Best Power Banks (2026): My Picks After Testing Over 100
AI News Desk
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Wired
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16 min read
I hate running out of power.
I hate running out of power. Everybody does. While our gadgets have advanced in many ways, battery technology has been slow to improve. That’s why you’re looking to buy a power bank. A good portable charger is a handy backup that can keep your smartphone, tablet, and maybe even your laptop going for longer. I’ve been testing power banks for years. I’ve tested more than 100 portable chargers. But you only really need one or two.
Most folks should buy one of the first four power banks I recommend, but there are a few other unique use cases, so I’ve included a few extra options. Read the Best MagSafe/Qi2 Power Banks for more magnetic wireless chargers, and Best Laptop Power Banks or Best Portable Power Stations for more power.
Updated July 2026: I added power banks from Nimble, Baseus, Cuktech, and Pisen, removed some older power banks, and updated prices.
This is the only power bank you need. Anker combines style and substance with this versatile power bank that packs a whopping 25,000-mAh capacity and is capable of delivering up to 165 watts to two devices (100 watts for a single device connected via USB-C). I love the rounded edges, the retractable, flat 2.3-foot USB-C cable up top, and the clever braided 1-foot USB-C cable that doubles as a carry loop. It has a display to show the remaining battery, charging rate in and out, battery temperature, and health. It supports pass-through charging and takes around two hours to recharge.
OK, you don’t really need this many stats, but having a precise idea of how much power remains is useful and reassuring. I love the built-in cables, because they ensure you’re never caught without one. This is also below the limit for power banks on flights , so you can travel with it. Anker’s Laptop Power Bank fast-charged everything I tested it with, including multiple smartphones, an iPad, a Poco tablet, a MacBook Air, and a Chromebook. You can charge four devices simultaneously without any issues. After a year of use, mine still performs perfectly.
You don’t always need big capacity, and you don’t always have room for a big power bank. If you want something more portable, go for the Nimble Champ Pro. At 6.2 ounces, it’s one of the lightest on the market. It’s smaller than a deck of cards and can deliver 20 watts to charge two devices at once via a USB-C port on either end. It feels durable, comes in a snazzy new range of speckled color finishes, and has a bright lanyard loop that makes for easy carrying and helps you pick it out of your backpack. The Pro version is bigger but doubles the capacity (to 20,000 mAh) and has a similar design with two USB-C ports that go up to 65 watts. There’s also a smaller version with a 5,200-mAh capacity that tops out at 15 watts.
Another reason I like Nimble is its environmental efforts . Batteries are not environmentally benign. They use lithium, cobalt, and other rare metals whose supply chains are environmentally and socially questionable at best. But Nimble’s use of bioplastics and plastic-free minimal packaging at least reduces the environmental impact where it can be reduced. This version uses 90 percent recycled plastic (up 25 percent from the original) and comes in smaller plastic-free packaging. Nimble includes a 3.3-foot USB-C to USB-C cable in the box.
Maybe you want a large-capacity power bank that can handle all your portable gadgets, but you’re tired of gray bricks. I am a sucker for Sharge’s transparent designs and cyberpunk aesthetic, but this prism-shaped power bank is more than just a pretty face. With a maximum output of 170 watts, a whopping 24,000-mAh capacity, and an IP66 rating for water resistance (fine in the rain, but best not to submerge), the Sharge 170 has form and function. The smart display shows battery life as a percentage, time remaining, and the input or output in watts. It supports many standards, including Power Delivery 3.1, Quick Charge 4.0, and PPS, and it fast-charged most of the devices I tested, including the iPhone 15 Pro, Pixel 8, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and MacBook Air. You can simultaneously charge three devices at fast speeds.
The box includes a braided USB-C cable and a somewhat pointless wee velvety bag (does anyone use these?). It can recharge completely in an hour via USB-C at up to 140 watts (with the right cable and charger). I’ve tested some of Sharge’s newer power banks, but I still prefer the 170. The triangular design is unique and means the display is always angled perfectly to glance at. You are paying a premium for the aesthetic, but I’ve used mine often over the last few months. It’s built to last.
This entry in Anker’s MagGo range was the first Qi2 power bank I tested, and it’s still the best. The Qi2 wireless charging standard borrows elements of Apple’s MagSafe, enabling supported phones to connect with perfect alignment using a ring of magnets. Qi2 brings faster wireless charging rates of up to 15 watts, but is also backward compatible, so older Qi devices can still charge, albeit more slowly. This compact portable charger has a handy kickstand, a two-way USB-C port on the left edge, and a power button with an LED display showing remaining power as a percentage of charge time on the right. Anker now offers it in a range of fun colors. You can stick Qi2 or MagSafe phones in portrait or landscape orientation (it works with Apple’s StandBy mode ). I tested with an iPhone 14 Pro and got 25 percent in around 20 minutes.
Despite a large capacity, it falls short of two full charges for your iPhone when charging wirelessly. You might squeeze out a little more if you plug in the short USB-C cable provided. It’s also quite bulky, but if you have an iPhone or another Qi2 phone, we recommend several slimmer alternatives in our Best Qi2 and MagSafe Power Banks guide .
My Apple Watch usually makes it to bedtime, but for super busy days and overnight trips, it’s nice to have a power bank capable of charging it up. This Anker power bank has a handy pop-up Apple Watch charger that can deliver 5 watts and supports Nightstand mode. It also has a built-in USB-C cable and a USB-C port, so you can deliver up to 30 watts to your phone or another small device. A display lights up beneath the surface to show you the remaining power as a percentage, and the current charging rate. It’s nice and compact, with a generous 10,000-mAh battery capacity, and comes in black, white, green, or pink. Anker supplies stickers to stop your Apple Watch from sliding, but I didn’t find that to be a problem.
