Phones and other portable devices have evolved at a rapid pace over the last decade, they became a lot faster, more capable, got greater storage capacity and a lot more features.
As a result the need for portable power has increased and to make your device last longer, you need the best power banks you can get.
You may think that this is the fine example of Moor’s law in practice, yet if you look at the battery performance – it could not be further away from the truth.
For one reason or another, the reality is that the battery storage development pace is not keeping up with other technologies.
This is where a good power bank will help you bridge this gap, but which one is the top power bank that is most suited for your needs?
The amount of power banks available on the market today is simply astonishing. Making sense of all the options available is overwhelming, to say the least. There are hundreds of brands selling power banks, but which ones are worth your money?
Let’s look into this a bit closer as we have done the legwork for you. We have shortlisted the top 10 best power banks available on the market today.
Best Portable Battery Packs – Our Top 10 Picks
| Image | Weight / Capacity / Size / Ports | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Small – myCharge Adventure Portable Charger | ||||||||
| Best small power bank for emergency top up and casual use. | ||||||||
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| Best for iPhone – Ventev Powercell 6010+ | ||||||||
| Portable, stylish and features a built-in cable management solution for you iPhone. High speed charging, slim design and LED charging indicator. | ||||||||
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| Best for USB-C Connection – Mophie Powerstation Plus | ||||||||
| Sleek and portable design with USB-A and USB-C ports that can be charged in parallel. Both ports have cables built-in and support Fast Charge that is up to three times faster than a conventional wall socket. | ||||||||
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| Best Durable – Zendure A3 (Editor’s Choice) | ||||||||
| The most rugged power bank in our review. It also looks great and is reasonably priced. | ||||||||
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| Best For Camping & Hiking – Goal Zero Venture 30 | ||||||||
| Best outdoor power bank for camping, hiking, and other active sports. Tough and water-resistant body with a built-in flashlight. | ||||||||
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| Best Slim – Aukey PB-XN10 (Editor’s Choice) | ||||||||
| Great capacity, slim case, smart charging and an affordable price tag. An everyday power bank for most applications on the go. | ||||||||
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| Best Cheap – Anker PowerCore 10000 | ||||||||
| One of the best budget power bank with 10000 mAh capacity available on the market today. | ||||||||
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| Best Multi Device – RAVPower 16750mAh (Editor’s Choice) | ||||||||
| One of the best power banks for demanding users. It features a couple of smart technologies to manage the optimal charge rate and extend battery life. | ||||||||
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| Best For Laptop – MaxOak K2 | ||||||||
| Due to its immence capacity, K2 is one of the best power banks for laptops and ultrabooks. Heavy and not exactly very portable, but extremely capable. | ||||||||
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1. Best Power Bank For iPhone – Ventev Powercell 6010+
If you like the convenience of just carrying one gadget, Ventev Powercell 6010+ is the battery pack to consider.
It has a built-in USB-C cable and foldout outlet prongs – you don’t have to bring an extra charger and cable just to keep it charged.
If you use an Apple device, Powercell 6010+ comes with a Lightning connector. Besides that, it can also function as a charger for your phone while charging itself.
Thanks to a 12W of total output, fast charging is always available.
Only slightly bigger than a Google Pixel, Ventev Powercell 6010 Plus is your perfect travel companion. Its 6000mAh battery capacity is in the midfield of modern battery packs, but its lightness more than makes up for it. The length of the USB-C cable is smartly designed as well, as it is long enough for you to maneuver a difficult charging port while short enough to keep your phone tethered to your side.
However, this battery pack is only designed for North American use since the built-in outlet prongs cannot be replaced by a different plug. It might not be for you if you travel outside of North America often unless you are willing to sacrifice its portability by bringing a travel adapter plug.
| Bottom Line |
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Ventev Powercell 6010+ has everything you would expect from a battery pack and more – a built-in Lightning connector, foldout outlet prongs, and the ability to act as a wall charger for your phone. Although it is only designed for North American power outlets, Ventev Powercell 6010+ is easily one of the smartest design battery packs for traveling. |
- Capacity 80%
- Features 80%
- Ports / Connections 70%
- Value 80%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Light and compact | |
| Foldout outlet prongs | |
| Works as a wall charger | |
| Quick charge and recharge | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Only designed for North American power outlets | |
| Built-in cable can be a bit stiff | |
2. Best Small Battery Pack – MyCharge Adventure Mini
At only 4.4” x 1.1” x 1.0”, MyCharge Adventure Mini fits perfectly in your pocket.
