It’s no secret that mobile gamers tend to see their phone batteries drain quickly and frequently. While there are certain specific apps that are known for being demanding on phone batteries (FitBit, Tinder, and Airbnb to name a few), most mobile games will be particularly demanding on your batteries. The dynamic graphics and animations games are known for tend to use more power, and long gaming sessions mean more hours of battery spent.
Regular poker players, in particular, tend to experience this strain on power. The majority of poker apps, such as Zynga Poker, Play WPT, and PokerStars, focus on the multiplayer experience, which means that phones running these apps won’t just be using power for the graphics, but also to stay connected to the internet – especially if not connected to the Wi-Fi. Poker itself is by nature more likely to eat up a phone’s battery: games are long, tournaments are longer, and there are few opportunities to take breaks.
All of this adds up to a clear need for charging accessories for mobile poker players on the go, so we thought we’d take a look at some of the best options currently on the market.
Anker PowerCore 10000
Anker has become one of the most reliable and well-known names in portable charging, to the point that it’s outperforming major tech companies at their own game. And the company’s PowerCore 10000 is about as good as it gets at a lower price range. Available for just $30 to $40 (depending on where you’re looking), it’s a 10,000mAh battery that will give most iPhone and Android devices at least a second full charge. It’s also a compact, very portable option. For mobile gamers on more of a budget, this is a great option.
Belkin Gaming Power Bank (Play Series)
This Belkin option sells at a comparable rate to the Anker PowerCore 10000, and is less robust at 5,000mAh. However, it is still meant to offer well over 10 hours of additional power for gamers, it is even more compact and portable, and it’s designed such that it doubles as a phone stand. The stand may not be a useful feature concerning games that require more active controls, but poker gamers, in particular, may enjoy the option of propping their phones up while playing.
Nimble Premium Fast Charge
Nimble is a little more high-end in terms of price, but this Premium Fast Charge option still sells for around $100. Nimble claims that this charger will fully charge an iPhone up to three times at high speed before needing to be re-powered itself. That makes it more than powerful enough for even a lengthy gaming session spread out along, say, a full day of travel. As an added bonus, Nimble also designs its charging materials in an eco-friendly manner so as to preserve a minimal footprint.
Mophie Powerstation AC
Mophie has a lot to offer regular mobile gamers, including juice pack battery cases that have been highlighted here before. But the Mophie Powerstation AC is particularly robust for gamers on the go. While it’s a somewhat bulkier option than those discussed above, and a more expensive one as well (roughly $180 to $200), it provides up to 100 hours of power. It can also power a laptop, which may come in handy for anyone who prefers to play online poker on a larger device.
Moshi IonSlim 5K USB-C
The Moshi IonSlim 5K USB-C is definitely more of a mid-tier option. It sells for about $50, it has a 5,000mAh battery, and it doesn’t boast speed or power to top any of the options above. However, some gamers will appreciate that it’s a very slim, light option, and perhaps the easiest to pack away on this list. For those who travel a lot or game on commutes, that’s a nice perk.
Any of these options can help a mobile poker enthusiast extend gaming sessions as long as needed. Additionally, always make sure to buy your chargers from a reputable source. Fake chargers can cause defects that make it difficult for you to turn on your phone. Problematic chargers might even reduce your phone’s ability to hold power.
