Our tech editor has personally tested each of these portable chargers and power banks to determine the best of the best.
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Our Top Picks for Reliable Portable Chargers & Power Banks
Updated on Aug. 14, 2024
Smartphones keep getting bigger, but smartphone battery life isn’t improving at the same rate. Many people charge their phones in their car, but what about public transit commuters or those on the go? A portable charger can make the difference between staying in touch or being caught in an uncomfortable situation—and the best portable chargers aren’t just useful, but reliable, too.
We’ve rounded up the best power banks and portable chargers to help you charge your phone as quickly and conveniently as possible. Whether you’re on a walk and need some juice or are stuck in a power outage, you can trust these products to see you through safely.
On Sale
Best Overall Portable Charger
Mophie Powerstation XL
Pros:
- Huge onboard battery capacity
- Can charge multiple devices at a time
Cons:
- Somewhat bulky
The Mophie Powerstation XL is on the larger side (about the same size as a current-gen iPhone but twice as thick), but its 20,000 mAh battery will charge most phones at least four times over (and then some). After all, your phone battery life doesn’t last forever, and you may need a quick charge here and there. In addition, the premium finish is soft to the touch and the corners are rounded, preventing the charger from scratching your phone. You can even charge multiple devices simultaneously with two USB-A ports and one USB-C port. For a reliable everyday power bank, you can’t ask for much more.
On Sale
Best Splurge Portable Charger
Anker 737 Power Bank
Pros:
- Incredibly high-capacity battery
- Handy full-color display
- Can charge multiple devices simultaneously
Cons:
- Size and shape is awkward for pocket carry
- Somewhat expensive
While it’s a little bulkier than some of the other options on this list (taking up about as much space as a standard soda can), Anker’s 737 Power Bank makes up for it in sheer capacity and versatility alone. With a 24,000 mAh capacity, it can charge up an iPhone a whopping five times in full (or a MacBook Pro 1.3 times). It features a pair of USB-A ports and a single USB-C port, rapid two-way charging—meaning it can charge your tech while charging itself from a wall outlet, a TSA-friendly design and even a handy carry case.
On Sale
Best affordable portable charger
INIU Portable Charger
Pros:
- Affordable price
- Built-in flashlight
- Multi-device charging
Cons:
- Some quality control issues reported
- Questionable durability
The INIU Portable Charger is far from fancy, but it’s inexpensive and gets the job done. It has a respectable capacity of 10,000 mAh and a small footprint, which makes it convenient to carry. Connectivity is excellent, with two USB-A and a USB-C port available, and it even has a flashlight. The great thing about this charger is that it’s affordable enough to buy 10 of them for the price of some of the other products on this list. You could charge them and throw them anywhere you think you might need some extra juice. By the way, here’s how to clean your iPhone’s charging port.
On Sale
Best Tiny Portable Charger
Anker Nano
Pros:
- Extremely compact and lightweight
- Attaches directly to phone, no cord needed
- Enough battery for most phones
- Five color options
Cons:
- Relatively small capacity
- Only compatible with USB-C
Measuring up at about the same width and depth as your phone (and only about an extra inch in height), Anker’s Nano can plug directly into your phone for easy, convenient charging. While the battery isn’t crazy huge, its 5,000 mAh capacity is enough to give most phones a full extra charge. It also has an integrated USB-C connector, so you don’t have to worry about hauling around an extra cable. However, it does have dual USB-C ports if you do have cords and want to charge more than once device at a time.
On Sale
Best high-capacity portable charger
Anker 521 Portable Power Station
Pros:
- Massive charging capacity
- Six charging outlets
- Multiple ways to charge the internal battery
- Excellent to have on-hand for emergencies
Cons:
- Too bulky to use as an everyday charger.
At eight pounds, the Anker 521 Portable Power Station isn’t going to be your everyday power bank. However, it’s one of the best portable chargers to have for camping or emergencies. It has a capacity of 256,000 mAh and can output up to 200 watts at a time through two AC outlets, a car outlet, two USB-A ports, and a single USB-C port. It can also be charged up using several methods, including USB-C, DC, through a car, or AC.
It’s impressive that this much power can fit in a package that’s around the size of a lunchbox. And if you need to charge your laptop to make its battery last longer, you can use this power station for that, too. If you’re looking for a smaller charging option, Anker’s magnetic iPhone charger simply snaps onto the back of any iPhone for an extra power boost.
What to look for in a portable charger
Here are some significant factors you should consider when shopping for portable power solutions:
Size and weight
Size and weight are going to be a primary concern when buying a power bank. As a rule, the more capacity a portable charger has, the bulkier it’ll be. The key is to find the product that fits your needs without having excess capacity. For example, if you just need to charge your phone once in a pinch, a small one will do. On the other hand, if you want to charge your entire family’s phones, or the same phone over multiple charges, you’ll need something bigger.
Battery capacity
Battery capacity ties into the size and weight of a power bank. Find out what size the battery in your phone is and use it to estimate how many charges you’ll get out of a power bank (for reference, iPhone batteries have a capacity of 2,600-3,000 mAh). Many chargers state on the packaging how many hours of power they provide for various activities. You’ll also want to check how much wattage it outputs if you’re looking to charge multiple devices.
Connectivity/ports
Finally, check the connectivity of the portage charger. It won’t be anything more than a paperweight if you can’t connect the device you want to charge to it, and different devices use different charging ports. Some power banks offer multiple methods to both charge them and power other devices. The most versatile portable chargers include an AC outlet, which will let you use a device’s normal AC adapter to charge it, but these tend to be bulkier.
Why you should trust us
As Tech Editor at Large at Reader’s Digest, Brittany Vincent is an expert in smart devices, gaming consoles, and home tech with 14 years of experience in the industry. She’s been tinkering with tech since she was a young girl building PCs with her father.
Sean Tirman, Content Updates Editor at Reader’s Digest, updated and contributed research to this piece. Sean has written shopping guides since 2016 and is a former associate editor at Gear Patrol.
How we found the best portable chargers
As a tech editor, I’ve used each of these devices in my own life and examined their strengths and weaknesses. I charged and discharged each multiple times to check for reliability and used them on various devices to ensure they functioned reliably under different conditions.
FAQ
Should I get a 10000mAh or 20,000mAh power bank?
The capacity of the charger you’ll need will depend on your power usage. If you just need something to keep you going when your phone’s battery gets dangerously low, a lower-capacity battery (around 5,000-10,000 mAh) is probably more than enough. However, if you have multiple devices you need to keep charged—like your phone, headphones, laptop, etc.—you’ll want to shoot for something with a much larger capacity.
Is Anker a good power bank?
While we wouldn’t call the brand luxurious, Anker has been around long enough and has released enough quality products to prove itself a reliable brand in the portable power industry. Anker tends to offer more budget-friendly solutions (and there are some downsides to that), but we’d definitely call the brand worthwhile overall, especially for the average price point of the brand’s products.
How many mAh do I need to charge a laptop?
If you’re seeking a portable battery to fully charge a laptop while on the go, we’d recommend something in the 20,000 mAh range. While smartphone batteries tend to be around 3,000 mAh and tablets are closer to 6,000-10,000, laptop batteries can sometimes be even larger, so you’ll want to shoot for a much higher capacity for a full charge.
While you’re at it, check out the Swivel Power strip to keep devices charged and connected at home, too.
