Did dark energy cause the Big Bang. Power bank big bang

The book — titled ‘An Infinity of Worlds’ — explores the weird and wondrous world of cosmic inflation

By Charlotte Hsu

Release Date: March 31, 2022

BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the beginning, the world was empty and cold.

Prior to the Big Bang — yes, before the Big Bang — the universe underwent a breathtaking cosmic expansion, doubling in size at least 80 times in a fraction of a second. This Rapid inflation, fueled by a mysterious form of energy that permeated empty space itself, left the universe desolate and cold.

Only after that did the hot, dense conditions of the Big Bang emerge: As the doubling of the universe ceased, the energy of the vacuum underwent a metamorphosis, transforming into particles of matter and radiation. That metamorphosis flooded space with the superhot plasma of the Big Bang, which forged the primordial elements that went on to make the stars and galaxies we see today.

This is the epic story that University at Buffalo physicist Will Kinney explores in his new book, “An Infinity of Worlds: Cosmic Inflation and the Beginning of the Universe.” It will be published on April 5 by MIT Press.

Cosmic inflation — a theory first developed around 1980 by physicists including Alan Guth, Alexei Starobinsky, Andrei Linde and Katsuhiko Sato — is the concept of exponential expansion of the very early universe. Today, it’s one of the leading ideas for what may have occurred in the moments preceding the deeply ancient fires of the Big Bang.

Sprinkled with hand-drawn diagrams by Kinney, “An Infinity of Worlds” introduces readers to the science of cosmic inflation and the evidence for it, as well as the theory’s shortcomings. The book also delves into weird but wondrous consequences of cosmic inflation, like the idea, in a model of eternal inflation, that our universe is one of a possibly infinite number of universes that we’ll never be able to see.

“Human beings have been creating origin stories for as long as human beings have been telling stories, and this is another iteration of that,” says Kinney, PhD, professor of physics in the UB College of Arts and Sciences.

But this particular story has a twist: If cosmic inflation correctly describes what happened before the Big Bang, it may push the ultimate answer to the question of where we came from beyond the reach of science.

“We don’t know anything about what came before inflation. It’s doubtful that we’ll ever know,” Kinney says. “One reason is because cosmic inflation is a big eraser. Any trace of the initial conditions of how it got started get diluted because of this exponentially large expansion. Any trace of the circumstances that led to inflation are erased by inflation itself: No matter where it starts, it ends up in the same places.”

Q: In the book, you talk about how the classic concept of the Big Bang is an incomplete theory. What does it leave out?

Kinney: “Standard Big Bang theory doesn’t have any explanation for why the universe is so smooth and so uniform, for all these basic properties of the cosmos that we see. Cosmic inflation sets up this initial state. It’s a theory that explains the initial conditions for the Big Bang.

“Inflation tells us that the period of time before the Big Bang was extremely cold, almost at absolute zero, and it was empty of everything but empty space, and that empty space carried energy that stretched the universe out to this enormous size and into the initial state before the Big Bang.

“In order to explain the properties of the universe we see today, the universe had to double in size at least 80 times. That’s a lower bound, so you had to have at least that much doubling. To visualize this doubling, imagine a chess board. Place one penny on the first square, two on the next, and four on the next. If you continue doubling the number of pennies on each square, you will be a millionaire at the 28th square, and a billionaire by the 38th square. By the time you fill all 64 squares, you will be a trillionaire thousands of times over. Inflation involves at least 80 doublings, stretching a patch of space about the size of a grapefruit to the size of our entire observable universe in less than a trillionth of a second.”

Q: How did you get interested in the question of how the universe began?

Kinney: “I have been interested in cosmology in general since I was a kid. One of the real formative things for me was when I was in high school, reading Steven Weinberg in ‘The First Three Minutes,’ which was a book about everything that was known about the first moments of the universe at the time that the book was published in 1977.

“I started working on inflation as a graduate student. I did my PhD thesis on a certain set of models called ‘natural inflation.’ ”

Q: Who is the audience for your book?

Kinney: “The book is for people who aren’t physicists. It is perhaps a little bit different than a lot of lay-oriented science books in the sense that I’m presenting some very complicated ideas, and I don’t shy away from the complexity. I want to give the lay reader a glimpse of current controversies that are very much at the forefront of our understanding.

“When I first read ‘The First Three Minutes’ by Steven Weinberg in high school, I only understood about a third of it, but it fired up my imagination. I liked the fact that he made it accessible and used plain language but took on complex ideas. It was a hard read, in the best sense of the word. I have tried to emulate this, and I expect my book will be something that undergraduate and graduate students in physics can read and get something out of, and certain parts are aimed at my colleagues, so this is part of a larger conversation in the field. But the goal is to make that conversation accessible to a lay audience.

“Another thing I try to do in the book is point out the current limitations of cosmic inflation, where we don’t know things, and where we’re speculating. It’s just basic honesty. You’re telling the truth. I think that hyping speculative things ultimately undermines people’s faith in science as a rigorous undertaking.”

Q: Cosmic inflation, as a theory, is over 40 years old. Why write about it now?

Kinney: “It’s only recently that there has been real observational evidence that supports the model, so up until the last 10 or 15 years, it’s been a playground for theorists.

“People are starting to take it more seriously because there is data that supports the theory now. One example is precision measurements of the cosmic microwave background, which built support for inflation and killed off a lot of competing theories.”

Q: What did you learn through the process of writing the book?

Kinney: “When I started writing the book, I didn’t have such a clear conception of the degree to which I would ultimately structure it around a Copernican viewpoint — the idea that we’re not special, that we’re in some sense ordinary.

“Copernicus proposed that the Earth is not in any privileged position in the cosmos, that the Earth is one of many planets revolving around the sun. Giordano Bruno built on Copernicus’ ideas and took them even further. Bruno said, ‘God is infinite, so His universe must be too. … He is glorified not in one, but in countless suns; not in a single earth, a single world, but in a thousand thousand, I say in an infinity of worlds.’

“The title of my book is from Bruno. I think that he was really hundreds of years ahead of his time in grappling with a lot of the problems that we are grappling with today in cosmology.”

Q: The book goes into detail about cosmic horizons. What are these, and why do they matter in cosmic inflation?

Kinney: “A cosmic horizon is a boundary beyond which we cannot see. Our observable universe – what’s inside our horizon – is a tiny patch of an infinitely larger space. We can’t see further than the distance light has had time to travel since the Big Bang, but there is actually more of the universe beyond what we can see. The outer boundary of the observable universe is called the cosmic horizon.

“Here’s how I put it in the book: ‘As with the horizon on Earth, the cosmic horizon is an artifact of our viewpoint, not a property of the universe itself. Observers in different locations see different horizons, always with themselves at the center. The observable universe as seen from any point is finite, but the universe as a whole continues outward forever. The universe outside the horizon of an observer at any point is invisible because the light from there has not had time to reach them yet.’

“During inflation, space expands so fast that portions of the universe are swept outside the cosmic horizon as objects recede from each other at faster than the speed of light; the horizon contains less and less. Inflation and its relationship to the cosmic horizon help to explain a number of properties of the early universe.

“The presence of horizons in the universe presents an interesting problem for science, because they represent a limit to our knowledge. We cannot, even in principle, see beyond the edge of the observable universe. This raises a lot of interesting questions about the nature of scientific knowledge itself, which I explore in the book.”

Q: Why does research on the early universe require knowledge of the physics of the ‘very large’ and ‘very small,’ as you put it in the book?

Kinney: “The universe at the first moments of time involved unimaginably high energy, which is the realm of particle physics. This is where the physics of the largest things we can describe, at the scale of the cosmos itself, meets the physics of the smallest things, elementary particles and fields.

“Inflation is believed to have occurred at an extreme energy scale, about a hundred billion times larger than the energies probed by particle collisions at the Large Hadron Collider in Geneva, Switzerland, where many of my colleagues work. We can use the universe as a laboratory to probe physics far beyond the reach of particle accelerators on Earth.”

Q: Cosmic inflation is about the beginnings of the universe. What does the future hold?

Kinney: “Dark energy is causing an accelerating expansion of the universe today. If dark energy is stable, if it’s really a cosmological constant — and we don’t know if that’s true, but that’s the simplest idea — then the future of the universe is that everything that we see that isn’t in our direct vicinity will move away from us. Distant galaxies will move away faster and faster, faster than the speed of light due to the expansion, and they’ll disappear from view.

“The Milky Way will run into the other large spiral Galaxy in the local group, the Andromeda Galaxy, about 4 billion years from now, right about the time that the sun runs out of fuel and explodes, so we won’t be around for this.

“Eventually, the only thing that will be left in the universe that we can see will be the few dozen galaxies that are closest to us, and our observable universe will just be dark and empty. That’s the ultimate fate. Just this little island of stars in a completely empty and black space. After a hundred trillion years or so, the last stars will burn out, and the universe will descend into darkness forever.”

Media Contact Information

Charlotte Hsu is a former staff writer in University Communications. To contact UB’s media relations staff, email ub-news@buffalo.edu or visit our list of current university media contacts.

Did dark energy cause the Big Bang?

As far as cosmologists can tell, the mysterious force behind the accelerated expansion of the universe, a force that we call dark energy, remains constant.

But that’s today. It’s entirely possible that dark energy changed in the past, according to new research, and those changes may have flooded the universe with the particles of our everyday lives, the scientists behind the new research suggested.

Let’s start with the present: Something strange is happening to the cosmos. It’s expanding, but it’s also full of matter. The gravitational attraction of all that stuff ought to be slowing down that expansion of the universe as time goes on.

