Amid regular power outages, every watt becomes a strategic resource. For owners of charging stations and power banks, the question of gadget energy efficiency has shifted from theory to harsh practice.
TSN.ua has analyzed which basic devices drain your batteries the fastest.
Smartphone: The Most Efficient Ally The phone proved to be the most "friendly" to autonomous power systems. While charging, it consumes an average of 2 to 6 watts. Even with active daily use and charging, the daily energy consumption is only 0.01–0.02 kWh. This is a minimal load that is barely noticeable even for low-power power banks.
Wi-Fi Router: The Hidden Consumer The router is deceptive because it operates 24/7. According to EcoFlow experts, a typical home router requires between 5 and 20 watts. Over 24 hours of continuous operation, it "eats up" about 0.2–0.3 kWh. Over a month, this adds up to more than 7 kWh. This is why experts recommend turning the router on only when internet access is critically needed during blackouts, as it can quietly drain a small charging station overnight.
Laptop: The Heavyweight The largest consumer on this list is the laptop. Its "appetite" depends on processor power and screen brightness:
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Average consumption: 30–90 watts.
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Over 6–8 hours of active use, the device consumes between 0.3 and 0.7 kWh.
This represents a significant load for generators and portable power stations. For comparison, one laptop during a single workday can consume as much energy as 30–40 full smartphone charges.
To maximize battery life, switch your laptop to power-saving mode, reduce screen brightness, and turn off the router if you are using mobile data.