• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

External portable chargers

skpd said:
from the review it seams the output to the phone is via USB. I'm confused

EDIT: I guess this review expains it
"This device has one major flaw. It requires you to carry yet another cable, and if you lose it, you're out of luck. It really appears that the people who design this stuff don't actually use them, or talk to people who do use them. These devices need to use standard plugs (would it have been that hard to make the charging port a mini or micro USB? Really? Come on. The best answer is to have an integrated cable, but apparantly that's too hard as well.

I have to give it only 2 stars because it doesn't really matter how good it is at charging stuff if the unit itself has such a fundamental design flaw to charge itself."

probably won't be getting this and get the Anked/PowerGen 8400mAh. Looks like the best choice. Big enough capacity, smaller form factor and all USB charging (in & out)
Click to expand...

Mine is showing AC charging with an HTC micro USB cable, so you can use cables other than the one included.
 
skpd said:
think I'm buying this one: Amazon.com: Anker Astro3 10000mAh USB External Battery Pack and Charger (Power Bank) for HTC: Sensation XE XL, EVO 3D, AT&T Inspire 4G; Samsung: Focus S, Infuse; Motorola: Triumph, Photon 4G; LG: Vortex, Revolution, Quantum, Thrill 4G, Optimus 3D 7 V

you can't go wrong with 10000mAh & 2A

EDIT: just read the reviews and this does not have a USB input to charge the unit itself. don't like that. might get it's smaller brother the 8400mAh
Click to expand...

I went ahead and picked up the Astro 3. It's 5v as well as 12v which is what I need for the Xoom.
 
Just remember that the Anker 5600 is about double the thickness of the EVO LTE. The 8400 is almost the same thickness but literally about the size of a deck of cards and comes with 2 outputs, a 2ah and I think 600 or 800mah so if you use the lower output, it's gonna take longer to charge. I believe the wall chargers that come with out phones are rateed at 1ah.

Also note, I think someone posted that the rated outputs of the external chargers are usually lower than what's quoted, though I have no way of verifying that statement.
 
3volut1on said:
I went ahead and picked up the Astro 3. It's 5v as well as 12v which is what I need for the Xoom.
Click to expand...

well it does look like I'll be stuck with the Astro3 also.

I have an Asus Transformer tablet and that needs 12v-15v out to charge properly.

Apparently the only one that has 12v is the Astro3. No 15v ones I could find either
 
I hope I did the right choice but he wanted the Anker 3200 with the built in cord and if you bought a combo black and white you saved 10% so I went with the same one. Was gonna get the 5600 Anker but I liked the slimness of the 3200 and the cord built in also. I changed my mind. Plus I had 6 bucks in American Express Rewards points to use and got free shipping. So I don't think that's too bad. 3200 will at least charge me 1 and a 1&1/2 times and if it's not enough I'll buy another one later on down the line. Now I don't remember but do these Ankers charge via AC don't they come with a little AC plug but you need the cord is that right? I forget.
 
How small is this? Would it fit in my pocket?

KoukiFC3S said:
I went out all day yesterday to Balboa Park in San Diego, and I knew that my EVO would not last all day since it was gonna be my main camera.

I looked on the web for a couple days, and decided to order the incredicharge 11,000 battery. Amazon.com: Incredicharge I-11000 External Battery Pack and Charger 11000mAh Capacity for iPad2, iPad 3, HP Touchpad iPhone 4 4s 3Gs 3G, iPod Touch, Samsung Galaxy Note S S2, HTC Sensation Evo Thunderbolt Blackberry, Droid X Razr Maxx, Nintendo, Sony

The charger has 3 outputs. 2 USB at 800ma, and one at 2 amps. I used the 800 one, and the EVO saw it as AC power, so that was good for me.

Yesterday, I took about 200 pics, along with using the phone for Facebook and instagram.

I topped up my phone from ~60% to ~90% 2-3 times, and at the end of the day the incredicharge still displayed 87% remaining!

Overall, I really recommend this charger. It's kinda expensive from amazon right now, but it's gone as low as $40. I would use camelcamelcamel to set up an alert for when the price goes below whatever you pick.
Click to expand...
 
depends on if you wear skinny jeans or not. :)

i have this unit and it fits in my cargo pants. its a large brick.

its twice as thick as the lte and the same length.
 
The Astros 3 (10000mah) came in today. It's not too bulky. Perfect for traveling IMO.

