Power banks: Li-Ion or Lithium Polymer Full Comparison between the Two Power Banks

Power banks: Li-Ion or Lithium Polymer Full Comparison between the Two Power Banks

With the creation of modern smartphones, we have been ushered into an era where smartphones are not just a privilege but a requirement. Most of us absolutely cannot function without having a smartphone with us at all times.

With this era, comes the limitations of smartphones such as a limited battery life making you unable to use them for long periods if you are away from wall chargers or traveling. Here is where the power banks come in handy.

Why do you need a power bank? You might need a power bank if you are a heavy user that uses mobile from the moment the wake-up or maybe because the service they offer is pretty good for a not too hefty price. You might have multiple devices to charge and power banks come in handy there too.

Power banks: Li-Ion or Lithium Polymer Full Comparison between the Two Power Banks

Well, we have discussed why power banks are necessary, let us now discuss what type of power banks you should prefer. There are two major types of power banks available in the market. Lithium Ion and Lithium Polymer battery based power banks. Let us begin by understanding more about these batteries.

Lithium Ion Batteries:

Lithium Ion battery are more commonly known Li-ion batteries. These batteries use liquid Lithium Ion as electrolyte between the electrodes for ion transfer.

They are High energy density batteries which are cheaper than Lithium Polymer batteries and also lack the memory effect (reduction in the maximum charging capacity of the battery due to incomplete recharges). They suffer aging when not in use and also have a history of exploding.

Lithium Polymer Batteries:

Lithium Polymer batteries use a solid or gelatin-like electrolyte between the electrodes to transfer the ions. Lithium Polymer batteries are robust and flexible compared to other battery types and can be built in various shapes. They are lightweight, low profile and have low chances of suffering from leakages. But they are costly and have a low energy density.

There is a big difference between the two types of Batteries. You Can check out the article where we explain the difference between the two Lithium-ion and Lithium-polymer batteries.

Comparison:

Let us begin comparing the two types of power banks to check which one is best for your use

1. Energy Density:

Lithium Ion batteries have a higher energy density compared to Lithium Polymer batteries hence they can store a greater amount of charge per unit volume compared to Lithium Polymer batteries and similarly dish out more power too.

2. Charge Conversion Rate:

Charge conversion rate refers to how much of the energy stored in the battery can be converted into actual power. In case of a Lithium-Ion Batteries, the conversion rate is 85-95% which is higher than the 75-85% conversion rate coupled with the Lithium Polymer batteries.

3. Weight:

Lithium Ion batteries are generally heavy batteries meanwhile the Lithium Polymer batteries are light weight compared to them.

4. Charging Duration:

Lithium-Ion Batteries take longer amounts of time to charge, while it is generally seen that the Lithium Polymer batteries take comparatively short amounts to time to full charge.

5. Safety:

While Lithium Polymer batteries are considered mostly safe batteries, the Lithium Ion batteries are susceptible to explosions. Consider the case with Samsung’s Note 7, the design was sleek that put pressures such as heating on the larger Lithium Ion battery which lead to explosions and a failed and disastrous product.

6. Aging:

Lithium Polymer Batteries usually retain their charging capacity over time while Lithium Ion batteries are known to age and lose their charging capacity when not in use.

7. Charge Cycles or Lifespan

Charge Cycles refer to the number of times a battery can be charged and then discharged without serious changes in total charge storing capacity. Lithium Ion batteries are known to last from anywhere between 500-1500 cycles. On the other hand, Lithium Polymer batteries work for 500 cycles where they are usually left with about 75% charging capacity after 200 cycles.

8. Cost:

Cost is a major factor while we are making purchases. Lithium-Ion batteries tend to be cheaper compared to Lithium Polymer batteries which are expensive to make for the manufacturers.

9. Design Flexibility:

When it comes to design flexibility, Lithium Polymer batteries are better than Li-Ion because they are readily available in different shapes and simmer models than Li-Ion.

Pros and Cons of Each Power bank:

Li-Ion:

Pros:

  • Higher power density
  • Lower costs
  • No memory effect

Cons:

  • Suffers from ageing
  • Can explode/combust

Lithium Polymer:

Pros:

  • Flexible design
  • Low Profile
  • Low chance of Leaking

Cons:

  • Costly Manufacturing
  • Shorter Lifespan
  • Less power storage

Conclusion:

None of the two types of power banks is superior to the other in all aspects. As such you will have to check what your needs as and choose the most suitable one for yourself.

While making the buying decision the following factored should be considered.

  1. Capacity
  2. Weight and design
  3. No. of charge cycles
  4. Warranty
  5. Value for money
  6. Safety

Pro Tip:

Power Banks don’t actually charge your devices to the full capacity mentioned on it. For example, an 8000 mAh Power bank cannot recharge your 4000 mAh device twice. The general rule of thumb is that the power bank will only provide 70% of the rated capacity i.e. a 10,000 mAh power bank will only provide 7000 mAh for charging for devices.

How Much Time Does it take for a 5000 mAh Power bank to charge?

It should usually take around 1.5-2 hours to fully charge. Though this entirely depends upon the input power and the conversion rates of the power bank. Most new power banks have indicators that tell you how much charge has been stored.

Why does my power bank turn off after 30 secs?

Most batteries and power banks have an automatic sleep mode, when they are not in use. So it might be because of one of the following reasons.

  1. Your cable or charging port on the power bank is faulty
  2. Your devices aren’t being recognized properly
  3. The power bank or the battery is faulty and is unable to detect that it is in use
  4. You are not drawing enough power for it to detect usage

How much mAh should a good power bank have?

Depending upon the size of phone batteries these days a good power bank should have somewhere around 10,000 to 12,000 mAh to be able to charge your battery twice. You might need a bigger one if you are planning for bulkier uses. But the more storage capacity a power bank has, the larger it is so one must keep ease of carrying in mind.

Can I charge my power bank multiple times a day?

Yes, power banks have gone through rigorous testing and have multiple safety measures ready to allow you to easily charge them multiple times a day without any problems.