Even without knowing anything about what you need to charge, or for how long, I think this large Anker battery pack is the perfect ready-for-anything charger.
Its generous 25,000-milliamp (mAh) capacity can fully recharge most laptops at least once, and it offers faster charging than the average outlet charger. It isn’t too big or too heavy, though, and it comes ready to charge with two built-in retractable USB-C cables. It also features two extra ports—one USB-C and one USB-A—in case you need to get multiple devices going at once.
Not everyone loves having built-in cables in their power banks, but I’m a fan. It saves time and lets you always charge some devices (and the pack) without worrying whether you have an extra cable handy.
I also love that it has a built-in color screen, which lets you monitor battery level. It's a bit over the top, but it definitely does a better job of letting you know when to charge it up than the usual indicator lights.
| Battery Capacity | 25,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 165w (up to 100w per output) |
| Connectivity | Two USB-C cables, USB-C port, USB-A port |
| Weight | 1.3 lb |
The Anker Zolo offers ample 20,000-mAh battery capacity, stellar charging speeds, and abundant connectivity features that are on par with our top pick, another Anker battery. But this one is extremely cheap—less than $50. It doesn’t have the charging capacity to support high-end laptops like a MacBook Pro, but it should work wonders with just about anything else.
Having a pair of integrated USB-C cables whose braided covers match its exterior (in black, white, blue, and pink) makes the Zolo look more upmarket than the price suggests, as does the accessory’s digital display. It doesn’t show as much information as the screens on Anker’s top packs, but it is still a nice touch and rare at this price.
Anker also offers a lower-priced version of the Zolo with only one USB-C cable, which is perfect if you’re singularly focused on charging your phone.
| Battery Capacity | 20,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 45w |
| Connectivity | Two USB-C cables, USB-C port, USB-A port |
| Weight | 12.5 oz |
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At under $25, this highly portable pack from Baseus is cheapest pack I’ve used and am confident recommending. With a maximum power output of 22.5 watts, the Baseus EnerFill can juice up a modern smartphone to around 50 percent in about half an hour. Its charging speed lags behind our other picks, but that's a fair tradeoff, given the price.
Light and easy is the name of the game, here: It weighs just over 7 ounces and connects to devices via a built-in USB-C cable and a pair of additional ports. It even has a little flourish in the form of a digital display that gives you a more precise look at battery level than the usual pip-based indicator. Throw in a two-year warranty, and this is an incredible bargain.
| Battery Capacity | 10,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 22.5w |
| Connectivity | Integrated USB-C cable, USB-C port, USB-A port |
| Weight | 7.2 oz |
The Anker Nano is, as the name implies, designed to be ultra-portable. As you can see, Anker knows how to make a battery pack, and this one comes with many of the design flourishes I love in the best overall pick, including a retractable USB-C cable and a color display.
The difference here is that this is pocket-sized and made to support smaller gear. In this case, though, “smaller” really just means everything but the most heavy-duty tech. With a 10,000-mAh battery pack and a maximum power output of 45 watts, it can rapidly power up any phone and tablet. It can also extend the screen time of compact notebooks like the MacBook Air. It’s not suitable for MacBook Pros, however.
This is a solid compromise for folks who want a lot of charging power but need a smaller charger, or want to keep their budget under $60.
| Battery Capacity | 10,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 45w |
| Connectivity | Integrated USB-C cable, USB-C port, USB-A port |
| Weight | 8.2 oz |
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In a crowded field of magnetic battery packs designed to snap to the back of an iPhone or a top-shelf Android phone, I’ve come to rely on the Sharge Icemag 3 because its original design, fast wireless speed, and some unique special features.
It supports Qi 2.2, the latest wireless charging standard, which can deliver up 25-watt output. When you plug in its integrated USB-C cable, that speeds up to 35W, which is enough to top off some lightweight laptops.
Beyond the basics, the Icemag 3 has some interesting extra features, including a sturdy kickstand, and an onboard cooling fan to help it maintain consistent charging speeds. Most magnetic battery packs want to fade into the background, but the Icemag 3 has the look and the feature-set to stand out and make strong impression.
| Battery Capacity | 10,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 25W (wireless), 35W (wired) |
| Connectivity | Integrated USB-C cable, USB-C port |
| Weight | 7.8 ounces |
If you’re going backpacking and you need a battery pack that can take a little bit of punishment, we like Nestout’s rugged offering. Its shockproof exterior and IP67 rating for water- and dust-resistance mean it’s ready for long camping trips where it might spend a little time in the dirt. The ports also feature screw caps with tight seals, providing complete protection between charges.
With a 15,000-mAh battery capacity, three charging ports, and a maximum power output of 32 watts, this version of the battery pack offers a fine balance between speed and versatility. Smaller Nestout power banks with capacities of 10,000 and 5,000 mAh are also available. All battery packs are compatible with additional accessories, including a solar charger and an attachable USB light.
| Battery Capacity | 15,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 32w |
| Connectivity | USB-C port, two USB-A ports |
| Weight | 12.8 oz |
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The Powerstation Mini is the most compact pack I’d consider using regularly and truly lives up to its “mini” moniker. It's just a tad larger than a tube of lipstick and slips easily into the smallest pocket in your jeans or a clutch purse. And thanks to a sleek aluminum shell, it doesn’t look like a tech accessory when not in use.
