I've just switched up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and while the battery life is much better, I still find that there are days when I need a power bank. And that's just my smartphone! I have a lot of other stuff that I need to keep charged! From action cameras to drones, everything needs to be kept topped up.
My power banks have to work hard, which is why I recommend buying power banks from reputable brands. And I work to keep those brands honest by extensively testing dozens of power bank every year using an array of gadgets to make sure that they do what they say they do on the box. I test capacity and power output for all of them. If the power bank claims water resistance, I test that. If there a durability claim, rest assured that is also tested to a high level, too.
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What is the best portable charger right now?
I've rigorously tested hundreds -- yes, literally hundreds -- of portable chargers in recent years, putting me in the perfect position to identify which ones truly deserve your hard-earned money. It takes a long time to test a power bank, testing that involves power meters to measure capacity and power output, testing durability claims in real-world tests, followed by a chunk of time using the item on a day-to-day basis. But at the end of this, I know just how good a particular power bank is.
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My pick for the best power bank overall goes to the Anker Nano 10,000 mAh for its portability, quality construction (this power bank has been knocked about by me in a handful of countries), the fact that it has USB-C and USB-A ports which means it caters to both old and new devices. And to top it all off, it comes with a super handy built-in USB-C cable. And you get all that for $30.
While the Anker Nano is my favorite, there are plenty of other options with different price points, features, and brands in mind. For example, if you're looking for a power bank with sheer power, the Cuktech P-series 25,000 mAh can give you several recharges of a smartphone or close to a full recharge of a MacBook Pro, or there's the nearly indestructible Dark Energy Poseidon Pro, which can take a hammering.
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The best power banks of 2025
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