Friday, 25 March 2016

Top ten power banks for the year 2017 - 2018

Top ten power banks for the year 2017

 Despite mobile companies doing their best in providing a massive battery backup on their phones, There has always been and always will be a craving from every consumer for a little extra – Let’s be honest we are just too lazy to plug in and charge our phones every now and then and thanks to the power bank revolution this dream has finally come true, So pick up a bag of chips while you laze down your couch and scroll through the below list for the top ten power banks currently in the market.

Please note that this list was created by actually testing and running the Power Bank – Real test capacity Turing test on all the power banks.
I've mentioned the below test which was used to determine the top 10 picks for this list

How to calculate a power bank's real capacity?
For calculating the 'Real Capacity' of power bank capacity x 0.74x 0.85

For Ex: 10000 mAh power bank. 10000x.74x.85 = 6290 mAh (This will be your average /standard output of 10000 mAh power bank) assuming it to be 85% efficient.  10000x.74x .90= 6660 mAh (90 = 90% efficient .85 = 85%) What is efficiency? In simple terms, Layman terms, there are losses in transfer from one battery to another on common losses being due to circuit losses. So, in reality a 10000 mAh power bank will give below 6500 mAh capacity. That means a Note 3 battery of 3000/3200 mah can be charged only twice or an Ipad retina (6400 mAh odd) can be charged fully once. This is the principle on which power banks works

Now that we’ve got the technicality of the power bank and the standard used to measure the efficiency of a power bank is cleared, let’s cut the chase and get to the top 10 power banks out there.





10 ::  ADATA PT100 10000mAH




ADATA PT100 10000mAH Power Bank (Black-Green)


It has two outputs, 1A and 2.1A. The 1A usually charges phones and the 2A is for tablets. The 2A can be used occasionally on phones to get quicker method of charge (two times faster). Note: Don’t use 2A for phone often; it can be harmful for the battery. Simple LED torch not very bright, but good enough for an emergency usage. There is also a 1year ADATA warranty for it. You can register your product on their website. There are some cons as well which needs to be mentioned like the fact being the power bank is a bit heavy and bulky. Can be a little difficult to carry around, But I would say the benefits outweigh the cons.


ADATA PT100 10000mAH Power Bank (Black-Green)

DIMENSIONS
Weight
285 g
Height
21.5 mm
Width
63 mm
Battery efficiency
72%



9 :: Ambrane 13000mAh


Ambrane Power Bank P-1310 White and Black


The Ambrane 13000maH is a decent Indian manufacturer product providing a 13000mah capacity, Charge will stand for month even if it not used. It has both 1amp and 2.1amp port 4. Can charge your phone completely from 0 – 100% at least 5- 6 times (The phone used to validate this test had 2100mAh battery), Can fully charge the power bank in 5hrs (using my 2.1 Amp Samsung charger), Also has an LED torch (not very bright but enough light in case of emergency)

DIMENSIONS
Weight
250 g
Height
138.1 mm
Width
62.1 mm
Battery efficiency
73.56%



8 :: Asus ABTU005 10050mAH Zen Power Bank




Mimicking the looks of the Xiaomi power bank, Pretty affordable coming from a big company like ASUS It is fairly small in fact small than i expected it to be (It is not as small as credit card) It has 2.4 A output so it can charge your phone fast It has a metal finish infused with a nice sturdy feel while holding it. It has a good mAh rating and should be able to charge your phone 2 - 3 times before recharging it. No heating issues detected while testing. Cons only 1 USB port takes a lot of time for first time charge the cable coupled with it is very short approx. 18 cm and is suggested by ASUS to use only that cable Important Fact This product is really good and at a reasonable price. Some people say it is expensive as compared to other Chinese or bootleg power banks. The thing you got to understand is that this is ASUS not any cheap brand it is a big company, the cheap brands do not care about the damages their product could cause, whereas ASUS has made a point to test the product and make sure it won't damage your phone. Also companies like Sony and Samsung charge almost twice the price for a power bank of this mAh rating. So it you don't want your phone getting damaged goes for this one. Never buy cheap power banks just because it is cheap look into the product see if it assures the safety of your device.