And yet, the expansion isn’t slowing down. It’s not even staying at the same rate. It’s getting faster.

Every day that goes by, our universe gets bigger and bigger, faster and faster. Cosmologists call this accelerated expansion dark energy, in part because we basically have no idea what’s causing it, where it came from or what it will do in the future. All we know is that starting about 5 billion years ago, dark energy turned on and stayed on.

We also know that during those 5 billion years, dark energy’s “strength” (as measured by its density) has stayed pretty constant. It doesn’t appear to be getting weaker or stronger with time, making it a cosmological constant.

But the early universe was a much stranger place, and much stranger things could have happened long ago. And if they did happen, they could have had massive consequences for the rest of cosmic history.

And then there was light

While we barely understand the nature or cause of dark energy, we do know that it can’t do much more than accelerate the expansion of the universe. That’s because, nowadays, the universe is — cosmologically speaking — old, cold and mostly dead.

This big-picture retirement means that there isn’t a lot of energy (dark or otherwise)to go around. If dark energy did something funky now, like change over time, it wouldn’t have a big effect, because dark energy is already incredibly feeble. Yes, it’s accelerating the expansion of the universe, but only mildly, which is why it took us so long to identify its effects in the first place. This weakness limits both what dark energy can do today and what we can learn about it; there just aren’t a lot of effects for cosmologists to measure. But the early universe was much hotter, denser, more compact and, most especially, more energetic.

And while dark energy emerged onto the cosmic scene about 5 billion years ago, that wasn’t necessarily its first appearance. Dark energy could have been alive and kicking in the young cosmos, doing all sorts of interesting things before temporarily subsiding into the background. Recently, a team of theoretical physicists pondered what such early dark energy could have done, reporting their results in November 2019 in a paper they uploaded to the preprint server arXiv.org.

The researchers found that a brief fluctuation in dark energy could have flooded the early universe with exotic particles like quarks, gluons and leptons that would eventually congeal into the atoms we know and love today.

A better universe

According to those researchers, this flood must have happened after inflation, when the very early universe grew incredibly large in a very short amount of time. After this inflation, the universe was altogether empty; all of the preinflation ooze was simply blown away like dust in the wind. Something had to come after that to reheat the cosmos, bringing in a fresh round of particles to the universe in what we commonly think of as the Big Bang.

Most theorists think that whatever caused inflation itself must have also generated the reheating, but this new work suggests that early dark energy could have created the flood of particles by losing its own energy. It’s an interesting story, but the scientists’ hypothesis still has to fit with the observations that cemented our understanding of the Big Bang and inflation in the first place. If dark energy is responsible for the universe’s reheating, then we should see subtle changes to the standard picture’s model of the cosmic microwave background, which in turn influences the pattern of galaxies in the modern universe.

So far, the new model of reheating matches all current observations, a bit better, even, than traditional theories of inflation do. But we don’t really have enough information to tell whether that’s just a statistical fluke.

New generations of astrophysics tools, like NASA’s Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), might help scientists better understand dark energy and its role in the young universe and today’s cosmos.

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Paul M. Sutter is an astrophysicist at SUNY Stony Brook and the Flatiron Institute in New York City. Paul received his PhD in Physics from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 2011, and spent three years at the Paris Institute of Astrophysics, followed by a research fellowship in Trieste, Italy, His research focuses on many diverse topics, from the emptiest regions of the universe to the earliest moments of the Big Bang to the hunt for the first stars. As an Agent to the Stars, Paul has passionately engaged the public in science outreach for several years. He is the host of the popular Ask a Spaceman! podcast, author of Your Place in the Universe and How to Die in Space and he frequently appears on TV — including on The Weather Channel, for which he serves as Official Space Specialist.

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As far as cosmologists can tell, the mysterious force behind the accelerated expansion of the universe, a force that we call dark energy, remains constant. But it may not have done so in the past.

Did dark energy cause the Big Bang? : Read more

Very interesting how the new physics is explaining the cause of the Big Bang event now. After reading, it would be good to see a timeline here. Before the BB event, BB event, and moments just after the BB event. Is the dark energy that floods the early universe with exotic particles that evolve into atoms (exactly what atoms on the Periodic Table for example), when does this creation event take place? After inflation is indicated but we have the Planck time, Planck length, and evolution of the universe that followed and one second after the BB event, the matter vs. anti-matter destruction of everything too. It seems the new physics goes back before the Planck time and perhaps smaller than the Planck length now, at least it may. James Peebles had something to say about the new math explaining the BB event. ‘Top cosmologist’s lonely battle against ‘Big Bang’ theory’ One of these theories is known as the inflation model, which holds that the early universe expanded exponentially fast for a tiny, tiny fraction of a second before the expansion phase. It’s a beautiful theory, said Peebles. Many people think it’s so beautiful that it’s surely right. But the evidence of it is very sparse.

When it comes to sparse evidence, I compare the new cosmology to the debate between geocentric teaching and heliocentric solar system and what type of science won the day and changed the paradigm. For example, I find the measurements for the solar parallax (that determined the astronomical unit) using transits of Venus and Mercury with telescopes more reliable and verifiable than the new cosmology doctrine that explains what was there before the BB event and how the BB event took place.

As far as cosmologists can tell, the mysterious force behind the accelerated expansion of the universe, a force that we call dark energy, remains constant. But it may not have done so in the past.

Did dark energy cause the Big Bang? : Read more

It is basically very supernumerary since inflation makes the same predictions, and ad hoc to better suit the observations.

The only reason to raise it now is since there is a tension in observations of expansion rate, which roughly divide between methods looking at the local. or youngest. data and global. heavily weighted with oldest. data. And one early suggested, suitable and simple ad hoc for that is that dark energy had a temporary early extra component. But that, and/or the application here, is still very weak in nature.

Very interesting how the new physics is explaining the cause of the Big Bang event now. After reading, it would be good to see a timeline here. Before the BB event, BB event, and moments just after the BB event. Is the dark energy that floods the early universe with exotic particles that evolve into atoms (exactly what atoms on the Periodic Table for example), when does this creation event take place? After inflation is indicated but we have the Planck time, Planck length, and evolution of the universe that followed and one second after the BB event, the matter vs. anti-matter destruction of everything too. It seems the new physics goes back before the Planck time and perhaps smaller than the Planck length now, at least it may. James Peebles had something to say about the new math explaining the BB event. ‘Top cosmologist’s lonely battle against ‘Big Bang’ theory’ One of these theories is known as the inflation model, which holds that the early universe expanded exponentially fast for a tiny, tiny fraction of a second before the expansion phase. It’s a beautiful theory, said Peebles. Many people think it’s so beautiful that it’s surely right. But the evidence of it is very sparse.

Robustness and uncertainty of the observations is not a problem for inflation as much as the exact field model, it is claimed to be the modern consensus. As for robustness the above parameter integration saw it consistently with two independent methods (cosmic background spectra of spot size respectively spot polarities) as well as with both data combined, and it gives some preliminary inkling of how the field behaved. And the uncertainty is at the modern cosmology or down towards parts of a percent. Even if the last, outstanding data tension of expansion rate may upend some parts of cosmology. unlikely. the background spectra show flatness of space, and inflation as the cause of that flatness, so it seems fairly safe. I see that while early solar parallax measurements were robust they did not have at all that low uncertainty (to say the least) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heliocentrism ]. All those problems. robustness, uncertainty and what models apply. instead append to the Hot Big Bang era. Even if Planck can see that inflation had a natural exit. it quickly releases energy as the system slosh around after exit from inflation. I believe there are questions about non-linear couplings to gravity since the energy scale is still high (as such couplings would release heat faster). And above all which phase transitions happened as the quantum fields froze out, i.e. which forces and which particles appeared when (say, dark matter).

Perhaps I was not clear enough here concerning cosmology and comparing it to the science of the heliocentric solar system. The solar parallax can still be measured and determined today using telescopes, An Experiment in Solar Parallaxes, this is part of the heliocentric solar system science like predictions of Galilean moon eclipses and transits. Is there experimental measurement that shows the rate of 3D space expansion during inflation ( c velocity). is verified like modern measurements of the solar parallax?

Expansion rate is measured in many ways. Planck 2018 cosmology parameter paper @ Planck Legacy Archive is an older synthesis:

https://pla.esac.esa.int/#home. https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/planck/publications. https://www.cosmos.esa.int/web/planck/publications#Planck2018. https://arxiv.org/abs/1807.06209 History of expansion rate measurements:

https://sci.esa.int/web/planck/-/60504-measurements-of-the-hubble-constant The latest public review:

https://www.quantamagazine.org/new-wrinkle-added-to-cosmologys-hubble-crisis-20200226/ I would start with the history since it has an introductory image showing how it started out like the solar parallax large errors but converged (or not) since modern, high precision cosmology arrived. Then read the latest insight. Planck cosmology is more advanced, for the whole picture (albeit you may want to read a Wikipedia entry on Hubble rate before that since Planck integration is with Planck data front and center). Good luck!

Thanks for the references. I do not see where 3D space expanded c has been verified by experiments or even that 3D space is expanding here on Earth or in the solar system like direct measurements for the solar parallax in the history of astronomy. The history of conflict in measuring H0 is well documented, since the days of Edwin Hubble when H0 reported about 500 showing a universe 2E9 years old. When it comes to inflation, the ability to measure the velocity of 3D space expansion during inflation is not the same as the ability to verify the solar parallax value, this is my main point.

