Energy banks can achieve this way more than cost your cellphone

Batteries are boring. Whereas a vital part within the overwhelming majority of merchandise, lengthening of a pill, smartphone, or wearable usually is not probably the most thrilling announcement when in comparison with a brand new design or options that change how you employ the gadget in query. That may very well be one purpose why external batteries stay such a relentless: Firms proceed to prioritize seems over battery life.

New chargers and exterior battery packs are a daily presence at commerce reveals just like the Consumer Electronics Show, however probably the most attention-grabbing fashions at this 12 months’s present all had one thing in frequent. In addition to charging, that they had some further ability that hopefully earned them a spot in your bag or pocket. As devices proliferate and protecting them charged turns into much more necessary, having a battery that is value greater than its charging means looks as if it may develop into the norm.

The Clicks Energy Keyboard prices and kinds

Clicks’ new battery can act as a keyboard for different units

Clicks, which entered the gadget scene in 2024 with a case that added a physical keyboard to pick out iOS and Android telephones, expanded lineup at CES 2026 with a Blackberry-inspired smartphone and a brand new tackle its exterior keyboard. The Clicks Communicator is an Android cellphone with a bodily keyboard (and a headphone jack) that is speculated to launch later in 2026. There are causes to be skeptical a couple of startup constructing its first cellphone, particularly when it is solely made equipment up till this level, however the gadget is attention-grabbing. The Clicks Power Keyboard may find yourself being extra impactful, although.

The Clicks Energy Keyboard is a 2,150mAh exterior battery with a built-in 5W Qi charger and a bodily keyboard not not like the one featured on Clicks’ circumstances. The thought behind the accent is that it could actually cost your cellphone simply by magnetically attaching to the again of it, however while you want a extra exact, tactile typing expertise, you’ll be able to simply slide up the top-half of the battery and reveal the bodily keyboard beneath. As a result of the battery is simply magnetically hooked up to your cellphone, you may also rotate your cellphone into panorama orientation with out getting in the best way of the keys.

The Energy Keyboard connects to smartphones over Bluetooth fairly than USB-C, which suggests it can be used with a wide range of different units, together with streaming bins just like the Apple TV 4K, or VR headsets just like the Apple Vision Pro. It isn’t the most important or quickest exterior battery, however its keyboard makes it value protecting round.

The Xreal Neo makes any gadget a supply on your AR glasses

Xreal’s dock and exterior battery has a built-in stand

Xreal, an augmented actuality glasses maker and Google partner on Android XR, took a special strategy with its new Xreal Neo. The cellular dock and exterior battery make it doable to attach the corporate’s glasses to a wide range of completely different consoles, handheld PCs, telephones, and tablets, whereas protecting them charged on the similar time. Historically, Xreal’s glasses require adapters to make all of these connections doable, however the Neo features a built-in cable, stand, and wi-fi charging pad, so you’ll be able to convert your connection and even prop up no matter you are charging whereas it is displaying content material in your glasses. The Neo itself has a ten,000mAh battery and weighs round 245g, which additionally makes it simply gentle sufficient to nonetheless carry while you connect it to a different gadget.

The Xreal Neo remains to be extra awkward than a direct connection between a smartphone and a pair of AR glasses, however as a result of it is in a position to maintain that gadget charged (and even work as an exterior battery while you’re not utilizing Xreal’s glasses) it extra simply justifies its place in your pocket or carry-on. Just like the Clicks Energy Keyboard, making an attempt to do extra than simply charging offers it extra of a purpose to exist. Even one thing like Belkin’s UltraCharge Pro Power Bank 10K with Magnetic Ring, which mixes an exterior battery, stand, and MagSafe connector so you’ll be able to maintain your gadget charged with out giving up your favourite MagSafe accessories, tries to be greater than a supply of additional battery life.

Exterior batteries are extra vital than ever

Nearly everybody owns a cellphone and devices that may connect with it.

The quantity of people that personal smartphones continues to extend, according to Pew Research, and based mostly on recent data from IDC, the variety of wearables and equipment that connect with smartphones can also be going up. The extra electronics individuals personal, the extra helpful an exterior battery might be to assist maintain all of them charged. Working in the other way is the renewed curiosity in thinner, extra compact units. Foldables and slim smartphones just like the iPhone Air or the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, surrender battery house for a sleeker look. In addition they depend upon exterior batteries to get by way of the day.

These two causes make batteries and different charging units important, but additionally put extra stress on them to earn their spot on the again of your cellphone or plugged into your pill. I feel the Clicks Energy Keyboard and the Xreal Neo are simply two examples of how exterior battery packs may change to raised meet this second. Or on the very least, make lugging round an additional battery really feel helpful, fairly than vital.