[Android Central Question]

Looking for advice between these two batteries. Had a zerolemon for my s3 and it was awesome for about a year and a half, but the powerbear looks a bit smaller so less weight. Any feedback from peeps that have either one?

[Rukbat]

I've never had a problem with a Zerolemon, although I prefer Anker. It really boils down to two things - the quality of the battery inside (and both Zerolemon and Anker use good ones) and the quality of the case (and since Coocheer no longer makes their "feels like a tank" power bank, they're out of consideration), and both Zerolemon and Anker are good.

Just make sure that the power bank you get has a type C connector (converting a microUSB to type C will drop the charging current so much that you might as well save your money) and that it does Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0.

[rugman1969]

I've never had a problem with a Zerolemon, although I prefer Anker. It really boils down to two things - the quality of the battery inside (and both Zerolemon and Anker use good ones) and the quality of the case (and since Coocheer no longer makes their "feels like a tank" power bank, they're out of consideration), and both Zerolemon and Anker are good.

Just make sure that the power bank you get has a type C connector (converting a microUSB to type C will drop the charging current so much that you might as well save your money) and that it does Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0.

Unfortunately, it doesnt appear Anker makes a battery for the LG V20

[Mike Dee]

I've never had a problem with a Zerolemon, although I prefer Anker. It really boils down to two things - the quality of the battery inside (and both Zerolemon and Anker use good ones) and the quality of the case (and since Coocheer no longer makes their "feels like a tank" power bank, they're out of consideration), and both Zerolemon and Anker are good.

Just make sure that the power bank you get has a type C connector (converting a microUSB to type C will drop the charging current so much that you might as well save your money) and that it does Qualcom Quick Charge 3.0.

I think he means extended battery

[Rukbat]

Okay, but the batteries are the same. They're not going to stock 5 different batteries for 5 different uses with the same capacity. Successful companies don't multiply the number of items they have to stock.

[Mike Dee]

Okay, but the batteries are the same. They're not going to stock 5 different batteries for 5 different uses with the same capacity. Successful companies don't multiply the number of items they have to stock.

Last time I looked the aftermarket was making 2 to 3 sizes for the V20

[Rukbat]

I was talking about individual companies, not the industry as a while. For extended batteries, maybe, but not for a power pack. It wouldn't make financial sense.

[Mike Dee]

I was talking about individual companies, not the industry as a while. For extended batteries, maybe, but not for a power pack. It wouldn't make financial sense.

I go with Ravpower, Aukey or Anker. Ravpower has lots of external options.

[Mike Dee]

Looking for advice between these two batteries. Had a zerolemon for my s3 and it was awesome for about a year and a half, but the powerbear looks a bit smaller so less weight. Any feedback from peeps that have either one?

I had the Zerolemon and it is a beast. I like Mugen better. The back is not a case though but it does support NFC. You might be better off with one of the smaller ones out there on Amazon

[rugman1969]

I go with Ravpower, Aukey or Anker. Ravpower has lots of external options.

I went to Anker's site. They dont show a battery for the LG V20

[Mike Dee]

I went to Anker's site. They dont show a battery for the LG V20

I know that....the conversation got sidelined because it was thought you were talking about juice packs

[rugman1969]

I know that....the conversation got sidelined because it was thought you were talking about juice packs

lol...guess I should have specified extended batteries

[tickerguy]

I used to be a Ravpower fan for power banks but they ruined them. Their OLDER models would work as a USB UPS, which are real nice. Then they started making smaller ones that glitched horribly if you tried to do that (of course no warning in their marketing materials about that!) and now like most makers it's unreliable at best.

As for extended batteries buy from someone who has a good return policy, run a couple of full cycles immediately after you get it, and use Accubattery to check capacity. A whole lot of the batteries sold by third parties, no matter whether extended capacity or not, are crap and have nowhere near their advertised capacity. There is utterly no point in having a big bulging battery case on the back of the phone if you only have 3,200mah of actual capacity in the cell -- no different than the stock battery!

[Mike Dee]

I used to be a Ravpower fan for power banks but they ruined them. Their OLDER models would work as a USB UPS, which are real nice. Then they started making smaller ones that glitched horribly if you tried to do that (of course no warning in their marketing materials about that!) and now like most makers it's unreliable at best.

As for extended batteries buy from someone who has a good return policy, run a couple of full cycles immediately after you get it, and use Accubattery to check capacity. A whole lot of the batteries sold by third parties, no matter whether extended capacity or not, are crap and have nowhere near their advertised capacity. There is utterly no point in having a big bulging battery case on the back of the phone if you only have 3,200mah of actual capacity in the cell -- no different than the stock battery!

You might be right about some of the copy cat extended batteries but I have not run into that at all after trying several from Amazon. I do like sticking with Zerolemon or Mugen though and a few others.
I have large powerbanks from Ravpower and Aukey and find them to be an excellent product. I actually received a review unit for a large capacity Ravpower power bank after purchasing one on my own. The review unit they sent me is great because it recharges rapidly and accepts two charging inputs at the same time.

[tickerguy]

IMHO *the* use case for a power bank is to use it in "pass through" mode so it's on float all the time -- this requires, however, that it can be used as a USB UPS.

Why? Because when I want to use it as a power bank I do not like the concept of needing an overnight charge before I can do so at all. I want to be able to grab it and go.

[rugman1969]

thanks for the feedback. I ordered the powerbear 6600mah, and I am hoping for the best. I would have preferred the zerolemon, but I really dont want to walk around with a brick in my pocket again. Ill update in a few and let you know how its working

[Niv77]

thanks for the feedback. I ordered the powerbear 6600mah, and I am hoping for the best. I would have preferred the zerolemon, but I really dont want to walk around with a brick in my pocket again. Ill update in a few and let you know how its working

Any updates?

[datum9]

I like ZL. HOwever they do decline over time. You get optimal usage out of it for a year and then it seems to decline in capacity as the battery ages. It can only take a certain number of charge cycles. Around 500 probably and after that, starts to decline.

[Mike Dee]

I like ZL. HOwever they do decline over time. You get optimal usage out of it for a year and then it seems to decline in capacity as the battery ages. It can only take a certain number of charge cycles. Around 500 probably and after that, starts to decline.

That's true of all batteries

[datum9]

Yeah it's true of all batteries but larger capacity batteries have more capacity left than smaller batteries.

e.g. 10,000 ZL that loses 25% still has 7500 mAh left.. while subtract 25% from the OEM capacity, see what's left.

Secondly, the smaller the capacity, the more often you need to recharge it. The number of cycles is what wears out the battery. Smaller ones need charing twice a day. ZL 10,000 mAh can get away with just once in 24 hour. So it will definitely live longer than a 3400 mAh battery.

[Mike Dee]

Yeah it's true of all batteries but larger capacity batteries have more capacity left than smaller batteries.

e.g. 10,000 ZL that loses 25% still has 7500 mAh left.. while subtract 25% from the OEM capacity, see what's left.

Secondly, the smaller the capacity, the more often you need to recharge it. The number of cycles is what wears out the battery. Smaller ones need charing twice a day. ZL 10,000 mAh can get away with just once in 24 hour. So it will definitely live longer than a 3400 mAh battery.

I think most people get that. Your prior statement where you state that you like Zerolemon however they decline over time gives the impression or at least it did to me that Zerolemon decline more than others. I was just clarifying for the sake of others that might get the wrong impression.