Others say inflation is not proven at this time. https://astronomy.com/magazine/2018/07/inflation-leaves-its-mark, “With inflation, the number of observational quantities we have is limited,” says Marc Kamionkowski, a professor and theoretical physicist at Johns Hopkins University. “Therefore, it limits the level of detail at which the model or theory can be specified. In the past four decades, inflation has become a central pillar around which cosmology is organized. But while it tidies up outstanding problems with the Big Bang theory, it remains unverified. And the lack of evidence leaves some scientists with reservations. “It’s had incredible success at describing what we see. and people talk about it as the only option, but many theorists think that we should be considering other options for what happened in the early universe,” Dunkley says. “I think it’s unlikely that it happened exactly the way we’ve been thinking about it. I don’t think we’ve got the whole story yet.” For now, inflation remains cosmologists’ best theory to explain the current structure and infancy of our universe. Perhaps it will be another half-century before scientists have a clearer understanding of what happened in the universe’s first breaths.

Here is the key concerning inflation in cosmology. it remains unverified. The solar parallax is verified and verifiable today, just like the measurement was in the 1700s using Venus or Mercury transits across the Sun or even later observations.

Others say inflation is not proven at this time. https://astronomy.com/magazine/2018/07/inflation-leaves-its-mark, “With inflation, the number of observational quantities we have is limited,” says Marc Kamionkowski, a professor and theoretical physicist at Johns Hopkins University. “Therefore, it limits the level of detail at which the model or theory can be specified. In the past four decades, inflation has become a central pillar around which cosmology is organized. But while it tidies up outstanding problems with the Big Bang theory, it remains unverified. And the lack of evidence leaves some scientists with reservations. “It’s had incredible success at describing what we see. and people talk about it as the only option, but many theorists think that we should be considering other options for what happened in the early universe,” Dunkley says. “I think it’s unlikely that it happened exactly the way we’ve been thinking about it. I don’t think we’ve got the whole story yet.” For now, inflation remains cosmologists’ best theory to explain the current structure and infancy of our universe. Perhaps it will be another half-century before scientists have a clearer understanding of what happened in the universe’s first breaths.

I’m not sure what expansion rate you are discussing now, since you mention inflation. This is by the way a basic reason, I think, why astrophysicists separate between the inflation era with high expansion rate and the big bang era with low expansion rate, we are talking different expansion rates as well as measurements.

I was earlier discussing only the low expansion rate (Hubble rate) earlier, and the ESA image show that it wasn’t very well observed and understood until the the late 90’s. early 00’s https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hubble’s_law ]; I hear by the way it was Freedman, from the Quanta article, which did the first solid observation so she is a solid rock in a stormy sea then and now. The point with the ESA figure and Quanta article is that this rate is measured in many independent ways so can be trusted.

The 3D expansion. which means the universe is homogeneous (alike at every distance) and isotropic (same laws at every spatial direction). is a basic observation and theory result from LCDM cosmology. It is also verified differently such as by Galaxy redshift and spectroscopy surveys, but the best evidence is the whole sky data from the cosmic background. After removing the solar system velocity in respect to the background photon reference frame, it shows the universe and its laws are homogeneous and isotropic to 1 part in 10^-5.

This homogeneity and isotropy also carries over to the earlier inflation era, where the best evidence for the high expansion rate is that space is spatially flat, that it is homogeneous and isotropic, and that there are no funny cosmic strings or odd magnetic monopoles and other possible physics theory defects. The exact inflation era rate (as well as minimal duration) observations are iffy. see the Planck papers. but as I pointed out the 2018 integration has two independent data sets they use which agree in every possible combination.

As I said on inflation, it seems to be the (new) consensus. If you can’t accept it, that is fine. though it can make it hard to understand modern cosmology. The unverified claim in the article is the last out of 6 possible ways to test it (more or less 6 parameters or outcomes to test it on), and it is uncertain that last test can be done at all. The consensus has moved on. the tests are considered enough: it is verified- I take it. in the eyes of the consensus. That arguably leaves unverified as sophistry. If you want to be funny and return some sophistry of your own, you can say that unverified is an unverified claim. 😀

It is basically very supernumerary since inflation makes the same predictions, and ad hoc to better suit the observations.

So I read the paper as I should in the first place, and it is not supernumerary in all senses. It is a suggestion of a possible energy exchange between vacuum and matter sectors in the very early universe, right after baryons have frozen out, so it does not add new fields as much as asks for constraining possible theory effects. And while it is the Hubble rate tension that motivates them, their fitted model predicts the lowest scales of the matter power spectrum (how much baryon matter at different scales, I think) better than LCDM. The lowest scales of the cosmic background spectra has some deviation, i.e. the largest background spatial spots of temperature variation differs from predictions, and if the largest matter spots becomes better predicted maybe that helps.

That said, they have to exclude exchange with dark matter, so assume it is a GUT scale remnant and hence already decoupled from the vacuum (too high energy to be easily created by the exchange). That is, the forces (except gravity) are unified at high enough energy and the remnants seem to leave topological defects https://books.google.se/books?ID=oTzwCAAAQBAJpg=PA495lpg=PA495dq=GUTenergyscaleremnantssource=blots=Poemv7hrWRsig=ACfU3U3VvrsgMkMFEg6viSpzmAXlEKRQhl=svsa=Xved=2ahUKEwiMibWP7YXoAhUvposKHQESD68Q6AEwAnoECAcQAQ#v=onepageq=GUT%20energy%20scale%20remnantsf=false ]. But GUT would mean protons decay, which is not seen.

Torbjorn, some interesting Комментарии и мнения владельцев you present. Here is my bottom line upfront 🙂 The redshift of light from galaxies, I do like the interpretion as evidence for an expanding universe based upon the cosmological redshift interpretation but do not consider the interpretation of the redshifts as secure in testing like the solar parallax measurements since the 1700s for the astronomical unit.

Inflation is very different than the cosmological redshift interpretation of light, it depends upon quantum gravity, inflatons, and inflation field(s) as well as 3D space expanding c. The cosmological redshift interpretation of light from galaxies dating back to the days of Edwin Hubble et al, as far as I know has no direct method of verification like lab experiments showing photons redshift as the photons travel through 3D space stretching. The same can be asked about space probes like New Horizons sending information back to Earth over some 47 AU distance. The cosmological redshift interpretation, is an interpretation of the redshift observed based upon GR using the principle of equivalence and the favored interpretation as you said is LCDM cosmology. Unlike the displacement of stars near the Sun during a total solar eclipse that was predicted by Einstein and tested numerous times since 1919 (including August 2017 total solar eclipse across the USA), the redshift of photons passing through 3D space has no direct measurement to show this is true, other than an interpretation using GR to understand the Galaxy redshifts documented since Edwin Hubble days. This type of test is circular. When you examine the history of cosmology, George Gamow and Ralph Alpher are the fathers of the Big Bang and predicted a very different temperature to the primordial universe than what was found in the mid-60s, proclaimed as the evidence for George Gamow and Ralph Alpher model. The CMB temperature variations have been reworked in cosmology ever since to explain various problems uncovered and the CMB is the primary testbed vs. other objects in the universe. A serious issue in the Big Bang model that forced the acceptance of inflation cosmology was the horizon problem in the Big Bang model. Special Relativity places a speed limit on the temperature smoothness that could evolve during the expanding universe and what should be observed today. The measured CMBR near 3 Kelvin and the smoothness does not match this (just look at George Gamow work), we should see a very lumpy CMBR today.

So, I consider the solar parallax measurements more verifiable and secure than inflation cosmology and the circular interpretation of the cosmological redshift used today. However, I do like the cosmological interpretation for Galaxy redshifts.

likely that a big bang causes the big bang than dark matter that is really just a guess at something not detected. Or dark matter just a property of the real universe quantum fluctuation and the rest just a product of it.

Final frontier just an illusion in and endless sea of universes following similar self regulated laws.

IMO quantum fluctuation is the universe and big bang just an event inside it.

Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank Review

The Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank is a lightweight and portable option for the urban dweller or occasional adventurer who wants a reliable on-the-go smartphone charger.

Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank

We purchased the Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank so our expert reviewer could thoroughly test and assess it. Keep reading for our full product review.

We’ve all been there: away from home with a low phone battery and no power source. The Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank provides a simple solution to the common problem of needing a charge for your smartphone when you’re out and about and without access to an outlet.

The Dizaul is a portable power bank with the added benefit of a single solar panel to reinforce a charge. This is especially useful when you’re hiking or outside for an extended amount of time. We tested this portable solar power bank to gauge its battery life, charging speed, and overall usability.

Design: Lightweight yet sturdy

The first thing you’ll notice about the Dizaul 5000mAh is how lightweight it is. It’s very similar to a smartphone in size, but it’s lighter than most at just five ounces. A heavy-duty rubber exterior doesn’t add bulk but helps protect it against drops and general wear and tear.

There are rubber-sealed caps that protect the dual USB ports, which are located at the top of the device on both sides. On the left side, there’s a micro USB port and a USB 2.0 port, and on the right side, there’s a single USB 2.0 port. These caps, while useful, are rather precariously placed. In the course of just a few days of use, one snapped off with little handling.

You’ll find a flashlight on the upper right corner of the device, but it’s not very powerful. That’s where the flexible USB light attachment may come in handy. The ideal application would probably be as a reading lamp or flashlight while camping. It’s a nice touch, but since it’s not built in, it’s another thing you’d have to carry around with you.

Sturdy, ultra-portable, and charges smartphones as quickly as more expensive competitors.

Because of the slim profile and light weight of the Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank, you could comfortably tuck it in a larger jacket or bag. or even hang it on your bag without feeling bogged down. We completely forgot it was there when we hooked it to a backpack via the included carabiner.

