Low power mode, you are not welcome here.
By
Bethany Allard
Lead Shopping Reporter
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable.
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Overview
Best for laptops and power users
Anker Laptop Power Bank
Jump to Details
These are the tech, tools, and products — from laptops to e-readers, from earbuds to robovacs, and more — that Mashable ranks best in class.
Table of Contents
We all know the feeling of getting the dreaded low power notification in a less than ideal situation.
Whether you're a fan or content creator, on the floor at VidCon would definitely fall into that bucket. The best way to avoid fighting for an outlet when you could be grabbing some vlog content? A portable charger.
That said, this is VidCon. Sure, a lot of people use their phones to film content, but it's also plenty common to have a vlogging camera or even a laptop to keep charged. That means the random one you got seven years ago may not cut it.
Luckily, we've stress tested the ones that will. In addition to trying out some portable chargers myself, I've also called on the Mashable team for their tried and true. The result? These top three portable chargers, worthy of being used at VidCon. Yes, all of them are from Anker, but hey, the brand knows how to balance power and value.
Our Pick
The Good & The Bad
- Easy to throw in a bag and take on the go
- Affordable
- Can charge multiple devices
- Has LED screen to display remaining battery life on power bank
- Built-in chord
- Won't get many repeat charges out of larger devices like tablets or laptops
Who it's for
The Anker Zolo is the charger that can handle charging your phone, tablet, and earbuds all at once, and it's the most affordable option on our list. We recommend the 10,000mAh for most folks, but if charging a laptop is a must (or you'd prefer to recharge the power bank less often), then it's probably worth the extra cash for the 20,000mAh model. (Though laptop users should check our other rec below).
Why we like it
The following comes from Mashable Shopping and Reviews Deputy Editor Miller Kern.
I bought the Anker Zolo power bank on a whim because it was super cheap on Black Friday a couple of years ago, and it’s truly one of the products I use most in my day-to-day. It’s compact and comes with a built-in USB-C cable you can use to charge your phone or the power bank itself. I’m still rocking an iPhone 13 Pro, and its battery is not what it used to be. I keep the Anker Zolo in my bag at all times, and I can usually get around three uses out of it before it needs to be recharged. In addition to the built-in cable, the power bank features a USB-C port, which is where I plug in my Lightning cable. I love this charger for its portability, durability, budget-friendly price, and the power it provides.
Details
The Good & The Bad
- Built-in wall plug means it can be used as a regular charger
- Built-in USB-C cable for ultimate convenience
- Can charge two devices simultaneously
- More expensive for similar charging capabilities to cheaper power banks
- No 20,000mAh option
Who it's for
If the idea of a portable charger is great in theory, but less so in practice because it's just another device you find on an empty battery more often than not, the Anker Nano 3-in-1 is the answer to your problems.
Why we like it
The following comes from Lead Shopping Reporter Samantha Mangino.
While portable chargers and power banks are great, they do feel like one more thing you have to pack. That's why the Anker Nano 3-in-1 is so cool — it plugs directly into an outlet, so it can serve as your wall charger, too. So, overnight, plug it in, charge your phone with it, and the portable charger charges itself, so by morning it’s ready to go. It also has an extra USB-C port so you can charge more than one device at once.
Details
Anker Laptop Power Bank
Best for laptops and power users
The Good & The Bad
- Much less likely to run out of juice than other power banks
- Display makes it easy to keep track of device charge and power bank charge
- Charge times will be quick
- Two built-in USB-C cables
- Can charge up to four devices simultaneously
- It's a big investment
- Bulky and heavy
Who it's for
If you have a serious gear setup and don't want any battery life issues during VidCon, the Anker Laptop Power Bank is the way to go. It's not cheap, but with a huge amount of power and versatility, this is the investment for anyone who wants the most bang for their buck.
Why we like it
Packed with 25,000mAh, this power bank can charge up to four devices at once, including, as the name suggests, a laptop. Simply having the charger on your person will keep you covered for at least two devices, as it comes with both a retractable and a braided USB-C cable built into it.
It is worth remembering that this power bank is heavy-duty in every sense of the word. Not only is it larger than the typical MacBook charging block, but it's also heavier, weighing about 1.3 pounds. It's nothing crazy, but it is noticeably heavier than your average power bank (and the two others on this list), so it's something to keep in mind. I especially appreciated how easy it is to monitor battery life, temp, and wattage with the smart display.
As someone who will personally need my phone, laptop, and headphones charged at all times during the convention, this is my personal choice for the best power bank.
Details
Bethany Allard is a Los Angeles-based shopping reporter at Mashable covering beauty tech, dating, sex and relationships, and headphones. That basically means she puts her hair through a lot, scrolls through a lot of dating apps, and rotates through a lot of different headphones. In addition to testing out and rounding up the best products, she also covers deals for Mashable, paying an especially obsessive amount of attention to Apple deals and prices. That knowledge comes in handy when she's covering shopping holidays like Prime Day and Black Friday, which she's now done for three years at Mashable.