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Triple Your Switch Battery Life: The Best Portable Chargers Tested! (Digital Foundry)

O

opricnik

Banned
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=47zvIJ8A4P0

So for those who cant watch

little size, middle price battery gets 5 hours with max bright /wifi on / medium sounds , 5.50 min with half bright

middle size, cheap price battery gets 6-7 hours

big battery gets 10-12 hours

these are without using switch own battery so add 2 hours and 20 min + big battery you can get something like 15 hours straight . Amazing , though they look like xbox 360 power brick
 
K

Kovacs

Member
Thanks for this.

I've got a lot of waiting around with airports/flights coming up in the next month and have been pretty much paralysed with choice over battery packs as I'd like to kill that time with my Switch.

This is the first time I've seen something clearly laid out with times to expect with the various sizes.
 
P

Plum

Member
The Anker one seems like the best choice for me. I'm never going to be away from any form of outlet for long enough to justify the larger ones.
 
N

Nachtfalke

Member
Plum said:
The Anker one seems like the best choice for me. I'm never going to be away from any form of outlet for long enough to justify the larger ones.
Click to expand...

Same here. It's small, it's cheap (much cheapier in Germany than the middle one) and roundabout 5-6 hours on top is more than enough for me.
 
K

kaskade

Member
That Anker one seems solid. You get an extra 5 hours, then the 2.5-3 from the switch itself. I was looking into those bigger ones but I really don't know of situation where I'd need to power my switch longer than 7 hours. I guess the bonus for the other ones is you can plus the phone in at the same time.
 
M

Mokujin

Member
I was waiting for a video like this showing more external battery test and so happy right now that I already got the Anker one some time ago for my phone, knowing that it's 5-6h extra plus it can recharge while playing really fulfills what I wanted from it.

Now I just need the usb-c to usb cable.
 
B

Brofield

Member
RandomExpletive said:
I'm kinda surprised we haven't seen a battery case for the switch yet

Though I'm sure that'll be coming at some point
Click to expand...

I could imagine it adding a fair bit of weight to make it uncomfortable to hold in portable mode, but if it ran the base of the Switch tablet itself and had it's own kickstand that's a lot more durable and steady, I'd definitely pick one up, especially if it meant I could also recharge it from a port on the side
 
K

Kintaco

Member
Nice I was wanting to get one of these portable chargers. Will check out to see what's best price vs performance.
 
P

piflavoredpie

Neo Member
I feel like you can't have a discussion about Switch-compatible portable batteries without talking about USB-C cables. Many (most?) USB-C cables (whether A-to-C or C-to-C) are not actually USB-C standard compliant, which can be dangerous to the devices they're used with. I only recently heard about this since the Switch is the first time I've had a USB-C device in the house. Look up Benson Leung (Google engineer) and his reviews on the matter.
 
S

Spaced Harrier

Member
rekameohs said:
Heyy, that's the Anker I have for my phone. Sounds like it'll be perfect to use when I get a Switch.
Click to expand...

piflavoredpie said:
I feel like you can't have a discussion about Switch-compatible portable batteries without talking about USB-C cables. Many (most?) USB-C cables (whether A-to-C or C-to-C) are not actually USB-C standard compliant, which can be dangerous to the devices they're used with. I only recently heard about this since the Switch is the first time I've had a USB-C device in the house. Look up Benson Leung (Google engineer) and his reviews on the matter.
Click to expand...

Qft very very important.

USB C to legacy A cables can fry your devices.
Never heard til the switch either.

And mad it's one guy highlighting this.
 
H

Hellshingu

Member
Got the RAVPower one for myself. I also use it to charge my phone and iPad and it's been working great for me. Also nice for when people come over and want to charge their phones and I don't want to find an open outlet for them.
 
G

Gusto

Member
Ordered the RAVPower and been using it since the Switch's launch. I use my Pro Controllers cable to charge my Switch. Everything works perfect, except for the size of the RAVPower. The damn things is huge!
 
M

Marty Chinn

Member
Be careful about the Anker one. There's one with Quick Charge 3.0 and one without and they look exactly the same and cost about the same. You want the one without QC 3.0. Unfortunately, I have the one with QC 3.0 which I got because of having a device that had QC without realizing it would be a problem in the future. So unfortunately, I can't use it.
 
D

DayEnder

Member
Any ideas on how to charge the Switch with a power bank while using the kickstand? Would a right angle USB type C work? Do forward facing ones exist (I've only seen right angle to left/right)?
 
D

Delusibeta

Banned
DayEnder said:
Any ideas on how to charge the Switch with a power bank while using the kickstand? Would a right angle USB type C work? Do forward facing ones exist (I've only seen right angle to left/right)?
Click to expand...

"Buy a stand that raises the Switch off your table" seems to be the only advice I can give you there.
 
T

Tragicomedy

Member
Marty Chinn said:
Be careful about the Anker one. There's one with Quick Charge 3.0 and one without and they look exactly the same and cost about the same. You want the one without QC 3.0. Unfortunately, I have the one with QC 3.0 which I got because of having a device that had QC without realizing it would be a problem in the future. So unfortunately, I can't use it.
Click to expand...

You must have bought the 20000 model. That won't work. You need the 20100 USB-C version.
 
