[Nexus 5 Accessories] RedWingsFan:
For some of you coming from phones with removable batteries, you may have some anxiety about running out of battery life and not being able to swap a spare in. I was the same way a year ago, but I didn’t let that fear keep me from buying a newer phone without a removable battery. So I decided to just grab a few portable chargers to use and I’m glad I did.

Below is a comparison of the portable chargers I have. To try and compare them as fair as possible, the process was simple. Reboot the phone, fire up the stopwatch, set to 15 minutes, shut off the screen, plug in the charger, and leave it alone. The readings were taken from Battery Monitor Widget which was set to update the history every 60 seconds. I used a charging cable from my HTC EVO 4G LTE. I didn’t have my N5 charging cable with me and we know sometimes the cable can play a big role. So take that in to consideration if you think my numbers are off.

The portable chargers from left to right.

1.New Trent iCarrier 12000mAh Portable Dual USB Port - $39.95 (Amazon)

*The one I have is an older model which doesn’t included the “Recharge by USB” option. Mine can only be recharged via AC Wall Adapter. The new model has both options but doesn’t included the wall chargers.

2. Anker® Astro 5600mAh Portable Power Bank - $29.99 (Amazon)

3. Anker Astro Mini 3000mAh Ultra-Compact Portable Charger Lipstick-Sized - $19.99 (Amazon)

Test Results:

Review for Each:

New Trent:

I originally bought this to be used with my Nexus 7 (2012) since it was REALLY picky about what could charge it. You can tell this is a lot bulkier than the other two and isn’t something you’ll throw in your pocket. I keep this in my backpack and only use it when I don’t plan on moving around. Or if there are two people/devices that need to be charged. The plastic housing feels a little cheap, but I understand the idea was to keep the weight down on an already ‘heavier’ portable charger. It has held up well.

I’ve used this thing 3-4 times on my phones without it dying which is nice. This one re-charges using a AC Wall Charger (No longer included) or via USB (5v 2A…no charger included). NOTE: I have the older model which does not have the “Charge via USB” option. Only the AC wall charger option which it did come with. I can’t imagine how long it would take to charge via USB. It already takes a long time using the AC Wall Adapter.

Anker Astro:

This has been my Go-To portable charger for over a year. And it still charges my phone at least twice. When it comes to size vs. capability it is the clear winner. It also includes a LED Flashlight built in. There is a 4 light meter that tells you the status of the battery when charging a device or when being charged itself. Or you can just hit the button to see how full it is.

It can easily fit in your pocket or purse. I have a few very short micro-usb cables laying around so I’ll bring that with me too so I don’t have a 3ft cable in my pocket.

Anker Astro Mini:

I just bought this on sale and was surprised at it’s weight when it arrived. It has a metal casing so that probably adds to the weight. The fit/finish is very nice looking. When holding this in one hand and the Anker Astro in the other, you don’t feel much of a difference. Yes the Mini is round/smaller, but it isn’t a huge difference for me. The mini fits in your pocket nice.

If you are looking for something very portable, a little cheaper than the other options, and a charger that will charge you up once (maybe 1.5 times), then this is a good option. But if you may think you’ll need the portable charger for more than 1 charge while out, go with the Anker Astro (5600 mAh).