Price Points: Portable chargers

Portable chargers | H is for Home

Since moving to Wales, we’ve been making regular trips back to Yorkshire – a 4-hour trip, each way. As Justin drives, I like to spend my time in the passenger seat working on the laptop. Unfortunately, with multiple apps & energy-sapping programs open, the battery doesn’t last for the entire journey. Often, the battery on my iPhone does the same; not good if we break down and need to phone the AA. I need a powerbank that can top up our tech on the go.

We’re not the type of people who upgrade our smartphones, laptops and tablets on a regular basis. We have a 2013 MacBook Pro, I have an iPhone SE and Justin has an iPhone 4 and (relatively) ancient iPad. All of the above work well, so there’s no real need to trade them in or toss them out. However, what this means is that most of the portable chargers on the market don’t work with our 7-year-old MacBook Pro.

I could opt for the cheap & cheerful, sub-tenner option of a power bank that charges just our iPhones and Justin’s iPad. It only weighs 75g, so it can just be popped into a coat pocket or handbag.

Unlike the mid-range battery pack, the most expensive of the portable chargers clearly states that it will work with our particular model of machine. Despite this, I’m in two minds as to whether splashing out £130 is a worthwhile investment for a couple of hours use a couple of times per month… What do you think?

    1. Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank: £9.99, Argos
      Suitable for any smartphone, ipad, tablet, e-reader and any USB Type-A powered device. 2 hours recharge time. Weighs 75g.
    2. RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.: £67.49, Amazon
      Enough juice to charge an iPhone 7 5.6 times, a Galaxy S8 3.7 times, or a 12″ MacBook once. Recharges in 4 hours. Boxed-product weight: 1.2kg.
    3. BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh: £129.99, Amazon
      Charges a MacBook Pro 1 time, Macbook Air approach 1.5 times, iPad Mini 1 approach 2.5 times, iPhone 6 times, Recharges in around 2-3 hours via the BatPower 90W A90 AC Adapter (included). Boxed-product weight: 1.3kg.

shop portable chargers

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
£129.99
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
£67.49
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
£9.99
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
£129.99
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
£67.49
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
£9.99
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
£129.99
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
£67.49
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
£9.99
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
£129.99
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
£67.49
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
£9.99
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
BatPower ProE 2 EX7B portable charger external battery power bank for Apple Macbook Pro Macbook, Air Mac Retina 2006-2015 Laptop, QC 3.0 USB ports, fast charging for tablet & smartphone – 98Wh
£129.99
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
RAVPower USB C portable charger 20100mAh with built-in AC outlet / power bank / external battery pack (Type-C port, dual USB iSmart ports) for laptops, smartphones etc.
£67.49
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
Energizer Max 3000mAh Polymer portable powerbank
£9.99

Win an HP Sprocket Plus to print your mobile snaps on the go

Win an HP Sprocket Plus printer from Compatink | H is for Home

This month, we’re delighted to be working with Compatink who have supplied an HP Sprocket Plus printer (worth £135.00) as a prize for one of our readers. The Sprocket Plus is the world’s thinnest portable photo printer. Using Bluetooth® connectivity, you can print photos in an instant – direct from your iPhone (iOS 8.0 and above) or Android Phone (running 4.4 above).

printing photos using an HP Sprocket Plus

Compatink specialises in the sale of compatible ink and toner cartridges and has one of the most extensive ranges of compatible cartridge in the UK. Non-OEM cartridges (non-original equipment manufacturer) are cartridges designed to work with your printer by a company that didn’t manufacture the printer itself. Compatink explains:

Usually, printers are sold by manufacturers at a loss and they recoup the cost by selling OEM cartridges at high prices. By selling the non-OEM versions Compatink is able to offer the ink and toner cartridges for a fraction of the cost of the original.

They only sell compatible ink and toner cartridges which use recyclable parts – by far the most environmentally-friendly way to print. To top it off, they deliver for free within England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and offer customers a no-quibble guarantee.

