The Best Portable Chargers
We've all experienced the dread of watching the battery power drain from our phone when we're far away from a power source. Portable chargers are a convenient way to extend your device's battery life when it's on its last leg. Many include advanced features such as wireless charging, fast charging, LED flashlights, and built-in cables. Whether you need to charge your smartwatch or laptop, there's a lot to think about when choosing a portable charger. So, we're here to help.
What to Look For
We asked ourselves the following questions to find the best portable charger: What is its capacity? How long will it take to charge my device? How many USB ports does it have? The Anker portable charger was our favorite bank. It comes with a 10,000mAh battery pack and excellent overcharge protection. Plus, it’s slim and easy to carry. However, if you need to charge more than one device at a time, check out the Miady portable charger, which comes with two USB charging ports. Keep reading to see the rest of our picks for the best portable battery chargers.
Anker Portable Charger
The gold standard
If you need a slim portable charger with a lot of power to get you through the day, look no further than the Anker portable charger. This charger is small enough to fit in your pocket and powerful enough to charge your phone in under an hour. Even better, you’ll be able to get at least two full charges for a smartphone and one full charge for a tablet using this power bank. It also has a trickle-charging mode that optimizes charging for low-power devices like headphones. You can quickly check how much juice is left in the charger by checking its LED power indicator, so you’ll always know how much charge you have left.
Pros:
- We appreciated the charger’s durable construction and sleek appearance.
- It charges phones and other devices rapidly, and there’s always enough power left for one or two recharges.
- The charger is lightweight and slim enough to fit your pant pockets.
Cons:
- You can only charge one device at a time using this charger.
Miady Portable Charger 2-Pack
Double your charge
Two is often better than one, and that’s certainly true for the Miady portable charger 2-pack. It’s an excellent choice if you need more than one power bank to charge your devices. Each power bank has a 10,000mAh battery and two USB output ports, ensuring your devices will never be without power. Plus, depending on your phone, you’ll get at least two full charges out of each of these power banks. They conserve energy by automatically powering off if they’re unplugged for 30 seconds or more, and they’ll power on automatically when connected to your device.
Pros:
- We love the high capacity of these. We found we can get as many as three charges from just one of the power banks.
- It has two USB ports allowing you to charge two devices simultaneously. With the 2-pack, that means you can charge four devices at once.
Cons:
- They weigh a little more than the competition.
iWALK Small Portable Charger
Small but mighty
If you want a compact and discreet charger that’s basically an extension of your smartphone, this is the power bank for you. The iWalk charger is the size of a lipstick case and attaches to the bottom of your phone. It’s easy to carry, fitting in your pocket or purse, so it’s easy to take with you wherever you go. But don’t let its small size fool you. This charger has enough power to fully charge an iPhone at least 1.5 times. It comes with a built-in lightning plug, so it charges phones super fast and eliminates the need to carry an extra cable.
Pros:
- The charger is lightweight yet durable, making it easy to carry just about anywhere.
- The power bank charges, and you can charge it while it’s connected and charging your iPhone.
Cons:
- You have to remove the phone case to use the charger.
Ekrist Portable Charger
Long-lasting charge
If you need a lot of juice to power your portable devices, you’ll want to check out the Ekrist portable charger. This charger boasts a 25800mAh Ultra-Huge Capacity that lets you charge your smartphone six to eight times without recharging the power bank. This charger is highly portable despite its massive battery with a sleek design. It comes with dual USB ports, so you can charge two devices simultaneously and will charge your phone’s battery quickly. You can check how much remaining power the charger has by looking at the LED lights on the front of the device, so you always know how much charge it has left.
Pros:
- We loved the convenience of charging multiple devices using this power bank without needing to recharge it.
- It’s great for long trips where you won’t have access to a wall outlet because the power bank can recharge devices several times on a single charge.
Cons:
- The charger’s surface is super smooth, so it can slip without a good grip.
GETIHU Portable Charger
Charge and go
When you’re on the road, you want a charger that won’t weigh you down. This lightweight charger gets the job done, fitting easily into your pocket or purse. Plus, its 10,000 mAh battery packs a big punch, recharging most phones up to three times on a single charge. It also charges fast, so you won’t have to wait long until your phone’s battery is fully charged. It has a bright LED display and dual USB ports, allowing you to charge two devices at the same time. As a bonus, it has a flashlight to light your path on dark nights.
Pros:
- We were surprised at the capacity, especially considering how lightweight it is. The battery is powerful enough to charge most phones at least three times on a single charge.
- The flashlight is actually quite powerful and comes in handy when fumbling for keys in the dark or finding your seat in a movie theater.
Cons:
- It takes a few hours to fully charge.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does mAh mean?
The abbreviation “mAH” refers to milliamp-hour, a unit that measures electric power, specifically batteries. A portable charger with a high mAh will have greater charging power than one with a low mAh. It tells you how long a portable charger can power another electronic device before you need to recharge it.
What’s the difference between a power bank and a portable charger?
There’s no difference between the two. A power bank and portable charger both refer to the battery pack that’s used to charge smartphones and other devices. Other synonyms include battery pack, wireless charger, backup charging device, pocket power cell, and fuel bank.
About the Author
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With the constantly shifting landscape in the world of technology, GameRevolution seeks to provide gamers and tech-enthusiasts with the information they need to select the right products for their needs. Since 1996, our experts have used their knowledge on all the latest gadgets – everything from headphones to standing desks – to help millions of people navigate specs and answer common questions.