S

Sword Of Doom

Member
So far I haven't needed an external battery but i might get one just to have with me. Pkaying BotW, the Switch battery drains very quickly. Feels a lot quicker than 3hrs to me


Marty Chinn said:
Be careful about the Anker one. There's one with Quick Charge 3.0 and one without and they look exactly the same and cost about the same. You want the one without QC 3.0. Unfortunately, I have the one with QC 3.0 which I got because of having a device that had QC without realizing it would be a problem in the future. So unfortunately, I can't use it.
Click to expand...

The QC is not compatible with the Switch? Doesn't it have a port that is not QC?
 
C

Cloggerdude

Member
Marty Chinn said:
No, I'm referring to the Anker model in the DF video from the OP. It's a 10,000 mAH battery charger.

This is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZV9FUW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

This is the one I believe to be in the video:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B12PTOM/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Except this is in white instead of black.
Click to expand...

See, that's where I'm getting confused. I thought the white version that you linked was the same as the black version that I linked, but now that I look at them both it looks like they're different. Which is the right version?

I would rather have the black one, but obviously not if it's not going to work as well.
 
H

hanspampel

Banned
what is this nonsene video?
the by far! best charger not even mentioned

s-l1000.jpg


10000mhA for $8
2mA output
Panasonic cells

better quality than Anker or anything
 
R

rekameohs

Banned
piflavoredpie said:
I feel like you can't have a discussion about Switch-compatible portable batteries without talking about USB-C cables. Many (most?) USB-C cables (whether A-to-C or C-to-C) are not actually USB-C standard compliant, which can be dangerous to the devices they're used with. I only recently heard about this since the Switch is the first time I've had a USB-C device in the house. Look up Benson Leung (Google engineer) and his reviews on the matter.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the heads up. I am assuming, though, that the Nintendo-supplied ones with the Pro Controller as the video recommends should have no problem, correct?
 
S

Sword Of Doom

Member
piflavoredpie said:
I feel like you can't have a discussion about Switch-compatible portable batteries without talking about USB-C cables. Many (most?) USB-C cables (whether A-to-C or C-to-C) are not actually USB-C standard compliant, which can be dangerous to the devices they're used with. I only recently heard about this since the Switch is the first time I've had a USB-C device in the house. Look up Benson Leung (Google engineer) and his reviews on the matter.
Click to expand...

I've been using the one that came with the pro controller. When at work, I charge the Switch using an iPad adapter and the pro controller cable. I hope that's ok
 
H

hanspampel

Banned
Sword Of Doom said:
What makes these so much better?
Click to expand...

price / value proportion
you can daisy-chain charging, something several other power banks can't do
(the 10.000mAh Anker in the video for example can't do that. did not look it up for the other 2 models, tho)
overall quality and components
 
T

Tragicomedy

Member
Marty Chinn said:
No, I'm referring to the Anker model in the DF video from the OP. It's a 10,000 mAH battery charger.

This is the one I have:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01CZV9FUW/?tag=neogaf0e-20

This is the one I believe to be in the video:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01B12PTOM/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Except this is in white instead of black.
Click to expand...

Got you. I didn't watch the video yet, because I'm out.

The version I linked is amazing for the Switch and USB-C, but it's admittedly twice the cost as the ones you linked.
 
S

Sword Of Doom

Member
hanspampel said:
price / value proportion
you can daisy-chain charging, something several other power banks can't do
(the 10.000mAh Anker in the video for example can't do that. did not look it up for the other 2 models, tho)
overall quality and components
Click to expand...

Thanks for the explanation. I'm completely ignorant when it comes to this topic. Trying to learn as much as I can. It's very confusing cause I'm still not sure what makes a powerbank compatible.
 
A

Aztechnology

Member
I've been using the Ravpower 26800 I got with the code for $47 as I wanted to be able to use with with a myriad of devices. Even works great charging both my phone and Switch at the same time. One downside for switch though is it requires me to put the Switch into sleep mode first before plugging it in to get the extra charge from the PD system. Otherwise it will just idly sip, and only very slightly charge during playtime.
 
B

Bluth54

Member
DayEnder said:
Any ideas on how to charge the Switch with a power bank while using the kickstand? Would a right angle USB type C work? Do forward facing ones exist (I've only seen right angle to left/right)?
Click to expand...

It's kinda sad how the Wii U gamepad has an AC port on the bottom for the charging cradle and the top for normal charging while playing but the Switch only has on on the bottom , which is awkward for charging while playing it and makes it almost impossible to charge it while using the kickstand.
 
G

gogogow

Member
I have an Aukey 13000 mAh power bank. I used the USB-C cable from the Pro Controller and it works. It's charging the Switch, but the power bank makes a loud peep sound. Doesn't sound safe, so I disconnected it rightaway. What would be causing it?
 
H

hanspampel

Banned
Sword Of Doom said:
Thanks for the explanation. I'm completely ignorant when it comes to this topic. Trying to learn as much as I can. It's very confusing cause I'm still not sure what makes a powerbank compatible.
Click to expand...

just be aware and cautious, you don't get a fake xiaomi power bank
yes in china they even fake Chinese products

http://www.banggood.com/Original-Xi...-5s-Xiaomi-Note-2-p-1114896.html?rmmds=search
the pro version with Type C an 2.4mA output 15 Watt max and QC3


but i would wait for a sale price
or go with the regular cheap version
 
T

traffiktiger

Member
I bought the RAVPower 20100mAh QC 3.0 Qualcomm a few weeks ago in preparation for the Switch & it has been great so far. The power bank charges fast & it is also surprisingly small & light. It will fit in some Switch cases too. I'm really happy with the purchase.
 
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