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We tested the HyperJuice USB-C + Lightning Battery (10,000 mAh) and Anker PowerCore+ 10000, but neither model ousted our existing picks. You can read more about them in the Competition section.
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Sarah Witman
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Whether you’re a glued-to-your-screen smartphone owner who can never make it through a day on a full charge, or you just need an occasional battery boost, USB power banks are a panacea for low-battery anxiety. After putting in 12 hours of research and 45 hours of testing, we’ve found the best portable power banks to meet a wide range of needs, chargers that offer peace of mind whenever wall outlets are out of reach.
This ultraslim power bank fits in a wallet or pocket, can charge most phones to at least a third full, and is available in Lightning, Micro-USB, and USB-C versions.
The TravelCard Charger is the best portable charger for someone who wants to always have an emergency boost of power on hand. It has the lowest capacity of any power bank we’ve tested—it’s able to charge most phones only to around 30% to 50% full from empty—but it’s unmatched in weight (2 ounces) and size. It’s bigger and thicker than the average credit card but not by much, fitting easily in a wallet or pocket. It has a built-in USB-A cable for you to charge it up and a built-in output cable (either Lightning, Micro-USB, or USB-C, depending on which version you get) to top off your phone or another handheld device with a little boost of power.
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This portable power bank has two built-in cables (Micro-USB and Lightning), can charge most smartphones twice from empty to full, and fits comfortably in most pants pockets or purses.
The Jackery Bolt has been our favorite power bank to carry every day, for several years running, for a reason. It’s as powerful as it is portable, fitting a high-capacity battery—capable of nearly two full charges for the latest smartphones—into a small package. You can also easily slip it into a small purse or most pants pockets—except maybe your tightest-fitting jeans. The two built-in output cables (Micro-USB and Lightning) mean you don’t need to carry a cable to charge most devices, but the Bolt also has a fast-charging USB-A output port if you want to use your own longer cable. It comes with a built-in flashlight, which is a neat bonus.
Able to charge even large phones like the iPhone XS Max or Samsung Galaxy S9+ from empty to full almost three times, this soap-bar-sized power bank offers the fastest charging speeds of any model we tested.
The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux lacks the built-in cables that set the Jackery and TravelCard models apart, but its capacity (10,000 mAh, or enough to fully charge an iPhone XS more than three times) is a lot higher. Plus, in addition to a USB-A output port, it has a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port that enables charging (both input and output) up to 18 watts—nearly twice as fast as most power banks we’ve found with built-in cables. This means less time waiting around for your phone, tablet, or other device (and the power bank itself) to charge. It’s about the same size and weight (6.8 ounces) as the Jackery, and its rounded edges make it even easier to slide into a pocket or pouch for portable power on the go.
This power bank charges itself from a fold-out AC plug or a Micro-USB input port, and it powers your devices on its two USB-A output ports.
The Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 is handy if you want a single, reliable charger that you can plug in the wall to charge your devices overnight and then pack up and carry with you during the day. Its 5,000 mAh capacity is similar to that of the Jackery Bolt, enabling you to fully charge a phone like the iPhone XS more than once, and its two USB-A ports offer fairly fast charging for two devices at a time. We also appreciate that it offers Micro-USB input in addition to a fold-out AC plug—an important feature that’s missing in other two-in-one models we considered. If you want a power bank that doubles as a wall charger, this is the best option we’ve found.
This ultraslim power bank fits in a wallet or pocket, can charge most phones to at least a third full, and is available in Lightning, Micro-USB, and USB-C versions.
This portable power bank has two built-in cables (Micro-USB and Lightning), can charge most smartphones twice from empty to full, and fits comfortably in most pants pockets or purses.
Able to charge even large phones like the iPhone XS Max or Samsung Galaxy S9+ from empty to full almost three times, this soap-bar-sized power bank offers the fastest charging speeds of any model we tested.
This power bank charges itself from a fold-out AC plug or a Micro-USB input port, and it powers your devices on its two USB-A output ports.
