As many people become more and more mobile both for work and for play, manufacturers continue to develop solutions to enable more mobility. Even though laptop battery life has continued to improve over the past few years, some users still want or need more battery life. One of the solutions to this problem is an external battery pack. These packs are designed to provide hours of extra battery life to a notebook or laptop, but let us take a look at some of the pros and cons of these products.

Pros

The main advantage of an external battery pack is quite obvious: it adds extra battery life. In other words, users can go for longer periods of time without needing to plug in a laptop for recharging. Many users may have the ability to charge their laptop at points during the day, but for users who often take long plane flights or are away from power sources for extended periods, this can be a huge advantage. Another advantage is the fact that many battery packs can be charged using your laptop’s AC adapter, which means carrying one less power cord in your bag. Lastly, many external battery packs also include convenient features such as a USB port for charging smaller devices when necessary.

Cons

For all the benefits of external battery packs, there are also a few cons. The most obvious disadvantage is the extra weight and bulk that it adds a bag, which can be a serious problem for travelers who want to keep things light and portable. Also, while some battery packs can be charged at the same time as a laptop is running from them, some require separate charging time, which can be inconvenient.

While there are definitely advantages and disadvantages to using an external battery pack for a laptop or notebook, for users who need more time between charges, these packs can be a great choice. More importantly, when substantially more battery life is needed, they may be the only choice.