With this little battery pack, you can keep your phone charged without carrying the bulky brick of a battery pack.
Despite the size, it is surprisingly heavy-duty, thanks to its IP67-rated rugged build with a rubberized finish.
It is drop-proof, waterproof, and dirt-proof, which makes it great for either outdoor trips or just a day in the city.
There is also a carabiner that you can use to attach it to your bag or belt loop.
One of the key features of the MyCharge Adventure Mini is pass-through charging, a technology that allows you to charge your portable power bank and phone at the same time via a wall outlet. It also recharges up to 50% faster than its competitors and can retain charge for up to a year.
However, it sacrificed certain useful features to keep it small and compact. You have to rely on blinking LED lights to check how much power it has since it doesn’t have a display. It also doesn’t have built-in cables. Although its 3,350mAH battery capacity can fully charge most phones with no problems, it is not made for more powerful devices like iPads or tablets.
| Bottom Line |
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MyCharge Adventure Mini is the smallest power bank in our review. Despite only weighing 0.2lbs, it can fully charge most phones on the market with its 3,350mAH battery capacity. It is also waterproof, dust-proof, and drop-proof, making it one of the best pocket-sized battery packs to bring on short hiking trips. |
7.8/10
- Capacity 70%
- Features 80%
- Ports / Connections 70%
- Value 90%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Built-in carabiner | |
| Sturdy built with a rubberized finish | |
| IP67-rated | |
| Pass-through charging | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t have a display or built-in cables | |
3. Best Rugged Power Bank – Zendure A3
Zendure A3 has undergone a number of upgrades and the latest generation comes with 10000mAh capacity which is more capable and affordable than ever.
The original focus on strength and toughness has not changed as the battery pack is made from a crushproof PC/ABS composite material. In fact, it is not only tough but also stylish, which quite often are two mutually exclusive attributes.
There is only one port on the power bank, but a capable one. It is rated at 2.1A which is equivalent to quick charging without the actual support of Qualcomm’s Quick Charge feature.
The manufacturer claims that the power bank has an 80% efficiency rate which is in line with the numbers observed throughout our testing. This gives you 8000 mAh of pure usable power. Zendure A3 can be charged in under four hours, which is a pretty good result compared to the competition. Moreover, the smart technology integrated into the unit retains 95% of the charge for up to 6 months.
| Bottom Line |
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Zendure A3 has found a sweet spot and made a power bank which is durable, efficient, stylish and reasonably affordable. If you are after something tough that also looks good – you can’t go wrong with Zendure A3, it is the best-rugged power bank you can get in this size. |
- Capacity 90%
- Features 90%
- Ports / Connections 80%
- Value 90%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Fast charging/recharging | |
| Extraordinary durability | |
| Long-term standby | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Feels a little too thick | |
| Single USB charging port | |
4. Best Power Bank for Camping – Goal Zero Venture 30
Goal Zero Venture 30 has been designed with outdoor use in mind. It has an ultra-rugged case, multifunction torch (light and stroboscope) and a vivid color frame.
The power bank features two 2.4A USB outputs cleverly integrated into the body that supports simultaneous charging.
The smart charge feature determines the quickest way to charge your battery with up to 4.8 amps being available at your disposal.
It is great to see both ports supporting a higher charge rate, which is uncommon amongst the competition.
There are 2 buttons on the battery pack to check the charge level and turn on the flashlight.
Although the Venture 30 is advertised as waterproof, it is only partially correct. It is IPX6 certified, which means that it can handle high-pressure jets from all angles, but it has not been designed for submersion.
The battery pack can be fully charged in four hours using the USB or around ten hours (under the direct sunlight) using the Goal Zero’s solar panel (sold separately).
| Bottom Line |
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Goal Zero Venture 30 is not the cheapest option out there, but if you need something solid for the outdoor use, it is worth paying the premium. The case is remarkably strong and water-resistant which ensures that you have the power on hands even in the most demanding conditions. Coupled with a solar recharging kit, the Venture 30 is one of the best power banks for camping, hiking and outdoor use in general. |
- Capacity 80%
- Features 90%
- Ports / Connections 80%
- Value 80%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| IPX 6 water and dust resistance rating | |
| Versatile flashlight | |
| Rugged and water-resistant body | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| A little too expensive | |
| Would like to see better performance when charging from the solar panel (e.g. Nomad 7) | |
5. Best Slim Power Bank – Aukey PB-XN10
If your priorities are affordability, performance, and design, AUKEY Sprint Slimline 10000mAh is worth a good look.