As the writer of this guide, I spent 12 hours researching and 45 hours testing USB power banks and portable chargers. I’ve been a science journalist for more than seven years, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on solar battery packs, USB-C cables and adapters, portable laptop chargers, and more.
Most people could use a USB power bank or external battery pack—the question is, which one best fits into your habits? Some might need only a small battery to give their phones a boost at the end of the day, while people who travel a lot may be looking to power multiple devices over the course of several days. Rather than always having to track down a wall outlet wherever you go, owning a USB power bank allows you to enjoy a conveniently portable (albeit limited) power supply.
Even if you’re blessed with an abundance of charging options in your daily life—maybe you spend most of your day at home, at the office, or in the car—you could probably still benefit from a portable power bank. Something wallet-sized is great to always have on hand for those unexpected (yet critical) moments when your phone is dying and no outlets are nearby. But if you want something for weekend trips or a regular commute, slightly larger power banks can still easily fit in laptop bags, purses, or large pockets, offering two or more full charges for most smartphones. These power banks are robust yet portable, allowing you to charge other devices, too—wireless headphones, computer mice, keyboards, vaporizers, digital cameras, and more.
When you’re traveling in an unfamiliar place—relying on your phone to guide you and to potentially call for help—a power bank offers added peace of mind. Having a few of these placed strategically around the house isn’t a bad idea. You can keep one in your foyer to grab as you’re running out the door. Or you can have a power bank near the couch for when you’re cozily curled up under a blanket and you really, really don’t want to get up to plug in your phone.
The best replacement charger is the compact ZMI zPower Turbo 65W USB-C PD Wall Charger. It’s as powerful and reliable as one from your laptop’s manufacturer.
After 23 hours of research and 65 hours of testing, we’re sure that the Mophie Powerstation AC is the best portable laptop charger for most people.
Due to the unfortunate fact that battery technology has failed to keep up with the processing power of modern devices (subscription required to view link), USB power banks have become an increasingly popular way to help phones and tablets get through the day. You can find tons of brands and models to choose from, so we checked out major retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, and Target—as well as trusted editorial sources such as Digital Trends, PCMag, PCWorld, and TechRadar—to find the most well-known and widely available makers of USB power banks. From there, we built out a list of contenders based on the following features:
This process left us with the following portable battery packs, which we called in for testing:
We tested the performance of each power bank in a few key areas, including:
This ultraslim power bank fits in a wallet or pocket, can charge most phones to at least a third full, and is available in Lightning, Micro-USB, and USB-C versions.
Why we love it: If you want a USB power bank that you can carry around in your wallet or bag for a backup boost of portable power, get the TravelCard Charger for iPhones or the TravelCard Charger (USB-C) for devices that charge via USB-C. Neither model fully charges most smartphones, but either one is good to have in a pinch. For reference, an iPhone XS requires around 2,700 mAh for a full charge, and these power banks offer only about 1,500 mAh apiece.
These power banks are impressively powerful for how small (not much bigger or thicker than a credit card) and lightweight (2 ounces) they are. And their built-in cables free up space you’d otherwise have to devote to separate charging cables. This feature puts them well ahead of other credit-card-style power banks that lack such a convenience.
The TravelCard Chargers are totally straightforward to use: You charge them via the built-in USB-A cable and then charge your device using the built-in output cable (either Lightning or USB-C, depending on which one you get). A helpful notification light on the side of the charger next to the power button turns yellow when the battery is low and turns blue when it’s fully charged. The TravelCard Chargers even look like credit cards—sporting a sleek, metallic exterior—and the built-in cables are easy to pop into and out of their slots.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: The TravelCard Chargers’ 1,500 mAh capacity rating is the lowest of any model we’ve considered. They have slow charging and recharging rates too—power goes in and out at about 6 watts. That’s about a third of the charging speed that an iPhone X can handle, so the phone’s battery meter will tick up much more slowly. But we think what the TravelCard Chargers lack in power they make up for in portability, and these drawbacks are a small price to pay for the ability to fit a power bank and charging cable in your wallet.
Key specs:
This portable power bank has two built-in cables (Micro-USB and Lightning), can charge most smartphones twice from empty to full, and fits comfortably in most pants pockets or purses.
