Comparison Huawei CP11QC vs Huawei AP007

The capacity of a powerbank indicates the amount of energy it can store and is usually specified in two formats in the specifications — mAh and Wh. The mAh value is more familiar to most buyers and helps quickly understand the class of the model, while Wh more accurately reflects the total energy reserve and is more convenient for a more accurate comparison of devices. For example, a powerbank with 10000 mAh usually has about 37 Wh, a model with 20000 mAh — approximately 74 Wh, and a version with 30000 mAh — about 111 Wh. The higher these values, the more charges for a smartphone, headphones, watch, or other devices can be expected, but the larger, heavier, and usually more expensive the device becomes. At the same time, it is important to remember that the actual output is always lower than the nominal figures due to energy conversion losses. Therefore, capacity is one of the main parameters that immediately shows whether the powerbank is suitable for a day's backup or for more serious autonomous use.

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 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 type of input used to charge the power bank's own battery. Simply put, this paragraph indicates which connector on the cable you need to charge the power bank. At the same time, some models provide several inputs for charging at once, which simplifies the search for a cable. Also note that for models with a built-in power bank charging connector (see below), the type of this connector is specified separately.

Most often in modern power banks there are standard connectors microUSB, USB type C and/or Apple Lightning. A lot of accessories are produced for such connectors — cables, network and car chargers, adapters, etc.; so there is usually no difficulty in finding a source of energy. Less common are models with DC input, they are usually equipped with their own power supply (or at least a cable under such a connector). Here is a more detailed description of the different types of inputs:

— microUSB. A smaller version of the USB connector, still very popular in portable tech, despite the active spread of the more advanced USB type C. It has relatively modest capabilities — in particular, it does not allow the implementation of some advanced fast charging technologies. On the other hand, it is very easy to find a source of energy for such a connector: both modern and many of the frankly outdated cables and chargers are...suitable for it.

— USB type C. A miniature type of USB connector, positioned, among other things, as the successor to microUSB. The most noticeable improvement is the reversible design, which allows you not to worry about which side of the plug is inserted into the connector. However, in the case of power banks, this is not the only or even the main advantage: USB type C has more extensive capabilities, allows more powerful currents and use a wider range of fast charging technologies (and Power Delivery was originally created specifically for this connector). Note that in some models the same connector of this type can be used both as an input for charging the battery and as an output for charging external devices — moreover, with automatic switching between these modes.

— Apple Lightning. Initially, this connector is designed for portable gadgets made by Apple. However, in the case of power banks, it can also be found in third-party devices: the idea is that the presence of Lightning allows you to charge an external battery using a cable from an iPhone or iPad and eliminates the need to look for a separate wire. For a number of reasons, this charging input is rarely used as the only one, more often it is provided in addition to microUSB or USB type C (see above).

— DC input. DC is a standard covering several types of connectors at once. Their common feature is a signature round shape, but the diameter, rated voltage and power can be different. In this sense, such connectors are not as convenient as USB type C, Lightning and other generally accepted standards — with a DC socket, it is best to use a native power supply (usually it comes bundled right away), and finding a third-party power source can be a problem. On the other hand, inputs of this type have practically no power limitations, it is easier to achieve high power supply with them than with the connectors described above. Therefore, DC inputs are used mainly in high-capacity power banks, where charging through a "weaker" interface would take an unreasonably long time. However, such models can also be equipped with standard microUSB or USB type C connectors "just in case".

The power in watts at which the power bank is charged under normal conditions.

The higher the charging power, the less time it takes to charge (given the same battery capacity). For example, fast charging of a power bank typically means a charging power of 30W or more. However, this parameter does not directly affect compatibility with charging devices: modern portable batteries can work with chargers of both higher and lower power. In the first case, the battery controller will automatically limit the charging current, while in the second case, charging will simply take more time.

Low current charging allows you to seamlessly charge devices that do not require high current. This allows you to extend the life cycle of the devices and protect them as much as possible during charging. Such devices include smartwatches, headphones, headsets, etc.