It sports a minimalistic design with rounded edges that not only look good but is easy to hold.
At only 6.88 oz, it is very travel-friendly and portable. Despite that, it feels surprisingly well-built and ready for some rough usage.
It takes 7 hours to fully charge the power bank, so you can wake up to a fresh battery pack if you plug it in before bedtime. Not that you would need to recharge it very often though.
With a 10000mAh lithium rechargeable battery, it can fully charge devices with big batteries like iPhone three times and Samsung Galaxy phones twice before it runs out of charge.
It has two charging ports – a USB port and a USB-C port with fast charging. Any devices with a total power output of 15W can be charged together. AUKEY Sprint Slimline 10000mAh is compatible with all 5V devices
You can also charge a low-current device (Bluetooth headphones or FitBit) with your high-powered electronics simultaneously, thanks to AiPower Adaptive Charging Technology. This ensures that your devices are charged with the safest recharge rates.
It doesn’t automatically cut off the power supply after your device fully charges. But using additional built-in safeguards, there is no risk of overcharging or overheating.
| Bottom Line |
|---|
| AUKEY PB-XN10 Sprint Slimline delivers smart, fast, and simultaneous charging for a very affordable price tag. It doesn’t automatically cut off the power supply after your device is fully charged, but that is a small complaint about a power bank that otherwise performs flawlessly. |
- Capacity 90%
- Features 70%
- Ports / Connections 70%
- Value 100%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Great battery capacity in slim case | |
| Portable and lightweight | |
| Adaptive charging technology | |
| Simultaneous charging | |
| Amazing value | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Doesn’t cut off automatically | |
6. Best Budget Power Bank – Anker PowerCore 10000
Anker is a reputable brand in battery packs which is known for its simplicity and reliability and PowerCore Speed 10000 is not an exception.
Although the power bank hosts 10,000 mAh it is remarkably compact and lightweight.
The power bank comes with Voltage Boost, Quick Charge 3.0 and PowerIQ technologies that allow for a quick and reliable charge which is uncommon in the budget power bank range.
There is no pass-through charging support and only one charging port, yet the benefits far outweigh the drawbacks in our opinion.
There are not many battery packs that can compete with the value proposition of Anker PowerCore Speed 10000, so if you are value-cautious you can’t go wrong with this powerbank.
| Bottom Line |
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Anker PowerCore Speed 10000 is a very strong general-purpose power bank. It features a strong plastic body which packs more power than we had expected. Its asking price puts it among the best budget power banks on the market. If you need an affordable, reasonably compact yet capable 1000mAh power bank – this is one of the best value power banks around. |
- Capacity 90%
- Features 70%
- Ports / Connections 60%
- Value 90%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Compact and light | |
| Quick and intelligent charge (up to 4 times faster than a conventional charger) | |
| Exceptional value | |
| Quick power bank re-charge | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| No pass-through charging | |
| Single charging port | |
7. Best USB-C Power Bank – Mophie Powerstation Plus
Mophie Powerstation Plus is a sleek design external battery specially designed for on the go charging.
It features a slim profile, built-in hideaway cable and packs enough punch to charge most of the portable devices you might carry around.
It has a visually appealing design that follows iPhone lines. The body features aluminum outer edges and rugged body.
The battery pack hosts 6000 mAh of electric power and features two USB-C and USB-A ports that allow simultaneous charging.
Both ports support fast charge with USB-C delivering up to 18W and USB-A up to 15W of power. Compared to the most typical USB wall charger that has 5W, Mophie Powerstation Plus can charge your portable device up to three times quicker.
