Power banks can be considered a relatively new trend that emerged with the rise of smartphones. Unlike older mobile phones or feature phones, smartphones generally have shorter battery life due to the various smart functions they perform, which drain the battery faster.
The purpose of a power bank is to allow users to charge their mobile devices portably without always having to be connected to an electrical outlet. As power banks have evolved, they can also be used to charge other gadgets such as cameras, smartwatches, earphones, and various other devices.
However, given that smartphones have evolved to have larger battery capacities and higher power efficiency, one may wonder if power banks are still relevant for portable smartphone charging purposes.
Average Battery Capacity and Lifespan of Smartphones Today
Battery life on smartphones has become an important consideration for users when purchasing a new smartphone, alongside other considerations such as performance, features, camera, and more.
The average battery capacity of smartphones today varies from 3000-6000mAh. Some brands may offer lower or higher battery capacities for specific reasons.
For instance, smartphones with slim and compact designs may have batteries with less than 3000mAh. Meanwhile, there are also smartphones with batteries exceeding 6000mAh, aimed at users who engage in outdoor activities and are often far from charging sources.
The battery life of smartphones with different capacities also varies, with some lasting for a day, some lasting for more than a day, and others lasting less than a day, depending on the user’s activities.
At Jagat Review lab, for battery testing during smartphone reviews, the average smartphones with standard battery life can perform the following activities:
- Video playback: 16-20 hours
- Heavy gaming (Genshin Impact) for 30 minutes: 10-20%
On average, for daily use with heavy usage such as video recording, gaming, and video editing, an Android smartphone battery can last around 12 hours or less. For lighter usage such as chatting, browsing, and streaming, a smartphone can last more than 12 hours.
For the iPhone, from the iPhone 11 series onwards, the battery can also last around 12-15 hours for daily active use. This is not far different from the daily average of Android smartphones.
In fact, the iPhone can be said to have better power efficiency, as it generally has a smaller battery capacity of around 3000-4000 mAh. This is due in part to the optimization of the iOS operating system specifically made for the iPhone.
We can also use the features provided by smartphone manufacturers such as power-saving mode to extend the battery life of our smartphones.
Things That Affect the Lifespan of a Smartphone, Besides Battery Capacity
Although battery capacity does have an impact on the lifespan of a smartphone, it’s not everything. This means that not all smartphones with large battery capacities necessarily have a longer lifespan, and vice versa.
One of the factors that greatly affects efficiency is the SoC (System-on-chip), also known as the chipset or processor. The continuously evolving SoC technology provides better efficiency than previous generations.
SoC manufacturers also sometimes design SoCs for different purposes. Entry-level to mid-range SoCs usually prioritize power efficiency by incorporating more efficient processor cores, while flagship SoCs usually prioritize performance by using more performance cores in a single SoC unit.
Some SoC manufacturers have also recently added specialized chips to manage power on smartphones. Background processing that does not require much power and performance will be redirected to a DSP or other custom chip, reducing power consumption on the smartphone. For example, for Always On Display needs, always-active fingerprint sensors, and several other sensors on smartphones.
Besides SoC, there are other external factors that affect the battery life of smartphones. These usually depend on user preferences, such as screen brightness level, network connectivity, background applications, operating systems, and the age of the smartphone itself.
So, Do Smartphones Still Need Powerbanks?
Ultimately, powerbanks are still needed for now, but their usage may not be the same as before when they were needed to help smartphones last all day.
Although smartphones now have larger battery capacities and better power efficiency, powerbanks may still be useful in certain situations.
For daily activities such as going to work/school/college, powerbanks may no longer be needed by users.
We can charge our smartphones at night before our activities in the morning until night, with the current battery life of smartphones being much better. Moreover, powerbanks also have a significant weight, so it would be more practical to carry less burden while being active.
Meanwhile, in other situations such as when traveling and it will be difficult to charge the smartphone for a long enough time, a power bank can help recharge it.
For example, during transportation, exploring the great outdoors, or when recording videos with a long duration using a smartphone, a power bank can certainly handle these situations.
Or for users with larger screen smartphones, especially with the latest foldable screen smartphone trends like the Galaxy Z Fold Series, a power bank can also help extend the battery life of the smartphone which may not yet match that of conventional smartphones. Although there is a possibility that in the future they will have even better battery efficiency.
Another scenario that may not be so common, is if you like to lay down and are too lazy to get up and charge your smartphone using the charger adapter because the power socket is far from the bed, once again you can rely on a power bank for this.
