The 9 best power banks and portable chargers in 2024 — October top picks

A bunch of portable chargers and battery banks on top of table..
(Image credit: Future)

Power banks and portable chargers have become an essential addition to your gadget arsenal — keeping smartphones, tablets, wireless earbuds and even laptops topped up in those clutch moments where you're away from plug outlets.

In those moments, be it on a long-haul flight or out in the great outdoors, it can be a painfully anxious time to stick everything on low power mode and pray your tech makes it. To combat this, you need something reliable, durable, and packed with the capacity and speed to charge.

With that in mind, we've done a battery (pun intended) of tests on some of the most highly rated portable chargers on the marked — pulling together a list of the best picks that are worth your hard-earned money.

Personally, I've been using a combination of two. First, the Anker Prime 20,000 mAh brings a nice compact size and a lot of capacity for everything from keeping my phone charged over a weekend in the wilderness to powering my Steam Deck on a long flight.

And second, if I just need something smaller for the day trips, Ugreen's Nexode 12,000 mAh has come in handy with its 100W power delivery in such a small package

We've got these best portable chargers ranked in order of what we would buy, with shoutouts for the best portable charger, our favorite budget charger, and the best portable charger for iPhone.

The quick list

Here's a quick overview of the best portable chargers you can buy right now based on our testing and reviews.

Jason England
Jason England

Jason brings a decade of tech and gaming journalism experience to his role as a Managing Editor of Computing at Tom's Guide. He has previously written for Laptop Mag, Tom's Hardware, Kotaku, Stuff and BBC Science Focus. In his spare time, you'll find Jason looking for good dogs to pet or thinking about eating pizza if he isn't already.

The best portable chargers you can buy today

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The best portable charger overall

Anker Prime 20,000 mAh charging an iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

1. Anker Prime 20,000 mAh

The best portable charger overall

Specifications

Capacity: 20,000mAh
Output Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A
Max Speed: 200W
Weight: 1.2 pounds
Measurements: 5 x 1.96 x 2.15 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Large battery capacity
+
Speedy 200W charging
+
Handy smart display

Reasons to avoid

-
Bulky and heavy

Anker’s well known for its lineup of power solutions, so it comes at no surprise that the Anker Prime 20,000 mAh power bank tops our list of best portable chargers. With its generous battery capacity, it’s more than capable of charging small stuff like your phones and wearables — but it’s also powerful enough to charge laptops too.

What makes it better is that it features a maximum charging speed of 200W, which is ridiculously fast if your device can support it. For fast charging phones, it could take 30 minutes or less to get it back up to 100% capacity. Meanwhile, the unit itself charges at a speedy rate of 100W. There’s also a handy display that shows its charging capacity and the actual speeds it’s charging with its USB ports.

In our testing, it charges an iPhone 15 Plus up to 25% with 10 minutes of charging, which turns out to be the third fastest time. It's also one of the few power banks that keeps your gadgets honest about their charging speeds because the display shows the current charging speed — so if a phone maker makes a claim that its device charging at 50W — the Anker Prime 20,000 mAh can verify that.

The best budget portable charger

INIU 10,000 mAh Portable Charger on tabletop.

(Image credit: Future)

2. INIU 10,000 mAh Portable Charger

The best budget portable charger

Specifications

Capacity: 10,000mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-C, 2x USB-A
Max Speed: 3A
Weight: 7 ounces
Measurements: .2 x 2.7 x 0.5 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Speedy short-term charging
+
Dual USB-A ports
+
3-year warranty

Reasons to avoid

-
Not the fastest to a full charge

Although it might not be as familiar a brand, the INIU 10000 mAh charger is the best budget portable charger with its affordable cost. You won’t spend a whole lot picking it up either, since it frequently gets discounted to get it down to around $20, which is super cheap compared to the other options.

This INIU charger holds up nicely as a battery bank for on-the-go because despite the its small capacity, it charges an iPhone 15 Plus to 25% in 10 minutes of charging. Even with its ultra affordable cost, we’re glad that INIU offers a 3-year limited warranty — which is more than the usual 1-year that other battery bank makers offer.