The manufacturer doesn’t list the water resistance rating—it simply advertises “water resistance,” which is different than “waterproof” and generally means it can handle a splash but will break if submerged. But we did notice how quickly it dried when sprayed with water, and when caught in a light rain shower, it dried very quickly and continued to function.

Finally, this is sold as dustproof, but it catches lint incredibly easily. If you like to keep your devices dust-free, you may end up spending a lot of time wiping away lint.

Setup Process: Opt for USB charging

While the Dizaul power bank does contain a solar panel, it’s really intended as a supplemental way to power the built-in 5000mAh lithium-ion battery.

The manual says that it could take about 35 hours for solar charging alone. Since the week we tested this charger was particularly cloudy and rainy, it was difficult to get full sun for that long. We did leave it out in a mix of clouds and some full sun over the course of two days, but we didn’t notice any change in the battery charge. The power indicators did not change and we didn’t see any impact on power output either.

Solar power is really only meant as an emergency or auxiliary power source to extend the battery charge.

While sunnier conditions for two days may have proved otherwise, it’s easy to understand why the manufacturer makes it clear that solar power is really only meant as an emergency or auxiliary power source to extend the battery charge.

But we performed this test after first powering the bank through the included micro USB charging cable. This is what the manual recommends in order to properly charge and get the most use out of it.

The solar power bank came out of the box at about 25% charged, indicated by one blue display light on the power indicator panel. Though the manual says the first device charge takes between 8-10 hours, we found that it took only about five hours until the device registered as completely charged—which was faster than expected.

Charging Speed: Not lightning fast, but pretty quick

The Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank comes equipped with a 5000mAh lithium-ion battery and a single solar panel rated at 5.5V/1.2W. The manufacturer lists the power output at 5V and a maximum of 2.4A, for a smartphone charging speed of two hours.

To test how accurate these claims are, we used a USB multimeter (a device that measures the voltage, amperage, and wattage of USB devices) and took a reading on this solar power bank when hooked up to an iPhone 6S Plus, iPhone X, and Google Nexus 5X.

We found the charging speed claims to be pretty accurate. The average output came to 5.04 volts and 0.94 amps. We also checked the charging speed for a Kindle Fire, and the reading came out to 5.04V/.97A, which is pretty much in line with what we saw for smartphones.

In terms of actual charging times, the iPhone 6S and Nexus 5X both took about two hours to charge, but we could only charge the iPhone X to 80% in around 2.5 hours before the device died.

Dizaul doesn’t specify the charging speed for two devices at once, but we simulated what we imagined to be a common real-life circumstance: two phones in the red that need a power boost. We started with an iPhone X and iPhone 6S Plus that were both at 15% battery and charged them both on the Dizaul power bank for 30 minutes. It brought them up to 31% and 43%, respectively.

We didn’t notice much heat emanating from the charger or to the device it’s charging, but you’ll definitely notice the power bank is hotter to the touch when charging two devices at once.

As for the speed at which the Dizaul recharges, we noticed that the average time to power the device in full through the USB charging cord was about 4.5 hours.

Battery Life: Modest, but gets the job done

Over the course of a week, we tested the battery life cycle three times. We took a fully-powered Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank and continuously streamed video on three different devices that were completely drained of power. We found that the average battery life was only about 2.5 hours.

When continuously streaming from a drained iPhone 6S Plus, the battery lasted about 2.5 hours. We also tried streaming from a Kindle Fire, and the device was able to stream for only about 1.5 hours before dying.

Overall, we found that a single charge is good enough for about one full smartphone charge and a little extra, which can be good for those moments when you need a quick jolt to your smartphone battery. At a 50% charge, this power bank could get a low iPhone 6 Plus battery from 19% to 37% in just 15 minutes.

Price: Pretty big bang for your buck

The Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank retails for 23.95 but often sells for less online. This makes it an inexpensive option among the single-panel solar chargers out there. It offers solid value since it’s sturdy, ultra-portable, and charges smartphones as quickly as more expensive competitors.

If you’ll be relying on it as your sole smartphone charger, you may find yourself recharging it frequently. This could be reason enough to spend a bit more for a power bank with a slightly larger battery.

Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank vs. BEARTWO 10000mAh

Though it offers a bigger battery, the BEARTWO 10000mAh mirrors the Dizaul 5000mAh in many ways. Both devices are lightweight power banks that charge in the same amount of time and offer similar smartphone charging speed.

The BEARTWO also comes with dual USB ports, but unlike the 5V/2.4A max capacity of both USB ports on the Dizaul 5000mAH, one USB port on the BEARTWO has an output of 5V/1A and the other has 5.V/2.1A, which means one port offers slower charging. The BEARTWO solar power bank is also slightly pricier, selling for closer to 30.

So while the BEARTWO holds more power, you lose the speedier dual charging capabilities of the Dizaul.

If you’d like to compare this model with other portable power bank options, start by reviewing our guide on solar power chargers.

A great portable option for topping up your phone charge while you’re out and about.

The Dizaul 5000mAh Portable Solar Power Bank doesn’t have the capacity to fully power up your phone day after day on a single charge. But you can certainly count on this as a backup when you need to add a little power to your phone while you’re on the go at the beach or park. And while it’s decently rugged, you’ll still need to be careful about dirt and water exposure due to the flimsy USB port covers.

Hublot Big Bang

Hublot’s Big Bang collection embodies everything that makes the brand so successful. The Swiss watch manufacturer combines unconventional materials, impressive designs, and intricate in-house movements to craft unique, unmistakable timepieces.

Hublot’s Diverse Flagship Series

Swiss luxury watchmaker Hublot first unveiled the Big Bang collection in 2005, and the series has since become synonymous with prestige and sophistication. What’s more, the Big Bang has been decorated with numerous international awards and is now the brand’s flagship model. Fans of complicated watch movements and high-grade materials flock to these timepieces crafted from carbon, Magic Gold, and King Gold, among others. Magic Gold is Hublot’s proprietary gold and ceramic alloy, while King Gold is a blend of rose gold and platinum.

One reason for this watch’s success is its skillful combination of contrasting elements. The watch’s external design is quite imposing, emphasized by case sizes of up to 45 mm and a wide bezel. The bezel has edges on a 90-degree angle and is held in place by six decorative, H-shaped screws.

The Big Bang has more to offer than just a stunning exterior. The lineup includes models with in-house movements, a tourbillon, GMT function, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar. Some watches, including the Big Bang MP-11, boast a power reserve of a staggering 14 days. There are smaller case sizes available for more slender wrists.

In the last two years, there’s been an upswing in the number of limited collector’s editions, new colors, and material combinations in the Big Bang collection. For example, the titanium Tourbillon Samuel Ross plays with color via its vibrant orange accents, the Integrated Ceramic model is dressed in earth tones, and the Integral Tourbillon Rainbow boasts 484 baguette-cut gemstones weighing almost 36 carats. In terms of innovative material combinations, the Unico Ledger uses a gold and silver alloy known as electrum for its case, while Hublot blends pure gold with high-grade ceramic boron carbide for the Big Bang MP-11 Power Reserve 14 Days Magic Gold.

Hublot has a close relationship with the world of sports and, as the official timekeeper of the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, unveiled the limited-edition Big Bang e FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 smartwatch to mark the occasion.

Reasons to Buy a Hublot Big Bang

In-house calibers with a tourbillon, GMT, minute repeater, and perpetual calendar
Limited editions such as the Depeche Mode collection The Singles
Cases made of materials like Magic Gold, King Gold, carbon, and sapphire
Big Bang MP-11 with a 14-day power reserve
Most diverse Hublot collection

How much does a Hublot Big Bang cost?

Model, reference number	Price (approx.)	Features
MP-11 Power Reserve 14 Days Sapphire, 911.JX.0102.RW	93,500 USD	14-day power reserve, sapphire case
Tourbillon Titanium, 405.NX.0137.LR	66,500 USD	Tourbillon, 5-day power reserve, titanium case
Unico Perpetual Calendar Magic Gold, 406.MC.0138.RX	42,500 USD	Perpetual calendar, Magic Gold case
Unico 45 Sapphire, 411.JX.4802.RT	47,500 USD	Flyback chronograph, sapphire case
Unico GMT King Gold, 771.OM.1170.RX	41,000 USD	Second time zone, King Gold case
Spirit of Big Bang Moonphase, 647.NX.1137.RX	14,000 USD	Moon phase display, titanium case
38 Steel, 361.SE.2010.RW.1104	8,800 USD	Quartz caliber, diamonds

Price Overview: Hublot Big Bang

The hefty cases of these 45-mm chronographs are available in titanium, carbon, sapphire crystal, King Gold, and ceramic. Of course, the material used has a major influence on for Big Bang models. For example, the red Big Bang Unico 45 in sapphire demands 48,000 USD.

The titanium Unico 45 is much easier on the wallet at 16,000 USD. Listings on Chrono24 for the King Gold edition start around 29,500 USD. However, the Unico 45 with a sapphire case and diamonds will set you back over 67,000 USD. Entry-level models come with quartz movements and stainless steel cases. One example, the Big Bang Unico 38 Steel, changes hands for around 8,600 USD.

GMT Function, In-House Caliber, and Tourbillon

The titanium Unico GMT is a relatively affordable Big Bang model. While it lacks a stopwatch function, this timepiece offers a second time zone and day-night display. You can tell the time in another time zone using the additional hour hand and titanium bezel with a 24-hour scale. The Hublot caliber HUB1251 ticks away inside this timepiece and provides it with its 72-hour power reserve. The final watch is water-resistant to 100 m (10 bar, 328 ft) and comes on a blue rubber strap. You can buy this model on Chrono24 for around 16,500 USD.

