Watching your phone or tablet steadily run out of power when you're nowhere near an outlet is stressful. Fortunately, third-party portable batteries are available in many sizes and capacities. Some power banks offer fast charging, wireless charging, built-in cables, AC adapters, and flashlights—and even the ability to jump-start your car. Regardless of your budget, you can find a portable charger that keeps your device going when your battery icon starts to dip into the red.
But with so many options to choose from, how do you know which one is right for you? Read on for our tips, followed by the most important points to consider as you shop.
Best for iPhone Owners
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$94.00
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True to its name, Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack is notable for its MagSafe support. You can simply stick it to the back of your phone to charge it wirelessly.
If you need to keep your iPhone running while away from home, you won't find a more convenient solution. This particular model is for people who own newer iPhones (iPhone 12 and up), which have MagSafe on board.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack ReviewBest Affordable PD Power Bank
$27.99
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The Anker PowerCore Slim 10K PD offers high-end features like USB Power Delivery for fast charging, as well as both types of USB ports at a reasonable price.
This 10,000mAh charger doesn't have the highest capacity, but it's more than enough for people who need just a little extra power throughout the day and don't have the patience for slow charging speeds.
Best Ultra-Portable Power Bank
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A huge battery capacity is convenient, but sometimes you need a small device that you can carry around without a backpack. The 5,200mAh Anker 321 Power Bank fits that need perfectly, especially because it offers both USB-A and USB-C ports.
This is ideal for people who care more about portability than capacity. It won't charge your phone multiple times, but it can still get you through a long day.
Best for Charging Laptops
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The Anker 737 features 140W output, which means it can charge bigger, more power-hungry devices like a laptop just as effortlessly as it can juice up a phone or tablet.
If you often need to charge a laptop when you're nowhere near an outlet, this 24,000mAh backup battery can lower your stress levels. It's more expensive than other options on this list, so people who tend to charge smaller devices like phones or tablets are better off with the more affordable choices.
Best High-Capacity Power Bank
$59.07
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The Mophie Powerstation XXL does it all—it has a considerable 20,000mAh capacity, 18W PD charging, and both USB-A and USB-C ports.
If you're looking to recharge a phone or tablet several times on the go (and quickly), this is a top choice. The only drawback is that it doesn't support larger devices like laptops.
Most Durable PD Power Bank
$46.21
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Many people know Otterbox for its durable phone cases, but the company is now bringing that expertise to the world of power banks. In addition to its strong build quality, the Otterbox Fast Charger Power Bank has all the key features you need, such as fast charging with PD, both types of USB ports, and several options for battery capacity.
If you are worried about damaging your backup battery when you travel or commute, this is one of the safest bets. It also comes with a limited lifetime warranty.
Best Solar-Powered Portable Charger
$47.05
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The QiSa Solar Charger can use the sun to recharge itself, supports both wired and wireless charging, and even has a built-in flashlight. Best of all, it offers a massive 38,800mAh capacity.
If you spend a lot of time outdoors, this is among your best choices for keeping your devices running while off of the grid. In other words, it’s camping approved.
These days "small" portable batteries have a capacity of around 5,000mAh, which means they easily fit into your pockets and still have enough power to fully top up your phone once.
Meanwhile, a 10,000mAh battery can give today’s flagships two full charges. A 20,000mAh battery can charge a flagship four times, or two phones two times. Some power banks have enough juice to power laptops. Of course, a higher capacity often translates to a heavier, larger, and more expensive battery.
Most companies advertise how many times their products can recharge popular phones, but if you want to calculate that number for yourself, RAVPower has a useful guide that can give you an estimate.
In the end, it’s best to assess your typical needs before buying. If your phone hits the red zone by mid-afternoon and you only need enough juice to get you to the end of the workday, a 5,000mAh battery should be plenty.
You’ll find three types of ports on today’s portable batteries:
Generally speaking, you charge the battery itself via micro USB or USB-C (input). Some batteries charge faster than others and USB-C charges much faster than micro USB.
Nearly all batteries include a standard USB-A port (output). This is for plugging in USB-A-to-micro-USB, USB-A-to-Lightning, or USB-A-to-USB-C cables for charging your iPhone or Android device.
Some batteries include built-in output cables and these generally have micro USB, USB-C, or Lightning connectors.
The most important thing to do is to match the battery’s output to your phone’s input. For example, if you have an iPhone, be sure the battery has its own Lightning connector or supports USB-A-to-Lightning or USB-C-to-Lightning cables.
Larger batteries with higher capacities might include a multitude of ports to support input and multiple outputs at the same time. You may see two USB-A and two USB-C ports, for example, though micro USB ports are becoming less common.
If you picked up an iPhone 13 or iPhone 14 and were surprised by the lack of an included wall charger, see our article on charging your iPhone.
Another factor to consider is how quickly a power bank can charge your device. Battery output is measured in voltage and amperage. Amperage (or current) is the amount of electricity that flows from the battery to the connected device, while voltage is the amount of potential energy. Multiplying volts by amps gives you wattage, the measure of total power. To make devices charge faster, most manufacturers either vary the voltage or boost the amperage.
Today’s devices support a wide range of rapid-charging technology, such as Qualcomm QuickCharge, USB Power Delivery, or proprietary fast-charge systems.
Quick Charge works by increasing voltage rather than amperage. This standard typically allows you to charge supported phones to 50 percent capacity in 30 minutes, which is especially helpful when you need power in a pinch.
Power Delivery is a newer protocol in which two compatible devices negotiate on the fastest charging option available based on the charger, cable, and circuitry. It also allows for power to flow both ways.
The most common devices (Apple iPhones and Samsung Galaxies) support charging rates of 27W and 45W, respectively. It’s best to look for batteries that can support charging in that range.
Pass-through charging is another feature to consider; with it, you can charge devices and the portable power bank simultaneously. That's convenient if both your phone and backup battery are running on empty. You shouldn't encounter any safety issues if the manufacturer of the portable battery you buy advertises pass-through charging as a feature, but the power output might be slower in this mode.
Wireless charging has become popular because it allows you to power up compatible devices without a cable. Qi is the dominant standard for compatible Android phones (up to 18W) while Apple iPhones rely on MagSafe charging (up to 15W). iPhones will charge wirelessly on Qi chargers, but only at 7.5W.
Some battery makers have built Qi or MagSafe-compatible wireless charging into the surfaces of their portable batteries. Such batteries mean you can leave the cables at home.
If you find that you often forget to carry your backup battery when you need it most, you should consider a dedicated battery case instead. These combine the portability and protection of a case with additional battery capacity to keep your phone topped off at all times.
There are several drawbacks. First, they have limited additional capacity on board. Second, they are limited in terms of the number of phones they support (mostly just iPhones, Galaxies, and Pixels). Third, you can't charge much else with them.
Why fumble around for a charging cable when you can rest your phone on a wireless charging pad? Whether you're an Android user or an iPhone fan, check out our roundups of the best wireless chargers and the best MagSafe chargers to help you cut the cord.
Steven Winkelman contributed to this story.
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