In addition to supporting a pass through charge from the wall socket, the power bank has a smart priority charging built-in. It ensures that the connected devices get charged first and only then the power bank itself.
| Bottom Line |
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Mophie Powerstation Plus is a sleek and stylish battery pack with integrated cable. It was specifically designed for mobile phone charging using USB-A and USB-C connections. With built-in Fast Charge, the power bank can recharge the supporting devices three times faster than the standard wall charger. If you are looking for the best portable power bank for your Android smartphone, it does not get any better. |
- Capacity 80%
- Features 90%
- Ports / Connections 80%
- Value 70%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Premium build quality and slim profile | |
| Fast Charge on both ports | |
| Priority pass-through charging | |
| Integrated cables | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| A little pricey | |
8. Best Power Bank for Multiple Devices – RAVPower 16750mAh
We have seen many quality power banks made by RAVPower and RAVPower 16750Mah has to be one of the most impressive ones.
It has highly efficient LG/Panasonic lithium-ion cells, great build quality, and sleek design.
Yes, some may find it a little bit bulky and heavy, yet in my opinion, it packs more than meets the eye and is well worth the top spot in its category.
The two USB ports can provide the maximum output of up to 4.5A individually or around 3.0A when being charged simultaneously.
RAVPower 16750Mah has a built-in iSmart technology, which automatically determines the charge rate most applicable to your device to optimize the charging process and extend your battery’s life. It also comes with a light, in case you need a hand getting it connected to a device in the dark.
The only letdown we found is the excessively long charge time. Our test showed that anywhere between 7 and 9 hours are required to fully recharge the battery pack.
| Bottom Line |
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With so many great features, RAVPower 16750Mah is worth the attention of any power demanding user. The battery pack looks, feels and performs outstandingly. Multiple device parallel charging and built-in iSmart technology make it one of the best power banks for larger devices or multi-device use. |
- Capacity 90%
- Features 80%
- Ports / Connections 80%
- Value 90%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| Great Design | |
| Fast and Smart charge process | |
| Anti-scratch coating | |
| Integrated flashlight | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Long recharge cycle (i.e. 7+ hours) | |
9. Best Power Bank for Laptop – MaxOak K2
Named after the second tallest mountain in the world – MaxOak K2 is by far the largest portable battery store in our review.
It has been specifically designed for laptops, hence it came out rather bulky and heavy. The battery pack is not exactly very portable, not for every day at least.
At the same time, given the right target audience, K2 can be an amazingly practical choice in the field of its own.
To put things into perspective in terms of its capacity – iPhone X has a battery capacity of 2,658mAh. This means that K2 would be able to charge it a whopping 20 times!
The body has a metal finish, which gives it a nice and aesthetically pleasing feel with all buttons and ports positioned on one side. You get six charging ports that allow parallel charging and pass-through charging, in case you need to charge your power bank too. You get a one 20V@3A, one 12V@2.5A, two USB 2.1A and two USB 1A ports.
Given the size, the only way to charge this monster would by using a proprietary wall charger, which takes around eight hours to complete.
On the downsize, fast charging is not supported, so if this is a key feature for you, I would consider Anker PowerCore+ 26800. In addition, Apple and USB-C ports are not officially supported, but given the correct USB adapter, you can make it work.
The manufacturer says that the power bank is compatible with 90% of laptops on the market, so unless you have an iMac, you should be covered, but double-checking never hurts as some of the more demanding laptops (like gaming) could be excluded.
Also, hosting 185Wh of power makes it plane-travel unfriendly as FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) sets a limit of 160Wh.
If, however, you are not planning to take the power bank on a plane and your Windows-based laptop requires days of running power – K2 may be just the thing for you.
