Comparison Hoco DB81A Apollo vs Hoco J86A Powermaster

The real capacity of the power bank.

Real capacity is the amount of energy that a power bank is able to transfer to rechargeable gadgets. This amount is inevitably lower than the nominal capacity (see above) — most often by about 1.6 times (due to the fact that part of the energy goes to additional features and transmission losses). However, it is by real capacity that it is easiest to evaluate the actual capabilities of an external battery: for example, if this figure is 6500 mAh, this model is guaranteed to be enough for two full charges of a smartphone with a 3000 mAh battery and smartwatches for 250 mAh.

The capacity in this case is indicated for 5 V — the standard USB charging voltage. At the same time, the features of milliamp-hours as a unit of capacity are such that the actual amount of energy in the battery depends not only on the number of mAh, but also on the operating voltage. In fact, this means that when using fast charging technologies (see below) that involve increased voltage, the actual value of the actual capacity will differ from the claimed one (it will be lower). There are formulas and methods for calculating this value, they can be found in special sources.

The number of modern ports USB-C and built-in USB-C cables that can be used to charge smartphones, tablets, headphones, consoles, and other current devices. This format is particularly convenient today because USB-C has become the main connector for most new devices and usually supports higher charging power than USB-A. One USB-C output is usually enough for everyday use, while two and three are convenient if you need to connect several gadgets at the same time.

The number of USB-A ports available for charging smartphones, headphones, accessories, and other devices. This format is still in demand because USB-A is widely used and fits a large number of existing cables and devices, although it usually falls behind USB-C in terms of relevance and power. A single USB-A output is typically sufficient for basic everyday use, while two, three, four, or more are convenient for connecting multiple gadgets simultaneously.

The power capacity of the main USB-C port, which among USB-C connectors is typically the most powerful. This specification is especially important for smartphones with fast charging, tablets, portable consoles, and laptops that require increased power supply.

Values around 18 – 30 W are usually sufficient for fast charging smartphones, 45 – 65 W are suitable for portable consoles, some ultrabooks, and other more demanding devices, and 100 W and above are even designed for powerful laptops and heavy loads.

Maximum output power of the second USB-C port, which usually lags behind USB-C1, but can still be suitable for fast charging smartphones, portable consoles, and other modern devices.

The maximum power of the second USB-A output, which is usually slightly less than USB-A1, but is still suitable for charging smartphones, accessories, and other everyday devices.

The power on the USB-A3 port indicates the maximum power at which the third USB-A port operates, which is often used as an additional output when charging multiple devices simultaneously. It should be noted that simultaneous charging on multiple ports reduces the maximum output power values.

The limit of the fourth USB-A port, which in many models is the weakest and primarily intended for accessories. It is convenient to use it for devices that prioritize just charging over receiving the maximum wattage.

The total charge power provided by the power bank on all connectors overnight - when devices are connected simultaneously to all charging ports.

This parameter is given due to the fact that the total charge power does not always correspond to the sum of the maximum powers of all available ports. The built-in battery of a power bank often has its own limitation on the output power. Therefore, for example, in a model with two 18 W USB ports, each total charge power can be the same 18 W. Note that the distribution of power among the connectors may be different: in some models it is divided equally, in others it is divided in proportion to the maximum current strength (if it differs on different ports). These nuances should be clarified using the detailed characteristics of the charging connectors.

If you plan to regularly use all power bank connectors at once, you should pay attention to this indicator.