What's The Average Lifespan Of A Portable Battery Bank?

Portable battery banks can be really useful on long days when you know you're not going to be near an outlet and need to keep your devices charged. If you're shopping for one, there's no shortage of options with various features like wireless charging and built-in cords, as well as a range of capacities, charging speeds, and styles. Power banks can last for a while before they noticeably degrade, though that lifespan depends on quality and how you use it.

It shouldn't surprise you to learn that a portable battery pack's longevity is impacted by how often it gets used and recharged. That can be measured in charge cycles, or how many times a rechargeable battery is used and recharged to 100%. According to Anker, most power banks last between 300 and 500 full cycles, which should equate to somewhere between two and six years depending on how frequently you use it. There are exceptions like Belkin's BoostSolid, which the company claims can last 1,000 cycles. Outside of quality, there's one more factor that impacts how long your portable power bank will last, and that's whether it's wired or wireless.

By its nature, wireless charging — including methods like MagSafe – emits more heat than traditional wired charging. It's one of the main disadvantages of using wireless phone chargers. This happens because wireless charging works by transferring energy between magnetic coils in the charger and device being charged, losing energy in the process and releasing it as heat. Wired chargers also experience heat loss, but in much smaller quantities, making them more energy efficient.

Many manufacturers have not shared the number of charge cycles to expect from their wireless devices, but since heat shortens the lifespan of batteries. But it stands to reason that a wireless portable charger isn't going to last as long as a wired one. Additionally, the heat generated can cause your device's battery to degrade faster, too. Though quality wireless chargers have safety features to prevent overheating, constant use is bound to cause some damage over time.

It's worth noting that, after going through all of its charge cycles, a portable battery bank usually won't outright fail. Instead, it'll begin to lose capacity, falling to around 60–80% of the original maximum battery capacity. That said, it's important to pay attention to any signs your battery pack is no longer safe to use, such as excessive heat and any swelling.