5 Best Power Banks (2026); I’ve Tested More Than 100 | WIRED

Overview

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 many years. I’ve tested more than 100 portable chargers. But you only really need one.

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 Mag Safe/Qi 2 Power Banks for more magnetic wireless chargers, and Best Portable Power Stations for more power.

Details

Updated March 2026: I revamped this guide, slimmed down my recommendations, added more testing impressions, removed some older picks, and updated prices.

Best Power Bank Photograph: Simon Hill Photograph: Simon Hill Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Anker Laptop Power Bank

This is the only power bank you need. Anker combines style and substance with this versatile power bank that packs a whopping 25,000-m Ah 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 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 i Pad, a Poco tablet, a Mac Book, and a Chromebook. You can charge four devices simultaneously without any issues. After a year of use, mine still performs perfectly.

Best Smaller Power Bank Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Nimble Champ (Series 2)

You don’t always need a 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 m Ah) 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-m Ah 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.

Best-Looking Power Bank Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Sharge Shargeek 170 Power Bank

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-m Ah 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 i Phone 15 Pro, Pixel 8, Xiaomi 14 Ultra, and Mac Book 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.

Best Magsafe/Qi 2 Portable Charger Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Anker Mag Go Power Bank (10K) (Qi 2)

This entry in Anker’s Mag Go range was the first Qi 2 power bank I tested, and it's still the best. The Qi 2 wireless charging standard borrows elements of Apple’s Mag Safe, enabling supported phones to connect with perfect alignment using a ring of magnets. Qi 2 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 Qi 2 or Mag Safe phones in portrait or landscape orientation (it works with Apple’s Stand By mode). I tested with an i Phone 14 Pro and got 25 percent in around 20 minutes.

Despite a large capacity, it falls short of two full charges for your i Phone 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 i Phone or another Qi 2 phone, we recommend several slimmer alternatives in our Best Qi 2 and Mag Safe Power Banks guide.

Best for Apple Watch Photograph: Simon Hill Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Anker Mag Go Power Bank for Apple Watch

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-m Ah 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.

USB-C x 1, Apple Watch wireless charger, USB-C cable

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.

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.

Redmagic’s Go Power Bank combines a cool, modular look with a thoughtful and practical design, doubling as a 65-watt charger.

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 CO2 emissions than other power banks.

An adorable retro replica of Nintendo’s Super Famicom, better known as the SNES (Super Nintendo Entertainment System) in the US.

Not just a cute, wee robot face, this is also a super-speedy power bank offering up to 100 watts, unusual in a charger this size.

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).

This charger delivers up to 67 watts, with 2.3 feet of built-in USB-C cable when fully extended, but you can pull and stop at shorter lengths, and there’s also a USB-C port.

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 m Ah 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.

Surprisingly compact for a 25,000-m Ah battery, this weighs 1.1 pounds and has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port.

This has a 20,000-m Ah capacity for charging at up to 165 watts and supports many fast-charging protocols including PPS, QC, PD3.1, FCP, SCP, and Mi PPS.

Travel plug adapters cover trips to the UK, Europe, and Australia, among other places. It also has three ports and a magnetic Qi 2 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 and has a USB-A port to charge your phone and a built-in 100-lumen LED 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-m Ah 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.

One Plus Slim Magnetic Power Bank for $70: Sleek in silver-gray aluminum with a chamfered edge, this power bank looks lovely, but the 5,000-m Ah capacity is just over half that after inefficiency takes a bite.

Denvix Power X Power Bank for $180: This beefy 25,000-m Ah power bank can put out up to 200 watts via two USB-C ports, one USB-A, and a Qi wireless charging pad, but the finish is a little too smooth, and it gets very warm when charging multiple devices.

Iniu Portable Charger for $22: It's very small for a 10,000-m Ah 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.

Sharge Flow Mini for $30: With a similar design to Anker’s Nano Power Bank and the same 5,000-m Ah capacity, it comes with interchangeable USB-C to USB-C or Lightning connectors (which I worry will be easy to lose) and has a built-in USB-C cable that doubles as a strap, though it’s tricky to pull out. The charging rate maxes out at 12 watts.

Fans Dreams 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.

i Walk Portable Charger for $27: The 4,800-m Ah capacity won't come close to fully refilling your device, but it's tiny enough to keep in a bag at all times.

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 (m Ah), but this can be a little misleading because the amount of power you get out 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. 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 i Phones, 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, Goal Zero, 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 m Ah, 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. However, despite the high-profile coverage of batteries gone wrong, 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:

Make sure batteries aren't exposed to excessive heat (above 110 degrees Fahrenheit);

Avoiding cheap wall-outlet adapters, cords, and chargers is the most important. 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 in terms of 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 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 i Phone 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 i Pad Mini and a Mac Book Air. I test how long it takes to recharge each empty power bank.

Aside from 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.

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 these companies to ask for the product but never promise any kind of editorial coverage—that would be 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 process when ranking.

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Key Takeaways

• I hate running out of power
• 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
• Updated March 2026: I revamped this guide, slimmed down my recommendations, added more testing impressions, removed some older picks, and updated prices
• Best Power Bank Photograph: Simon Hill Photograph: Simon Hill Chevron Chevron Save to wishlist Save to wishlist Anker Laptop Power Bank
  $120$
  105 (13% off) Anker This is the only power bank you need
• This is the only power bank you need