All juiced up: Be low-batt-proof with the longest-lasting powerbanks, smartphones and laptops

The successive typhoons and the power outages that followed them over the past two weeks have rekindled anxieties about our smartphones and laptops running out of battery. With all the natural calamities happening recently, having a powered up device is indeed a necessity for keeping updated with the news on the web or simply catching up with family and relatives living on disaster-prone regions.

Thankfully, the screen-on time of our beloved gadgets are greatly extended by portable powerbanks, and by simply having large battery cells built into our devices. Bigger batteries means longer use and fewer worries about charging and the horror that comes with a fully drained device. This is especially true in places where there is inconsistent power supply like rural areas or disaster-hit towns and cities. 

To free yourself from the fears of running low on power, we’ve listed down some of the most long-lasting powerbanks, smartphones and laptops currently available in the PH market — from budget, to midrange to high-end models. 

SMARTPHONES

realme 6i – In the budget segment, the realme 6i managed to top the Battery Endurance ranking of tech website www.gsmarena.com by scoring an impressive 186 hours rating, with a 3G talk time of 34:59 hours, web browsing of 29:59 hours, and video playback of 20:55 hours. Its massive 5,000 mAh battery capable of 18W fast charging, the low display 270p screen resolution, and the power-efficiency of the new Mediatek Helio G80 chipset all contribute to its stellar lasting performance. All that comes for an affordable price of P7,990 (3GB + 64GB) and P9,990 (4GB + 128GB).

Samsung Galaxy M51 – In the midrange segment, Samsung contends with the power monster Galaxy M51, a midranger that prides itself with a massive 7000mAh battery that supports 25W fast charging. Aside from the rather beefy power plant, the M51 has 6.67-inch Super AMOLED+ Infinity-O display and octa-core Snapdragon 730G processor, equipped with 8GB RAM and 128GB internal storage – all equally efficient in managing power. A battery test from XDA Developers showed that the phone lasted for three days of use, with as much as 13-15 hours of screen-on time. It retails for P19,990 and comes in two colors: Black and White. 

iPhone 11 Pro Max – Those with more cash to spare can consider the 2019 flagship of Apple, the iPhone 11 Pro Max that lasts “Up to 5 hours longer than the iPhone XS Max.” Tests reveal that the phone is capable of lasting up to 12 hours on Streamed Video Playback, up to 20 hours on Video playback, and up to 80 hours on Audio playback. Tech reviewers note that based on real-life experience, the iPhone 11 Pro Max typically lasts between a day-and-a-half and two days with standard usage. These conveniences can cost you around P60,990 (64gb) and P69,990 (256gb) to P82,990 (526gb) to be exact.

POWERBANKS

Asus ZenPower – If portability is your preference, consider the ZenPower from Asus. This pocketable 10,050 mAh powerbank only weighs 215 g, and looks no larger than a credit card but thicker. It has 4 LED lights that indicate how much power is left, as well as blinks to signify charging. It features a 2.4A output, smooth and metallic finish, and comes in black, blue, gold, silver, and pink. It will cost you only P795 on Lazada and Shopee. 

Romoss PEA40 – In terms of raw capacity, few can rival the ROMOSS PEA40, a 40,000mAh powerbank the features Quick Charge 3.0 and is capable of 18w fast-charging. This powerbank has multiple charging ports: Lightning, USB Type-C and Micro USB. But its high capacity came with three obvious drawbacks: large size, hefty weight and very long charging times. It costs P999 on Lazada and Shoppe so better take this with a grain of salt. 

Xiaomi Mi Wireless Powerbank – Should you prefer multi-functionality, consider the Xiaomi Mi Wireless Powerbank. Capacity-wise, it’s your average 10,000 mAh portable power brick. But it makes up for it with Qualcomm QC3.0 Charging Support and Qi Wireless Charging with 10 watts of output as well, making it a versatile charger. It has two USB-A to USB-C output ports to charge two devices simultaneously. It costs P1,279 on Lazada. 

LAPTOPS

Asus VivoBook S15 – If you want a real value-for-money option that boasts of nifty, slim design, a good selection of ports, long battery life, and reasonably speedy performance, then the Asus VivoBook S15 is the one for you. In Power Saver Mode, this machine managed to clock in 15:45 hours of video playback. With 15-inch full HD IPS display, Intel Core I7-8550 processor, 8G RAM + 1TB + 128G SATA3 SSD internal storage, NVIDIA GeForce MX150 and Windows 10, Asus VivoBook S15 costs a more manageable P56,995 at https://ph.store.asus.com/asus-vivobook-s15-series/. 

ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 – Gaming doesn’t have to stop when there’s no electricity around. The gaming-centered ROG Zephyrus G14 boasts incredible performance with AMD Ryzen 4000 processors, Nvidia RTX 2060 graphics card, up to 32gb RAM, 120 Hz 120Hz refresh rate 14-inch full HD display, and lightweight, ultrathin design. In the PCMark8 battery test, the ROG Zephyrus G14 scored 4 hours and 47 minutes, impressive for a gaming laptop this powerful. In comparison, the top-of-the-line $3,000-USD Alienware m15 R2 only managed 2 hours and 45 minutes in that test. The ASUS ROG Zephyrus G14 costs P94,900 at https://benstore.com.ph/

Huawei Matebook X Pro – When it comes to long-lasting heavyweight performer, Huawei’s flagship ultrabook in the Philippines, the Matebook X Pro, is very much the conversation. Its mighty 56Whr battery w/ 65W charging support powers a color-accurate 14-inch display, Intel’s 10th generation i7-U processor, NVIDIA’s GeForce MX250, 16GB of RAM, and 1TB of SSD storage. Even with all the top-end features, the Matebook X Pro is rated for 12 hours of continuous video playback, a good score considering that the average of competitors at this segment only hover at around 9.5 hours. All these will cost you though, to the tune of SRP P119,990 at Lazada.