The best portable charger for iPhone

mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini connected to an iPhone with MagSafe.

(Image credit: Zagg)

3. mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini

The best portable charger for iPhone

Specifications

Capacity: 5,000 mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-C
Max Speed: 7.5W
Weight: 7.4 ounces
Measurements: 5.16 x 4.09 x 1.02 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Lightweight, compact size
+
Snug MagSafe connection
+
Extra USB-C port

Reasons to avoid

-
Smaller capacity

There’s something to say about MagSafe. It lends a helping hand with the mophie Snap+ Juice Pack Mini in keeping it fastened snugly on the back of a compatible iPhone with MagSafe for on-the-go charging. That way, you can always have it on hand — even when you need to top it off while waiting for your coffee in the morning.

With its 5,000 mAh battery, it’s able to provide nearly a full charge to most iPhones, but there’s also a USB-C port on hand to charge other phones and gadgets.

The best ultraportable charger

Ugreen Nexode Power Bank

Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 12,000 mAh (Image credit: Future)

4. Ugreen Nexode Power Bank (12,000 mAh)

The best portable charger for travel

Specifications

Capacity: 12,000 mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C
Max Speed: 100W
Weight: 10.9 ounces
Measurements: 4.5 x 1.8 x 1.8 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Tiny, sleek design
+
Impressive capacity
+
Full 100W charging support

Reasons to avoid

-
Limited ports on top
-
Capacity drains fast in 100W charging

Ugreen's Nexode power banks launched this year, and with it came my favorite ultraportable option. No, it's not just because it has a cute face on that display (though that does make it immensely pleasant). Plus, there is a larger 20,000 mAh model...so why are we going for the lower capacity?

Well, it comes down to two reasons in my own use. First, those dimensions. It's as small as a standard Coke can, and the weight means it adds basically nothing to your backpack. But most important is what Ugreen has managed to do in a small package — 12,000 mAh of capacity and full 100W charging. That means whatever you may need some emergency power for, from your smartphone all the way up to a MacBook Pro, this can deliver it.

So while the two-port array can be restricting, and you'll see that juice drain fast if you do take it to 100W (literally a percentage point every 20 seconds), these can be easily forgiven for how much of a lifesaver this has been in emergency moments.

The best portable charger for travel

Scosche PowerUp 600 charging an iPhone.

(Image credit: Scosche)

5. Scosche PowerUp 600

The best portable charger for travel

Specifications

Capacity: 5,400 mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-A
Max Speed: 10W
Weight: N/A
Measurements: 3.13 x 8.61 x 2.6 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Jumpstarts car batteries
+
Sleek design

Reasons to avoid

-
Smaller battery capacity

You just neve know what can arise when you’re vacationing or traveling, which is why the Scosche PowerUp 600 is the perfect companion to keep your gadgets charged. There’s a 5,400 mAh battery capable of speedily charging phones with its 10W charging speed.

However, its value in being a portable charger for travel is its unique ability to jumpstart a dead car battery. The last thing you need to worry about while traveling is a disabled vehicle, but you can save yourself time and heartache by bringing it back to life with the Scosche PowerUp 600.

The only downside is that it puts up the slowest recharge times in our testing: 26 minutes to get an iPhone 15 Plus up to 25%. If you're not particularly concerned about how fast it needs to charge, it serves double duty for just in case emergencies.

The best portable charger for Apple Watch

Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank charging two iPhones and Apple Watch.

(Image credit: Future)

6. Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank

Small and portable, but takes its time to charge your phone

Specifications

Capacity: 10,000 mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-A, 1x USB-C
Max Speed: 30W
Weight: 10.9 ounces
Measurements: 6.4 x 2.9 x 0.7 inches

Reasons to buy

+
3-in-1 charging
+
Large battery capacity

Reasons to avoid

-
On the heavier side

One of the most versatile portable chargers out there, the Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank, doesn’t just have enough fuel in the tank to charge all of your gadgets wired or wirelessly with its beefy 10,000 mAh battery, but it also packs an Apple Watch charger that lets you conveniently charge on the go.