There is a price for its minuscule footprint, though—slower charging speed. Still, this is more than fine for juicing up your phone or a pair of earbuds in a pinch.
| Battery Capacity | 5,000 mAh |
| Power Output | 20w |
| Connectivity | USB-C |
| Weight | 2.5 oz |
The Anker Prime sets itself apart from other laptop-grade battery packs with its retractable wall plug. It may sound like overkill, but having one unlocks higher power output to charge or power large laptops and other, less portable devices.
I like the battery pack’s sleek design, with a built-in color screen that displays vital information about the charging process and its remaining capacity. As a final throw-in, it comes with a very nice braided USB-C cable.
| Battery Capacity | 9,600 mAh |
| Power Output | 65w |
| Connectivity | Two USB-C ports, AC wall plug |
| Weight | 10 oz |
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What to Consider
Battery Capacity
Capacity is the be-all, end-all of any battery (or battery pack), as it determines how much power your device can store. Typically measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), the higher your battery pack’s capacity is, the more power it has to distribute to your devices throughout the day.
Keep in mind, though, that a larger capacity almost always means a larger, heavier, and more expensive battery pack. As you can see from our picks, there are good reasons to buy different packs with different capacities based on what you plan to charge, and how you plan to carry it.
For most people, I recommend looking for a pack around 10,000 mAh, which should be portable enough to fit in your pocket and have enough juice to charge your phone a couple of times, or a smaller device four times or more. This should be enough to get your essential EDC gadgets through a day of extremely heavy use (like when you’re traveling), or a long weekend off-grid.
If you are carrying a laptop, a digital camera, or a large number of devices that all need charging from time to time, you should probably scale up to a larger “laptop charger” battery pack that can hit 20,000 mAh or more. The limit here is usually 25,000 to 28,000, as most manufacturers want to keep the battery under the FAA’s 100-watt-hour battery capacity limit for passenger airliners. (If you’re looking for something bigger that doesn’t need to fly, consider our guide to portable power stations.)
Power Output
Capacity is the obvious and highly publicized metric for battery packs, but it is often power output that separates the good chargers from the bad ones. Output, measured in watts (w), tells you how fast the battery pack can charge your devices. The actual speed will also depend on the output supported by the device it’s charging. But a faster battery pack will be helpful, especially with larger, more expensive gear.
For most people, I recommend getting a battery pack that delivers at least 45 watts of power from a single output. That’s enough to rapidly charge phones and ultraportable laptops like the MacBook Neo and the MacBook Air. Faster options are few and far between, and you’ll only need them for large devices like a MacBook Pro or a gaming laptop.
That said, many battery packs don’t hit that speed, and I wouldn’t immediately dismiss them out of hand. The smaller your pack’s capacity, the less likely you’ll need a fast-charging pack. Try to look for 30 watts in a compact power bank but even less than that is okay for pocket-sized options, especially if it’s a slim, wireless charging pack that attaches directly to a phone.
It’s important to note that using a battery pack to charge multiple devices often slows down charging across each device. Depending on the construction, the pack’s maximum output can be spread across one or many ports. While shopping, keep an eye on the output of each port. And when you’re charging, keep in mind that you should only charge one device at a time when time is of the essence.
Connectivity
Unless the power bank you’re eyeing is super tiny like the Mophie I recommend above, look for a device with an integrated USB-C cable. Having the wire built in is super convenient. You can use it to charge devices and replenish the power bank itself. More than one built-in cable is preferable for larger power banks.
Additional USB-C outputs are also mandatory for a battery pack, unless it’s super tiny—again like the Mophie Powerstation Mini already mentioned. An old-school USB-A port is also great to have, just in case, especially on larger power banks.
Stefan is an award-winning consumer technology editor with over a decade of experience in reviewing gadgets, particularly smartphones, tablets, smartwatches, desktop and laptop computers across multiple form factors and platforms, as well as accessories for them. He also covers televisions and audio equipment, including headphones, earbuds, wireless speakers, and soundbars. Since joining Hearst in 2015, Stefan has contributed to BestProducts, Popular Mechanics, and numerous other publications. Prior to his current role, he served as the US Editor for GSMArena.com.
Mike Epstein is a Senior Commerce Editor at Hearst Enthusiast Group, producing reviews for buying guides Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, and Best Products. Prior to joining Hearst, he was a video game and technology critic for over 10 years, with bylines at IGN, Gamespot, Variety, Lifehacker, Kotaku, GamesRadar, Flavorwire and Digital Trends, among others. Now, he’s a jack of all trades, helping reviewers share everything they know about all kinds of technical gear, from snowblowers, to running shoes and bicycles, and every kind of gadget imaginable.
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