We love working wirelessly on our tablets, and our cellphones are our business lifeline. We cannot afford to have them wired to an outlet or worse – 'dead' – when we are on the go.

Losing battery life on your favorite mobile devices (or even your camera) when out in the field does not need to happen to you. Backup batteries are affordable and there are many options to suit your lifestyle.

Whether you choose a backup that provides 'juice' to a single device or to several, here are some things to consider:

• What's its portability, including size and weight?
• How much battery capacity does it have? Will it be enough for what you need? Battery capacity is measured in milliamperes hours (mAh). Become familiar with your mobile device's needs.
• Will external cables be needed?
• Does it indicate how much power is left in it?
• Will it work on multiple devices?
• Will it be compatible with your devices?
• How is the backup battery recharged?

While shopping for a backup battery can feel like a daunting task, the above are some basic questions we recommend you ask when considering your options. Be comfortable with the answers before making your purchase.

Contributions to this article were made by Harry Albert, Tech Helpline Technical Analyst.

To view the original article, visit the Tech Helpline blog.

Further Reading

• Does your computer start very slowly? It could be your HDD.
• Five Requirements For Your Laptop
• Three Simple Steps to an Efficient PC
• Your Top 4 Computer Problems: Solved!