This means you won’t have to remember to bring along your Apple Watch charger since it integrates one, which helps to save you space in your bag — and it also means less clutter when you have to charge. With its 18W charging speeds, it’s fast enough to give you a decent charge in a short amount of time.

Beyond its utility, the Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank posts remarkable charging speeds. Our testing shows it takes 13 minutes to get an iPhone 15 Plus up to 25% battery.

The best Anker portable charger

Anker Power Bank Fusion 10K charging an iPhone.

(Image credit: Future)

7. Anker Power Bank Fusion 10K

The best Anker portable charger

Specifications

Capacity: 10,000 mAh
Output Ports: 1x USB-C, 1x USB-C cord
Max Speed: 18W
Weight: 11.6 ounces
Measurements: 4.25 x 1.97 x 1.22 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Built-in charger
+
Space saving design

Reasons to avoid

-
Can't replace integrated cord

Versatility is what the Anker Power Bank Fusion 10K is all about. That’s because this portable charger from Anker doesn’t force you to bring along other cables and adapters to use it. With its integrated USB-C cable, it packs 30W wired speeds that’s fast enough to power some laptops in addition to phones. You can also lean on its other USB-C port to charge another device simultaneously with its 10,000 mAh battery cell.

Recharging the Anker Power Bank Fusion 10K is also a cinch because it features a built-in foldable charger when the battery itself needs to be recharged. With this setup, you might not even have to worry about bringing any of your chargers and cables because it conveniently packages everything into its design.

Impressively, though, it posts the fastest charging times in our testing. It takes 8 and 21 minutes to get an iPhone 15 Plus to 25% and 50% respectively.

The best portable charger for camping

Jackery Explorer 100 Plus on top of tabletop.

(Image credit: Future)

8. Jackery Explorer 100 Plus

The best portable charger for camping

Specifications

Capacity: 31,000 mAh
Output Ports: 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A
Max Speed: 128W
Weight: 2.13 pounds
Measurements: 4.96 x 3.41 x 3.43 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Large battery capacity
+
Extremely fast charging speed

Reasons to avoid

-
Speeds get slower when more devices are charging

The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is the perfect portable charger for camping because of how it packs a large battery that could get you days of powering your gadgets, without being too heavy to carry around. With its 128W charging speeds, it doesn't take all that long to charge smaller gadgets like phones and smartwatches. At the same time, that fast charging speed can also recharge laptops and MacBooks with ease.

For camping, the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus features a design that's shock and fire-resistant. And due to how it's still incredibly compact, it's not as burdensome like other traditional power stations that weight 10+ pounds. And finally, you can also get the optional compact sized solar panel to recharge it on days when it's sunny while you're camping, which is perfect when there are no outlets around.

This one's also pretty fast, taking 8 minutes to get an iPhone 15 Plus up to 25%.

The best solar charger

Mregb Solar Power Bank on tabletop.

(Image credit: Future)

9. Mregb Solar Power Bank

The best solar charger

Specifications

Capacity: 42,800 mAh
Output Ports: 2x USB-C
Max Speed: 6W
Weight: 1.32 pounds
Measurements: 7.48 x 3.94 x 1.02 inches

Reasons to buy

+
Sustainable solar charging
+
Rugged construction

Reasons to avoid

-
Extremely slow charging speed

At some point a portable charger's going to need to be recharged. With the Mregb Solar Power Bank, however, you may never have to connect it to a wall charger again because it features an integrated solar panel to charge its massive 42,800 mAh battery.

Its rugged design also makes it the ultimate portable charger of choice among survivalists who don't have access to an outlet for long stretches of time. While it packs a lot of utility, including two USB-C ports, it's one of the slowest charging options based on our testing. In fact, it takes 25 minutes to charge an iPhone 15 Plus back up to 25%.