Why we love it: Even if you’ve never owned a USB power bank before, the Jackery Bolt is likely to make you a convert. It’s small and compact—roughly the size of a bar of soap—and it weighs only about 5.8 ounces, both of which make it an effortless addition to the existing contents of a purse or backpack. Plus, its built-in Lightning and Micro-USB cables—which smoothly slide into and out of their tiny holsters—negate the need for you to carry around a tangled mess of various cables. If you want the benefit of a longer cable, though, you can still use one with the Bolt’s USB-A output port.
The Jackery Bolt has a capacity rating of 6,000 mAh, which is enough for it to charge an iPhone X several times over. The Bolt is easy to use and has four pinpricks of blue light along the side that helpfully tell you how much power the bank has left. It also has a little built-in flashlight that doesn’t take up any extra space and can come in handy if you’re digging through your bag to find your keys. This feature, which none of our other power bank picks have, also means that you don’t have to use your phone as a flashlight and further wear down its battery.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: In our testing of the Jackery Bolt’s maximum output, we measured 11.9 watts from the USB-A port, 12.1 watts from the Lightning cable, and 13.8 watts over Micro-USB. That’s about as fast as you can charge most devices from traditional USB, so until Jackery releases a Bolt with USB-C support in this size, we think it’s a fair trade-off. The Bolt’s recharging speed is also fairly slow (we measured up to 8.7 watts), but again it’s a reasonable compromise for something that’s highly stowable and portable.
Key specs:
Able to charge even large phones like the iPhone XS Max or Samsung Galaxy S9+ from empty to full almost three times, this soap-bar-sized power bank offers the fastest charging speeds of any model we tested.
Why we love it: Even without the built-in cables we so prize in our other picks, the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux is a great choice, as it makes up for its deficiencies with faster charging and more power. This model’s rated capacity is 10,000 mAh—more than three full iPhone XS charges’ worth, and higher than anything else we tested—and its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port puts out 18.8 watts of power, enough to charge all of the latest phones at top speed.
With a measured input of 15 watts, it can also recharge itself more quickly than any other power bank we tested, so you can get charged up and out the door even faster. Its USB-A port puts out a little less power than those of our other picks—10.8 watts, compared with the Jackery Bolt’s 11.9 watts—but the difference isn’t noticeable in most cases. Like the Jackery Bolt, this Anker power bank is about the same size and shape as a bar of soap. And at 6.8 ounces, it weighs about as much as an iPhone X and not much more than the Jackery Bolt.
Its sleek, jet-black exterior and softly rounded corners make it easy to hold or slide into a pocket. Subtle grooves in the plastic act like the ridges of a fingerprint, giving the power bank an even grippier texture. And four little lights next to the power button tell you how much charge it has left.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: A major drawback of the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux is its lack of built-in cables. We always prefer having built-in cables over supplying and transporting our own cables, which take up extra space, get tangled, and are easily misplaced. But we have yet to find a power bank with built-in cables that’s as small and sleek as this power bank but also offers the faster charging of USB-C PD input and output. If you want the fastest possible charge and the highest capacity of any power bank we tested—and can bear to carry around a separate charging cable or two—this is a great option.
Key specs:
This power bank charges itself from a fold-out AC plug or a Micro-USB input port, and it powers your devices on its two USB-A output ports.
Why we love it: The Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 is the best power bank we’ve found that’s also a good wall charger. Rather than having a wall charger that you leave at home and a separate power bank that you carry, you can rely on a single gadget that does double duty. It’s easy to use: Flip open the AC plug and stick it in a wall outlet to charge it, wait for the three little battery-status lights on the side to light up, and then take it with you for hours of portable power. And you don’t have to worry if your power bank dies while you’re out and about, because you can charge it from any wall outlet.