The carbon edition features the same technology and sells for roughly 18,500 USD. A never-worn Big Bang Unico GMT in King Gold costs a solid 30,500 USD.

Hublot reached the pinnacle of watchmaking with their HUB6016 caliber featuring a tourbillon. The delicate frame turns the balance wheel 360 degrees once every minute, thereby negating the effect of gravity on the oscillation system and resulting in a more accurate watch. The HUB6016’s massive power reserve of around 115 hours is also very impressive, and a subdial at 9 o’clock serves as the power reserve indicator.

Of course, Hublot creates these timepieces using a variety of materials. Cases in gold, titanium, sapphire, or ceramic are paired with straps made of rubber or alligator leather. A version with a diamond-studded bezel joined the Tourbillon family in spring 2018. The titanium Big Bang Tourbillon costs around 66,500 USD. Models in ceramic, gold, or sapphire go for between 76,000 and 161,500 USD.

The power reserve is the most notable element of the Big Bang MECA-10 and Big Bang MP-11. The manual caliber HUB1201 powers the MECA-10 and can run for ten days straight when fully wound. The MP-11 boasts an even more impressive 14-day power reserve. This is thanks to the HUB9011 caliber with a row of seven barrels, which have since made the watches in Hublot’s MP series famous. However, all this power comes at a price. A black carbon MP-11 costs about 50,000 USD on Chrono24, while sapphire models sell for around the 94,000 USD mark. In contrast, the MECA-10 – often spotted on the wrist of tennis star Novak Djokovic – seems like a bargain at starting around 17,500 USD.

Hublot’s high-end craftsmanship using modern materials is evidenced by their pairing an in-house caliber with a 14-day power reserve with two exclusive cases: One is made of scratch-resistant Magic Gold, while the other is made of the transparent, synthetic blue sapphire created in 2021. Both models are limited to just 50 copies and are powered by the skeletonized, manual-winding in-house caliber HUB9011 with a power reserve indicator. In order to achieve the durability of the Big Bang MP-11 Power Reserve 14 Days Magic Gold, Hublot blends pure gold with high-grade ceramic boron carbide. However, if you’re interested in this version, you’ll need to be prepared to part with around 84,000 USD. The Big Bang MP-11 Power Reserve 14 Days Blue Sapphire crafted from blue, polished sapphire crystal requires a substantial investment of 115,000 USD on Chrono24.

Big Bang Models From 33 to 44 mm

If you’d prefer something a bit less imposing, you should take a look at the standard edition Big Bangs. These watches come in diameters spanning 33 to 44 mm, making them interesting women’s watches and men’s watches. It’s not only size that differentiates these timepieces from their larger counterparts, they also have solid dials. Hublot uses colorful gems on the bezel and bright, flashy bands for added pizzazz. What’s more, each size is also available with diamond embellishments for those wanting an extra level of luxury.

Hublot outfits the two larger versions with automatic chronograph calibers, namely the HUB4100 and HUB4300. Both have a 42-hour power reserve. Expect to spend between 11,500 and 13,500 USD on models with a steel or carbon case. for models in gold or with diamond-studded bezels can quickly soar to 24,000 and 34,500 USD, respectively.

The 38 and 39-mm editions are both three-hand watches, the smaller of which features a quartz movement. The case of the 38-mm model comes in gold, steel, or ceramic and is adorned with diamonds. This timepiece goes for anywhere between 4,200 and 33,500 USD. The Big Bang 39 is also known as the One Click, as Hublot equips it with a system that makes changing its Band quick and easy. These watches feature diamonds or colorful sapphire crystals on their bezels and cases, and fall between 11,500 and 79,000 USD.

In 2021, Hublot introduced smaller versions of the Big Bang 39, the Big Bang One Click 33 mm. Thanks to interchangeable bands, watch enthusiasts looking for a more compact timepiece have a myriad of color combinations to choose from; Hublot even added another twelve in 2022. There is a huge range of Big Bang 33 models, all with the automatic HUB1120 movement and a 40-hour power reserve. The Big Bang One Click Steel Diamonds flaunts 36 diamonds weighing 0.76 carats on its bezel, and can be found on Chrono24 for around 11,000 USD. Expect to pay around 21,000 USD for the Big Bang One Click King Gold White Diamonds crafted from polished, 18-karat King Gold. The dial of the Big Bang One Click Steel Rainbow is adorned with 232 colorful gemstones, with a further 130 decorating the case. The King Gold bezel also glistens with 42 baguette-cut gems. Hublot’s MSRP is 72,600 USD.

No one was expecting it, so, of course, we did it, said Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe about the release of the Big Bang Integrated Time Only in 2022, which, for the first time, was dressed in a 40-mm case. This more compact Big Bang – which Hublot concurrently calls both Integrated and Integral – is available in 18-karat yellow gold, titanium, and All Black ceramic. In keeping with the Time Only name, the watch features a tidy, understated design. The titanium (15,800 USD) and yellow gold (44,000 USD) versions of the Big Bang Integrated Time Only will be staples in the collection, while the All-Black version (18,500 USD) in satin-brushed and polished ceramic is limited to just 250 pieces.

Limited Editions: Büchi, Rimowa, and Depeche Mode

Hublot’s seemingly constant flow of limited-edition watches has earned the company plenty of attention. The Big Bang collection also includes some of these exceptional pieces such as the Big Bang Sang Bleu designed by Swiss tattoo artist Maxime Büchi. Büchi is known for his geometric style, which he used for the Sang Bleu. Instead of hands, this timepiece tells the time using three skeletonized octagonal overlapping disks. The Sang Bleu is available in titanium, gold, steel, or ceramic. The case comes in two sizes – 39 or 45 mm – and with or without diamonds. Plan to spend between 15,500 and 36,500 USD on one of these watches.

2022 saw the release of the Big Bang Sang Bleu II. This 45-mm timepiece comes in black, gray, white, or blue and has a skeletonized dial. It is powered by the automatic HUB1240 UNICO in-house chronograph movement with a flyback function and column wheel. The power reserve is a healthy 72 hours. The Big Bang Sang Bleu II Black Magic is made of satin-brushed and polished black ceramic, brandishing an engraved design by Büchi. The model is listed on Chrono24 for around 28,500 USD. The Big Bang Sang Bleu II Titanium Blue Pavé pairs the elaborate geometric design with 172 diamonds, and changes hands for around 35,500 USD on the secondary market – significant savings from the list price of 46,200 USD. It’s a similar story for the Big Bang Sang Bleu II King Gold Pavé: Hublot demands 69,400 USD for this timepiece, but you can buy it on Chrono24 for closer to 55,500 USD.

Special Editions for Depeche Mode

Synth-pop Band Depeche Mode and Hublot have had a partnership for several years. In this time, there have been many special models made in the Band’s honor. Most are reworked versions of the Big Bang Unico with a rubber strap and a studded calf leather cuff. The Depeche Mode collection The Singles was released in 2018 and is strictly limited. Each of the 55 individual watches represents one of the group’s 55 singles. The bands match the dial, which features the respective single’s cover art. These timepieces are sold in a Rimowa suitcase with the corresponding 12-inch vinyl single and a Roland JP-08 synthesizer. Set aside around 20,500 USD for one of these pieces. If you want something a bit less exclusive, you can get the standard version of the Depeche Mode watch, which is limited to 250 pieces, for about 4,200 USD less.

Big Bang Unico Essential Grey: Online Exclusive

In June 2022, Hublot released the Big Bang Unico Essential Grey, but with a catch: The 200 copies produced could only be bought online. The 45-mm case is made of satin-finished titanium and, since this material is extremely lightweight, is very comfortable on the wrist. The Unico 2 movement inside the case has a 72-hour power reserve and had 1.3 mm shaved off its overall thickness. The timepiece comes with two bands: a rubber strap and a textile strap with a Velcro fastener. Hublot lists the Big Bang Unico Essential Grey for 20,900 USD; that is, if you’re lucky enough to get one of the 200 copies. Listings for the unisex model pop up every now and again on Chrono24.

Hat-Trick: Hublot, Soccer, and the World Cup

Hublot also has close ties with professional soccer. Fans of FC Bayern Munich, Juventus FC, SL Benfica, and FC Chelsea can buy special, club-specific timepieces for between 13,500 and 21,000 USD. The luxury watchmaker can proudly count famous soccer stars like Pelé, José Mourinho, Didier Deschamps, and Kylian Mbappé among their brand ambassadors. Funnily enough, José Mourinho is known to wear the Big Bang Unico Titanium, and not the King Power José Mourinho Special One the manufacturer dedicated to the world-class manager.

Hublot has been the official timekeeper and the official watch brand of the UEFA Champions League and the UEFA Europa League since 2015. What’s more, Hublot releases limited-edition models for major events such as the World Cup and European Championship. To mark the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Hublot launched the Big Bang Referee, the first smartwatch in the company’s history made especially for referees. The watch announces matches 15 minutes before kickoff, vibrates and provides updates on goals, the score, game time, yellow and red cards, the names of goalscorers, and substitutions. Only 2,018 copies of this timepiece were produced, and you can find it on Chrono24 for around 5,500 USD.

In 2022, Hublot presented the Big Bang Unico UEFA Champions League, an exclusive edition of the 42-mm Big Bang Unico limited to a run of 100 pieces. The model is made of glass-bead-blasted ceramic and is dressed in the familiar UEFA Champions League blue. The Champions League logo can be spotted on the subdial at 9 o’clock. The watch is paired with a blue rubber strap and costs around 19,500 USD.

