Using a power bank to charge your phone is safe, and you don’t have much to worry about when doing so. There is a slight risk that your phone can overheat, causing long-term issues with your battery, but this is rare.
This post will explore if a power bank is safe for charging your phone. I’ll explain why using a power bank with your phone is generally safe and what can cause potential damage if your phone gets hot.
Let’s jump in.
Contents
Key Takeaways
- Using a power bank for charging your phone is generally safe, and you don’t need to worry about damage when doing so.
- Even though it is safe, there is the potential for long-term damage to your battery if it gets too hot when plugged into a power bank.
- Most phones and power banks have safety features built-in that prevent the phone or power banks from overheating to avoid damage to the battery.
Is a Power Bank Safe for Charging your Phone?
Power banks offer a backup supply of charging power for your phone when you cannot charge it using a wall socket or other source of electricity. These devices are safe to use and should not cause any damage to your phone.
Most phones and power banks are equipped with safety features that help reduce any risk that a power bank could cause. I’ll explain what those risks are in the section below. But you don’t need to worry much about your phone when using one of these.
Unless the manufacturer of your specific phone instructs you not to use a power bank for charging, it will be safe to do so. Modern smartphones, like the iPhone, have safety features designed into them that help fixes any issues power banks might cause.
Can Power Bank Damage Phone Battery?
There is a slight chance that a power bank can damage a phone battery. But this is unlikely and rare. And even if damage does occur, it will not stop your phone from working or result in any issues that are too serious.
Power banks can cause your phone to heat up, which can harm the battery. But long-term overheating is the issue, and not when a phone gets hot occasionally. Most people don’t use power banks for every charge, so phones don’t get too hot.
If a battery does get damaged from a power bank or other heating source, it will lose some of its overall lifespan. It may not hold as good of a charge after many years of use. But that’s not too big of an issue for regular power bank use.
And another reason why you don’t need to worry about using a power bank is that most phones and power banks have safety measures built into them that prevent the devices from heating up. This reduces the risk of the phone overheating and the battery getting damaged.
Disadvantages of Using Power Bank to Charge Phone
Power banks are convenient to have and come in useful when you need them. But they also have a few disadvantages to know and understand.
If you don’t have a specific need for a power bank, then you likely don’t need one. Power banks can be expensive, and any unnecessary expense is a disadvantage for people on a budget. There are affordable options out there, but it’s still an expense.
Power banks can also be bulky. This can make them difficult to travel with, whether you just commute to work or are on extended trips. If you don’t want to be weighed down by extra tech gear, you don’t need a power bank.
How to Choose a Power Bank for Your Phone
Taking the following factors into account, your decision-making will be much easier.
Capacity
The most important thing about a power bank is its capacity. The larger this number, the more charges it can provide to your phone, which has a battery of about 2700mAh big.
This means you’ll need at least that much for a single backup charge, around twice that for two charges, and so on.
However, due to the fact that electricity isn’t 100% efficient when charging your phone, keep in mind that you may need slightly more capacity to get the number of charges you want.
Power Support
All the latest phone models support wireless and quick charging features, both of which are extremely useful on a day-to-day basis.
While every power bank should include a standard USB port for connecting the USB-to-lightning cable that your phone comes with, many also support these advanced modes and you should check to see if your bank of choice has an upgraded model with one or both features.
Design
Form factor can be extremely important when purchasing a power bank. If you plan to leave it in your car, for the most part, you might not mind a heavy bank.
However, if it’s going to travel with you, perhaps in a purse, airplane carry-on, or backpack, a slim and light model will be a much better choice.
Additionally, look for power banks that include charge remaining indicators. These are often in the form of a strip of LEDs to indicate 0-25, 26-50, 51-75 and 75-100 percent battery remaining. This is extremely useful for keeping track of exactly how much backup power you have.
What’s the Best Power Bank for Phone?
Note that all the portable power banks below are hand-picked based on 1). the criteria listed above 2). our own user experience 3). reputation research we did on the Internet hearing what other users say about their iPhone charging experiences.
