I’ve owned many portable external battery banks. I typically look at how much power they hold, how fast they can charge other devices, and how big they are—but my latest battery came with a perk I didn’t know to look for.
Can you use your phone while charging?
There’s a difference between an active battery and a passive one
I spent much of the past two years using my phone as my PC. During that time, it was vital that I keep my phone charged. I became fond of a tiny Anker Nano battery I could attach to the bottom of my phone. Since it was only slightly larger than a stick of chapstick, I could stick it in to the bottom of my phone while I worked, even if I was typing while walking. I still slip this battery in my pocket on days when I’m not sure if my battery might not survive long enough for me to get back to my car, due to how tiny it is.
This convenience became something I started to pay attention to when shopping for a new battery. Batteries with built-in USB-C cables mean you won’t find yourself stuck with a fully-charged battery but no cable on hand to plug into your device (unless that built-in cable is broken). Yet these batteries tend to be large enough that I only plug them in while sedentary. They can charge my phone while I’m at a table in the library or lying sideways on a bed.
iPhone users have the option to slap a slim battery onto the back of their phone. If I were willing to put a case on my phone, or I owned a newer Pixel with Pixelsnap, then I could do the same. Without that option, is there a battery larger than the Anker Nano that I could just as easily use while I actually use my phone?
I’ve fallen in love with the finger ring
A simple loop to stick your finger through
The Rorry Flow is not a battery I stumbled upon on my own. The company found me, and I was quite skeptical that its product would be anything other than yet another cheap battery bank. Yet shortly after unboxing, it became the most convenient battery in my house.
Part of this convenience, I expected. The battery comes with a built-in wall plug so that I don’t need a separate wall adapter in order to juice it back up. A digital display on the side makes it easy to see from across the room when the battery is good to go.
- Brand
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Rorry
- Battery Capacity
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10,000mAh
The Rorry Flow is a 10,000mAh portable power bank with a built-in foldable wall plug, 40W fast charging, 5W wireless charging, and a ring that allows the battery to dangle from a finger while in use.
What surprises me is what lies on the other end of the battery, a ring that I immediately dismissed as a keychain. I could see such a feature being useful to the predominantly female audience the battery is marketed toward, but my keys aren’t attached to a wallet in my purse. They live in my pants pocket, where this battery would hardly fit.
Rather, this ring is marketed as the LoopLink. Rorry’s website shows young adults out in the world with their finger in the ring, allowing the battery to charge their phone while they take a selfie. Seeing this, I slid my finger through the ring on mine and was blown away by how big a difference this one small innovation makes. I’ve reviewed a battery that can charge at 300 watts. Neat, sure, but I find a simple loop to be genuinely more useful.
Naturally, this ring has other uses
It looks like a key ring, after all
To be sure, the LoopLink is, at the end of the day, a key ring, but it’s one that opens with a clasp. You can just as easily dangle the battery from a thin strap on a messenger bag or the belt loop on a pair of pants. If you’ve converted an old Android phone into an Android Auto display for your bike, this is the kind of battery you can loop to the handlebars to keep that phone charged for the duration of your trip. Is that a use case most of us have? No, but we’re geeks—it’s fun to have a battery versatile enough for our experimental shenanigans as well.
For a 10,000mAh capacity, the Rorry Flow is relatively small, smaller even than some of the power banks we’ve placed in every room of our home with the same capacity. I only have one Rorry Flow, so I can’t speak to how well it handles the same degree of abuse from my family, but as a companion that only I carry around, it has served me quite well.
What other forms can a battery take?
You won’t grab much attention these days shipping a battery, even a large and fast-charging one, that’s merely a brick with a bunch of ports. I’m struck by how many batteries now double as wireless charging stands. But after letting a battery dangle from my finger, I’m now on the lookout for batteries whose primary tech innovation barely involves tech at all.
- Brand
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Anker
- Battery Capacity
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5000 mAh
This ultra-compact portable charger is designed for quick, on-the-go charging. With high-speed USB-C output, the Anker Nano Power Bank efficiently charges smartphones and small devices while fitting easily in pockets or bags, making it perfect for everyday use.