DIMENSIONS
Weight
215 g
Height
90.5 mm
Battery efficiency
76%


13000mAh & High Grade Japanese Cells 4 Led Balance power indicator & Led Flash Light Dual Usb ,1Amp Output for Smart Phone & 2Amp Output for Tablets Warranty : 1 Year Stylish Curvy Design & Strong Built. A complete video on this power bank has already been listed above, Please refer it for the complete video review. (Attached Top)


DIMENSIONS
Weight
450 g
Height
110 mm
Width
40 mm
Battery efficiency
78%








The best part about this power bank is that, it chargers the phone very fast, its capacity is also good, like we can charge our phone 6-7 times by this power bank, the quality of this product is very good, its color and finishing is excellent, But the major drawback is it can take more than 8 hours to charge your power bank back. The only reason this has been voted up is due to the fact that it has 3 USB PORTS!

DIMENSIONS
Weight
280 g
Height
63 mm
Width
142 mm
Battery efficiency
72%





Took a fairly considerable amount time for it to be getting completely charged maybe because the power bank is of 13000 mAh capacities. When charged can easily recharge you phone at least 4 times or even more. Dual USB ports, fast charging compare to others. 5. Battery doesn’t get drained while ideal.


DIMENSIONS
Weight
325 g
Height
117 mm
Width
78 mm
Battery efficiency
79%











Looks: Looks very premium with a white glossy enamel finish. Will get scuffed easily though if not protected well. I carry it in an external hard disc case, which fits it perfectly.  It's got a kidney bean cross section that adds to the design appeal and it's very nice to hold. The end plates on either side have a mirror finish and look distinctly upmarket. See attached photos for size comparison with a Galaxy Note 3. Single button design with a blue ringed LED indicator adorns the top, along with company branding. In one word, beautiful.

Features: Single mico-USB for charging the powerbank. Requires overnight charging if the power bank is fully drained. Using a 2.1A charger gives best results. There are 4 LEDs ringed around the only button on the device and each represents 25% charge capacity. This is a good visual indicator of how much charge is left in the device, the LEDs turning off in sequence as charge drops. Remaining power level can be checked by clicking the button once when device is not in use; while charging, LED indicators stay on by default. Pressing and holding the button for around 3 seconds activates the LED torch at one end of the device, which provides excellent illumination, long-pressing again switched it off. On the other end of the device is a solitary 2.1A USB out port for charging your mobile device. The supplied white USB cable is of good capacity, short and stout high amperage cable easy to carry with the device and same cable can be used to charge the power bank along with a wall charger.

Performance: The device provides rapid, reliable charging and charges my phone at the same rate as my original Samsung 2 Amp charger. This is the best performing power bank I have used till date and would gladly recommend to anyone. It also comes with built it overcharging protection and circuitry to prevent overheating / fire hazard.

Cons: The one negative thing to say about the product is that it has only one USB charging slot. I feel that it should have had 2 USB outputs given the large charging capacity.

Summary: This is an excellent power bank for those with newer larger capacity phones like the 3200 mAh Note 3, tablets etc. Even for smaller capacity batteries, this means adequate power to charge multiple times or charge multiple devices. In-built LED torch is a valuable addition. However, you can charge only one device at a time. The pricing is extremely competitive and good value for money.


