What Is mAh? (Milliamp Hours) and How Does It Affect Chargers?

mAh, the abbreviation for milliamp hours, measures the electrical charge a battery can hold, indicating its capacity to power devices like smartphones, laptops, and power banks. This rating affects how long a device can operate before needing a recharge, as well as how efficiently it performs with different chargers. If you've ever wondered why some devices last longer or why certain chargers work better, mAh is likely a key factor. In this post, we'll clarify the mAh meaning and how it impacts battery life and charging speed. Keep reading to learn more!

What Does mAh Mean on a Battery?

mAh stands for milliamp hours, which tells you how much charge a battery can hold, essentially reflecting how long it might last before it needs recharging. It is a small measurement unit, with a mAh equaling one-thousandth of an Ah (ampere-hour), generally used in portable electronic devices like smartphones, laptops, power banks, etc.

According to mAh definition, if your smartphone has a 4,000 mAh battery and consumes 200 mA per hour, it would last 20 hours on a full charge at that rate. At 100 mA per hour, it would last about 40 hours, and so on. The higher the mAh rating, the longer the battery can run before it needs a recharge. It’s a handy way to understand battery life and decide how much "fuel" your device needs to keep going without frequent charging.

Why mAh Matters for Your Devices?

When you're picking out any battery-powered device or a rechargeable battery, mAh is one of the first things to check, and for good reason. As we mentioned earlier, the mAh rating essentially tells you how much energy a battery can store and how long it can last before it needs to be recharged. It’s like the size of a gas tank: the bigger the mAh rating, the more “fuel” (battery life) you’ve got to work with.

This is especially important for power-hungry gadgets like smartphones with large screens and high resolutions (like Full HD or 4K) and gaming consoles with custom processors, where high mAh ratings help extend the time between charges.

High mAh ratings particularly mean a lot on power banks because they need to charge multiple devices or support energy-intensive gadgets for extended periods. A high-mAh power bank can recharge your phone or gaming device multiple times, which is especially useful when you’re traveling or away from outlets.

But it’s not just about lasting longer. The mAh rating also affects the battery’s power output speed. Devices that need quick bursts of energy—like cameras or power tools—benefit from higher mAh batteries that can handle these demands more effectively.

How Does mAh Affect Battery Life? 

Generally, a higher mAh rating symbols a battery can store more energy, allowing it to last longer under similar usage conditions. For example, a smartphone with a 5000 mAh battery will typically outlast one with a 3000 mAh battery if they’re used in the same way.

However, it’s worth noting that actual battery life is not linear—it’s also influenced by how you use your device. If someone uses the 5000 mAh phone for gaming and video streaming, while someone else uses the 3000 mAh phone mostly for messaging and emails, the smaller battery might actually last longer!

Other factors, like screen size and resolution, the processor and graphics chip, and software optimization, also play a role. A high-performance smartphone will inevitably consume more power than a basic one. Plus, external factors like extreme temperatures, poor charging habits, or unqualified charging equipment can also impact battery life.

Choosing a device with a high mAh battery will generally give you longer battery life, but a higher mAh rating means the battery takes longer to fully charge once it reaches a low power. Many newer devices, however, come with higher device efficiency and fast-charging capabilities, which can help achieve comparable or better battery life and reduce the extra charging time. So, if you’re opting for a higher mAh device, it’s also worth checking if it supports higher device efficiency and fast-charging technology for a longer time using and quicker, more efficient charging.

Common FAQs about mAh 

Is a higher mAh battery better?

Yes. A higher mAh battery stores more energy, providing longer usage between charges. However, it also requires more time to recharge fully. You can choose the device with fast charging to offset the longer charging time.

How do mAh ratings affect portable chargers and power banks?

The milliampere-hour (mAh) rating of a power bank indicates its energy storage capacity, determining how many times it can recharge your devices before needing a recharge itself. However, due to energy losses during voltage conversion and charging inefficiencies, the actual usable capacity is often less than the advertised mAh.  

