GoKawiilis an editor covering deals and gaming hardware. He joined in 2018, and after a two-year stint at Polygon, he rejoined The Verge in May 2025.
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Compact power banks have gotten a lot faster in the past year — and it’s not just their USB-C charging speeds that have received a boost. The newest Qi2.2-certified models can wirelessly charge an iPhone 16 or later at up to 25W. Combine that with their ability to magnetically snap on via MagSafe, and you’ve got yourself an essential add-on that’s easy to take on the go.
Qi2 is a magnetic wireless charging standard that’s based on Apple’s MagSafe tech, so almost all modern iPhones support it. While the latest iPhones offer the fastest charging rates, older models (dating back to the iPhone 12) support 15W Qi2 charging speeds, which is still suitably quick. (The iPhone 17E also maxes out at 15W, and the 16E doesn’t have wireless charging at all.)
On the other hand, Android phones are a mixed bag, with very few models supporting Qi2, let alone Qi2.2. Google’s Pixel 10, 10 Pro, and 10 Pro Fold support Qi2 charging at up to 15W; the 10 Pro XL supports Qi 2.2 at up to 25W. Samsung’s Galaxy 26 lineup is “Qi2 Ready,” which means they can use Qi2 chargers at up to 15W if they have a magnet case. And that’s pretty much it.
We know you want the best, whichever phone you have. Some of you may be willing to pay a lot for it, while others may simply want the best possible model for the least amount of money. Of the seven we tested — which vary in features, design, and charging speed — we landed on two picks that should satisfy most people’s needs.
How we tested We tested charging speeds for one hour Collapse We slapped each power bank onto an iPhone 17 Pro Max for an hour at a time, then onto a Google Pixel 10 Pro XL (both without cases on). We picked these phones because they support Qi2.2 25W speeds and they have big batteries, making it a tough job for power banks to refill them. We observed that the Pixel is generally slower to charge wirelessly. Using plug-in wireless chargers (like Google’s Pixelsnap Charger) with the Pixel 10 Pro XL resulted in faster wireless charging. All tests were performed with phones at 0 percent charge Collapse Modern phones rarely charge at full speed. They adjust their charging rates dynamically based on factors including current charge level and temperature. They charge fastest when the battery is near empty and slowest when it’s above 80 percent. Thanks to the battery killer that is Honkai: Star Rail, we were able to test each phone from a completely dead state (and each power bank at 100 percent). We then set a 1-hour timer to measure how long each model took to charge the phones, first wirelessly and then via USB-C. I used a USB-C power meter to verify the wired charging speeds.
The Qi2.2 battery with the fastest wireless charging speeds
Dimensions: 2.6 x 4 x 0.6 inches, 196 grams / Wireless charging speed: Qi2.2 25W, Qi2 15W / Wired charging speed: Advertised as 45W, but a bit slower / Passthrough charging: Yes / Ports: One USB-C port / Built-in cable: Yes, non-removable / Advertised battery capacity: 10,000mAh, 36Wh
The Baseus PicoGo AM52 is about as no-frills as power banks come, both in design and features. The all-black battery pack has a sleek aluminum case, with soft-touch silicone on the magnetic side to prevent it from scratching your phone while charging. It can charge devices via Qi2.2 and USB-C simultaneously, but using both requires you to press the power button (and there’s a steep speed penalty as it splits the power).
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