DIMENSIONS
Weight
238 g
Height
24.5 mm
Width
50.5 mm
Battery efficiency
82.6%




An impressive looking product came in an excellent pack and put to charge. There are four small green LED lights set in a column configuration on the right side of the two ports. This start twinkling in sequence when the power bank is being charged and when there is about 50% (am presuming) charged then only the last two lights twinkle and the first two remain constant. This is how we come to know how much charge it is carrying. Once completely charged all the four led lights light up and remain constant. The two ports are for charging your devices. The power bank came with a 1/2 meter or so charging chord with usb/micro usb on either side. For charging the power bank the micro usb side is inserted into a provided slot on the longer side and the other end has to go into a plug charger (this piece is not provided). No heating issues detected on the device other than the fact that it is quite a heavy product. Ideal for people who carry a bag fairly regularly, or if being used whilst connected to a device where both are stable (i.e. not ideal when you are walking & talking for e.g.). Overall I am quite satisfied.
In short, it does what it is supposed to do, and without any problem. Would like to mention a few things so that potential buyers are aware of it; (a) As per the user guide, the power bank cannot charge a device when it is being charged itself (b) As per the guide the power bank would take 7 hours to charge on a 2A adaptor, 10 hours on a 1A adaptor & 25 hours when charged from a 0.5A USB port. The manufacturer suggests using a 5V/2A adaptor for charging (adaptor is not included with the power bank) (c) Included in the package along with the power bank are a Micro USB Cable, cloth Travel pouch & user guide. (d) The power bank has a built in flashlight which might be useful in emergencies.


DIMENSIONS
Weight
241  g
Size
88.8 x 44.3 x 44.3 mm
Battery efficiency
84.21%





2 :: OnePlus 10000 mAh Power Bank





The most handsome looking power bank on the list, the power bank quality is very good & so is the quality of the packaging. They sure know how to package their products which also gives a very premium feel. Flipkart also packed it very carefully in a separate box. The power bank though does take a long time to charge itself. Though may be it is because I was doing it through my laptop or maybe it was the first time. The feature of just shaking the power to know residual charge is really amazing. Truly an all-rounder power bank with best in class built quality and ergonomics. Just go for it.

Battery efficiency – 87%

1 :: Xiaomi                                                          





Xiaomi's Power Bank is one of the best we've seen, and not just in a long time - ever. Oozing style with an elegant and highly portable aluminium-alloy design, the Xiaomi packs useful capacity and still represents extraordinary value
It’s a powerhouse that can charge pretty much everything that takes power from a USB port. Be it be the phones, tablets, cameras, or your drones… it has enough juice to power up each of them. It also charges the devices with USB Type-C charging ports.
The reasonable design makes it easy to carry compared to its competitors. Price is really competitive looking at other available options currently. This is absolutely the best in its game. Original Xiaomi power bank's link mentioned above! Enjoy folks :)

The HIGHEST EFFICIENCY RATE OF 89%!!



Saturday, 20 February 2016

TOP 5 External Hard Drives : 1 TB – 5 TB Segment Countdown [2017 - 2018]

TOP 5 EXTERNAL HARD DRIVES:  1 TB – 5 TB Segment Countdown

 In the recent past, we have seen that the craving for Data can never be fulfilled and companies like Transcend, Western Digital, Seagate and many more have made sure that these needs are satisfied. The below is a list of the best hard drives capacity wise from 1 TB – 5 TB and do not miss out on the final Bonus hard drive included for all you data junkies.


5


Transcend Store Jet 25M3 2.5-inch




 
Under the 1 TB segment the winner turned out to be the TranscendStore Jet 25M3 2.5-inch : Always known for their reliable for their flash/pen drives, Transcend did not disappoint us with the external hard drives, One of the best experience with the Transcend Store Jet I felt was the casing of the hard drive – It comes with a well comfortable placed hard drive with a rubber casing and hence the need for an extra cover to protect your hard drive can be skipped and the same times feels great and also not to forget SHOCK PROOF!





Features:

  • Capacity: 1 TB
  • Interface: USB 2.0/3.0
  • Storage Media: 2.5-inch SATA HDD
  • Certificates: CE, FCC, BSMI
  • Software: Transcend Elite data management software
  • Backup: One Touch Auto Backup button
  • Dimensions: 130.6 x 80.1 x 15.0 mm
  • Weight: 216 g



 
WD have always been one of the major players in the data solutions kingdom and we can safely conclude that that their WD My Passport ultra 2TB had to be their flagship mode and they have been constantly updating to the changing trends of the society. Though specification and working still remains the same. However they have transformed style from a classic stripes design to a futuristic eye candy touch and feel, I personally own one of these and I'm in love with it.


