I Tested a Dozen of the Best Portable Chargers—These Are the Compact Power Banks That Stood Out
adminUpdated 2 hours Ago6 Mins read
Portable chargers have become nearly as essential as the devices they’re meant to revive. Phones now hold our cameras, boarding passes, maps, hotel confirmations, currency converters, and translation apps, while laptops, tablets, earbuds, and smartwatches all need their share of power too. The problem is that shopping for a power bank can be oddly maddening: Many look nearly identical, carry different brand names, and make big claims that do not always hold up in real life.
For this guide, I tested a dozen portable chargers over a month and a half of travel, draining them in real-world conditions to find the ones actually worth bringing along. I also stuck to models that meet standard carry-on battery limits, since airlines are paying closer attention to lithium-ion batteries and in-flight fire risks. The options below are fast, packable, and practical, with picks for every type of traveler and trip.
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How I tested:
I tested 12 portable chargers from eight different brands over six weeks of near-constant travel, carrying them through Minnesota, Wisconsin, Southern Oregon, South Africa, Madagascar, and along an 11-day Danube river cruise from Bucharest to Budapest. I packed them in purses and carry-ons, and relied on them in airports and rental cars, on safari, and anytime I was roaming around a city on foot. Beyond my iPhone, I also plugged in my MacBook Air, AirPods, Apple Watch, Insta360 camera, and my four-year-old’s iPad.
Between travels, I kept testing them at home on long daycare commutes and motorcycle rides, where GPS, music, and action-camera filming drain batteries especially fast. I compared how comfortable each charger was to carry and hold, how quickly it powered up my devices, how long it held a charge before the battery itself needed a battery, how fast it recharged, and whether its ports, cables, size, and weight makes sense for busy travel days.
Best overall
Belkin
10K 23W portable charger power bank
I’ve been using some version of this Belkin power bank for years, and after testing many newer, flashier chargers, I still think it’s the best all-around pick. It’a not the smallest or fastest charger out there, but it is the one I trust most for everyday travel because the cables are built in and tucked neatly into the sides. That means no digging around for the right cord when your phone is already in the red. It also hits the sweet spot between power and packability: It charges quickly, has enough capacity for a long day out, and is still slim enough to fit in a small purse or deeper jacket pocket. I also like that it has both USB-C and Lightning connectors, because you never really know what you—or the person asking to borrow it—will need. The tradeoff is that it can be a little awkward to hold your phone while it is plugged in, and the four-dot battery indicator feels dated next to newer models with percentage displays.
Weight: 8.6 oz.
Charging power: 23W total output; charges two devices at once
Battery life: 10,000mAh; enough for about one to two full phone charges, depending on the device
Pros
- Built-in USB-C and lightning cables
- Charges two devices at once
- Reliable, unfussy design
Cons
- Clunky to use while plugged into your phone
- Battery indicator uses dots instead of a percentage
Best fast-charging power bank
The Iniu earned its spot by doing the thing a portable charger is supposed to do: charge quickly. When my phone was at 17%, it reached 42% in just 12 minutes, 77% in about 40 minutes, and 97% in a little over an hour, with plenty of power still left in the bank. I also like the display, which shows the exact percentage remaining instead of leaving you to decode a few blinking dots. The catch is obvious but important: You need to carry a separate cord. I forgot one during a harried travel day, and suddenly the fast charger was just an expensive brick in my bag.
Weight: 11.4 oz.
Charging power: Up to 60W total output; fast enough for phones, tablets, and some smaller USB-C laptops
Battery life: 20,000mAh; enough for several phone charges, depending on the device
Pros
- Charges very quickly
- Clear percentage display
- Strong performance for the size
Cons
- Requires a separate cable
- Chunky compared with slimmer everyday chargers
Best magnetic charger
Magnetic chargers sound better in theory than many of them perform in real life. Of the ones I tested, the Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K Slim is the most effective: It snapped securely onto my phone, was still comfortable enough to hold, and brought my phone from 80 to 97% in about 20 minutes. Its real appeal is convenience. If you are walking around town taking photos, building an Instagram story, or trying to follow directions, you can keep doing that while your phone juices up. It is also easier to manage than a separate brick-and-cable setup, which parents of grade schoolers with phones may appreciate too.