For the fourth time running, Hublot is taking on the role of official timekeeper for the World Cup, this time in Qatar. In 2021, the luxury watchmaker unveiled a large clock in the capital city Doha, which counts down to the kickoff of the first game. The discipline of mechanical watchmaking is a perfect fit. The best teams run like clockwork! Hublot loves football! said CEO Ricardo Guadalupe. In mid-October, Hublot followed up with the highly anticipated special World Cup model: the Big Bang e FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The 44-mm timepiece is limited to 1,000 copies and lists for 5,800 USD. The case combines both glass-bead-blasted and polished black ceramic with black titanium, but the real novelty is the watch’s immersive features. In addition to the game time, the smartwatch displays the names of goals scorers and the minute in which they scored, yellow and red cards, as well as stoppage time and penalty shootouts. Soccer fans can buy the watch with a dial and strap in the national colors of the 32 qualifying countries, although this will bump the price up by a further 630 USD.

High-Speed Creative Collaborations

The Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross is the result of Hublot’s first collaboration with Samuel Ross on a real-life timepiece – up until this point, the British artist had been involved in creating several store concepts. According to the manufacturer, Ross deliberately chose the color orange, as it represents energy and optimism and contrasts perfectly with the gray patinated case and bezel. The watch houses the automatic Hublot HUB6035 caliber, which boasts a tourbillon. Only 50 copies of the Big Bang Tourbillon Samuel Ross exist. The MSRP is 116,000 USD.

The Big Bang Unico Ferrari has been part of the Hublot catalog since 2012. The result of a collaboration with the legendary Italian sports car company, it has a sporty design with red or yellow numerals and matching stitching on the strap. Carbon and ceramic models dominate the series, though King Gold and Magic Gold versions are also available. The Unico Ferrari watch gets its power from the chronograph caliber 1241, which includes a flyback function. The ceramic edition changes hands for about 20,500 USD in mint condition on Chrono24, while used watches demand significantly less at around 13,000 USD. Depending on the material, for a Unico Ferrari are known to exceed 30,000 USD; the King Gold version demands roughly 36,500 USD.

In 2019, Hublot celebrated the Scuderia Ferrari racing team’s 90th anniversary with three limited-edition Big Bang watches: one in carbon with a red dial, one in platinum with a yellow dial, and one in sapphire with a black dial. The cases of the Big Bang Scuderia Ferrari 90th Anniversary measure 45 mm in diameter and contain the in-house caliber HUB1241. This automatic movement features a flyback function and a 72-hour power reserve. Each model is limited to a run of 90 pieces, making them highly coveted collector’s items.

Hublot listed this special Big Bang for 34,600 USD in carbon, 40,900 USD in platinum, and 69,000 USD in sapphire. These watches rarely appear on Chrono24, and when they do, they tend to sell quickly, so it’s worth keeping a lookout and acting fast to nab one for yourself.

Hublot brand ambassador Zhou Guanyu, the first Chinese Formula 1 driver, also stepped on the gas pedal in 2022. He celebrated the Chinese New Year with the Spirit of Big Bang Carbon Gold Tiger on his wrist. The racing driver also wears a Big Bang Unico Integrated Black Magic. Powered by the Unico 2 caliber, the watch has an impressive power reserve of 72 hours and a case made of polished and satin-finished ceramic that was reduced by 1.3 mm. The Spirit of Big Bang Carbon Gold Tiger costs around 48,500 USD on Chrono24, while the Big Bang Unico Integrated Black Magic sells for approximately 19,500 USD.

Big Bang: Quirky Colorful

The colorful Broderie, Pop Art, and Tutti Frutti models were part of the Big Bang collection until 2017. The Broderie features embroidery on its dial, bezel, and strap. Matching sapphires also ornament most of the bezels. Depending on the case material, plan to spend between 6,500 and 26,500 USD on a Big Bang Broderie.

The Big Bang Pop Art series is dominated by bright colors, combining pink, orange, turquoise, and green all on one watch. These timepieces cost anywhere from 10,500 to 31,000 USD.

The Big Bang Tutti Frutti is slightly less kaleidoscopic. Most models have a matching dial and Band in orange, pink, or blue. Some editions feature a white or black dial combined with a colorful Band. for the Big Bang Tutti Frutti start at 13,500 USD. However, if you’re interested in buying a pre-owned Big Bang Tutti Frutti Diamond Tourbillon in rose gold, you’ll need to reckon with an investment of around 78,500 USD.

2022’s Big Bang Unico Summer Purple sticks out with its vibrant purple hue. The anodized, polished and satin-brushed case measures 42 mm in diameter and is made of aluminum. Its purple coating is said to be particularly durable thanks to a special manufacturing process. The Unico Summer Purple is powered by the in-house caliber HUB1280. The chronograph movement offers a power reserve of 72 hours. Actor Noah Schnapp wore the rare Purple timepiece at the premiere of the fourth season of Stranger Things, which attracted a great deal of attention. The model, which is limited to 200 pieces, costs around 22,000 USD on Chrono24.

Hublot created another novelty with the Big Bang Jeans, using blue denim for the strap and dial. The Swiss manufacturer conquered the challenge of combining conflicting materials by enhancing some Jeans models with diamonds on their dials and bezels. On Chrono24, listings for standard Big Bang Jeans models come in at around 6,500 USD, while gold versions with diamonds push 31,000 USD.

Big Bang Models Since 2018

Hublot has presented several new Big Bang models since 2018. Take the Big Bang Unico Magic Red, for example, which debuted at Baselworld 2019. This timepiece is limited to a run of 500 pieces, and features a 45-mm case made of bright red ceramic. With a hardness of 1,500 HV (Vickers hardness), this material is extremely robust. The watch’s beating heart is the automatic in-house caliber HUB1242 with a flyback function and a 72-hour power reserve. A red rubber strap keeps the timepiece securely on the wrist.

for a mint-condition Big Bang Unico Magic Red on Chrono24 are around 22,500 USD. This is almost 6,000 USD below Hublot’s list price of 28,300 USD.

Two new versions were added to the lineup of multicolored sapphire crystal watches in 2021 and 2022, namely the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Orange Sapphire and the Big Bang Tourbillon Automatic Purple Sapphire. Inside the 44-mm cases, you’ll find the in-house HUB6035 caliber with an automatic micro-rotor. The skeletonized tourbillon is sensational: Like the micro-rotor, it sits on three sapphire bridges and thus looks like it’s floating. Both watches are limited to 50 copies. The Orange Sapphire costs about 142,500 USD on Chrono24, while the Purple Sapphire has a list price of 200,000 USD.

Speaking of rarities: only 30 examples of the Big Bang Unico St. Tropez Boutique were produced, so this watch is even harder to come by. Hublot says the model was inspired by legendary party destinations and should remind you of your favorite beaches. The summer-themed watch is powered by the in-house chronograph caliber Unico V2, which offers a 72-hour power reserve. The ceramic bezel, rubber strap, indices, numerals, and hands are turquoise blue and stand out brilliantly against the black ceramic case. Hublot lists this collector’s item for 23,600 USD.

The Big Bang Embraces the Digital Age and Leaves Us Wanting

In early 2022, Hublot collaborated with crypto asset platform Ledger to launch the Big Bang Unico Ledger Chronograph. The partnership culminated in a timepiece that masterfully combines the oldest and most modern currencies in one product. The exclusive package includes the watch, a limited edition Ledger Nano X crypto wallet, and a sapphire crystal watch box. The 42-mm black ceramic Ledger features a bezel from electrum, the gold and silver alloy used to mint coins some 2,500 years ago. On the edge of the bezel is the Latin quote Vires in Numeris (strength in numbers), which is considered the motto of the crypto market. The watch is water-resistant to 100 meters (328 ft), so you can even take it swimming. The production run was limited to just 50 copies, but you can find listings on Chrono24 for around 59,000 USD.

Hublot once again pulled out all the stops with the Big Bang Unico Gourmet. This 2022 release is limited to 200 copies and marks the crossover of haute horologie and haute cuisine. The 42-mm case and bezel are made of Damascus steel, a material traditionally used to make chefs’ knives. The watch for foodies and connoisseurs was created in cooperation with Michelin and French star chefs Anne-Sophie Pic and Yannick Alléno, who are also Hublot ambassadors. The manufacturer lists the Gourmet for a palatable 24,100 USD.

Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon

Hublot announced the 42-mm Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon in 2019. Its barrel-shaped case is made of carbon fiber and features black accents. The watch gets its power from the manual Hublot caliber HUB6020, which the manufacturer developed specifically for this timepiece. You can watch the movement at work thanks to the transparent dial. The time display occupies an unorthodox, off-center position at 3 o’clock. There’s also a power reserve indicator just below 9 and a tourbillon at 6 o’clock.

This model boasts an impressive 120-hour power reserve, as well as Hublot’s patented One Click system for switching out the black rubber strap. Although limited to 100 pieces, you can find this watch on Chrono24 for around 85,500 USD.

In 2021, Hublot unveiled the Spirit of Big Bang Tourbillon Carbon White. As the name suggests, the 42-mm case, case back, and bezel are made of carbon with white micro-glass fibers. This timepiece is also limited to just 100 pieces. You can find it on Chrono24 for around 91,000 USD. The following year, Hublot presented the Tourbillon Automatic Carbon Limited Edition with a 45-mm case. The model costs about 80,500 USD on Chrono24.