Obviously, this shouldn't pose a problem if you're not too concerned about charging speeds, especially when it can charge itself with nothing more than sun power.

How to choose the best portable charger

A bunch of portable chargers and battery banks on top of table.

(Image credit: Future)

Finding the right charger capacity: You'll often see a four to five-digit number, with the letters mAh following it, and that's your first big indicator of how much this charger is right for you. If you're constantly refueling your phone and other gadgets, go for at least 10,000mAh. For each extra device you charge, add at least 5,000 to the mAh rating you're looking for. Just need to prevent your device from hitting 0 on late nights out? You'll be good with something in the under 5,000 mAh rating, provided you remember to charge it often.

Be a ports authority: If you hold onto your devices forever, and don't already know what a USB-C port is, you can probably just get whatever fits your price. But if you're the kind who wants faster charging, look for a brick that has PD in its name. The best portable chargers, at least for my money, charge devices the fastest and use the Power Delivery (PD) standard. Also, their USB-C ports mean you can refuel these power banks with the same cords used to charge modern laptops.

Utility to meet the demand: You just never know what needs charging. Whether it's your phone, wireless earbuds, or some other gadget, a portable charger needs to have the utility to meet the demand. That's why it's also good to look out for power banks that have other ports besides USB-C and charging pads on them.

Charging speeds matter: Having a huge battery is wonderful to get more charges in before the battery bank needs its own recharge, but it's also good to look at its charging speed. Faster charging speeds means your device will go from empty to full in a shorter amount of time. You'll want to look at 30W charging speeds at the very least.

How we test the best portable chargers

You want a charger that was put through the rigors of refueling, so we did just that. With timers in hand, we kept draining an iPhone 15 Plus to 5% capacity and then timed how much time it took for each power bank to refuel it to 25% and 50% — all while keeping the display off on the iPhone 15 Plus.

Swipe to scroll horizontally
Charge time to 25%Charge time to 50%
Anker Prime 20,000 mAh 10 minutes25 minutes
INIU 10000mAh Portable Charger15 minutes42 minutes
Scosche PowerUp 60026 minutes112 minutes
Satechi Quatro Wireless Power Bank13 minutes31 minutes
Anker Power Bank Fusion 10K8 minutes21 minutes
Jackery Explorer 100 Plus8 minutes22 minutes
Mregb Solar Power Bank25 minutes67 minutes

Our ranking also factors in the portability and designs of each model, as especially small and pocket-friendly chargers can't physically store as many mAh of battery power as their larger brethren. Similarly, the smaller a charger is, the less likely it has more than two ports (one for gaining a charge, the other for giving power).

Those looking to keep their tech protected throughout each and every charge should check out our guide to the best surge protectors.

Jason England
Managing Editor — Computing

Jason brings a decade of tech and gaming journalism experience to his role as a Managing Editor of Computing at Tom's Guide. He has previously written for Laptop Mag, Tom's Hardware, Kotaku, Stuff and BBC Science Focus. In his spare time, you'll find Jason looking for good dogs to pet or thinking about eating pizza if he isn't already.

  • Codeape
    Anker has 2 usb a output ports (even says so in your description)...

    -ve for that device says just one usb a output port...
    Reply
  • Marcel Bro
    Best power banks and chargers of 2023? And most of them only output USB A?!

    This article is heavily outdated.
    Reply
  • Arctic Strix
    This article was either done by a bad Ai, written within 5min by someone who searched for the most bought battery banks on Amazon, or reused from several years ago.

    The "best portable charger" is not a 10,000mAh USB-A 15W charger for $20, that's just one of the most purchased on Amazon.

    One of the best portable power banks is going to be the Anker 737 or the Ugreen 145w. They both feature two type C outputs and one type A output, the Anker 737 being able to output up to 140W compared to Ugreen maxing at 100W. Anker has a 24000mAh battery and PD3.1 complaint and Ugreen is 25000mAh with PD3.0; they both are compatible with all charging standards.

    These might be a bit overkill for the general user, but they are among the best, if not the best portable power banks.
    Reply