Imagine this: you’re on a family vacation to an amusement park and use your phone while waiting in line for some entertainment and to plan out the rest of your evening. Then, when nighttime rolls around, you need your phone to get back to your hotel, but it’s getting very close to dying. Now, what do you do to navigate around in a foreign city?
Power banks were created so you can charge your phone on the go without needing to be tethered to an outlet the whole time. Good power banks will have a quick charge, offer multiple charging ports, be a good size and weight, be durable and damage resistant, and provide a consistent charge over numerous uses. You can find all of these qualities and so much more in our list of favorite power banks below.
Ekrist Portable Charger Power Bank
Best Overall
Weather-Resistant Portable Power Bank
This portable power bank is long-lasting to give you a quick and efficient charge no matter where you are, and the weather resistance allows you to charge your phone in any conditions you experience.
Why We Love It:
- Weather-resistant
- Long-lasting
- Quick and efficient charge
Something to Consider:
- May take a while to charge fully
- May be heavier than expected
iWalk Portable Power Bank
Best for Travel
Small Bank that Packs a Punch
This lightweight, compact, and portable power bank doesn’t sacrifice any of its charging ability despite being made for travel, so it provides a quick charge and is compatible with multiple cord types.
Why We Love It:
- Easy to use without many cables
- Quickly charges phone on the go
- Strong charge for smaller size
Something to Consider:
- Side button may get pushed and waste charge
- May not plug into phones with cases well
Anker Power Bank
Most Consistent
Good Sized and Weighted Power Bank
Get a consistent charge for multiple days with this portable power bank that comes in a good size and weight to carry with you anywhere you go. Never be stranded out and about with a dead device again.
Why We Love It:
- Consistent charge for days
- Great customer service
- Great size and weight for travel
Something to Consider:
- May not charge as fast as expected
- Stickers may be hard to remove
INUI High-Speed Portable Charger
Longest Battery Life
Portable Power Bank with Extra Light
This power bank with a lightweight design comes with an extra light to read or operate in a dark environment while providing a long-lasting battery to charge at least four devices on one charge.
Why We Love It:
- Comes with extra light
- May provide 4 or more charges on one charge
- Lightweight design
Something to Consider:
- Charging ability may decrease after time
- May get warmer than expected
2-Pack Miady Dual USB Power Bank
Fastest Charging
Sleek, Colorfully Designed Option
This dual pack of power banks allows you to charge multiple devices at once without compromising on charging speed while still looking sleek. To help it stand out, it’s also available in a few different colors.
Why We Love It:
- Sleek colors and design
- Dual-pack allows for more device charging
- Charge devices extremely fast
Something to Consider:
- One may not work as well as other
- Bigger electronics may struggle to charge
FOCHEW Wireless Smart LED Power Bank
Most Diverse Charging
Quick and Long-Lasting
This wireless power bank allows you to charge your devices while working quickly to bring them back to life. It also features a long battery life with around five device charges per one bank charge.
Why We Love It:
- Wirelessly charges phone in about 2 hours
- Convenient size and weight for travel
- Good for around 5 charges
Something to Consider:
- May charge slower than expected
- May not have the mAh power stated
FAQs
What is mAh, and what does it measure?
You’ll notice that most of these power banks have their power listed in mAh or milliampere per hour. This is a unit of measurement for the energy in the battery calculated by how many milliamperes the device can discharge over time. This measurement just tells you how much energy is needed to power your power bank and how much it can give to your devices.
Do I need a specific cord for my power bank?
Most of the power banks on our list have various ports for multiple charging cords, with the most common being USB and USB-C. Almost all devices should be able to have their charging cords plugged into these power banks, but it is always good to do the proper research into which charging cord you have and what port you need to plug into so you don’t have to buy a new cord after purchasing your power bank.
Buying Guide
It can be hard to know what power bank may be right for you, especially if you’ve never bought or used one with your devices before. Here are some tips we have to help you decide:
- Portability: Most people want to be able to take their power banks with them whenever they travel, so you need to have one that easily fits into a bag or your pocket to go along with you. Look for lightweight and smaller ones if this is your top priority.
- mAh: You want your power bank to be able to charge your phone quickly and likely more than once per charge, so you want to find one that has a higher mAh level to hold more energy to use.
- Weather Resistance: If you plan on using this while you are outside on the go, you want to make sure it can survive light rain or hot conditions. Look for power banks that have some weather resistance to them.
- Port Shape: You want to be sure you’re buying a power bank that’s compatible with your charging cord, so you don’t have to buy a new one on top of the power bank. Look into the port shapes or wireless charging banks.