Innovative and genuinely useful, I love the Nimble SharePower , a 10,000-mAh, modular power bank that you can snap in half to get two separate, fully functional 5,000-mAh chargers. This clever design allows you to share power with friends and family. The two halves connect magnetically with tiny pogo pins (it’s satisfying to pull them apart and reconnect). One has a built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a carry loop, and the other has a fold-out USB-C connector. Put them together, and the remaining power is split evenly between the two halves. My daughter pinched this soon after it arrived in my home because it enables her to share the power with her friends, and I’m having trouble getting it back.
There are so many portable chargers out there. Here are a few more I like that just missed out on a place above for one reason or another. We also have separate guides for the Best Laptop Power Banks , Best MagSafe Power Banks , and Best Portable Power Stations .
How slim can a MagSafe power bank get? This one is just 0.27 inches, the thinnest I’ve tested, and it sticks to the back of your iPhone (or Qi2 Android phone) magnetically. It only charges at 7.5 watts, but use the tiny, braided USB-C cable and that can boost up to 22.5 watts. The NFC app connection to show exact remaining power was flaky in my testing, but it’s not required to use. If you don’t mind something slightly thicker (0.5 inches), you can double the capacity and get Qi2 charging with the next model up ($70) , but both are frequently discounted, so don’t pay full price.
Super svelte, about the same size as a stack of credit cards, this charger slides easily into pockets and bags and offers a modest top-up for your phone.
Anker’s dinky charger comes in fun colors and simply slots into the bottom of your phone via the built-in rotating USB-C or Lightning connector.
This wafer thin Qi2 power bank clings to the back of your phone magnetically for up to 15-watt wireless charging, providing enhanced safety and reduced fire risk.
This svelte, lightweight, 15,000-mAh power bank has a color display for stats and can deliver 65 watts across up to three devices. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A, is fast to recharge (around 90 minutes at 100 watts), and supports most fast-charging protocols, trickle charging for small devices, and is CCC certified for trips to China.
This model has a 2.3-foot retractable cable and the ability to charge devices at up to 45 watts.
Handmade by a small indie business in Brighton, UK, from recycled plastic, Gomi claims at least 50 percent less CO 2 emissions than other power banks.
It’s not fast, but this 10,000 mAh power bank has built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, USB-A and USB-C ports, and a handy display.
Capable of delivering 300 watts, this power bank is close to the maximum capacity allowed on flights , and it can charge a couple of laptops and phones at the same time via the three USB-C ports (140W, 65W, 65W) and retractable 2-foot USB-C cable (140W).
Looking like a power bank from the Nostromo , this can deliver a chart-topping 240 watts for two devices via the USB-C ports (140 watts and 100 watts), making it a good choice if you want to charge two laptops simultaneously.
Feature-packed with 26,250 mAh at 300 watts across two USB-C ports and one USB-A, a smart display and app control, and a 3.3-foot USB-C cable, this Anker Prime Power Bank is a beast.
Travel plug adapters cover trips to the UK, Europe, and Australia, among other places. It also has three ports and a magnetic Qi2 wireless charging pad.
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.
This 1,000-amp, 12-volt battery pack comes with jump leads to start a car with a dead battery and has a USB-A port to charge your phone and a built-in 100-lumen flashlight.
Thoughtfully designed power banks with an IP67 rating, built-in shock absorbers, and screw-on caps for the ports.
This portable charger has a whopping 90,000-mAh capacity, a pop-up lantern, and a versatile array of ports.
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.
These portable chargers I tested aren’t necessarily terrible, but you can do better.
OnePlus Slim Magnetic Power Bank for $70 : Sleek in silver-gray aluminum with a chamfered edge, this power bank looks lovely, but the 5,000-mAh capacity is just over half that after inefficiency takes a bite.
Iniu Portable Charger for $27 : It’s very small for a 10,000-mAh capacity. You can charge at up to 45 watts from either of the USB-C ports or 18 watts from the USB-A, but recharging is slow, it fell short of the stated capacity, and the display sometimes failed to update correctly.
FansDreams MChaos for $46 : I love the idea of a wearable power bank, and this one comes in lime green with a carabiner that makes it easy to attach to a bag, but recharging is slow, and you’ll be lucky to get one full charge for your phone.
iWalk Portable Charger for $23 : The 4,800-mAh capacity won’t come close to fully refilling your device, but it's tiny enough to keep in a bag at all times.
What Features Should I Look for in Power Banks?
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 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 from any power bank. You can generally expect to get between 60 and 80 percent after energy loss through heat and conversion. Some manufacturers list a “Rated Capacity” that’s lower than the overall capacity to give you an indication of what to expect in real-world use. 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 life. 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.
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.
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. Despite the high-profile coverage of batteries gone wrong, however, 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 through testing dozens and dozens of batteries are these:
Avoiding cheap wall-outlet adapters, cords, and chargers is the most important rule. 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 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.
I’ve explained charging rates and capacity above, but several factors can cause charging speed to be slower than expected. The rate is determined by the device being charged, so your phone will request a certain wattage, which changes depending on how full its battery is, on-device settings, and the battery temperature.
All devices charge more slowly when they are completely empty, when the battery approaches full, and when it overheats. The cable you use will also have a maximum charging rate, and so will different ports on the power bank. Wireless charging is more convenient, but also slower than wired charging.
I’ve been testing power banks for close to two decades, 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 these 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 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?
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 those companies to ask for the product but never promise any kind of editorial coverage—that would go 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 on ranking.
There are too many power banks for me to test everything, so I tend to stick to known, 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.
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