| Bottom Line |
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If you are looking for the Juggernaut of power banks that pushes the limit of what portable power is – you have just found one! Specifically designed for laptop use – MaxOak K2 can charge most laptops 2 times. In addition, it can charge up to five other portable devices in parallel. Unless you have a Mac or require charging a gaming laptop while playing this is one of the best-rated power banks for laptops and ultrabooks out there. |
8.5/10
- Capacity 100%
- Features 80%
- Ports / Connections 100%
- Value 80%
| POSITIVE | |
|---|---|
| 12V, 20V and 4 USB ports | |
| 14 different DC connectors for laptops | |
| Massive capacity | |
| Can charge most laptops 2 times | |
| NEGATIVE | |
|---|---|
| Apple products not officially supported | |
Best Power Banks – Detailed Feature Comparison
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Jackery Mini
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Anker Slim 5000
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Jackery Bolt 6000
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Zendure A3
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Goal Zero Venture 30
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Aukey PB-N50
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Anker PowerCore 10000
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Mophie Powerstation Plus
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RAVPower 16750mAh
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MaxOak K2
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight (oz) | 2.7 | 4.16 | 5.3 | 5 | 8.9 | 6.7 | 7 | 6 | 11 | 43 |
| Size (inches) | 3.7 x 0.9 x 0.8 | 5 x 2.5 x 0.4 | 4.3 x 0.9 x 1.9 | 3.7 x 2 x 1 | 4.5 x 3.25 x 1 | 0.63 x 4.57 x 2.87 | 4 x 2.5 x 0.86 | 2.8 x 5.6 x 0.5 | 5 x 3.2 x 0.9 | 8 x 5.3 x 1.3 |
| Capacity (mAh) | 3350 | 5000 | 6000 | 10000 | 7800 | 10000 | 10000 | 6000 | 16750 | 50000 |
| Smart Charge | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Fast Charge | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Number of ports | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 6 |
| Pass-Through Charge | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| SCORE | 8 | 7.8 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 8.3 | 8.3 | 7.8 | 8 | 8.5 | 8.5 |
How do we test Portable Battery Packs?
To have a good idea of whether the power bank delivers on its promise or not, you either need to go through some rigorous use or have the sophisticated equipment to help you out, or even better – both! We’ve learned not to trust manufacturer’s claims as often they are far from the actual result.
Since multiple devices can benefit from portable power these days, we run our power banks with all types of devices, starting with best rated eBook readers with large screens to small, but capable wireless Bluetooth earbuds that only need a little bit of power to recharge.
Below are a couple of important points for you to keep in mind when choosing a power bank:
- Keep in mind the Quick Charge 2.0 or 3.0 compatibility with your phone. Paying for a power bank that supports Quick Charge 3.0 whereas your phone supports only Quick Charge 2.0 could be a waste of money.
- Do not trust the ‘charges the battery x times’ type of claims. There are many factors that determine the number of times you will be able to charge your phone with a power bank, including your phone’s battery condition.
- Check the power bank’s input voltage and current throughput. The lower the number is, the longer it will take to complete the charge. Values of 5V/1A (which corresponds to standard USB rates) or below would result in slow charging.
- An ability to charge the power bank whilst it is charging the other device(s) is termed as a pass-through charging. It may not sound important in the first place, yet in practice, it is more than handy.
The main five aspects we consider when reviewing power banks are:
- Capacity to Size ratio
- Battery life
- Features
- Ports and connections
- Value
We will help you to make your selection process easier and faster, but essentially you need to decide on a set of features that matter to you the most to get the perfect fit. Above we have reviewed the top power banks on the market in various sizes, capacities, and features.
Frequently Asked Questions
What capacity power bank do I need?
- Find the mAh rating for the device you are planning to charge (e.g. 2000 mAh)
- Add 20% that will be lost in the process of charging (e.g. 2000 + 20% = 2400 mAh)
- You will get the power bank’s capacity required to fully recharge the battery of your device once
How long does it take to charge a power bank?
How else do people refer to a power bank?
What type of cells are used in power banks?
- Li-Ion batteries are cheaper to make and have their efficiency decrease with age.
- Li-Po batteries are more expensive to produce and last longer.
How does fast charging work?
Here is a brief video explaining the battery fast charting process in slightly more details:
Jackery Mini is so small, can it really charge anything?
We have managed to get 60% of iPhone 8’s battery charged
Is Mophie Powerstation 8X worth the money they are asking?
Hard to say, perhaps if you want your power bank to be super slim…. otherwise – not really.
I think Samsung is pulling out of Power Banks, no?
Not sure, but they have drastically reduced their lineup, I think they only have 1 power bank available.
Without mentioning brand names, one of the items here has a remarkably high number of units failing after short use. Read the user reviews on Amazon carefully (start with the worst) before you buy. I am the victim of one of these nice reviews (not here) and had a non-functioning unit after a couple of weeks.
Thanks for your feedback, it is appreciated. Unfortunately, all power banks (like all items) fail at times, so having used multiple – I am not sure which one are you referring to. If you have something valuable to share with the readers, please feel free to do so, no problem.
You should probably have included Veho Pebble P1 Pro as it is an amazing power bank for all needs, best for mobile!
It is a nice looking power bank, but it is relatively new to the market. We personally did not have confidence in the product yet, so decided to wait out and see how it performs over time.