The longer the bike ride, the more worried many bikers are about their smartphone battery. Cell phone holders with an integrated power bank promise to help. How much energy they provide and which models are worth it is clarified by comparing four cell phone holders with power banks.
It feels like cycling has experienced a boom since the Corona pandemic. Because when the city’s restaurants and clubs were closed and there was little or nothing to do, many people decided to rediscover their homeland or to discover it for the first time. On two wheels and using only the power of her legs. What else should you do? Luckily, Corona is over – what remains is the love of cycling.
Of course, in 2023 we will no longer be without a smartphone, because thanks to apps like “Komoot”, it is not only suitable as a tour planner and navigator, but it also records the most remote places and the most beautiful memories. And very important: it also shares it with the world. It’s clear, otherwise the whole work doesn’t make sense if it doesn’t serve digital self-expression.
Mobile phone holder with power bank for the bike
However, GPS tracking takes a lot out of the battery and the smartphone screen usually has to be at full brightness so that cyclists can see anything on it in sunlight. Cell phone batteries drain correspondingly quickly, which is annoying. Especially when cyclists rely on their smartphones for navigation. Cell phone holders with integrated power banks solve this problem. There are four aspects to consider when it comes to power dispensers on the handlebars:
- capacity the power bank: This is the most important specification because it determines how much additional power your smartphone gets.
- Durability and weather resistance: An IP protection certification is desirable so that the power bank reliably supplies energy even in rain and dust.
- Size and Compatibility: Regarding your smartphone. If you have a particularly large or small device, you should check beforehand whether it fits securely in the holder. Most cell phone holders are variable in size.
- Assembly: This depends on how wide the handlebars of your bike are. And the same applies here: If you measure and check beforehand, you save yourself the hassle of a failed assembly attempt and, in the worst case scenario, the hassle of having to return it.
Fischer smartphone holder with music box
Enough of the gray theory: Let’s take a look at which bike mounts with power banks are available, how they differ and which mount is the right one for you. Let’s start with this one Fischer cell phone holder. Its special feature is the integrated music box. Racing cyclists are likely to stay away from the mount because of its less streamlined shape.
It is more suitable for leisurely cyclists who want to take a relaxed summer trip to the lake. Nice: The holder even offers a hands-free system. This enormously reduces the risk of accidents when using the phone on the bike. Incidentally, you are not allowed to hold your cell phone to your ear while driving, nor is it allowed to take a selfie of yourself on the bike.
You can connect your smartphone to the 4400 milliamp hour (mAh) battery using a USB cable. Here you should make sure to use a short cable; it is not included in the scope of delivery. According to the manufacturer, the battery lasts for 30 hours of music playback on the box. If you charge your cell phone, the 4400 mAh is a little more than a full charge. For comparison: the battery of the iPhone 14 is 3279 mAh.
The holder also holds smartphones with a width between 50 and 90 millimeters (mm). Unfortunately, the Fischer cell phone holder does not offer protection certification. So you don’t want to drive the box through heavy rain or very dusty terrain. What’s nice is that it doesn’t just play music from your cell phone. The holder also has an SD and TF card slot, thanks to which you can listen to music from external memory cards. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not provide any guidelines for the dimensions of the handlebars.
SKS GERMANY COMPIT+/POWER
This is done by the manufacturer SKS Mobile phone holder Compit + Power fortunately taken into account. The handlebar bar may have a diameter of 22.2 to 35 mm for mounting the bracket. Otherwise, SKS limits itself to the essentials: holder with clip system, matching bag and power bank. Let’s start with the electronics: According to the manufacturer, the power bank offers a battery with 10,000 mAh charging current. That’s a lot and can charge an iPhone 14 several times. The power bank is therefore ideal for long day trips.
The power bank passes on power wirelessly if your smartphone supports wireless charging. If your device cannot be charged wirelessly, you don’t need to despair: Thanks to the USB-A and USB-C sockets, the power bank also offers the option of charging a smartphone via cable. Unfortunately, the matching cables are not included in the scope of delivery.
It’s also nice that you can align your phone horizontally and vertically. This is made possible by a rotating mechanism in the holder. Danger: In order to clip your smartphone into the holder, you either need the right one Cell phone case or the ones in Mobile phone bag included in delivery SKS. The matching case is not included.
SUNSLICE SOLAR Cyclotron
If you hate the additional investment of a cell phone case or the cell phone case, this could be the case Solar Cyclotron mobile phone holder from Sunslice be something for you. In comparison to the SKS holder, which uses a clip system, Sunslice uses a clamping mechanism. The advantage of this mechanism is that you don’t always have to buy a new case when you change your smartphone.
The manufacturer’s information is curious: the holder supposedly holds smartphones with a length of a minimum of seven and a maximum of ten centimeters. This could only be an oversight, as even the iPhone 13 Mini is 13.15 centimeters (cm) long and the holder itself is 14.5 cm long. With his information, the manufacturer probably referred to the minimum and maximum width of the smartphones. That would make more sense.
Be that as it may, according to the manufacturer, the power bank offers a capacity of 5000 mAh. This corresponds to slightly more than the average battery capacity of a smartphone. The smartphone can be charged via cable and induction – i.e. wirelessly. Unfortunately, the cell phone holder with power bank does not offer IP protection certification. And it also lacks a rotating mechanism for vertical and horizontal use of the smartphone. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not specify how wide and thick the handlebar of your bike can be for installation.
Goobay 60656 Bike Power Bank 5.0
You take a slightly different path with the Goobay 60656 Bike Power Bank 5.0. This holder doesn’t hold a cell phone, but it does hold a power bank. Of course, induction charging is not possible and somehow it looks a bit strange to have two holders for devices on the handlebars. In contrast to the other power banks in comparison, the Goobay 60656 Bike Power Bank 5.0 is significantly cheaper.
The manufacturer specifies its battery capacity as 5000 mAh. This puts it on the same level as the Sunslice model. Nice: In contrast to the other power banks compared, this model has an integrated flashlight. The manufacturer does not provide any information regarding the width of the handlebars. Except that the mounting screw is 50mm long. Important: You have to get the cables that fit your cell phone yourself. They are not included in the scope of delivery.
Monzana bicycle frame bag
If you already have a power bank, a bike bag could be a cheaper solution for you. This model from Monzana is waterproof and offers a clear view of your smartphone. You can route the power bank cable through a small opening to charge your smartphone. A frame bag also offers other advantages: you don’t have to worry about assembly and, in addition to your smartphone and power bank, there is also room for keys, a wallet or a spare tube. In terms of price, it is the cheapest option in comparison – although of course it lags a bit.
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