What Features Should I Look for in Power Banks? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron There are a few things worth thinking about when you’re shopping for a portable charger. The capacity of a power bank is measured in milliampere-hours (mAh), but this can be a little misleading because the amount of power you get out depends on the cable you use, the device you're charging, and the charging method (Qi wireless charging is less efficient). You will never get the maximum capacity. We try to provide a minimum estimate of what you’ll get in terms of charges for devices. The charging rate for devices like smartphones is measured in watts (W), but most power banks list the voltage (V) and the amperage (A). Thankfully, you can calculate the wattage yourself simply by multiplying the voltage and amperage. Unfortunately, getting that maximum rate also depends on your device, the standards it supports, and the charging cable you use. Many smartphones, including Apple’s iPhones, support the power delivery standard, meaning you can use higher-power power banks to recharge the device with no issues. A few phones, such as Samsung’s Galaxy S range, support a supplementary PD protocol called PPS (Programmable Power Supply) that goes up to 45 watts. Many phones also support Qualcomm’s proprietary Quick Charge (QC) standard. There are also other proprietary fast-charging standards, but you won’t generally find power banks that support them unless they come from the smartphone manufacturer. Your device will need pass-through support if you want to charge your power bank and use it to charge another device simultaneously. The Nimble, GoalZero, Biolite, Mophie, Zendure, and Sharge portable chargers listed support pass-through charging. Anker discontinued support for pass-through in some of its products because it found that differences between the output of the wall charger and the input of the device being charged can cause the power bank to cycle on and off rapidly and shorten its lifespan. Monoprice does not support pass-through charging either. We would advise caution when using pass-through, as it can also cause portable chargers to heat up. Can I Take a Power Bank on a Plane? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron It’s safe to fly with a power bank, but there are two main restrictions to keep in mind when you board a flight: You must have the portable charger in your carry-on luggage (it cannot be checked), and it must not exceed 100 watt-hours (WH). If your power bank has a larger capacity than 27,000 mAh, you should check with the airline. Below that should not be a problem. Some airlines introduced stricter rules in 2025, so always check with your chosen airline before you travel. For example, some airlines prefer you not to use or charge power banks during a flight, some require power banks to be in your hand luggage under the seat in front of you and not in the overheads, and some limit the number of power banks you can have onboard. Why You Should Avoid Cheap Power Banks AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron Many years ago, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 gained notoriety when its batteries caught fire in a series of incidents. There's been a steady stream of similar, though isolated, incidents ever since. However, despite the high-profile coverage of batteries gone wrong, the vast majority of lithium-ion batteries are safe. The chemical reaction that occurs inside a lithium-ion cell is complex, but as in any battery, there's a negative and a positive electrode. In lithium batteries, the negative is a lithium-carbon compound, and the positive is cobalt oxide (though many battery makers are moving away from cobalt). These two compounds cause a reaction that is safe when controlled and delivers energy to your devices. When the reaction gets out of control, though, you end up with earbuds melting in your ears. What changes a safe reaction to an uncontrolled reaction can be any number of things: excess heat, physical damage during use, physical damage during manufacture, or using the wrong charger. The three basic rules that have kept me safe (thus far) through testing dozens and dozens of batteries are: Avoid cheap cords, chargers, and outlet adapters. Make sure batteries aren't exposed to excessive heat (over 110 degrees Fahrenheit). Regularly inspect batteries for signs of damage. Avoiding cheap wall-outlet adapters, cords, and chargers is the most important. These are your most likely source of problems. Those chargers you see on Amazon for $20 cheaper than the competition? Not worth it. They probably got the price down by skimping on insulation, leaving out power-management tools, and ignoring the basics of electrical safety. Price alone is no guarantee of safety, either. Buy from reputable companies and brands. Then there's heat. Too much of it can cause all manner of problems, both in terms of discharge and in terms of safety. Avoid heat, and pay attention to your batteries when they're charging. If your device gets overly hot when charging, this can be a sign of problems. Similarly, beware of any swollen, bulging, or otherwise misshapen batteries. How We Test Power Banks AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron I've been testing power banks for close to two decades now, and my home office has stacks of 'em at any given moment. I test every portable charger that comes in for at least two weeks. I always check how many times it can fully charge my test phone (currently an iPhone 16). I'll also try charging my Pixel 10 Pro XL and Samsung Galaxy S24+ to test charging speeds, and whatever else I have in. For larger capacity power banks, I test charge an iPad Mini and a MacBook Air. I test how long it takes to recharge each empty power bank. Aside from standard tests, I try to use the power banks in my everyday life, just to see how they feel, and my wife and kids often help out and share their opinions. For some of our top picks, I continue to test over months to try and get a sense of their reliability and durability, though it's not possible to do this for every device that lands on my desk. Beyond function, I take form and usability into account. I keep an eye on user reviews and consider the warranties and customer service of each manufacturer. How Does WIRED Select Power Banks to be Reviewed? AccordionItemContainerButton LargeChevron I often scan the latest releases to seek out worthy prospects, whether from an unknown new brand or an established favorite like Anker. I also get pitched many power banks every week. I sometimes reach out to these companies to ask for the product, but never promise any kind of editorial coverage—that goes against WIRED's editorial policies. While WIRED usually earns affiliate revenue if you purchase a power bank using our link, this is not factored into the decision process when ranking. There are too many power banks on the market for me to test everything, so I tend to stick to reputable brands, but there's always room for something new if it has a compelling new feature or price, and I cover as many as I can. (Leave a comment or send me an email if you want me to test a power bank from a certain brand!) Once testing is complete, I typically donate power banks to a local charity. I try to hang on to some of our top picks for comparison purposes and to test their longevity.
