Many technical devices are becoming increasingly lighter and more compact; smartphones, tablets, etc. have become an integral part of our everyday lives. The energy requirements of the devices are constantly increasing and the battery capacity is often only enough to barely get them through the day. The simplest solution is power banks. These now offer enough capacity to charge even a power-hungry laptop.
However, such a power bank requires space in a backpack or bag and in practice is only used sporadically. It would be more practical to have charging options integrated into everyday objects – and there are countless variations of this. In this article we show the most absurd, strange and really practical gadgets with integrated charging functions as well as power banks with interesting additional functions.
Inconspicuous everyday objects with charging function
If you are looking for the most inconspicuous solution for charging while on the go, you should check whether one of the following gadgets is already in your backpack or handbag – you can often simply replace it with a variant that includes a charging option:
It starts with rechargeable flashlights. LED lamps with integrated charging options are available in countless sizes and variants for just a few euros. Filling the cell phone battery shortens the lighting time, but in case of doubt you have light and emergency power immediately to hand. Experience has shown that you don’t have to dig deep into your pockets. Cheap yet very bright lamps with charging functions are available from 15 euros. We use the IP67 certified ones privately Gisaae flashlight for 20 Euro. In addition to five lighting modes, there is at least 5000 mAh available for cell phones etc. But it can also be much more compact! More about this in our top 10: The best mini flashlights with batteries and USB – bright and compact.
Even if you transport your notebook or tablet in a classic writing or travel case, you can choose a model with an integrated battery. One Writing folder im DIN-A4-Format mit 5000-mAh-Akku gives it away 35 Euro. The smaller version in A5 format and a capacity of 4000 mAh costs around 20 euros. If you don’t use such a folder but have a USB power supply with you anyway, you can also use a charger with an integrated power bank. The model Vrurc-Powerbank with two USB-A and one USB-C with at least 22 watts of power 29 Euro. A more powerful 65-watt version of Wikinu costs around 46 euros. The highlight: When you’re on the go, both power supplies serve as a power bank with a capacity of 10,000 mAh.
They are much more inconspicuous, but due to their low capacity they are at best intended as an emergency solution Keychain with power bank function. Such mini power banks are just as big as a car key, but still offer enough power to power the phone for a few calls. Such Mini-Powerbankwhich can also be used to charge the Apple Watch wirelessly, is available with 3000 mAh for around 15 euros.
Even the handy ones True wireless headphones, more precisely, their charging cases are available with an integrated power bank function. If your cell phone battery runs out while you’re on the go, you can charge it using your headphones. The capacity in the small charging cases is usually manageable, but it is sufficient for a few phone calls with the smartphone. The biggest weak point of such charging headphones: These headphones are usually cheap, no-name products with mediocre sound, like these TWS M90 for around 7 Euro.
Bicycle gadgets with charging function
If you travel by bike instead of by car, you will also find numerous gadgets with a practical charging function via USB. This is how you find things like: Steering wheel holders for smartphones with integrated power bank function. The model of Sunslice with 5000 mAh and additional LED light is available for about 49 Euro.
Anyone traveling with an e-scooter should check whether it already has a USB charging port. You can then safely do without an additional power bank due to the huge capacity of the scooter battery. The outdoor scooter Joyor Y8-S (test report) has such a USB output on board. We show the best electric scooters from our individual tests in our best e-scooter list.
Power bank gadgets for camping and leisure
Anyone traveling in a car or caravan on holiday usually relies on power from a cigarette lighter. But here too, there are still some alternatives that also work outside of the vehicle. There are practical ones, for example Power banks with integrated jump start function. These practical combination devices are used to power cell phones etc. as well as to bridge weak car batteries. We show the best models from our tests in the top 7: The best jump starter for cars – jumpring the car with a power bank from 35 euros.
