Power Bank or Spare Battery?

This Has Become a Trend Lately...

No doubt, we've already entered an era where having a smartphone is mandatory (for most parts of the world) or at least having a feature phone for communications on the go. Smartphone technology has also been evolving in the last decade, and now those little things we carry in our pocket everyday almost have processing power equal to a PC (Octa-Core is rumored).

Unfortunately, the development of the technology isn't accompanied by the development of power-saving tech. In the past, phones will need to be charged at least once in two or three days, but now, you're lucky if you can squeeze your juice for a full day (especially for Android and BlackBerry phones in Indonesia). Such fact will mandate us to carry a portable charger (featured in the picture) or a spare battery with us, especially those whose job forces them to be mostly on the streets or places with shortage of power jack (I think University Student is one of them...)

So, just like the previous post, I'll give you some thoughts into either bringing a spare battery, or a power bank... or both, if you're rich and can afford them all.

Head past the break to hear each pros and cons! :D

Spare Battery

BlackBerry External Charger

Aye

1. Genuine from the OEM, means that it's built for the device, and won't do any harm.
2. More compact in most cases, easier to carry.

Nay

1. Compared to power bank units with better capacity, batteries tend to be more expensive.
2. Cheap replicas of original batteries can be found, which can damage your handset. Better look for genuine battery from the OEM.
3. Can only keep your smartphone charged once.
4. Can only be used in one (type) of handset, except devices that share the same battery unit, and devices that doesn't have their batteries planted, such as high-end Lumias and iPhones.

Power Bank

Aye

1. Even the smallest power bank usually houses more juice than most OEM batteries (except for tablets). Some bigger units also house triple or even quadruple juice (>20,000 mAh), which can make your smartphone alive even for a week (or at least charge more than once).
2. Versatile. You can use your power banks at any device you want, as long as you have the right connector. You can even use it with iPhones and other devices that has their batteries planted. Some may also be used on laptops!
3. Overall is cheaper if you have more than one devices to charge.

Nay

1. The more juice it houses, the bulkier its design. Sometimes it's just too big to carry in your pocket.
2. Versatility is a problem. Each device has unique power requirements to charge its battery. Equalizing the device's input/output with the power bank may cause damage in the long run.
3. Although houses more power, power bank takes longer to charge than standard OEM batteries. One good night sleep isn't enough to fully charge your 20,000 mAh power bank.

Well, I guess that's all I know. Based on all the thoughts I've written above, here are my suggestions:

• SPARE BATTERY
• For those who are afraid to have their phones broken. Some cheap power banks may damage your phone's power circuit... and fixing may cost more than an original battery.
• If you don't travel often and mostly stays in the city, spare batteries are perfect for you. Just think of it as an investment.
• Recommended if you have only one device.
• POWER BANK
• For those who mostly stay out of the city, or work for a few days in places with limited power jacks.
• For those who have more than one mobile device.

Okay, that's all, folks. I hope now you can decide which one to buy and use. If you have any questions, like always, just fill out the comments below. I'll try to get to you as soon as possible :)

Finally, thanks for reading, and I hope to see you again soon :)