Big Bang Integral With an Integrated Bracelet

In 2020, Hublot introduced four Big Bang models with integrated bracelets. The watches feature matching cases and bracelets in black ceramic (Integrated All Black), King Gold, or titanium (Integrated Titanium). The gold and titanium versions are also available with diamonds under the name Integrated Pavé. Each timepiece is 42 mm in diameter, has a skeletonized dial, and offers a depth rating of 100 m (328 ft).

The automatic in-house chronograph caliber HUB1280 with a flyback function ticks away inside the case. This movement also lends the Integrated a small seconds at 3 o’clock and a 72-hour power reserve. The black ceramic model is limited to a run of 500 pieces, while the titanium and gold editions are in regular series production. begin at around 17,500 USD for a titanium watch. The ceramic version is only slightly more expensive at 19,500 USD, and the King Gold model demands roughly 44,500 USD. If you’d prefer one of the diamond-studded Pavé variants, be sure to have 60,000 USD on hand for the titanium version and 91,500 USD for the same watch in King Gold.

In 2022, Hublot added four new colors to its Integrated collection. There are 250 copies available of each watch, and the four new shades – indigo blue, sky blue, sand beige, and jungle green – are based on the elements. The MSRP is 24,100 USD.

But it doesn’t end there, Hublot once again expressed their penchant for colorful watches with the Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Rainbow: red rubies; violet amethysts; blue topaz; rare green tsavorites; and yellow, fuchsia, and orange sapphires adorn this opulent timepiece. The Big Bang Rainbow comes in either 18-karat King Gold or 18-karat white gold. According to the manufacturer, the colorful masterpiece costs a whopping 790,000 USD.

Also launched in 2022, the Big Bang Integrated Tourbillon Cathedral Minute Repeater is an evolution of the Big Bang Integrated Ceramic. The limited edition of 36 pieces comprises 18 watches in black ceramic and 18 in white ceramic. This was the first time Hublot included a tourbillon watch with a minute repeater in the series.

The watch is powered by the in-house caliber MHUB8001.RH. The manual movement consists of 319 individual components and 30 jewels. The power reserve is a remarkable 80 hours. The case features both polished and satin-finished surfaces, and the integrated ceramic bracelets boast dual finishing. According to Hublot, the Big Bang Integral Tourbillon Cathedral Minute Repeater costs 295,000 USD.

The best power banks 2022

Choosing a power bank can be a minefield. There are cheap ones, pricey ones, and sometimes you’re paying simply for a name – but there’s a lot more to finding the perfect portable charger than looking at price alone.

Some other things you might consider include speed, both in charging your connected device and recharging the bank when it empties. Capacity is important, too: it needs to be high enough to get your through the day with juice to spare – even share – without weighing down your or bag.

Ports and connections matter, too. What are you charging? A phone, a laptop, a watch? The number and range of ports is important, and if you want to avoid carrying multiple cables then you could look for a version with built-in cables or wireless charging.

While we care about design, it’s actually much lower on our priority list than the things we mention above – unless, of course, we have need for a particularly rugged model or something that supports solar charging because we’re going to be away from mains power for an extended period. That’s not to say we won’t appreciate added extras such as an LCD screen and waterproofing – don’t you want the coolest and most convenient power bank you can get for your money?

These days, it’s even possible to rent power banks as and when you need them (check out ChargedUp). Mind blown. To ensure you get the very best power bank for your needs, whatever that looks like, read on for more detailed buying advice below our chart.

Best power bank reviews

Zendure SuperMini X3 – Best 10000mAh Power Bank

The Zendure SuperMini X3 certainly isn’t the cheapest 10000mAh power bank around, but it makes up for that in specs.

The headline is the 45W USB-C PD charging – for both input and output. That means you can re-charge the power bank itself in just an hour or so, but also that this is fast enough to meet the max charging speeds on most Apple and Samsung phones, and can even keep many laptops running.

The same port also supports the PPS standard at up to 33W speeds.

There are also two USB-A ports, one at 18W and another at 15W, and you can use all three ports simultaneously with 15W speeds from each.

Throw in the small LCD display to report battery life and the light and compact design (in a range of four colours, no less) and it’s easy to see why you might want to spend a little extra for the SuperMini X3.

Charmast 10,400mAh Power Bank – Best Value Power Bank with LCD

There was a time when power banks with LCD displays were rather expensive, but have now come down as the screens filter through to even affordable models like this.

The power bank also has three outputs, which will come in handy if you have multiple devices to charge. There are two full-size USBs, plus a USB-C PD port that can act as both input and output, and all three support 18W Quick Charge – although only one at a time.

On the side is an additional Quick Charge 2.0-compatible Micro-USB, which can also be used for charging the bank. It will charge in about 3.5 hours with a Quick Charge/PD adapter, but about 5.5 hours with a standard 10W charger.

The downside of the design is that it’s a bit bigger than many of the super-slim, similar-capacity models on the market. This Charmast is roughly the same width as a phone, but a little shorter and a fair bit chunkier. It weighs in at 228g, which you may decide is better suited to a bag than your

Charmast supplies a soft mesh carry case and a short USB-A to USB-C cable in the box, a nice touch.

Zendure SuperMini Go

Interesting camera-inspired design
Supports 15W wireless charging
Strong device support
Available only via IndieGoGo (for now)
LCD is a little dim and can be difficult to read

The Zendure SuperMini Go is something a little different: a power bank that tries very hard not to look like one.

Zendure’s design is inspired by classic cameras, which is if nothing else a fun way to incorporate the large ring required for wireless charging – which here sits right where a camera lens would be. Instead of a viewfinder, there’s a rear LCD display to show battery percentage – though be warned that this is quite dim and hard to read.

It’s available in silver and black finishes, along with our more out there ‘Sunset Cyan’ gradient.

The SuperMini Go isn’t all about looks though, and it has some solid specs to match. The total capacity is 10,000mAh, and in addition to 15W wireless charging (with a magnet to keep phones steady) there’s 20W USB-C charging and 22.5W USB-A charging.

Compatibility is impressive too – not only will this work with both iOS and Android devices, but the ‘X-Charge’ mode is capable of topping up lower power devices like wearables and headphones, which not all power banks support.

The SuperMini Go is available now for backers on IndieGoGo with discounted launch pricing from 44 (down from an official price of 69), but with Zendure’s track record it’s very likely this will be in stores including Amazon before long.

JIGA 30,000mAh Power Bank – Most Versatile Power Bank

JIGA is a new name to us in terms of power bank tech, but its 30,000mAh power bank is interesting for a number of reasons – and not least the huge capacity, which will be some comfort on trips away from mains power.

While it’s something of a throwback to power banks from a couple of years back, with its built-in LED flash (certainly useful for camping trips) and durable but plasticky design, it also takes us back to the days where you didn’t have to sacrifice ports for portability.

It’s surprisingly small for such a high-capacity bank, but it’s more bag- rather than.friendly.

The JIGA has USB-C, Micro-USB and Lightning inputs, allowing you to fill its battery using whatever cable you have to hand. It’s a shame that the USB-C port doesn’t also work as an output, but there are three full-size USB-A outputs, each rated at 10.5W.

This isn’t the Power Delivery speeds we’re becoming increasingly familiar with today, but it’s plenty fast for charging a phone (or multiple phones).

If all you need is a healthy stream of power to keep topped up a number of mobile devices, this JIGA power bank will be a very handy device to have around.

Anker PowerCore Essential 20,000 PD – Best 20,000mAh Power Bank

Hailing from Anker, a respected brand in the power bank market, this 20,000mAh portable charger represents very good value at this capacity.

The 345.5G Essential is a black plastic brick, though relatively compact for the amount of power it can hold. It has a textured top surface that improves grip in the hand, as well as the overall appearance.

We’re pleased to find support for Power Delivery, but do note that it’s only up to 18W, and therefore not likely to be sufficient to charge a USB-C laptop. Still, for quick-charging a phone or tablet, this is a useful device.

A full-size USB output that uses Anker’s PowerIQ smarter charging algorithm is joined by a USB-C port that is both input and output. On top is a power button with four integrated LEDs that reveal remaining capacity, and you can use this to enter a trickle-charging mode suitable for smartwatches and earbuds.

A USB-C to USB-C cable and soft mesh carry case are provided in the box, which is a nice touch.

Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless – Best Wireless Power Bank

The Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless is a Qi wireless charger with a special feature: you can use it as a portable power bank, too, which can be super handy.

You can use it at home or work plugged in, and carry it around with you for wired or wireless charging when you are away from a power socket. Because it’s wireless, there’s no need to carry a cable around with you.

As the name suggests, the PowerCore III 10K has a decent sized 10,000mAh battery, which should offer at least three charges from the power bank before it needs recharging itself.

The wireless charger is rated at 10W. Place your device on the centre of the circle. We didn’t find the placement too sensitive, as some wireless chargers can be. It’s not auto-start, though – as a power bank it requires you to push the button first.

You can also charge from the two USB-A ports at one end – at a total of 18W, so charging two or three (one wireless, two wired) devices will split that power output.

Anker PowerCore Magnetic 5K – Best MagSafe Power Bank

This portable wireless charger is one of the best accessories you can get for your iPhone.

In essence, it’s a 5,000mAh palm-sized power bank that will charge your compatible iPhone simply by snapping it onto the back with MagSafe.

It works through some cases, charges over USB-C, comes in a range of colours and, even if you don’t have MagSafe, can be used to charge almost anything via cable.

A handy set of LEDs indicates how much charge the PowerCore has remaining.

Moshi IonGo 5K Duo – Best Design

It’s expensive, but you’ll pay out for the IonGo 5K Duo from Moshi if style is as important to you as is functionality.