Types of cables and/or adapters for charging external devices included with the power bank.

The type of these cables is indicated by the plug used to connect to the charging gadget; the connection to the power bank itself is usually through a standard USB-A or USB type C output. It should be emphasized that this refers to removable cables/adapters; types of built-in charging cables are specified separately (if available — see below).

Overall, this parameter allows you to assess the capabilities of the power bank available "out of the box," without purchasing additional accessories. As for specific interfaces, most external batteries these days come with cables/adapters for microUSB, USB type C, and/or Lightning; more specific connectors are extremely rare. Here are the features of the most popular options:

— microUSB. A connector extremely common in modern portable gadgets. It is less convenient than the newer USB type C and has fewer working characteristics, but it still maintains popularity.

— USB type C. A relatively new standard for miniature USB connectors, used for charging both in portable devices and larger ones — particularly some ultra-compact laptops. Physically, it differs from microUSB with slightly larger sizes and a reversible design, allowing the plug to be connected in either direction. In terms of performance, USB...type C is notable for better compatibility with fast-charging technologies: more such technologies can be used with it, and Power Delivery was originally designed for this connector. However, having a USB type C cable does not necessarily mean support for fast charging.

— Lightning. A standard proprietary connector used in compact Apple gadgets; such technology is not found with other manufacturers.

Note that if several types of included cables/adapters are specified in the characteristics, the specific format of such accessories may vary. For example, the "microUSB plus USB type C" option could mean two separate cables, one cable with two plugs, a cable with one connector plus an adapter for another, etc.

The main material used in the the body of a power bank.

In addition to traditional plastic, nowadays, external batteries are produced in cases made of more advanced and/or "prestigious" materials. Of these materials, aluminium is the most widely used; also you can find products made of steel, zinc, leather, fabric and even wood. Here are the main features of each option:

— Plastic. The most popular material for the bodies of modern power banks. Plastic, on the one hand, is inexpensive, on the other hand, it is quite durable and has a small weight, on the third hand, it makes it easy to create cases of any shape and colour, which is especially important for devices with an unusual design. In terms of strength and reliability, ordinary plastic is somewhat inferior to metals; however, in everyday use, this difference is not critical — except that scratches on such a case will appear faster. And for extreme conditions, cases can be produced from special impact-resistant plastic.

— Aluminium. Aluminium alloy housings are highly durable and lightweight; in addition, they look stylish, and the appearance is retained for a long time due to scratch resistance. The main disadvantage of aluminium is that it is more expensive than plastic.

...— Steel. Steel is notable for its high durability and reliability; according to these indicators, it surpasses even aluminium, not to mention plastic. On the other hand, this material has a significant weight, and therefore is used much less frequently.

— Leather. Solid body (plastic or metal) with additional leather cover. Such a coating does not affect the functionality and plays a purely aesthetic role: it gives the device a stylish and eye-catching appearance, allowing you to turn the power bank into a stylish accessory. However, note that in the design of such products (especially inexpensive ones), artificial leather (leatherette) is often used, which is noticeably inferior to natural leather in reliability, durability, and sometimes in appearance. Genuine leather, on the other hand, significantly affects the price — its cost can be more than half of the total price of the entire power bank.

— Fabric. A hard case (usually plastic) with a fabric outer covering. Such a coating not only gives the device a rather original appearance, but also gives some practical advantages: the fabric is pleasant to the touch and does not slip in the hand, which reduces the risk of dropping the power bank. On the other hand, various contaminants are poorly removed from such a surface, it has no fundamental advantages over plastic or metal, but it costs much more. Therefore, fabric cases are not very popular.

— Wood. Another design material used mainly for its original appearance than practical advantages. Nevertheless, wood is not inferior to plastic; and some users also consider the natural origin of this material to be an important advantage. On the other hand, wooden cases do not have noticeable advantages over plastic ones, and they cost much more.

— Zinc. Zinc alloys are similar in most properties to the aluminium alloys described above, however, for a number of reasons (in particular, due to the greater complexity in production), they are used extremely rarely.