How to Choose Portable Power Station for a Laptop?
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Laptops are meant for on-the-go working and browsing any information you need. Before the present-day improvement in smartphone technology, many people used laptops to access their content wherever they went easily. But laptops cannot hold batteries like smartphones for long. Thanks to portable power stations for laptops! They are excellent innovations to ensure your battery can be powered wherever you go without any hassle.
Top Rated Portable Power Stations for Laptops
How much power does a laptop need?
When you take the case of netbooks, notebooks, and laptops, they generally use less power as compared to desktop PCs. The reason is that they are designed to run on a battery. Also, they are designed to be more power efficient. Also, laptops rarely have a powerful video card as they come integrated with a graphics card, which consumes less power. The power consumption of laptops differs based on different factors. Here are some factors:
- The screen size of your laptop decides the power it consumes.
- When you run the laptop off the battery, the power consumption can be as low as 20 watts to as high as 100 watts.
- When you take the case of 14 to 15-inch laptops, you can expect an average power consumption of about 60 watts.
- Based on a study conducted among the best-selling laptops in the market, the wattage of laptops ranges between 30 and 200 W.
- It is common to see gaming laptops with wattages of more than 200W.
You can get to know the wattage of some popular laptops in the market from the table below:
| No. | Laptop | Wattage |
| 1. | Lenovo Yoga | 65W |
| 2. | Lenovo Ideapad 3 | 65W |
| 3. | Lenovo Chromebook 3 | 45W |
| 4. | Lenovo Flex 3 | 45W |
| 5. | Acer Laptops | 45W to 180W based on the model |
| 6. | HP Laptops | Based on the model, it can be between 45 and 150W |
| 7. | Asus ROG Zephyrus15 | 200W |
| 8. | Dell G15 Gaming Laptop | 180W |
| 9. | Dell XPS 15 | 130W |
| 10. | Dell Inspiron 15 (3000) | 45W |
| 11. | Dell Inspiron 15 (7000) | 90W |
| 12. | Samsung Chromebook 4+ | 45W |
| 13. | Samsung Galaxy Book Go | 45W |
| 14. | Samsung Galaxy Chromebook 2 | 45W |
| 15. | Microsoft Surface Laptop Go | 39W |
| 16. | MacBook Pro 16” | 96W or 140W based on specifications. |
| 17. | MacBook Pro 14” | 67W |
| 18. | MacBook Pro 13” | 61W |
| 19. | MacBook Air | 30W |
Why do you need a portable power station for your laptop?
If you are wondering whether to invest in a portable power station for your laptop, understanding how this investment will be beneficial will be a good idea. Here are some reasons to consider buying a portable power station:
1. Dependable, innovative energy and affordable
You might think that you will have to spend a lot to buy a portable power station for a laptop. But, nowadays, you can find many different options available in the market. Different brands make this product. Irrespective of the model and brand you choose, you can expect to have a dependable and innovative source of energy handy. So, when traveling, you can stay relieved that your laptop will not hibernate due to the absence of battery power.
2. Rechargeable
Another reason to go for a portable power station for a laptop is that most of them come with lithium batteries. It means that you can recharge most power stations from different sources. For instance, some of them can be charged using solar energy with the help of solar panels. Otherwise, you can recharge them at your home wall plug-in. You can recharge the power station when you are on a trip with a twelve-volt plug for a car charger. Unlike traditional generators that are powered by gasoline, portable power stations for laptops do not require you to carry gasoline or other fuel wherever you go.
3. Zero emission
Are you an environmental-conscious person? If so, you can stay relieved that the power station will not cause any damage to the environment, particularly when you shortlist the power station powered by solar energy. The reason is that these power stations can be powered by the sun’s energy via portable solar panels.
Apart from these reasons, you can consider investing in a portable power station for a laptop because you can find different options in the market. Further, you can expect low noise and low maintenance operation from this power station.
How to choose a portable power station for Laptop?
Now, you know that a portable power station for a laptop can be beneficial in many ways. But, your question will be how to shortlist one from the different options available in the market. Let us get into some of the points to consider in your shopping:
1. Capacity and output wattage
As you plan to buy a portable power station for your laptop, you should look for a battery pack with a minimum of one USB-C power output of 60 watts or even higher. The reason is that this is the standard required for most 13-inch or even higher-sized laptops. You can expect this capacity from any dependable power station.
Nevertheless, some ultraportable laptops like the MacBook Air can be powered with a power bank with 30 watts capacity or even lesser.
What if you own a full-size laptop of 15 inches and a larger display? In this case, you should consider buying a power bank with a power output of 85 watts or more. In the case of products with built-in AC outlets, they can typically charge about any laptop, irrespective of the screen size. You can also watch for extra power outputs like a car charge or a full choice of USB Ports.
2. Output port
Most laptops need 16V-20V output, while most power banks supply 5V USB ports. You can generally find the voltage output and power rating that your laptop needs. You can find this information from the AC adapter that your laptop came with or from the user manual.
Your laptop might have many ports. If your laptop has a USB-C charging port, you can use a portable power station for laptops that matches the power output rate with a USB-C output port. If you are particular about powering your laptop via an AC adapter, you can look for a power station that provides this facility.
Most modern laptops these days have USB-C power for charging. For instance, when you take the case of Apple’s New MacBook, it can be charged via a USB-C Cable. It will have this facility if your laptop is thin and lightweight.
3. Recharge time
Once you spot the portable power station for a laptop with the right capacity and output ports, you will have to consider how long it takes to recharge it. Getting the power bank recharged within an entire night would be fine. But, if it takes longer, it can be highly frustrating.
But the good news is that when the power station has quick charging capability, you can recharge it within a couple of hours. You can check whether you can recharge it from a compatible solar panel or a 24/12V port in your car.
Not only the time taken to recharge but also you should also consider how long the power bank takes to power your laptop. Of course, you cannot expect the same speed as if you power the laptop from an AC outlet in your home. At least, it should match your AC adapter charging to a certain extent.
4. Power source
It will be good when different sources can power the portable power station for a laptop. Particularly, if you are a frequent traveler, it would be convenient to use solar power to charge the power station. Further, you should be able to power up the power bank from your car outlet and an AC outlet in your home.
As against opting for a power bank that relies on a single power source, it would be good to have a power bank that you can power up in different ways to save time.
5. Net weight and dimension
Thanks to the lightweight, portable power station for laptops! You are planning to carry the power station with you during a trip. So, it should not consume much space in your vehicle and should also be easy to carry. When comparing different power stations, do not forget to look at the weight and dimension specifications before you shortlist one for hassle-free charging of your laptop on the go. As you are particular about portability, you can consider buying a power station with less than 4 lbs weight. You can get to know the weight and dimensions from the product’s specification page.
Conclusion
Now, you know that a portable power station for a laptop is a great innovation. It has plenty of uses; most importantly, different brands make this appliance these days. So, shortlisting one based on the factors discussed above will not be an issue for you now. Do thorough research and read reviews of the power bank you shortlist before you hit the buy now option. Only then will you find your investment worthy.
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