Almost identical in design to the IonGo 5K before it, but here with both USB-C and Lightning cables built-in (hence the name Duo), the Moshi is an undeniably cool-looking power bank that comes tucked away inside a vegan-friendly soft leather case with a magnetic clasp and an anodised aluminium faceplate.

The additional cable means it’s now suited to Android as well as iPhone users, although as before this is Made For iPhone-certified.

This is a truly premium device with a colossal 10-year warranty going a long way to account for its higher asking price. It’s also possibly the dinkiest 5,000mAh power bank we’ve seen, suggesting there are some serious high-tech components inside.

At this capacity, expect a full charge for any Android phone, and potentially two for iPhone. Moshi claims the bank will also retain that power for up to 27 months when left unused.

Charging is up to 15W over USB-C and 12W over Lightning. Use Lightning and USB-C together and you’ll see slightly slower charging speeds, with a max total output of 3.4A (17W).

You can also use the USB-C cable for recharging the bank, again up to 15W. Better still, the Moshi supports passthrough charging, allowing you to charge both it and a connected device at once, but given that there’s no separate input here that’s going to work only with iPhone.

The Duo is currently out of stock at Amazon, but you can still pick up the iPhone model.

Chargeasap Flash Pro / Flash Pro Plus – Fastest Charging Power Bank

Unbeatable recharging speed
High-capacity (25,000mAh)
Range of outputs
5-year lifespan
Expensive
Bulky and heavy
Attracts fingerprints
No charger or cable supplied

These graphene-composite power banks are able to charge cooler than ordinary lithium-polymer batteries, and thus can do significantly faster: you’ll get to 80% of these 25,000mAh batteries in just 45 minutes.

In addition to this there is a healthy smattering of ports, with three USB-Cs running at 100W, 60W and 20W, a 50W USB-A that supports Quick Charge 3.0 and SVOOC, plus wireless charging. You get a 15W MagSafe pad and a 5W Apple Watch charger in the Flash Pro Plus, and a 15W Qi charger in the Flash Pro.

Down sides include an expensive price tag, and a bulky, heavy design, but for sheer performance and functionality the Chargeasap banks are among the most capable we’ve ever tested.

FAQ

What capacity power bank do I need?

Don’t fall into the trap of thinking a 3,000mAh power bank will give your 3,000mAh battery smartphone a full charge, and that a 9,000mAh power bank will charge it three times. No portable charger runs at 100% efficiency. In truth, most average between 60- and 70%, with the best-performing models able to reach 80- or 90%. Wireless charging models may be less efficient still.

To work out what capacity bank you need, first check the spec of the device you want to charge to find out its battery capacity, then decide how many times you want to be able to charge it. For a rough estimate, calculate Connected device battery capacity x Number of recharges x 1.6 = Minimum power bank capacity you should look to buy.

As a rule of thumb, a 5,000mAh bank is a single-charge device, 10,000mAh hits the sweet spot between capacity and portability, and you want to look for closer to 20,000mAh for a laptop. We’ve got some of those high-capacity power banks here – just don’t try to stuff any of them in your !

How long does it take to recharge a power bank?

The time required to recharge a power bank will depend on its capacity, what you are using to recharge its battery and whether or not it’s empty.

For the fastest charging you should look to the new breed of power banks that support graphene technology and charge over a DC input (such as the Chargeasap Flash Pro – a 25,000mAh bank that can get to 80% in 45 mins and 100% in 70 mins), but these tend to be pricey.

For mainstream power banks, the fastest you’ll find is a USB-C inout/output that supports Power Delivery. This standard now goes up to a maximum of 240W, but in portable chargers you should expect to find an 18W port. Using such a port, the average 10,000mAh power bank might recharge in 2-3 hours from empty.

The cheapest models still tend to charge over Micro-USB, usually at around 10-12W. Avoid 5W power banks like the plague unless they are very low in capacity or you’re not in a rush.

What is passthrough charging?

Passthrough charging allows you to simultaneously charge devices connected to a power bank and the power bank itself. It’s a very handy solution if you are short on mains power outlets and need to get multiple devices charged up overnight, for example. However, not all power banks support it, so be sure to check the spec of your portable charger before you buy.

How do I know how much power is left in my power bank?

Assuming you know how much capacity it had when full, you can work out how much power remains either through a series of LEDs on the casing (usually activated by plugging in a device to charge or pressing a button on the side), or via the LCD if your power bank supports one. LCDs are preferrable, because they give a more accurate readout, particularly when it comes to higher-capacity power banks.

What are GaN power banks?

GaN is short for gallium nitride. It requires fewer components than traditional silicone chargers, which means power banks that use the technology can be less bulky and more efficient. If portability is your primary concern, then as well as considering the power bank’s capacity you should also look for one that uses GaN.

What charging speed should I look for in a power bank?

The first power banks on to the market ran at 5W, which is the same speed as the original iPhone chargers (aka slllllloooooowwwww). We wouldn’t recommend anything below 10W these days. This speed is known as ‘fast charging’, and it’s still rather common in cheaper models, but it’s not really the fast charging we’ve become accustomed to today. So many of the latest smartphones now support super-fast wired charging, and it seems crazy not to buy a portable charger that supports that top speed if possible.

The standard your phone uses to achieve its top charging speeds is important here. Some have proprietary technologies that work only with accessories manufactured and sold by that company. Some offer fast charging through Quick Charge or Power Delivery. Some support neither Quick Charge nor Power Delivery, but do support protocols such as PPS (Programmable Power Supply) or SCP (Super Charge Protocol). Make sure the portable charger you buy matches the fast charging standard supported by your phone.

The term Power Delivery does not in itself denote a performance rating. It could be capable of delivering anything between 18W and 240W. This is particularly important if you’re looking to charge a USB-C laptop – anything under 30W won’t cut it, many laptops will refuse to play ball below 45W or even 60W, and some larger laptops might require 90W. You will need to check the spec of your laptop to know what speed it requires.

At the other end of the scale, if you need to charge a low-power device such as a smartwatch or a pair of wireless earbuds, look out for a power bank that is certified for low-power devices. Many of those that are not will simply cut out when you try to charge these devices, because they aren’t able to detect a significant drain on the battery.

Power bank manufacturers rarely provide the speed of their outputs in watts. Instead you’ll see a rating in amps, which you multiply by the voltage rating (usually five) to get the rating in watts. So 2A x 5V = 10W.

What is Power Delivery?

USB-C and USB PD are often confused, but the important thing to remember is that USB-C is a reversible connection type, while USB PD is a power delivery specification, overseen by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and often expressed simply as ‘PD’. With version 3.1 of the specification, Power Delivery is able to carry up to 240W of power plus data over USB-C (previously limited to 100W), but devices that support Power Delivery can range from 18W right up to 240W.

What is Quick Charge?

Quick Charge is a Qualcomm fast-charging protocol that runs on the Snapdragon processors we see inside many smartphones, hence it has become commonplace in the mobile market.

The latest version is Quick Charge 5, which operates at up to 100W and supports USB PD PPS. However, while they are often seen together, Quick Charge and Power Delivery are not the same thing.

Quick Charge 5 is a massive jump up from Quick Charge 4/4, more efficient and able to run cooler and safer, and Qualcomm says it can get a device to 50% in just 5 mins. It is backwards-compatible with earlier versions of the protocol, including 18W Quick Charge 2/3, which are still very common in power banks.

Which outputs should I look for in a power bank?

The type and number of outputs you will need on a power bank depends entirely on what device or devices you want to charge. Pretty much all power banks have a full-size USB output that you can use to plug in your own cable, but it’s not always going to be the fastest way to deliver a charge to your device. You’ll also find USB-C and Lightning outputs, magnetic wireless charging pads and AC outlets if you shop around. Some power banks even have built-in cables to stop you needing to carry around your own, though you will still need one handy to recharge the power bank itself.

Why is the maximum output of a power bank important?

Some power banks have multiple outputs for charging your connected devices, but few power banks are able to simultaneously support all of them at the top advertised speed. Watch out for those that have a lower maximum output than the sum of all ports together. Also be wary of those that have multiple outputs but a very low capacity – these aren’t really designed for plugging in multiple devices, only to be versatile.

What happens when my power bank is more powerful than my connected device?

There is no need to worry about plugging devices into ports that are capable of delivering more power than the device is able to accept, since USB devices will draw only the power they need. Many power banks include technology that is able to intelligently dole out this power among ports more appropriately, depending on what devices you are attempting to charge (often known as Power IQ or similar).

Can I take a power bank on a plane?

Yes, but it must be in your hand luggage, and if it is higher in capacity than 27,000mAh (100Wh) you will need to check with the airline before flying. Make sure you take it out your bag as you pass through security. If a power bank is damaged then it will not be allowed on the plane as it could become a safety hazard. You should also ensure the specifications are clearly printed on the side of its case, as is the norm.

We’ve put together a range of articles to help you choose the best charging tech for the mobile devices you carry everywhere. You’ll also like:

For charging away from home:Power banks for laptops | Travel adaptors
Best Wall Desktop Chargers:For phones tablets | For laptops
For convenience:Best wireless chargers
Best charging cables:Micro-USB | USB-C | Lightning

Sources:

https://www.buffalo.edu/news/releases/2022/03/033.html
https://www.space.com/did-dark-energy-cause-big-bang.html
https://www.lifewire.com/dizaul-portable-solar-power-bank-review-4690516
https://www.chrono24.com/hublot/big-bangmod203.htm
https://www.techadvisor.com/article/724400/best-power-bank.html