We take a look at the top mobile batteries on the market to keep you connected all day on the field.
With the ever growing technical innovations in agriculture, staying connected in the field becomes more and more important, and making use of farm-management software on the go can become a challenge for our devices. Mobile devices in farming operations require a steadfast, reliable power backup that won’t leave us hanging when the battery starts to run low. That’s why more and more Croptracker users are turning to mobile batteries and power banks.
With that said, there are certain features to take into consideration when buying a mobile battery. What do you need out of a powerbank? In terms of capacity, the general rule is the bigger the better, until your battery becomes too heavy and cumbersome to carry around. A product designed to keep going for days may be quite large, as opposed to a smaller unit which may only provide a couple of charges on a cell-phone. The same is true of input and output ports. More ports will allow you to connect all of your equipment at once, but naturally this means a larger product. Related to this point is the type of port needed. Most portable battery packs have a standard micro USB port for input and a USB-A port for output. Others have a faster-charging USB-C port as well. Carefully consider what you’ll want to be charging on the go; if your battery doesn’t come with the right port, you may need an adaptor. Another key factor is charging speed. amperage, the amount of electricity flowing from the battery to the device, and voltage, the amount of potential energy, are multiplied to give you the total power or wattage. For charging speed, it is a combination of the voltage and the amperage that will determine your charge time.
Listed below are the ten best mobile batteries and power banks for the modern farmer. Note that for the most part, the words power bank, charger and battery are used interchangeably to mean the same thing.
10. Jackery Portable Bar Pocket 6,000 mAh
A special mention goes to this nifty, pocket-sized charger. At 6,000 mAh (milliampere-hour, or electric charge), it is definitely small but mighty. It is extremely portable and a backup good enough for an emergency charge of your phone.
Pros: Extremely portable, easy to carry, great design, handy flashlight.
Cons: A small capacity; designed mainly for emergency charges and not as the main backup for all day outdoor use.
9. Hiluckey Solar Charger 25,000 mAh
This charger features a large solar-based battery, complete with four foldable solar panels. It is very fast-charging, with dual USB ports and an auto-stop feature for when the phone is fully charged. This prevents over-heating or over-charging. There are also emergency LED lights, which can come in handy at night.
Pros: Makes use of solar energy exclusively.
Cons: Weather conditions or night operations can seriously impede the proper use of a solar charger.
8. iMuto X6 Pro 30,000Ah
This is a stable, reliable power bank with a large capacity and an affordable price. Three ports allow for multiple device charging, but at 1.5lbs this bank is quite heavy. If weight isn’t a problem, this reliable high capacity charger could be the one for you.
Pros: Excellent capacity, excellent price.
Cons: Heavy, and limited colour selection available.
7. Anker Power Core II 20000 20100 mAh
The Anker Power Core II comes with two output USB ports, at 12W and 18W, and one input USB port. It has a hefty 21,000 mAh capacity, meaning it can charge a Galaxy S8 four times, an iPhone 8 six times, and iPad mini up to three times. It has plenty of safety features such as protections for input/output voltage, input/output current regulation, automatic current matching, and static resistance. This battery can also be topped up in as little as 5 hours with a Quick Charge charger.
Pros: Good capacity and very rapid recharge of the battery.
Cons: At this size, you might want to go all-in and get more than 20,000 mAh or even an extra port.
6. Aukey Power Dual-USB 20,000 mAh
This is another high capacity battery with dual input and output, that can be charged with either an Android or iPhone charger. Fully charge a 12.9 inch iPad Pro up to 1.4 times, and an Iphone XS 6 times.
Pros: Solid capacity, multiple ways to charge.
Cons: At this size and weight, it may be worth it to go up to a higher capacity battery anyway.
5. ZeeHoo Wireless Car Charger
For those who are often on-the-go in a vehicle, consider a car charger. This one features an automatic clamping mount that can be activated with one hand to keep your phone safe, and combines the latest Qi Wireless Charger with an in car mounting system. Basically, you just slip in the phone and forget about connecting it.
Pros: Wireless charging is simple and easy. Also, this is a great add-on to your vehicle if you spend a lot of time on the road.
Cons: Only compatible with Qi-enabled phones, can’t be used for tablets or laptops.
4. KAKAFU 20,000 mAh Power Bank
A multipurpose power bank, it has a dual USB port, an LED flashlight, and an LED display too. At 20,000 mAh, it has a large capacity that will serve you well. It uses the Polymer Battery, which is considered to be the safest in the market, with 20% of the size and 30% of the weight of a lithium battery. It features protections against short circuits, over-voltage, over-current or over-charge.
Pros: Overall design is very pleasant, flashlight and LED display are a nice touch.
Cons: An extra USB port would come in handy.
3. Anker Power Core+ 26,800 PD
A repeat company on our list, the Anker PowerCore+ 26800PD boasts a whopping 26,800 mAh of power. Able to charge an iPhone 7 nine times, this colossal capacity battery can even charge a Macbook Pro. Recharging the battery is quite fast at around 4.5 hours, thanks to the Power Delivery input charger. At 580 gr/20.4 oz and 6.5X3.1X0.9 inches, it packs a tremendous punch in a small package.
Pros: Great power and very portable.
Cons: As with all tech of this caliber, it is a little pricey.
2. MAXOAK 50,000 mAh
This behemoth is one of our favorites. It has six ports, allowing you to charge all your devices at once. Its massive 50,000 mAh capacity can charge a Dell Laptop 3.5 times, an iPhone as many as 16 times, and an iPad mini 7 times. If you need to charge multiple devices at a time in the field or orchard, this may be the bank for you.
Pros: Capacity will not disappoint, charge many devices at once with this reliable charger.
Cons: As expected at this level, the size, as well as the price, are a bit hefty.
1. RAVPower 26,800 mAh
This power bank has tremendous capacity, at 26,800 mAh. It can also charge three devices simultaneously with very high charging speed. It has three output ports (2.4A Input, iSmart 2.0 USB Power Pack). This power bank boasts nine days of reliable power, and can charge most smartphones over six times, and a tablet at least twice. It may charge three devices simultaneously with its three ports for a total current output of 5.5A. Recharging may be done in around 14-15 hours with a 2.4A charger or 30-31 hours with a 1A charger.
Pros:This is a solid, reliable power bank, with a very affordable price.
Cons: The recharge time could be improved with the 2.4A AC charger.
At Croptracker, we understand the importance of technology when it comes to managing your business. But as farming continues its transition to the digital world, the need to protect electronic tools will be more important than ever, crucial even. Without question, a farmer’s cell phone and/or tablet not only offer greater functionality, but its importance to your business will be more vital than ever before, so check out last month's article where we rank the Top-Ten Durable Phone and Tablet Casesfor use on the farm!
Need a refresher on any of Croptracker's features? Head over to our Knowledge Base, where you'll find step-by-step tutorials as well as common troubleshooting tips and more. And as always, if you're ever stuck, never hesitate to e-mail us at support@croptracker.com or Live Chat with us by clicking the green speech bubble 
in your bottom right-hand corner. We're always happy to help you let Croptracker make your farm become more efficient, safe, and profitable!
