- This article originally appeared on Windows Central and has been inducted into our Back to School guide
Not using a standard connector for charging limits your options with the Surface Pro and mobile charging. While phones are easily connected to battery packs or car chargers, the Surface Pro requires a little more thought when you're shopping for power accessories. But the excellent Batpower portable battery pack is a great place to start.
Surface Pro battery pack
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The problem with using a battery pack with the Surface Pro is two-fold. First, you need sufficient capacity and output to charge the thing. The second is the first-party connector. That means you need a battery pack that comes with a suitable cable as well as being an all-around beast.
The Batpower is a battery pack that comes with a 98Wh capacity, and it has a whole bunch of USB ports to plug your various devices into. It also comes with a Surface charging cable in the box, so you can use it while you're out and about to charge your machine.
It weighs 20 ounces, and the only real drawback is that it'll take a bit of time to charge back up. But it's just small enough to be allowed on a plane, which makes it a perfect carry everywhere your Surface Pro goes.
Using your existing USB-C power bank
The Surface Pro using Surface Connect and not USB-C is one of the biggest downers on an otherwise class-leading device. Fortunately, you can get a Surface Connect to USB-C cable fairly cheaply.
If you have a USB-C PD enabled power bank already, then this cable is a smart and affordable investment. It's a little clunky when you're on the go, but it's a better solution than buying an entirely new, dedicated power bank just so you can charge up your Surface Pro.
Surface Pro car charger and inverter
Like the portable battery packs, the problem is mostly that you have to find one with the Surface connector on it. There are a few out there, but one company seems to have the best all-around solution, one that can also help you out with a battery pack.
Batpower offers not only a 110W car charger powerful enough to fill up the battery in your Surface Pro but also a separate USB cable. You get one included with the car charger, but if you only need the cable you should give it a look as well.
The Batpower charger isn't cheap, but it comes well recommended and is strong enough to actually be of use charging your Surface Pro.
A power inverter allows you to use your car's cigarette lighter and then turns it into the right connection to use your regular wall adapter for your Surface Pro. Or anything else, for that matter.
There are also USB ports that can be used when the inverter is turned off (which shuts down the power outlets and cooling fan). Something like this would suffice for not only your Microsoft tablet but also a few smartphones and other hardware. Just be sure to reduce use when the engine is off to preserve your vehicle's battery.