Featured Product: Aukey 10,000mAh USB-C Power Bank | $12 | Amazon | Clip coupon
Even smartphones that typically last a full average day can wilt under stress. Whether it’s added use from traveling as you hammer the GPS and snap photos or you bleed it dry by streaming movies and playing glossy 3D games, a low battery before bedtime can really put you in a bind.
Luckily, there’s an easy and affordable backup plan: a portable power bank. Most of them are compact enough to comfortably fit within a pocket or bag, and they let you recharge your phone at a moment’s notice. Some are even powerful enough to charge laptops or a Nintendo Switch, and may have added perks like wireless phone charging or solar panels. Here are some of today’s top options.
Best Overall: Aukey 10,000mAh USB-C Power Bank
If you’re just looking for something straightforward, large enough to carry a couple of phone charges, and shockingly affordable, then Aukey’s 10,000mAh USB-C power bank can do the trick. It’s about the size of a large smartphone, albeit thicker, while the capacity should recharge your phone two or three times over.
It’s only $12 right now with a coupon clip, making it one of the most affordable options in this size and capacity from a trusted brand. There are a lot of entry-level options like this, but Aukey’s power bank is always at a great price and has strongly positive reviews from users.
Best for Switch: RAVPower 26,800mAh Portable Charger
Maybe a little battery like the one above won’t be enough. If you’re keen on charging power-hungry devices like a Nintendo Switch, iPad, or maybe even some less-demanding laptops, then RAVPower’s 26,800mAh portable charger can fit the bill.
It holds a huge amount of reserve power and charges at a higher 30W rate, which is enough to charge the Switch even while you’re playing it, and can also charge a MacBook Air, for example. And of course, you can use it for smartphones too: it’ll hold several phone charges.
Best for Laptops: MAXOAK 100W Travel Laptop Power Bank
Need something even MORE powerful? Well, if you’re trying to charge a more powerful laptop on the go, such as MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 13, then you’ll need something like MAXOAK’s 100W Travel Laptop Power Bank.
At 99Wh/26,756mAh, it thankfully meets TSA criteria, which means you can bring it on a plane in your carry-on bag—higher-capacity options aren’t as lucky. This beefy bank can give you a couple of laptop charges when you’re working on the go, or you can plug in multiple devices at once to charge all of your portable electronics.
Best for Outdoors: GoerTek 25,000mAh Solar Power Bank
If you’re looking for a power bank that’s built for a long hike, camping, or any other extensive outdoor activities, then this is the one. GoerTek’s 25,000mAh power bank holds a lot of juice, but even better than that is the ability to charge it via solar power.
The solar panels can power up the bank while strapped to a backpack or when hanging at the campsite, plus it has a super-bright light panel thanks to 36 LEDs. You can charge it through a wall outlet too, but the solar edge, water resistance, and lights make this incredibly handy for outdoor adventuring.
Best Wireless: Aukey 10,000mAh Basix Pro
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You don’t even need to carry a charging cable for this unique power brick. Aukey’s 10,000 Basix Pro wireless portable charger is built for high-end phones that have wireless charging capabilities, letting you simply lay your phone on top of the power bank to start charging.
Sure, you can plug in a cable like normal, but wireless charging is an added convenience for those of you with compatible phones. On top of that, the charger has its own kickstand, so if you’re going to watch videos on your phone, simply prop up the charger, stick your phone on the pop-out shelf, and enjoy the show as your phone charges all the while.
Our Quentyn Kennemer reviewed the Aukey Basix Pro and was impressed by its versatility, even if it’s not the longest-lasting brick around:
“I think Aukey has something sweet on its hands here. This is a well-balanced power bank with the ultimate versatility thanks to the Qi wireless charging contacts and kickstand, and even with three devices attached, it barely produces heat. You’ll wish for something bigger than its 10,000mAh capacity if you’re looking to cover more than a couple of devices at a time, but it’s worth grabbing one if you just need a convenient everyday carry.”
Best for Apple Users: Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank
If you’re someone who wields an iPhone, Apple Watch, and wirelessly-chargeable AirPods and want a power bank that can handle all three of them without pesky cords, the Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank is your best bet.
It’s a modestly-powered 10,000mAh battery brick, but the Apple Watch-compatible inset on the surface lets you charge the smartwatch alongside another wirelessly-chargeable device, whether it’s an iPhone, AirPods, or another phone or compatible device. It has USB-C and USB-A ports for wired devices, too.
All that said, it’s very expensive at $100, but could be worth the investment for Apple users who are out and about often and demand a lot from their devices. Gizmodo’s Andrew Liszewski summed up the experience in his review:
“Whereas Anker’s $20 solution features just a single USB-C and USB-A port, Satechi’s Quatro includes both of those plus a wireless charging pad that works with any Qi-compatible device, and a magnetic Apple Watch charger because, for whatever reason, the Apple Watch doesn’t play by all the Qi standard’s rules. From my testing the Quatro can charge up to four devices at one time, including a laptop—very, very slowly—so you’ll need to be strategic about which approach you’ll use to charge your various devices: wired vs. wireless.”
This story was originally published by Andrew Hayward in November 2020 and updated with new information on 02/05/2021.