The PowerCore Fusion 5000 is a relatively small portable charger—about the size of a standard tape measure—and you can easily stow it in an accessories pouch or a large pocket. Its rated capacity (5,000 mAh—enough for a bit less than two full iPhone XS charges) is similar to that of the Jackery Bolt. Each of its two USB-A output ports can send plenty of power to your devices, charging them faster than any other USB-A ports we tested: We measured 12.5 watts when it was plugged into a wall outlet and 15.5 watts when unplugged, so either way it can charge your phone a lot faster than the 5-watt charging brick that comes with an iPhone. You can recharge the PowerCore Fusion 5000 via the AC input plug (which sends 11.4 watts of power to the unit from a wall outlet, according to the test we ran with a Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor) or the 9.9-watt Micro-USB input port, which is convenient if you want to recharge it from a laptop or some other USB power source. Given this model’s capacity, that means it should take 1.6 hours to charge itself over AC or almost 2 hours over Micro-USB, according to our tests.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: We would have liked to see a USB-C output port incorporated into this model, since USB-C is faster and increasingly common. We know the technology exists, because a pricier Anker model (and the discontinued Jackery charger we tested) has this capability. Another big drawback of the PowerCore Fusion 5000 is that it’s less portable than something like the Jackery Bolt: It has a chunkier shape that’s not as easy to slip into a pocket, and its lack of built-in cables requires you to pack an extra cable or two to charge your devices. As far as two-in-one power banks go, though, it’s still fairly compact.
Key specs:
The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD was our pick for the power bank with the fastest possible charge until it was discontinued and replaced by the slightly smaller (same width and thickness, but about a half-inch shorter) Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux.
The Anker PowerCore+ 10000 fits easily in a pocket—it’s the same width as an iPhone SE, about twice as thick, and just a few millimeters taller. And, like the Redux, it has a hefty 10,000 mAh capacity rating. But it has a low recharge speed compared with other models we tested (just 12 watts), and it offers only USB-C output. We also think its rough texture and less-ergonomic shape (flat on one side, rounded on the other) make it a weak contender.
The Anker PowerCore Fusion Power Delivery is sort of a mashup of our favorite PD wall charger and the PowerCore Fusion 5000. In addition to a USB-A output port, it has a PD output port rated for 30 watts that should allow it to charge a MacBook Pro—something that none of the other two-in-one models we tested can do. But even so, we think its $80 price tag (more than double the cost of the PowerCore Fusion 5000 at this writing) is too steep for its 5,000 mAh capacity.
The EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra-Slim Power Bank (Lightning) and EasyAcc 6000mAh Ultra-Slim Power Bank (Micro-USB) are lightweight (4 ounces) and as high-capacity (6,000 mAh) as the Jackery Bolt. But we think the Bolt’s smaller size (in terms of height and width) make it easier to hold in your hand and fit into a pocket. Plus, the Bolt has two built-in cables (Micro-USB and Lightning), while these models each offer only one or the other.
The Flux Charger and Flux Lite are lightweight (3.1 ounces) and small enough to fit in a pants pocket. Both have a Micro-USB input port, a USB-A output port, and built-in USB-C and Lightning cables. The only difference between the two, as far as we can tell, is that the Flux Charger comes in either black or white color schemes and the Lite comes in pastel blue, pink, or lavender. However, the cables are nearly impossible to get back into their slots after charging—in contrast to those on the TravelCard Chargers and the Jackery Bolt, which are velvety smooth to slide in and out—and the materials seem flimsier.
The Flux Charger Plus has a higher capacity (10,000 mAh) than the Flux Charger and Flux Lite (both are rated for 4,000 mAh) and the Jackery Bolt (6,000 mAh). In addition to built-in Lightning and USB-C cables, it offers two USB-A output ports and a Micro-USB input port. But it’s not as portable as its smaller brethren, and its built-in cables are similarly sticky.
The HyperJuice USB-C + Lightning Battery (10,000 mAh) combines the best aspects of the Jackery Bolt (dual built-in cables) and the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux (10,000 mAh capacity, top USB-C PD charging speeds). We also like its sleek shape and dimpled texture. However, its lack of a USB-A output port makes it useless for charging many common devices (most wireless headphones, some Android phones, and more), and it’s one of the heaviest models we’ve tested. Plus, at this writing, it’s more expensive than any of our picks.