Suitability:- This would be the best option to those who use their hard disk to store important data and not just to dump their data, Using the cloud back up and password protection the user can have a backup and restrict intruders in accessing there data.

 

Features:

  • No External Power needed
  • USB 3.0 Compatible 
  • Light weight 
  • Automatic and cloud backup
  • Password protection & Security
  • Ultra-fast transfer rates
  • Hard disk from factor: 2.5
  • Data transfer rate: USB 3.0 up to 5 Gb/s (max); USB 2.0 up to 480 Mb/s (max)


 
WD would have taken the game away if it wasn’t for Seagate’s expertise and rich history, known for its monopoly during the days in providing the consumers with top quality internal and external hard drives. Seagate Expansion Desktop 3TB takes spotlight for the 3 TB segment, Seagate needs no introduction in terms of its class in production and this one comes with a surprisingly economical price, But the only drawback for me being would be the external power supply.


Features:

  • Capacity: 3 TB
  • Connectivity: USB v3.0
  • System Requirements: Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP3 (32-bit and 64-bit) operating system
  • External power supply required
  • Dimensions: 11.8 x 3.8 x 18cm
  • Weight: 939 g



If I had to choose a personal best external hard disk amongst the list or for that matter any external hard disk currently in the market, Eyes closed I would go for the Seagate STDR4000300 4TB, Massive storage / Shockingly compact considering the size / Sleek design with 3 years warranty out of the box and the best of all NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY! Are you kidding me? , Seagate just blew my mind with this masterpiece I had this shipped just last week and trust I’ve had 0 complaints and just complete admiration. If you could stretch your pockets just a little bit, Trust me this is a steal deal!

Features:
  • NO EXTERNAL POWER SUPPLY REQUIRED!
  • Capacity: 4 TB
  • Connectivity: USB 3.0
  • Data Transfer Speed: Up to 6GBps
  • Easy installation with two cords
  • Dimensions: 180 x 118 x 38 mm
  • Weight: 1000 g



1

Lucky for Seagate, They do have a monopoly in the 5 TB segment with their Seagate STDT5000300 Backup Plus 5TB, Again massive storage But a little bulky and the main problem again being external power supply is required, But apart from all that it does a decent job in providing a huge amount of data storage, A certain BUY for anyone with a huge data requirement who don’t minding having an extra cable hanging around while using the hard drive.

Features:
  • Includes easy-to-use backup software
  • Features mobile backup using the Seagate Mobile Backup App
  • Save photos from your social networks automatically
  • easy to share files between PCs and Mac computers
  • Massive capacity


           BONUS – 6 TB!

A bonus for all you data Junkies out there – Feast your eyes on the 6 TB WD My Book, If the above list wasn’t enough. WD has just blown data barrier with their WDMy Book 6TB External Hard Drive Storage.
 
Features: 
  • 6 TB EXTERNAL HDD
  • ADAPTOR POWERED
  • HIGHEST CAPACITY
  • WD 6 TB
  • USB 3.0 ULTRA SPEED




Sunday, 24 May 2015

How to fix Your Laptop Overheating? SOLUTION - Cooling pads -TOP 10 Cooling pads



Games will use considerable amounts of CPU which is the component that causes most heat in a laptop. In addition the graphics chip will be used quite hard and this will also cause some additional heat. 

Heat dissipation in a laptop is done using a heatsink attached to the CPU and of necessity this is rather small so it is important to make sure that the heatsink itself is scrupulously cleaned of dust and debris on a regular basis. Sinc the CPU and its heatsink are built into the casing it is not easy tp physically remove them for cleaning so a simple alternative is to use a vacuum cleaner hose placed over the air intake grilles (usually on the bottom of the laptop). This will suck out any obstructing debris from the heatsink.

In addition, when gaming on your laptop make sure that there is a good flow of air underneath and around the laptop. Typically place it on a hard surface and not on top of any soft furnishings or papers since these will be sucked against the air intakes and will block the free flow of cooling air.


