With USB-C, power banks charge everything on the go

With the growing adoption of USB-C, powerbanks are becoming useful for more than just keeping smartphones charged on the go. The new connector is being used in not just smartphones and tablets, but laptops, cameras and many more devices. To keep everything powered, consumers are looking for powerbanks with larger capacities and with the power output capable of charging a laptop.

The Lifepowr A3 is the latest powerbank to meet this need, although it's not the first. What the Lifepowr does have, however, is a fanbase. The A3 is being crowdfunded in Indiegogo, like the company's previous generation power bank. The A2 is still selling for $239 on Amazon.The early bird deal for the A3 is $159.

Lifepowr hasn't changed much beyond adding USB-C support. The 27,000mAh capacity is the same and it still comes with a Type B AC socket that is widely used in the US. So the Lifepowr power bank has always been able to recharge more powerful devices, but now consumers might not have to carry around as many cables, thanks to USB-C.

The Lifepowr A3 is unique for what it offers, but even $160 is a steep price to pay for this capacity. It's not uncommon to see 20,000mAh power banks in China for around $20. Those power banks generally do not have USB-C or quick charging or other facing features. As USB-C technology becomes more widely used and cheaper to incorporate into devices, the likes of Lifepowr might have a tough time competing without changing their business model. Once USB-C is universal, most people won't need other types of AC sockets and will opt for the cheaper power banks.