Best portable chargers and power banks

It's always a good idea to have one of the best portable battery packs with you, especially if you're traveling. These gadgets come in really handy in a lot of situations, whether it's giving your phone's battery some backup so you can call an Uber home, or charge your wireless earphones for an upcoming flight after a delay. And while there are numerous portable chargers and power banks available out there, it's important to pick the right one for your requirements.

First thing you need to consider is the specs, including milliamps and wattage, to make sure it can charge the intended device(s) in a short span of time, and offer at least one (if not multiple) full charges. Over the years, we've tested enough of these battery packs to tell the good ones from the bad, so we're fairly confident in the recommendations that we've listed out for you here.

Our top vote still goes to Anker's PowerCore III 10,000mAh portable charger. It's priced quite well, delivers a decent 18W of output, and also supports up to 10W wireless charging. You can also consider the Laptop Power Bank (25K) from the same brand, which can give up to 100W of output over its USB-C port for juicing most modern laptops and phones. Having a capacity of 25,000mAh, it comes with an LED display and two retractable cables. There are many other solid options with varying sizes, output, and price points, so read on to get the one that's the best for you.

At a glance

Best overall

While most portable chargers only let you recharge your smart devices via wired charging, wireless portable chargers are steadily increasing in numbers among the best portable chargers.

Most wireless power banks only charge at 5W, but the Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless will charge Samsung smartphones at 10W, iPhones at 7.5W, and all other Qi-enabled phones at 5W, even smaller devices like Galaxy Buds Live or AirPods Pro. When you need faster speeds, you can use the USB-C port for 18W Power Delivery charging to refill your phone quicker. Sure, these aren't super-fast speeds by today's standards, but they get the job done.

This isn't the thinnest power bank around, but the inclusion of wireless charging coils and the sturdy design of the PowerCore III Wireless is well worth the added thickness, and price.

Aside from making some of the best USB-C power banks, Anker loves to slip in little details to help elevate the experience with its products, including a nicely fitting travel pouch, a high-quality USB-C-to-C cable, and a curious little clip that can extend out from one side. This kickstand allows you to slot your phone into it and keep watching while charging via either USB-C or USB-A port.

Best on a budget

INIU may not be a brand many are familiar with, but it makes some of the best power accessories on the market, and its power banks offer a lot of bang for the buck. The INIU portable charger offers the best blend of power and portability, with some extra features that more expensive options lack, all for just about the price of pizza night with the fam.

Roughly the size of a Pixel 6 Pro, this 20,000mAh power bank can charge up to three devices simultaneously, while still being compact enough to slip into your pocket next to your phone. You can choose from either USB-C Power Delivery or Qualcomm QuickCharge 4.0. So, whether your phone is brand new or a couple of generations old, the INIU power bank will charge them all with ease.

Unlike the Anker, INIU doesn't provide you with a C-to-C cable, but it still comes with an A-to-C cable for quickly recharging this portable charger. It also has a nice travel pouch to keep it protected in your bag, and a built-in LED flashlight to guide your way through the dark.

Best for laptops

Anker's Laptop Power Bank (25K) offers a plethora of goodies in a soda can-sized body. What sets this apart from most other power banks are the two integrated USB-C cables, which means you never have to worry about forgetting to pack the right cable. One cable is retractable into the power bank and can be extended outwards up to 2.3ft. The second one doubles up as a lanyard and has been certified to handle up to 44 lbs. of force.

The Laptop Power Bank has a 25,000mAh capacity, which should be more than sufficient to charge your laptop and phone. Besides the two built-in cables, you also get USB-A and USB-C ports for charging a total of four devices at the same time. The power bank can handle 100W output with a single USB-C connection, 165W total output with two USB-C connections, and 130W with three or four devices in various combinations.

The Anker Laptop Power Bank also features a high-resolution display which lets you cycle through various stats such as battery temperature, input and output wattage, and battery health. It's also flight-approved, which means you can carry it as part of your carry-on luggage.

Best compact

The tiny B61 power bank from INIU is the perfect solution for those emergency recharges. The 10,000mAh capacity is said to be enough to recharge an iPhone 15 up to 1.8 times, but this number reduces drastically if you charge up multiple devices together. You get a mini display built into the power bank which shows you how much charge is left. The good thing is that there are three ports: two USB-A and a USB-C. These allow you to charge up to three devices at once.

When plugged into a 20W wall adapter, the B61 can take up to three hours for a full recharge, which is a bit of a wait. One cool feature of this mini charger is the retractable hands, which allow you to place your phone horizontally on it while it charges.

The power bank is capable of delivering up to 22.5W of power through one port, and all popular fast charging standards for Samsung, iPhone, and Pixel are well supported. Despite its low price, INIU bundles in a USB-A- to USB-C cable and a carry pouch, which is certainly a nice addition.

Best oversized capacity

If you just need a single power bank to take with you on your road trips and size isn't an issue, go ahead and get the UGREEN 300W 48000mAh Power Bank. For its massive 48,000mAh capacity, it's relatively compact when compared to other chargers with a similar capacity. It even has a useful carry handle and a built-in lamp, which can come in handy when you're camping.

The front of the power bank houses all the ports at the bottom, as well as a large display on the top. This shows you the battery charge and real-time charging stats. You get plenty of ports like two USB-A (22.5W each) and three USB-C ports, two of which can output 100W each. The main USB-C port is used to charge the power bank, and this can go up to 140W.

In our review, we noted that the only two major downsides were the charging efficiency and the fact that you only get a single USB-C cable in the box. It's a bit pricey, but if you need a gigantic capacity with high-power output for more than two devices, the UGREEN 300W 48000mAh power bank will serve you well.

