I'm on the road a lot and my iPhone 15 is always dead by noon. I've already had two cheap power banks from Amazon that gave up the ghost after half a year. What brand would you guys recommend that doesn't die so quickly?
How often do you charge the power bank itself - do you use it daily or more sporadically? That actually makes a difference for how long it lasts.
The problem with the cheap ones is usually that the controllers and cell quality are just terrible. You save money at checkout and then end up paying with dead batteries. Anker and Belkin are pretty reliable in my book - they last way longer than those Amazon-brand things. Anker is a bit cheaper, Belkin's a bit more robust build-wise. For your iPhone 15, I'd recommend getting a bank with at least 20,000 mAh so you can actually get through the day without stress.
One important thing: only buy from verified sellers or directly from the manufacturer, not from some random reseller. With Anker, for example, you can order directly from their German site. And if you notice a bank getting weaker over time, swap it out proactively instead of draining it completely - that speeds up wear and tear. My experience: a decent bank easily lasts 2 - 3 years if you don't go crazy with it.
No power bank really lasts "that long" - it's more of a myth. Even expensive models lose capacity after two or three years because lithium batteries just age. But here's the good news: you can significantly extend its lifespan if you use it properly. Most cheap ones don't give up because of bad quality, but because people constantly store them in direct sunlight or let them completely drain.
What's helped me: I now only charge my power bank up to 80 percent and don't let it drop below 20 percent. Sounds like a hassle, but with a timer on the outlet it's easy. This way it just lasts longer, no matter what brand. When choosing one, I'd go with known names like Anker or Belkin - not because they're magically better, but because they at least use decent electronics and you have support if something goes wrong. The cheap no-name stuff cuts corners on the electronics, and that's when fast-charging errors happen that destroy the battery after half a year.
For your iPhone 15 you don't even need a mega-sized bank - 10,000 to 20,000 mAh is totally sufficient and more portable. Check the reviews to see if people report on it after longer use, not just right after purchase.
Do you use the bank multiple times a day or is one charge a week enough for you? Anker and Belkin hold up way better for me than the no-name stuff - I've had an Anker bank in regular use for over two years now and it still charges my iPhone reliably. Sure, they're pricier, but you'll actually save money in the long run instead of constantly buying new ones. Pay attention to the wattage (at least 20W for iPhone 15) - that way your phone charges faster and the bank doesn't get as much wear and tear.
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