Weight: 7.6 oz.
Charging power: 15W wireless charging or 30W USB-C charging
Battery life: 10,000mAh; enough for about one to two phone charges
Pros
- Snaps magnetically to MagSafe-compatible iPhones
- Works with wireless-charging AirPods
Cons
- Best for iPhone users; Samsung and Google Pixel users may need a magnetic Qi2-compatible case
Best pocket-size charger
iWalk
Portable charger 5500mah
The iWalk 5th Gen portable charger is better treated as a pocket-size emergency backup than a full-day power source. It’s petite enough to slip into a pocket or purse and because the USB-C connector is attached, there is no cord to remember. In testing, it charged my son’s iPad from 66% to full, though the charger itself dropped to 45% in the process. That is exactly the use case: a quick hit of power on the go, not something that will have your back all day.
Weight: 3.6 oz.
Charging power: 22.5W fast charging via built-in USB-C connector
Battery life: 5,500mAh; best for a partial-to-full phone boost, not all-day power
Pros
- Palm-size design
- Slips easily into a pocket
- Built-in USB-C connector
Cons
- Limited battery life
- Only works with compatible ports
Best eco-friendly charger
Nimble
Champ portable charger
The Nimble Champ 10K is the straightforward eco-minded pick: compact, easy to pack, and made by a Certified B Corp that emphasizes lower-impact materials, plastic-free packaging, and free e-waste recycling. It has dual USB-C ports, so you can charge more than one device at once, and it handled smaller devices well in testing, bringing my Apple Watch from around 20% to nearly full in under an hour. I also liked the nylon lanyard—a thoughtful touch that made it easier to handle on the go. I would still prefer an integrated cable for travel, but the Champ is a capable day-to-day charger for anyone who wants a lighter power bank—or fun color options, such as Glacial Blue Lavender—from a company that prioritizes sustainability.
Weight: 6.2 oz.
Charging power: 20W USB-C output; charges two devices at once
Battery life: 10,000mAh; enough for about one to two full phone charges, depending on the device
Pros
- Dual USB-C ports
- Comes with a handy nylon lanyard
- Made with 90% recycled plastic
Cons
- Pricier than some comparable 10,000mAh chargers
- No built-in cable
Best for multiple devices
Best for sharing power
Nimble
Sharepower portable charger
This is the charger for traveling with someone who is always at 4% and has somehow made that your problem. The Nimble SharePower is made of two batteries that snap together into one power bank or pull apart so two people can charge separately. I like the idea more than the execution: The attachment felt a little loose, and each half is really only good for a nice bump—not necessarily a full recharge. Still, the concept is clever, the built-in USB-C connectors are convenient, and it is easier than hovering around a single charger with two phones plugged into it like you are sharing life support. Like the Champ, it also uses recycled materials, ships in plastic-free packaging, and includes free e-waste recycling.
Weight: 7.6 oz.
Charging power: Up to 35W when snapped together; each half delivers up to 20W when separated
Battery life: 10,000mAh total; enough for about one to two full phone charges, or one solid boost per half
Pros
- Splits into two chargers
- Built-in USB-C connectors
Cons
FAQ:
Can I travel with a portable charger on the plane?
Yes, but portable chargers should be packed in your carry-on, not your checked luggage. Most everyday power banks fall under the standard 100Wh limit and are allowed without special approval, but larger chargers between 101Wh and 160Wh require airline approval, and anything over 160Wh generally is not allowed on passenger flights. Damaged, swollen, or recalled batteries should not be packed at all.
Milliamp hours, or mAh, are a measure of battery capacity. In general, the higher the mAh, the more power a portable charger can store—but that does not translate perfectly to full phone charges, since charging speed, cable type, battery efficiency, and the device you’re charging all play a role. A 5,000mAh charger may be enough for an emergency phone boost, while 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh models are better for long travel days or multiple devices.
What brand makes the best portable charger?
Anker and Belkin are my favorite brands overall, though the best portable charger depends on how you travel. Anker makes some of the most reliable, thoughtfully designed power banks I tested, while Belkin stands out for polished, user-friendly designs. I also found strong niche options from brands like iWalk, Nimble, and Iniu, especially for travelers who want something lightweight or more sustainable.
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