charge, I used the M10BK to charge my iPad Mini which had 15% power left.
After about 3 hours, the iPad Mini was fully charged and the M10BK’s battery was nearing its end so I recharged it again. Two devices can also be simultaneously charged using the M10BK’s two USB 2.4A and one 1A ports. The 2.4A charging port is ideal for tablets, while the 1A charging port is ideal for smartphones. You can also use the devices to charge an MP3 player or a digital camera.
An LED display shows the unit’s remaining charge while an on/off button ensures the battery does not unintentionally discharge when not in use.
Weighing 243g, the M10BK has 5.7″ x 3.5″ x 0.5″ dimension. It is light and small enough to fit in your bag. At Php2,400, the M10BK is a good investment, especially if you’re a mobile worker that needs to be online all the time just to get work done, like me.
If you’re not a power user or on a really tight budget, you can opt for the M5 model which has a decent 5,000mAh battery. However, it can only offer two full charges for a smartphone or a half charge for a tablet. It can also simultaneously charge two devices.
By the way, the M10BK is no longer with me. My husband liked it so much he “stole” it from my bag. So after almost a week of separation, I have reunited with my old power bank. It’s the season of giving and reunions anyway.
