Published May 10, 2026, 1:45 PM EDT Bertel is a lifelong tech enthusiast with over a decade of experience writing thousands of articles about Android devices, Linux, and more.  Before joining the How-To Geek team, Bertel wrote for the likes of MakeUseOf ,  MakeTechEasier , and Android Police —at the latter he wrote over 3,500 articles. He delights in helping others decide which tech to bring into their lives... and which tech to do without. Bertel graduated from the College of William and Mary in 2012 with degrees in History and Government. He has spent his entire career since as a tech journalist covering Android, Linux, Wearables, Web Apps, and more. I've owned many portable external battery banks. I typically look at how much power they hold, how fast they can charge other devices, and how big they are—but my latest battery came with a perk I didn't know to look for. Can you use your phone while charging?…