If you also take camera equipment with you on the go, there are also suitable gadgets with integrated charging options. For example, many gimbals have an integrated power bank function. Too exotic? Simple selfie sticks and mini tripods are also available with an internal battery and USB charging option. It starts at about 16 Euro for a Hand stand with at least 5200 mAh from Xlayer. The extendable one Selfiestick from Wolfang with 2600 mAh is available for 43 Euro. Video and photo lamps can also take on the function of a classic power bank. The RGB video light Enegon with 4000 mAh is available on Amazon for around 40 Euro. Battery chargers with a charging function are also practical. If you want, you can not only charge your batteries, but also empty them again and redirect the power to your cell phone, for example. The Mini charger Nitecore F1 flex bench for round 12 Euro For example, it charges both batteries (type 26650, 22650, 18650, 17670, 17500, 18350, 16340 (RC123), 14500, 10440) and the cell phone.
Curious gadgets with charging functions
Some of the gadgets listed below may also fall into the category of everyday objects – the fact that they also charge your cell phone is still unusual.
It starts with beauty products – during our research we discovered pocket mirrors and straighteners with USB charging functions. We can’t judge whether mobile battery-powered hair straighteners like the Innovagoods model are actually carried around in handbags, but we find the pocket mirror with 3000 mAh and USB-A output really practical. Unfortunately, the Mirbat model from Innovagoods is currently out of stock on Amazon.
In the summer months we would also give the fan and the mosquito repellent with internal power bank function a chance. Cheap Hand fans with power bank is available from about 15 Euro. The Insect repellent stick Nitecore EMR10 (price comparison) with charging function is available 95 Euro. Or how about a mobile handheld retro console as a power bank replacement? The compact one Handheld Console D41 In addition to 500 classic games, it also has an 8000 mAh battery and integrated charging cable on board. The power bank with a high entertainment factor is available from around 32 Euro.
Also highly unusual: massage guns like the MB4 from Misura are also available with a charging function. It’s hard to imagine that many people actually carry such massage devices with them – but if in doubt, it’s probably better to have the massage gun in your backpack than an empty cell phone in your pocket. The MB4 is currently only available directly from the manufacturer.
Be careful with large capacity specifications in mAh
Many manufacturers and sellers advertise large numbers for the capacity of a battery. 20,000 mAh or even more is not uncommon here. If voltages of 12 volts or 18 volts are then argued, this suggests a larger capacity than is actually present. The capacity of a battery is usually measured in watt-hours (Wh) or milliwatt-hours (mWh), as well as in amp-hours (Ah) and milliamp-hours (mAh). And this is exactly where the crux of the matter lies. Unfortunately, the specification in ampere-hours is not sufficient, because in order to determine the actual capacity, the voltage of the battery is still needed and unfortunately people often use tricks here.
A power bank consists of several individual battery cells that are interconnected to provide the appropriate, usually higher, output voltage for USB or PD ports. If you connect two battery cells in series, the voltages add up. 2 × 3.6 volts then become 1 × 7.2 volts, which can then be used for a 5-volt USB output. However, the values for the milliamperes value of the individual cells do not add up. A battery cell then has a capacity of 2500 mAh at 3.6 volts. Two identical battery cells then have either 2500 mAh at 7.2 volts or 5000 mAh at 3.6 volts. In the end both come out to around 18 Wh of energy. But the sum of the mAh of all individual cells in a power bank is often stated so that the number appears as large as possible.
You are on the safe side if the information is given in watt hours, because this means that all rechargeable batteries and batteries can be easily compared. Depending on the model, an iPhone 13 and 14 has a battery with a capacity between 9 Wh (13 mini) and 17 Wh (iPhone 14 Pro Max). A power bank with 10,000mAh / 36 Wh (10Ah x 3.6V = 36Wh) would have enough energy to charge an iPhone 14 twice and an iPhone 13 mini almost three times.
Alternatives
There is currently one on Ebay 20000-mAh-Powerbank with an output of up to 100 watts Baseus for around 55 Euro available. The Ugreen Nexode with up to 100 watts and 20,000 mAh is currently available on Amazon for 64 euros. The Baseus version with 20,000 mAh, which is significantly weaker at 20 watts, is already available 15 Euro (Activate 50 percent coupon).
Conclusion
What the ideal charging setup looks like for on the go depends largely on the devices you are using and how often they need to be charged. If you need to save space and weight, gadgets with an integrated power bank are a good choice.
If you want to charge devices with high performance such as notebooks, you must pay attention to high capacity and sufficient power. Many of the integrated power banks do not offer enough power, which is why the only option is to use the classic power bank.