What on earth is a mAh?!

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Once upon a time it was the USB Flashdrive that was the first "tech" product to hit the Promotional Merchandise sector.

I remember it was 2002/2003 when a mate of mine came back from America with one, it had a tiny storage and was over £40 and we were so excited by this "new" tech, of course £40 was far too expensive to make it viable as a promo item at the time.

Of course prices fell and the USB Flashdrive became a staple promotional item but now 20 years on the USB Flashdrive is almost obsolete with changes in the way we share documents.

As demand for the USB Flashdrive fell, a new "tech" product reached the market, solving the problem that everyone was experiencing... the dreaded mobile phone flat battery!

Of course it always seems like our mobiles run out of charge when we need them most! and we are (well some of us!) are very reliant on our phones whether it's for games, navigation, sports tracking, social media, emails or just reading content and whenever the battery goes flat it's always an inconvenience & a hassle!

What is a Power Bank?

Power banks are portable devices that can provide a source of power to charge various electronic devices on the go. They are particularly useful when you don't have access to a power outlet or when you're traveling.

Ultimately they are a rechargeable battery that you can carry with you in your pocket, hand bag or briefcase.

What is a mAh?!

The launch of the Power bank introduced us all to the term mAh, Power banks being available in different sizes of mAh which is just the size or capacity of the battery and subsequently the amount of charge available for different devices.

The size in mAh refers to milliampere-hours, which measures the amount of electric charge a battery can deliver over time.

The higher the mAh rating, the more power the power bank can hold and the longer it can charge your devices.

For example, a power bank with a 5000mAh rating can theoretically deliver 5000 milliamperes (or 5 amperes) of current for one hour.

Charging Mobile Phones:

The mAh capacity of a power bank determines how many times it can charge a particular device.

Mobile phones have different battery capacities, typically ranging from around 2000mAh to 4000mAh, depending on the model.

To calculate the approximate number of charges, divide the power bank's mAh rating by the phone's battery capacity.

For example, a 10,000mAh power bank can charge a 3000mAh phone battery approximately 3 times (10,000mAh ÷ 3000mAh = 3.33).

Considerations for Other Devices:

It's important to note that devices other than mobile phones may have different power requirements.

Tablets, laptops, and other electronics typically have larger batteries and may require power banks with higher mAh ratings.

To determine the compatibility with specific devices, it's advisable to check the device's battery capacity and compare it with the power bank's mAh rating.

Other Factors to Consider:

Apart from mAh, there are other factors to consider when choosing a power bank, such as the output current (measured in amperes), the number of USB ports, and the charging speed.

Higher output currents allow for faster charging, while multiple USB ports enable you to charge multiple devices simultaneously.

Depending on the device to be charged, there is the option of wireless charging rather than by charging cable which is a great feature of modern phones.

A must have feature for me is a battery life indicator, typically either displayed as a series of dots or as a % shown on an LED display, without it we have no idea if the powerbank we are taking on a walk actually has any charge itself!

Power banks as Business Gifts:

Within the Promotional Merchandise sector the starting point is typically budget and this will to a large extent determine the mAh capacity of the power bank.

As in everything there are lower cost options, with a capacity of just 1200 mAh, which would work in an emergency giving any phone a boost, but for comparison an iPhone 14 Pro Max battery capacity is over 4000mAh so 1200 is really just an emergency boost & might not be considered that useful if offered as a gift.

Once budget is known, and the subsequent capacity you come across a balance between capacity of battery and physical size of the actual power bank.

You may want the largest capacity at any budget but also for the product to be portable and here you face a balance between physical size and weight and capacity.

Once the factors of capacity, physical size and add ons such as number of ports, battery life indicator for the marketer the colour, look, feel, material and match to the brand will be deciding factors.

Plastics, Aluminiums, and eco materials such as bamboo and rPET as well as solar panels are all options for the Power bank outer case.

Finally branding for the marketer can be spot colour, full colour or engraving, and in some instances the engraving can reveal an LED coloured light that shines through the engraved design which creates a truly stunning finish for the right artwork.

Are Power Banks still a useful Business Gift?

Of course with improved battery performance with each generation of phone we might question whether the Power Bank is still a useful and desirable business gift.

While it's true that smartphones today have better battery performance compared to older models, there are several reasons why power banks remain valuable:

1. Emergency Power Source:

Regardless of how long our batteries may last, we still ultimately find ourselves in situations where we haven't charged and we run out of power. Power banks serve as that backup power source when access to electrical outlets is limited or unavailable, particularly useful during commuting, travel and outdoor activities.

2. Power-intensive Usage:

Some users have power-intensive smartphone usage patterns, such as heavy gaming, media streaming, or extensive use of GPS navigation. In such cases, the phone's built-in battery may drain quickly, and a power bank becomes essential for extended usage.

3. Multiple Device Charging:

Power banks are not limited to just charging smartphones only. They can also charge other USB-powered devices like tablets, e-readers, Bluetooth headphones, smartwatches, and more. This versatility makes power banks useful for individuals with multiple devices.

4. On-the-Go Convenience:

Power banks provide the convenience of charging devices while on the move. Whether it's a long commute, a business trip, or a day at a conference, having a power bank ensures that users can stay connected without worrying about their device's battery life.

5. Brand Visibility and Promotion:

As a business gift, power banks offer a super useful, desirable, practical and functional item that users will appreciate. Decorating power banks with your company logo or branding helps increase brand visibility, ultimately a useful item gets used and any branding seen on a regular basis.

Airplane Travel

With summer holidays on the way a Promotional Power Bank may be the perfect employee or customer gift, just be mindful that there are rules regarding Power banks being taken on flights. Typically a Power bank that is in good condition and taken in carry-on baggage is accepted but not in checked-in luggage.

It's worth reminding anyone with a Power bank intending to fly to research the specific regulations of the airline they're flying with, as well as any additional regulations imposed by the departure and arrival countries. This will ensure compliance and a smooth travel experience.

Summary

Overall, power banks have been a great invention and so useful with the explosion in popularity of techy gadgets related to the smartphone. They continue to offer convenience, reliability, and versatility, making them a thoughtful and practical choice for business gifts, even with advancements in smartphone battery life.

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