Best mid-range

Otterbox is well known for making rugged smartphone cases, and it seems that the brand has paid the same attention to drop protection with its power bank. The Otterbox Fast Charge power bank is available in different capacities, but the 15,000mAh one is the most interesting one here. It's a nice compromise to have between capacity and portability. Be prepared for some heft though, as it still weighs a noticeable 450g.

The Fast Charge sticks to the basics and doesn't offer many frills. You get two ports, a Type-C and Type-A, and each is able to output up to 18W of power. The charger can also be recharged at the same rate. You get a four-LED power level indicator with a dedicated button to check at any time. The power bank ships with a USB-A to C cable, so you'll need another cable to use the second port.

The good thing about the Otterbox power bank is that it supports all the major OEM charging standards such as USB PD 3.0, Qualcomm's Quick Charge 3.0, as well as Apple Fast Charge, Samsung AFC, Huawei FCP, BCS 1.2, and MediaTek's PE+ 2.0 standard.

Best for gaming

The UGREEN Magnetic Power Bank is a unique product as it offers all the best conveniences in a super-portable form factor. To start with, it looks fantastic: you can be rest assured of a very good build quality. Second, it fully supports Apple's MagSafe wireless charging, which means you can simply attach it to an iPhone and charge without bothering with wires. Android users can get in on the action too with some of the best MagSafe accessories. Or it should work with the new Google Pixel 10 series phones just as well, which have Qi2 built-in via Pixelsnap.

The power bank supports up to 15W wireless charging, offers 20W power output via the USB-C port, and 22.5W from the Type-A port. UGREEN has fitted it with all the safety procedures in place such as over-current, short-circuit, and high-temperature protection. You can charge three devices at once, which is pretty incredible for a charger of its size.

The main reason we've picked this as the best gaming accessory is that you can simply magnetically attach the power bank to the back of your phone and go on with your gaming session. UGREEN's secret weapon though, is the collapsable kickstand. The company says it's sturdy enough to handle the largest of phones, both in horizontal or vertical orientations.

Best power station

Power banks can come in pretty large sizes, but at some point, it's better to just transition to the boxier form factor of a power station. These ultra-high-capacity portable chargers are designed to power small appliances on camping trips or keep your gear alive during a hurricane, and they have a wide array of port types and power levels from which to choose.

The best power stations can run in hundreds or thousands of dollars depending on your preferred capacity. We prefer the balance of capacity and price that the 200-300Whr range offers. The BougeRV Flash300 hits the sweet spot between being too expensive for the masses and too small to power anything other than laptops. BougeRV went with built-in carrying handles with all the ports on the front, and the AC input port on the side, making this an easy-n-go carry from the car to the campsite.

You can use the two AC plugs to charge non-Power Delivery electronics or run a camp fridge, but don't expect it to power beefier appliances due to a maximum output of 600W from the AC outlets with a rated 1200W surge.

It'll power some CPAP/BIPAP machine models but not all, so check your model's rating if this is something you rely on and need a backup should the power fail in your region again. With the large LED lamp built right into the back, you'll be having plenty of light for your room if the power does go out.

Best Qi2 option

If you're looking for a slim and lightweight power bank that's also Qi2-certified, take a gander at the Baseus PicoGo 10,000mAh Magnetic Power Bank. We have tested it and highly recommend it if you want something slim, well-made, and with support for magnetic 15W charging. Besides having full compatibility with iPhones, the PicoGo 10,000mAh will also work flawlessly with the newer Android phones that are 'Qi2 Ready' as well as phones such as the Google Pixel 10 series of devices, which have Qi2 magnets built-in for direct charging.

The Baseus PicoGo 10,000mAh power bank comes in two colors and is made of an aluminum alloy chassis. The company claims it has taken multiple measures to ensure the charger stays cool and doesn't overheat when in use. With proper Qi2 certification, you can be confident that the charger will remain stuck to your compatible phone without falling off. There's also a USB-C port for charging the power bank and wired charging speeds top out at 27W.

There's a PicoGo 5,000mAh power bank as well, but it lacks Qi2 certification. If you just need a slim magnetic power bank for occasional top ups, the PicoGo 10,000mAh is certainly worth buying.

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How to choose

Get a battery pack that covers all the devices you charge frequently

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You can find portable chargers in a variety of sizes, but for the majority of you, either a compact 10,000mAh or a slightly beefier 20,000mAh portable charger should suffice. The Anker PowerCore III is a solid all-rounder 10,000mAh charger, but it has its limitations like power output. A larger capacity option like the INIU Portable Charger (20,000mAh) will handle more devices or give you many more top-ups for your device but recharging it can be tedious.

The best power bank is the one you remember to bring with you, and smaller, lighter banks are easier to carry around. A capacity of 10,000mAh gives you just enough power to recharge a phone twice before it needs a top-up again. But if you need to keep a whole family's worth of phones alive during a long day or an extended weekend, or if you're only going to own a single power bank instead of a couple in different sizes, get the UGREEN 300W 48000mAh without thinking twice.

If you want something that can charge your laptop as well, Anker's 25K Laptop Power Bank is definitely worth considering. For uninterrupted power that also negates the hassle of cables, something like the UGREEN Magnetic 10,000mAh offers simplicity and ease of use. The Baseus PicoGo 10,000mAh power bank is ideal if you need something slim and light, and don't want to bother with messy cables.

Magnetic chargers are popular nowadays since they don't require cables, built-in or otherwise. They snap directly to the back of a phone (or phone case), but they're limited. You can only charge compatible products, which might include your phone and wireless earbuds case. And charging speed will be slower. But they're good to have in a pinch. I like to keep a selection of power banks and use the one that fits the scenario. A night out when I'm taking the train? A magnetic one for top-up power will do. Traveling? I'll probably need something with more power that will last for as long as I need it.