4257470f-8e96-cc86.jpg


4257470f-8eae-359a.jpg


4257470f-8ebe-7c7e.jpg
 
hahahaa @mallet.... these arent small thats for sure. i carry the incredicharge one in my backpack along with my tablet, ps vita and digital camera and other assorted knick knacks.... :p
 
suprmallet said:
That's massive in my eyes. I already carry a lot of stuff in my pockets. Couldn't add that and hold my pants up!
Click to expand...

That's what suspenders are for. :D

We're heading to Europe in a few weeks so it's mainly for the Xoom and camera. It'll stay in the backpack....no way that thing is going in my pocket. I guess by "not to bulky" I was comparing it to a car battery :D
 
3volut1on said:
That's what suspenders are for. :D

We're heading to Europe in a few weeks so it's mainly for the Xoom and camera. It'll stay in the backpack....no way that thing is going in my pocket. I guess by "not to bulky" I was comparing it to a car battery :D
Click to expand...

I loled

anyhow, that does not seem too big for my jeans pocket, imo. my EVO LTE fits just fine in my pocket and this is the same length (I know slightly thicker)...(ok, fine double as thick :D )

btw, how many days did it take to arrive from when you placed the order?
 
Those who use Incredicharge I-11000 External Battery Pack, Which outlet port do you use? I have seen there are 2 different slot.
 
Well I got my Anker slim 3200 but haven't used it yet. I didn't realize it only charges at 600MAH not a 1000 like the 5600 one that I wanted at 1st. I was gonna send it back but I decided to keep it and try it. It's small and I like the little pull out built in cord so will see. If I feel it's not charging enough or fast enough I'll get another one that charges at 1000 and has a bigger battery like 5200 or 5600 whatever it was.
 
in theory, the phones charging circuits will limit the current. ive not tried it via that port yet.. tomorrow, ill let the phone run down a bit then ill plug it up on and , using battery monitor, ill see what it says...
 
skpd said:
I loled

anyhow, that does not seem too big for my jeans pocket, imo. my EVO LTE fits just fine in my pocket and this is the same length (I know slightly thicker)...(ok, fine double as thick :D )

btw, how many days did it take to arrive from when you placed the order?
Click to expand...

Sorry for the late response. It came the very next day. This happens often with Amazon orders for me as I believe there's a local warehouse here in Phoenix. They dont use Fedex or UPS.
 
Rose4uKy said:
Well I got my Anker slim 3200 but haven't used it yet. I didn't realize it only charges at 600MAH not a 1000 like the 5600 one that I wanted at 1st. I was gonna send it back but I decided to keep it and try it. It's small and I like the little pull out built in cord so will see. If I feel it's not charging enough or fast enough I'll get another one that charges at 1000 and has a bigger battery like 5200 or 5600 whatever it was.
Click to expand...


While the Anker 3200 is charging your phone, could you have a look at the phone's Settings, Power, Battery status ...
Read it 'Charging (AC)' or 'Charging (USB)' ?

Thank you :)

Harry
 
It's AC so that's good right even though it's 600 and not a 1000 like the charger that came with out phone? I like it but haven't really used it yet. I went to a concert the other night and at dinner facebooked and texted checked in played a couple games. Then was taking pictures uploading to facebook,texting some at the concert and on my 3D I would of already had to change out batteries. This phone I had 30 something percent left after the concert I was pleased. But I am sure at some point I'll have to use this.

Harry2 said:
While the Anker 3200 is charging your phone, could you have a look at the phone's Settings, Power, Battery status ...
Read it 'Charging (AC)' or 'Charging (USB)' ?

Thank you :)

Harry
Click to expand...
 
Thanks for the info :)

"Charging (AC)" means that phone would charge up to 1000mA if the charger is able to provide this output current.
With the Anker 3200 it means up to its max output current :)

Harry
 
Right and this maximum output is 600 the Anker 5600 did 1000 but it was bigger and I wanted it at 1st cause of the 5600 didn't realize at the time about the 600 verses 1000 just the 32 and 56. But he wanted this smaller one and liked it with the built in cord so I ended up choosing the same cause we saved 10% and I got free shipping plus had 7 bucks to use on my American Express rewards so I got both for 37 bucks not bad. Thanks!

Harry2 said:
Thanks for the info :)

"Charging (AC)" means that phone would charge up to 1000mA if the charger is able to provide this output current.
With the Anker 3200 it means up to its max output current :)

Harry
Click to expand...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom