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POWER IN THE BANK

When getting out and about with a swag of devices, it pays to have back-up power on hand when the battery levels inch towards the red. A portable power bank offers instant relief from battery anxiety and will keep your gear fully charged, wherever you are. Portable power banks are compact, high capacity batteries that can deliver several full charges – provided you fully charge them before you leave home, of course – and are available in a variety of models that suit all budgets. The type you need depends support USB-C connectivity for rapid charging, and multi port banks can charge three devices at once. Aim for one with a high mAh (milliamps per hour) number – 10K is sufficient to charge a phone several times, while 25K suits more powerful devices like laptops and portable gaming consoles. Cygnett ChargeUp Boost Gen 3 10K Power Bank / 3 x USB charging ports / Includes USB-A to USB-C cable on the type of devices you want to charge, how often and how quickly. Many

There’s something magical about a movie night under the stars, and packing a portable projector lets you create a pop-up cinema wherever you are.Watch Jaws on the beach, or catch up on your favourite shows in the great outdoors. Words Scott Hocking PORTABLE CINEMA

TOP TIP Always keep power banks away from direct heat, and never leave them in a hot car.

Portable Projector Checklist BRIGHTNESS A projector's brightness is measured in ANSI lumens and the higher the number, the brighter the projector. Portable projectors generally have up to 300 ANSI lumens of brightness. SIZE Make sure it fits easily into a bag or backpack. Most portable models are extremely compact for this very purpose. PICTURE You’ll want high definition all the way and most offer HD 720p and FHD 1080p resolution for a clear and sharp picture – and you can enjoy movies and shows on a screen size of up to 120-inches! SOUND Portables have built-in speakers, but if you want bigger sound connect the projector to a Bluetooth speaker.

BATTERY LIFE Portables can have a built-in battery or the option to add a battery base (sold separately). And if the projector has a USB-C charging port, you can connect it to a power bank for longer life. Make sure it’s fully charged before you go. SCREEN Pack a white sheet and that’s your screen sorted. You can also invest in a portable screen, or simply use the side of a tent or caravan as an ad hoc version. Get creative! HOW TO WATCH Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is typically built-in, but if Wi-Fi is unavailable you can cast Netflix from a phone app to the projector, or simply pre-download movies and shows to watch offline from the respective streaming service apps. Some portables have popular apps, Android TV and Chromecast built in, so you’re entertainment-ready when in Wi-Fi range. They also have HDMI and USB ports to plug in an external device and flash drive.

Cygnett ChargeUp Pro Series 25K Laptop Power Bank / 3 x USB charging ports / 100W from single USB-C port

Move

Power on the

Samsung the Freestyle Projector (with battery base – sold separately)

Nebula Capsule 3 Laser Projector

A wireless car charger is another way to keep your phone’s battery healthy and is compatible with a variety of smartphones, including foldable

Looking for options? These two portables are the perfect travelling companions.

Up to 120” screen size / Dolby 8W sound / FHD 1080p / 300 ANSI lumens / Wi-Fi & Bluetooth / Android TV / Up to 2.5 hours battery life

Up to 100” screen size / 360° sound / FHD 1080p / 230 ANSI lumens / Wi-Fi & Bluetooth / Netflix / Up to 3 hours with battery base

ones. They are easy to install and securely grip your phone, with rotation for portrait and landscape.

68 OCTOBER 2023

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