Portable chargers/external battery packs make it easy to keep our mobile devices charged up and ready for use during times when we can’t plug them into an electrical outlet or car charger.
I have tried a number of different models, and most of them work quite well, but some I like better than others for various reasons.
I recently had the opportunity to check out a CoolReall 5000mAh Portable Charger External Battery Power Bank, and I came away quite impressed.
The first thing I noticed when I opened the package was how thin and light this thing is. In fact, it’s just about the thinnest and lightest rectangular charger/battery pack that I have ever seen. Because of its thin, compact design, it slips easily, comfortably and inconspicuously into most any pocket.
I tested the CoolReall charger/battery pack with three different smart phones and a 7 inch Android tablet. It charged each of the phones twice and the tablet once. You can get external battery packs with higher capacities, but I think two phone charges from a battery pack of this size, weight and price is quite acceptable.
Four lights on the side of the charger let you know at a glance how much charge is remaining in the unit’s external battery.
One thing I always pay attention to when I’m testing devices like this is how warm they get during the charging cycle. I’ve had a few that got very hot, and several that got warm to the touch. This little gem from CoolReall stayed cool to the touch, even while charging the tablet.
Bottom line: I really like this device a lot. If you’re looking for something that will supply 4 or 5 charges before you have to re-charge it, you’ll be better off with something else. But if all you need is a couple of charges from a device that is thin, light and a true joy to use, I don’t think you’ll beat this one from CoolReall.