Other Portable Chargers We’ve Tested
There are so many portable chargers out there. Here are a few more we like that just missed out on a place above for one reason or another.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Aohi Starship Power Bank for $120: The Aohi Starship looks like something you might find on the Nostromo, with a black and yellow design, three ports in one end, and a display to show remaining battery life as a percentage and wattage in and out. Information is in yellow, but the display is very dim (too dim to make out in direct sunlight). This high-capacity power bank supports PD 3.1 and can deliver a chart-topping 240 watts for two devices via the two USB-C ports (140 watts and 100 watts), making it a good choice if you want to charge two laptops simultaneously. You can fly with it in your carry-on, and there's a 140-watt 3.3-foot USB-C cable in the box. Aohi also offers a bigger capacity 40,000 mAh model ($160), but it's capped at 140 watts.
Anker Prime Power Bank for $170: Anker’s innovative, high-wattage, high-capacity Prime Power Bank series kicked off a few years ago with an optional docking station for faster recharging via pogo pins on the bottom. The latest model is more compact and powerful than ever, offering 26,250 mAh at 300 watts across two USB-C ports and one USB-A, making it suitable for charging a couple of MacBooks and a smartphone at once. It also boasts a smart display and app control, and it comes with a 3.3-foot USB-C cable. Plug in both USB-C ports and you can recharge at 250 watts to 80 percent from zero in 20 minutes.
BioLite Charge 100 Max for $180: This durable power bank is versatile, a good size to slip into a bag, and has a nice, grippy textured finish. The yellow plastic makes it easy to spot in a bag or crowded tent, and the segmented LED shows the remaining power in blocks of 10 percent. The Charge 100 Max can simultaneously charge up to five devices, and the wireless charging pad on top is handy in the dark when you don’t want to fumble with cables. If you don’t need such a large capacity, we also tested and liked Biolite’s smaller and simpler 6,000-mAh Charge 20 PD ($50), 10,000-mAh Charge 40 ($70), and 20,000-mAh Charge 80 ($100).
Photograph: Simon Hill
Statik SmartCharge 5-in-1 Travel Power Bank for $70: Maybe you don’t care about charging at top speed or having a detailed LED readout; this power bank has much in common with the P3 Pro above, but costs far less. You get slide-on Type C, I, and G plug adapters for travel, a magnetic wireless charger (up to 15 watts), USB-A and USB-C ports, and built-in USB-C and Lightning cables. There’s even a rubbery carry loop and a teeny slide-out stand for your phone to sit on. It worked fine, charging multiple devices, but it is slow. The wireless charging pad never seemed to hit its max rate for me and lacks official Qi2 certification. You can also expect to get significantly less than the stated capacity.
Ugreen 145W Power Bank for $66: Surprisingly compact for a 25,000-mAh battery, this weighs 1.1 pounds and has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. Our former pick for tablets, the Ugreen, actually offers 145 watts, one USB-C port at 100W, and the other at 45W. There's a small LED readout on the side of the battery with the current charge state of the battery. I'd have liked to see some charging info on that screen as well, but that's a small quibble with what's an otherwise outstanding option if you need to keep your tablet or iPad charged up wherever you are.
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