The intelliArmor Scout Max is a jack of all trades, master of none. It has a built-in AC plug and Micro-USB port to charge itself, and its built-in Lightning, Micro-USB, and USB-C cables can charge pretty much any handheld device. But unsheathing the cables and plug is trickier here than on other models we’ve tested (such as the Jackery Bolt and Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000), and its 10,000 mAh capacity is no better than that of the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux. Plus, we couldn’t find any warranty information on the company’s site and can’t vouch for its customer support.
The Jackery 6700mAh Portable Charger with Dual USB Wall Charger (discontinued) had USB-C and USB-A output, but it measured about a half-inch wider than the PowerCore Fusion 5000. It also offered only AC input, whereas the Fusion 5000 has a Micro-USB input port in addition to AC input.
The Mophie Powerstation Hub has a bit more capacity (6,000 mAh) than the PowerCore Fusion 5000, plus it adds a USB-C PD input/output port and Qi wireless charging. But we don’t think those features justify the current $100 price tag. Plus, representatives from Mophie told us that the company was issuing a voluntary recall of the international adapters that came with the Powerstation Hub following reports that the prongs could break off inside a wall outlet and cause an electrocution hazard.
The Mophie Powerstation Plus Mini has an adapter that lets you turn the built-in Micro-USB cable into a built-in Lightning cable, which is a nice idea, but sliding it on and off is not super smooth. The adapter also seems likely to vanish since it’s not tethered to anything. And without that adapter, the power bank is nearly worthless: You lose the Lightning-output function altogether, and the Micro-USB cable still works but doesn’t stay firmly in its slot.
The Mophie Powerstation Plus (USB-C) and Mophie Powerstation Plus Mini (USB-C) are sleek-looking and lightweight. But their built-in USB-C cables are especially tricky to get back into their slots, which we think would drive most people up the wall. And both are much bigger and heavier than the TravelCard Charger (USB-C), which solely offers USB-C output.
The RAVPower PD Pioneer RP-PB186 is nearly identical to the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, but we just barely prefer the Redux. The RP-PB186 has rough ridges at each of its seams that make it less comfortable to hold. But if you find it for significantly less than the Anker model, it would be a great alternative.
The RAVPower PD Pioneer RP-PB172 offers a wide range of input options, including Lightning, Micro-USB, and USB-C PD, but only the last will recharge the power bank at top speed. And aside from the PD port, it has only one USB-A output port. We think you’re better off spending a little more for one of our high-capacity power bank picks, all of which offer plenty of output options, have hub functionality (you can pass power and data through them), and are powerful enough to charge most laptops.
The Tronsmart Trim 10000mAh USB-C Power Bank and the Aukey PB-Y13 have the same capacity (10,000 mAh) as the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, and unlike that Anker model, they both provide Micro-USB input and Quick Charge 3.0 output. But we don’t think either feature offers a huge benefit to most people. Also, judging by our past experience with all three brands, we think the C-to-C cable that comes with the Anker model is a better value than the Aukey A-to-C cable or the Tronsmart Micro-USB cable.
The Xcentz 5,000 mAh and 10,000 mAh Portable Chargers are most comparable to the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux—they’re lightweight (less than half a pound each) and roughly the size of a candy bar, and they offer USB-A and USB-C PD output ports. But the rounded edges of the Redux and that model’s narrower shape make it more comfortable to hold or pocket, and they also give it a slightly more pleasing aesthetic.
The ZMI PowerPack Ambi 10K Dual USB-C Power Bank has the same capacity rating as the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux, as well as two fast-charging USB-C PD ports. However, unlike that Anker model, the ZMI has no USB-A output ports, which most people like to have, and its combined output rating (20 W) is lower than what we measured from the Anker (18.8 W and 10.8 W, or almost 30 W total). Plus, the ZMI is bigger and heavier than the Anker.
Sarah Witman
Sarah Witman has been a staff writer at Wirecutter since 2017. She has been a science journalist for over seven years, covering a wide variety of topics, from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter, she has researched, tested, and written about surge protectors, power banks, lap desks, mousetraps, and more.
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