HP Sprocket Plus printer

To win the HP Sprocket Plus, simply tell us in the comments section below what you enjoy snapping on your mobile phone. Good luck!

WIN an HP Sprocket Plus to print your mobile snaps on the go

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Price Points: Tech travel essentials

Tech travel essentials

We’re looking forward to our summer getaway – a rare chance to recharge our batteries and discover somewhere new. Here are the 3 most important tech travel essentials for us to have when going abroad.

  1. SayHi Translate: FREE, iOS & Android
    Voice translator with 90 languages and dialects
    Just speak something in your voice, and hear it played back to you in another language. Speed up, slow down, or pick male or female voices for many languages. SayHi Translate works on smartphones and tablets running either iOS or Android.
  2. 4 USB port universal international travel power plug adapter charger converter: £9.99, eBay
    We may be abroad on holiday, but we’ll still have bits of work that we need to do every day. The MacBook is coming along with us; as is the iPad Mini and two iPhones. A single, EU-compatible charger with 4 USB ports is the best option. It saves space in our hand luggage and only takes up a single socket in our room.
  3. Skyroam Solis: 149€ + 8€ for 24-hour wifi, Skyroam
    Super-fast, portable 4G WiFi and power charging for international travel.
    Keep your favourite gadgets connected around the world (over 120 countries) with the only personal WiFi hotspot that provides unlimited, fast, secure internet at one low, flat rate worldwide. Share among 5 devices – connect friends & family. Only pay for what you use – no contracts, no overage charges.

shop tech travel essentials

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE
Skyroam Solis
Skyroam Solis
149€
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
4 USB Port Universal International Travel Power Plug Adapter Charger converter
£9.99
SayHi Translate
SayHi Translate
FREE


 

How to include technology in your design scheme

How to include technology in your design scheme

When it comes to creating an interior design scheme that works for you, it’s important that you create a space that solves problems, provides support and improves your quality of life. One of the best ways for you to do this is by embracing the benefits of technology. This will help you to modernise your design scheme and to fill it with features that are sure to impress your family and friends. With so many options available to you, it can be hard to know where to start. Below are four suggestions that will help you get inspired.

Corner of an all-in-one home printer

Your office space

If you have a home office, this is one area where technology will play a big part. Firstly, you’ll need to decide whether you’re going to invest in a desktop computer or a laptop. You’ll also need to look out for a suitable printer. If you’re tight on space, you should try to find a printer that also works as a scanner and even a fax machine. Once you’ve set up all of your devices, you should also invest in cyber-security and create a backup plan for any data loss disasters. You should trust Secure Data Recovery to protect your technology. This is the best way for you to ensure your home office stays up and running and always exists as a functional space.

Using an iPad in the kitchen

Your kitchen

If you’re a real foodie who loves to spend time in the kitchen, you should explore the many opportunities that technology provides for you. One option is to have a television screen mounted on the wall of your kitchen. It’s ideal if you like to follow cooking tutorials from all of your favourite chefs. Alternatively, you could create a mounted platform for your tablet or smartphone. You could also introduce smart technology into your property and sync your oven timer to your phone. That way, you can move around your home without forgetting about your culinary efforts.

Electric noise masker

Your bedroom

In order to enjoy a good night’s sleep, it’s important that you limit your exposure to the blue light of tablets and smartphones before you go to bed. However, other kinds of technology will work incredibly well in your bedroom. For instance, you could invest in a white noise machine. This is a brilliant way for you to take control of your sleeping pattern and to enjoy a deeper sleep. You could also sync your light switches with your smartphone. That way, you don’t have to get out of bed when you’re ready to drift off.

Multi-media setup in a living room

Your home entertainment area

Another fantastic way for you to include technology in your design scheme is by creating a home entertainment area. Instead of relying on basic television speakers, you should think about investing in a high-quality sound system. They will help you to get the most out of the shows and films that you are watching. You could also use your sound system to blast your favourite tunes around the house. It will come in especially handy when you’re throwing a party or completing a deep clean of your entire property!

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