This can definitely be a difficult complication to endue in the long run if this is frequent.



What you can be done?


So I suggest you keep your laptop very well ventilated and make sure there are no clogs and keep it clean as much as you can, Also charging the laptop and playing at the same time can may fasten the heating process.

Secondly a cooling pad for you laptop would be much helpful and reduce the heating mess by a massive extent.


Top Cooling pads for laptops and notebook 2015 - 2016


Deepcool Multicore X6 Notebook Cooler - BUY NOW

  • Built-in four fans provide massive airflow to cool the whole notebook base with no blind area
  • The creative Multi-Core Control Technology enables users to apply 4 different fan-working statuses: 4 fans on / 2 upper fans on / 2 downside fans on / 4 fans off
  • Ergonomic design with 2 viewing angles available for the most comfort in use
  • Massive metal mesh panel for superb cooling performance
  • 2 USB ports allow users to connect their personal USB devices
  • Compatible with 15.6" notebooks and below


DEEPCOOL M6 NOTEBOOK OR LAPTOP COOLING PAD W/ 2.1 SPEAKER & 4 USB PORTS  - BUY NOW


  • 2.1 speaker system with excellent stereo sound (2 tweeter and 1 woofer)
  • Plug-and-play with standard 3.5mm line in for easy access to any music source
  • 14cm fan for optimal airflow to cool your gaming notebook
  • Fan speed adjustable for a perfect balance between cooling performance and silence
  • USB HUB function with 4 USB output ports for your additional USB devices
  • Compatible with 17" notebooks and below


Deepcool Windpal Mini Notebook Cooling Pad - BUY NOW

  • 140mm blue LED fan
  • Crescent shape with metal mesh panel design provides great air flowing
  • Unique crescent structure provides comfortable using
  • Compatible with 15.6" notebooks and below



Cooler Master (R9-NBC-NPX3-GP) Notepal X3 Laptop Cooling Pad - BUY NOW
  • Mesh surface and 1 fan provide a chill mat for your laptop, ultrabook, notebook, or netbook
  • High performance 200 mm fan with blue LED light helps dissipate extreme heat from gaming laptops
  • Heavy duty profile provides a sturdy foundation for your laptop
  • Front vent provides a smooth breeze that keeps your hands cool and dry
  • Two different height settings provide improved comfort
  • Built-in fan speed controller
  • Supports various sizes including 15 inch and 17 inch laptops


















Zebronics ZEB-NC4000 Premium Laptop Cooling Pad (Black) - BUY NOW

  • Convenient to use, 5 adjustable angles
  • Cool and quiet operation by 2 cooling fans
  • Slim foldable design, easy to carry
  • Compatible with most of the notebooks



Notepal L1 - Cooler Master - BUY NOW


  • Ultra slim and lightweight design for easy carrying.
  • Ergonomic design for best viewing/typing angle. Cable grooves for easy USB cable management.
  • 160 mm silent fan with superior airflow provides best cooling performance.
  • Full range metal mesh and aerodynamic design air intakes. USB port extender design keeps your USB ports intact.
  • Compatible with all 17" and smaller laptops.

















Fosmon Laptop Notebook Cooling Pad with 3 Fans & Blue LED Lights - BUY NOW


Deepcool Multi Core X8 Notebook Or Laptop Cooling Pad - BUY NOW

  • Built-in four fans provide massive airflow to cool the whole notebook base with no blind area
  • The creative Multi-Core Control Technology enables users to apply 4 different fan-working statuses: 4 fans on / 2 upper fans on / 2 downside fans on / 4 fans off
  • Ergonomic design with 2 viewing angles available for the most comfort in use
  • Four aluminum panels with Vertical Airflow Design pushes air into four different directions for superb cooling performance
  • 2 USB ports allow users to connect their personal USB devices
  • Compatible with 17" notebooks and below





  • Build-in 2.0 speaker system provides excellent sound for pleasure.
  • Sleek design with shinning material finish.
  • 180mm blue LED fan assures cooling performance.