1. Anker PowerCore Ultra Portable Phone Charger
Want to buy a compact and light one from a reliable brand? No problem, this power bank from Anker is all you need.
Input is USB-C only, and there are 2 USB ports so you can charge two devices at once. Plus, you get a USB to USB-C cable, 60cm Micro USB cable, and travel pouch.
What We Like:
- 13000mAh capacity should charge your phone between 2 and 4 times, the USB port outputs at a rapid 5V/2A, and the slim design weighs in at about half a pound.
- It’s about the size of your phone in terms of length and width, though closer to half an inch thick — altogether portable and easy to slip into your bag without worrying about available space.
What’s Not So Great:
- Doesn’t support fast wireless charging for iPhones.
2. RAVPower 20100mAh USB-C Power Bank
If you need a battery in bulk, RAVPower is the way to go. The 20100mAh power bank can give your phone around 4 charges or can charge parallel devices at once if you also need to support your tablets or even laptops (as long as you have the appropriate USB cable).
What We Like:
- You’ll more than make it through the day with 4 charges this bank can provide.
- Can keep all your devices powered up since it has 2 USB ports for charging.
- Doesn’t have “quick charge”, but does output at 5V/2.4A which is faster than a standard wall adapter that charges at 5V/2.1A.
- Available in Ultra-fast Recharge (30W Type-C Charger).
What’s Not So Great:
- Only 1 color choice.
- Weighs in at about a pound — definitely on the hefty side.
3. Alpatronix iPhone X/Xs Battery 4200mAh Case
If you don’t want to worry about an entirely separate device to carry around and don’t need a ton of backup power, the Alpatronix Battery Case is a great compromise.
Snapping onto your phone, the case is protective while also functioning as a backup battery capable of delivering at least one complete backup charge whenever you need it. It’s impossible to lose, efficient, and always available when you need it.
What We Like:
- Supports Qi Wireless Charging on any certified pad, which will replenish both the case and the phone.
- Raised edges of the case and an included screen cover protect against drop damage.
- Weighs only 3.6 ounces, and has an LED power indicator on the back.
What’s Not So Great:
- Only compatible with wireless earbuds, even if you have the Earpods with lightning connectors.
FAQs
Here are a few short answers to some of the most commonly asked questions relating to if a power bank is safe for charging your phone.
Can I leave my phone charging overnight with power bank?
It’s best not to leave your phone charging overnight with a power bank. Doing so probably won’t cause any harm to your phone, but it is possible. So it’s best to avoid leaving your phone plugged into a power bank longer than you need to.
What is the safest way to charge your phone?
The safest way to charge your phone is to use the charger that came with your phone from the manufacturer. This will help avoid giving the phone too much charge or limit the chance of it overheating.
Is it ok to use power bank every day?
It is ok to use a power bank every day. You should just avoid leaving your phone plugged into a power bank for longer than it needs to be. Not letting your phone overheat can help you get the longest lifespan out of a battery.
Power Bank Caring Tips & Tricks
While having a power bank will certainly keep you in the clear, you should also practice good battery care with your phone so that it will have a longer lifespan and be better at holding a charge.
The most basic advice is to avoid extreme temperatures and always have the latest software updates, and remove cases that get too warm while your phone is charging as this can cause battery damage.
Never charge your phone overnight, it’s bad for the battery to leave it plugged in for hours and hours at 100% while you continue sleeping.
There are also settings you can change to adjust your battery performance. For some of Apple’s official tips, check out their article on the matter.
Final Thoughts
Power banks are safe to use to charge your phone because most modern phones and banks have features that help prevent any issues with damage. But you still shouldn’t only use a power bank to charge your phone.
If you really want to be careful about your battery life in the long term, consider not using a power bank or wireless charges. These have the potential to heat up your phone, which can harm the battery in the long run.
Have you used a power bank to charge your phone? What type of power bank was it, and did you experience any issues? Let me know in the comments below.
