Traveling nowadays typically involves taking along multiple devices—smartphone, tablet, laptop, and the like. But you won’t always have access to a wall outlet to charge all, or even any, of them. That’s why it’s important to add a power bank to your pack. How do you find the best power bank for your needs among so many options? Before you buy, consider everything, from the different charging specifications to the ports to the included cables. It’s enough to leave a buyer scratching their head.
That’s where we come in. We’ve tested a ton of power banks from different manufacturers spanning the range of available price points and specs. We’ve curated a list of our favorites to help you find the best value. You can rest assured that our recommendations are all great picks as the PCWorld staff puts each power bank through a battery—pun intended—of tests. Below are our picks.
While our recommendations reflect a range of needs, if you spend a lot of time commuting you might also consider our roundup of USB car chargers. Also, take a look at our roundup of best power stations if you’re looking for something more substantial that can power your appliances while off-grid or in an emergency.
Mophie Powerstation XXL – Best overall
Pros
- Incredibly efficient
- Sleek fabric design
- Small footprint
Cons
- The indicator lights are an afterthought
Building on the success of the Powerstation Plus XL (our previous pick for best overall power bank), Mophie’s Powerstation XXL matches its predecessor in efficiency, achieving 92.51 percent of its stated maximum current, plus it’s stylish, portable, and affordably priced. It’s a no-brainer recommendation if you’re in the market for a dependable power source on-the-go.
Check out our complete article
Review Mophie Powerstation XXL
Tronsmart Presto PBT10 – Most portable
Pros
- Lightweight and small
- Efficient
- Compatible with QC 3.0
Cons
- Port alignment inside isn’t exact, but it still works
Small enough to fit into a coat pocket or the side pocket on a backpack, the Tronsmart Presto is an obvious companion when you’re on-the-go. It’s a 10,000mAh (37Wh) pack, with two USB-A ports, one with QC3.0 for fast charging.
Check out our complete article
Review Tronsmart Presto PBT10
Otterbox Fast Charge 20,000mAh – Best USB-C power bank with Power Delivery
Pros
- Well designed
- Reasonably priced
- Multiple charging standards supported
Cons
- Would love to see a second port or two added to it
With above-average efficiency, a rugged case, and Power Delivery, Otterbox’s Fast Charge power bank is a great option for your bag. It could easily be our pick for best overall power bank, if not for the fact that our top pick—Mophie’s Powerstation XXL features more ports.
Check out our complete article
Review Otterbox Fast Charge 20,000mAh
Einova Laptop Power Bank – Most stylish
Pros
- It is very useful.
- A nice touch is fabric covering
- Above-average efficiency
Cons
- Both USB ports should have identical charging speeds
With its stylish fabric-clad body, its discreet yet useful battery-status display, and its three USB ports (one of which is USB-C), Einova’s power bank adds flair and above-average battery efficiency to your everyday carry.
Check out our complete article
Review Einova 64W Ultra-Fast Power Bank
Powercore Fusion 5000 2-in-1 Portable Charger and Wall Charger – Best budget option
Pros
- Wall adapter with built in
- Two USB ports
Cons
- Not the most efficient battery pack we’ve tested
The Powercore Fusion 5000’s combination wall charger/portable power bank design makes it extremely convenient. The bank itself can be recharged via either method—power outlet or MicroUSB port. It’s limited to two USB-A ports for device charging, but that doesn’t dimish its great handiness-to-cost ratio.
Sherpa 100AC Portable Power Bank – Best for road warriors
Pros
- Informative display
- Approved by Airline
- Numerous ports
Cons
- Pricey
- Slow wireless charging
The Sherpa 100AC is a reliable companion, even if it’s expensive, for those who spend a lot on the road. Yes, at $299.95, you’re looking at a big investment. This purchase includes two USB-C ports that can charge at high speeds, two standard USB ports and a Qi wireless chargingpad. There are also two standard USB outlets and a U.S. 110V outlet. You also get a full set of cables and a status display. There are buttons to control various functions of the pack. The battery can be charged in a matter of hours.
Belkin 10K USB-C Power Bank with Integrated Cables – Most novel convenience
Pros
- Built-in cables
- 18W output
- Lightning and USB-C supported
Cons
- Average efficiency
- A little bit pricey
Belkin’s Charge Plus 10K USB-C Power Bank is a capable mobile companion in its own right—both its USB-C and Thunderbolt ports are capable of delivering 18W of battery power to your device, or 23W total if both ports are used simultaneously. But it’s the built-in cables for each port that really sets this power bank apart. Of course, you’ll pay a slight premium for the convenience.