Is 5000 mah power bank good?

A 5,000 mAh power bank is suitable for users seeking a lightweight and portable charging solution. It can typically provide one full charge for most smartphones, making it ideal for daily use or short trips. However, for charging larger devices like tablets or for multiple charges, a power bank with a higher capacity would be more appropriate.

What's a Good Amount of mAh for a Portable Charger?

When selecting a portable charger, the ideal milliampere-hour (mAh) capacity depends on your device and usage patterns.

• For smartphones, a charger with 5,000 to 10,000 mAh typically means one to two full charges, suitable for daily use.
• Tablets may require 10,000 to 20,000 mAh for a full charge, which means 10 to 20 hours of usage.
• Laptops often need 20,000 mAh or more, ensuring the charger supports the necessary voltage and wattage. 

How to Choose the Capacity of Your Portable Charger?

If you only sometimes boost power, the smaller, more portable power banks with low capacities typically ranging from 1,000 to 5,000 mAh would be ideal for you.

Power banks with a medium capacity range from 7,000 to 10,000 mAh. If you frequently rely on your phone when traveling, it could take some time until you find a wall charger. This selection of power banks could be ideal for you.

A high-capacity power bank should be your pick if you require a bigger-capacity power source for a longer amount of time because normally it can deliver up to 120,000 mAh.

You might think heavy-capacity power banks should be the perfect choice as they can supply the most power. However, the more powerful a power bank is, the longer it takes to charge, and it is definitely bulkier.

We suggest you make an early decision regarding the intended use of the power bank so that it can be dependable without requiring you to carry heavier, or bigger power banks.

Learn below to find out the best capacity for a power bank based on your needs.

Low-Capacity Power Banks

1. 1,000 mAh Power Bank

Nowadays, it is uncommon to see power banks with capacities below those of a typical smartphone. A backup battery pack that can be attached to a key chain or kept in a wallet may appear useless to some, but individuals who are not dependent on portable entertainment may find it appealing.

2. 5,000 mAh Power Bank

Given that most individuals don't leave home with a dead phone, a 5,000 mAh power bank should be sufficient to ensure that your phone lasts well over a day even if you're a heavy phone user.

These portable power banks are popular among phone users for a good reason—they offer enough capacity. They are also quite lightweight and easy to carry.

Medium Capacity Power Banks

1. 7,000 mAh Power Bank

A medium-capacity power bank is the perfect choice if you're traveling to locations where you frequently use your phone, and it might take some time before you find a wall charger. A power bank with a capacity of about 7,000 mAh can be used to charge multiple small gadgets, including headphones, as well as your phone.

2. 10,000 mAh Power Bank

A typical smartphone has a battery capacity of under 4,000 mAh. Therefore, a power bank with a 10,000 mAh capacity (real capacity 6,000–7,000 mAh) can charge the majority of smartphones at least two times to 100% capacity. The tradeoff is that power banks this size typically weigh more and are bigger than your phone.

Heavy Capacity Power Banks

1. 20,000+ mAh Power Bank

Over 20,000 mAh power banks are typically for camping or vacation because they can charge all of your portable electronics for a day.

Power banks with 120,000 mAh have a longer lifespan and are more akin to portable generators. They can recharge items like a mini-fridge and are typically found in the trunk of cars. They frequently have numerous charging ports so that several gadgets can be charged at once.

Therefore, keep in mind that power banks with a very high capacity and an inflated price are typically designed for camping rather than regular use.

Conclusion

After reading the above content, you should already know what is mAh. You shouldn't worry about choosing a power bank because there are many options available that will meet your demands. For daily use with a phone or while on the go, consider power banks with a capacity of between 3,000-5,000 mAh.

Power bank users with special requirements or for certain scenarios will find that 7,000–10,000 mAh is a viable alternative. And definitely get a 10,000+ mAh power bank for your tablet or laptop. To meet your different needs, Anker offers you a list of power banks of various capacities, get your own Anker power bank here.