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Power & Charging

Power banks, USB-C, cables, laptop power draw.

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About Power & Charging

Picking the right charger, cable, and power bank sounds simple until you realize laptops need 45W or more, phones need different speeds by model, and a cheap USB-C cable can bottleneck a fast charger. This section covers power bank sizing, charger wattage matching, cable selection for USB-C Power Delivery, and estimating laptop power draw. The calculators match your devices to the right gear instead of guessing or paying for overkill.

Guides 5

How Big of a Power Bank Do I Need? Choose the right power bank size for phones, tablets, travel, and emergency backup.
How Many Charges Will a Power Bank Give? Estimate real-world charging capacity after efficiency losses, device battery size, and usage patterns.
How Many Watts Does a Laptop Use? Estimate laptop power draw for charging, backup batteries, travel, and portable power setups.
Power Bank vs Portable Power Station See when a small battery bank is enough and when you need a much larger portable power setup.
USB-C Cable Types Explained Understand USB-C charging cables, data speeds, wattage, and why some cables perform very differently.

Frequently asked questions

What size power bank do I need?

Phone: 10,000 mAh gives 2 to 3 full charges. Tablet: 20,000 mAh for 2 to 3 charges. Laptop: 20,000 to 30,000 mAh with 45W to 100W USB-C Power Delivery output for 1 to 2 full charges. Our power bank sizing calculator matches capacity to your specific devices and trip length.

Are all USB-C cables equal?

No. They differ in data speed (USB 2.0 to USB 4), power delivery rating (60W, 100W, 240W), and video support (DisplayPort passthrough, Thunderbolt). A charging cable that works for your phone may be too slow for your laptop or monitor. Look for the wattage printed on the cable or sleeve.

Can fast charging damage my phone battery?

Modern fast charging (up to about 30W for phones) is built into the battery management system and doesn't meaningfully shorten lifespan. The real damage to batteries is heat and repeated full cycles (0 to 100% every day), not charging speed itself.

How many watts does my laptop actually use?

Most laptops draw 20 to 45W during normal use (web browsing, writing) and 60 to 100W under heavy load (video editing, gaming, compiling). Check the charger wattage as the ceiling; actual draw is usually less. Our laptop power calculator estimates based on model and use case.

Do I need a GaN charger?

Not strictly, but they're smaller and run cooler than traditional chargers at the same wattage. For a travel charger that can run a laptop plus a phone, GaN is worth the small price premium. For a stationary desk charger, either works fine.

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