Check out our complete article
Review Belkin 10K USB-C Power Bank with Integrated Cables
RAVPower Portable Power Station 252.7Wh Power House – Best power station
Pros
- Small form factor
- Many ports
- Includes a case and built in flashlight
Cons
- Designed for short trips and not for prolonged use
There are times when a mere power bank isn’t enough—the circumstances call for a power station. Say you’re spending the weekend off the grid. You might want to be prepared in case of an emergency. The RAVPower Portable Power Station 252.7Wh Power House can do the job. This portable power station is ideal for road trips as it has a large capacity, multiple ports, a built in flashlight, and a carry case. See our options page for more information. roundup of best portable power stations.)
Check out our complete article
Review RAVPower Portable Power Station 252.7Wh Power House
How do we test
Determining whether a power bank lives up to a company’s promise entails more than simply connecting it to a phone and charging. Tests of battery packs take place over several weeks and not just in a matter of days. This requires additional equipment to ensure that the batteries work as they should.
1. Upon receiving each battery pack, it’s fully charged, using indicator lights as a means to track charge level.
2. To track efficiency, we use the following: AVHzY USB Power Meter in tandem with a DROK Micro Load Tester.
As we use the DROK load tester to drain the pack of power, we are able to test against a battery’s stated maximum current, and verify that proper shutdown mechanisms are in place should something go wrong during a charging session (such as a device drawing over the maximum amps).
The AVHzY USB Power meter can be used to monitor volts andamps, total power throughput and the time taken to deplete a cell from full to empty. The meter can also create an Excel spreadsheet that shows the entire process. This can be used as a reference.
3. Next, we charged the battery again, using the AVHzY to track the progress and chart the time it took to reach full charge.
The AVHzY meter addresses a problem that we had with the PortaPow’s previous method. To track each battery’s charge cycle, we used a GoPro camera. The PortaPow monitor would still collect data after the battery was fully charged. Unfortunately, this interferes with our testing.
We will use Micro-USB instead if a battery can charge through USB-C.
4. The AVHzY has a built-in feature that checks a charging port against all its supported charging standards. This allows us to instantly run the test and receive an instant readout to confirm support of QC 3.0, for instance, without having to have compatible phones or devices.
Cables and power source
All of our tests were conducted with the same wall adapter. This was done in order to eliminate any discrepancies in wall adapters or cable throughput.
What to look out for in a portable battery bank
Without fancy testing equipment, you never truly know if you’re getting what you paid for with a battery pack. Vendors, especially those listed on Amazon, love to use a lot of terms.
Here are some tips to help you make an informed decision.
- Compatible devices should have a Quick Charge 2.0, 3.0, and PD certified battery packs. This can make a significant difference in performance depending on the smartphone. However, if you have a QC 2.0 device, consider whether it is worth paying more for a QC 3.0 capable package.
- Don’t put 100 percent confidence in a company’s claims of a pack being able to charge, say, a Galaxy S8 or iPhone X six times over. Battery efficiency and capacity vary depending on many factors. This article explains how to read this Macworld report on USB-C packs Find out more about capacity and batteries.
- Look at the specs of the battery, and ensure that its input isn’t limited to slow charging such as 5V/1A. The faster the input, the faster your battery pack rechargers, the faster you’re ready to hit the road.
FAQ
What devices can a powerbank charge?
Most power banks are used to charge mobile devices like smartphones, tablets, cameras and portable speakers. They can also charge laptops if the ports are available and the charging rate is compatible.
Power banks are not suitable for charging larger electronic devices in your house. If you’re looking for a backup power source during an emergency or while camping, you should instead opt for a power station.
What is the mAh capacity of a cell?
The battery’s storage capacity is measured in mAh (milliamperes per hour). A higher rating means that the battery can store greater energy and has a longer charge time. So for example, an iPhone 13 Pro Max’s battery is rated at 4,352 mAh. This means that a power bank of 10,000 mAh can fully charge the phone for just a little more than twice before it runs out of power.
What battery capacity should I look for?
You should aim for at least 10,000 mAh to make a portable power bank you can take with you. Many models now offer 20,000 mAh at reasonable prices. The higher the mAh, the better. However, you should weigh your power requirements against the size of the power bank.
A power bank with more mAh will generally be larger and heavier than its physical dimensions. When looking at a powerbank, it is important to first consider how much power you will need to charge your devices. Next, adjust your expectations to fit your size and weight.
How fast can a battery bank charge my devices
The output of the power bank as well as the input of the device will determine how fast your power bank can charge your device. Most power banks can charge a standard 3,000mAh smartphone in 90 minutes. Many power banks now have quick charging technology that speeds up the process. Tablets and laptops that are larger than smartphones may take longer to charge because they require more power.
Double-check that the power bank you are considering has an output that is equal or greater than your device’s input to ensure the fastest possible charging.
What is the average lifespan of a battery?
A few factors affect the life expectancy of a power bank. These include how often you charge it, the quality of the bank and the conditions under which it is kept. A high-quality powerbank should be charged every few weeks and kept in a dry, cool place for several years.
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