Whether you've got an aging phone or you're often on the move, the best power banks for phones can be an absolute lifesaver. Picking the right one, however, is more tricky than it may initially seem.
Sure, they all work the same in principal; plug them in, charge them up, then you're set to power up your phone on the go. However, there are abundant options now, from fast chargers to wireless magnetic power banks for iPhone, various sizes, shapes and capacities, making it difficult to choose.
Below, we've compared the best power banks we've tried tested, from beefy models that also function as some of the best power bank for laptops (including graphic design laptops) to more affordable or more compact options, as well as the best magnetic power banks for phones. We've considered the battery capacity, the number of ports and the power they deliver as well as the physical size of the devices to help you find one that meets your needs.
If you're a digital nomad, make sure you also see our guide to the best external hard drives to make sure your set-up is mobile-ready. For now, let's look at the best power banks available today.
We think this is the power bank for laptops and other devices overall. It provides great capacity, speed, connectivity, and we think the price is fair for what you get. It can charge two devices at once. Read more below
This impressive little device comes at a great price and packs in two USB-A outputs and a USB-C output into a slime frame. It has only half the capacity of the Anker option at number one, but it's handy for portabilty. Read more below
If value is the main thing you're after in your power bank, we heartily recommend this portable charger. It's a bit chunky and weighs 100g heavier than our top pick, but it provides great capacity for the price. Read more below
With 27,650mAh of battery capacity, this provides power and versatility for those travelling with multiple devices, charging up to three things at once with its two 140W USB-C ports and 65W USB-A port. It can recharge a MacBook to 50% in around half an hour. Read more below
A magnetic power bank can make things even quicker and easier for charging smart phones. We think this one stands out thanks to its slim, compact build, budget price and magnets strong enough to hold even the iPhone 16 Pro Max. Read more below
Single panel solar power banks like this take a long time to recharge from the sun, but it could keep your phone going that little longer if you're out in the wilderness. This one has a high capacity and a durable rugged build. Read more below
The best power banks in detail
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Best power bank overall
(Image credit: Anker)
01. Anker PowerCore 26800 power bank
The best power bank overall
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 354g
Size: 16.6 x 5.8 x 2.2cm
Battery capacity: 26,800mAh
Output ports: 1x 45W USB-C, 2x 15W USB-A
Input ports: 1 x micro-USB
Reasons to buy
+
Big battery
+
Speedy charging
+
Reasonable price for a high capacity
Reasons to avoid
-
Not the lightest
Buy it if:
✅ You want a large capacity: Its 26,800mAh capacity should be enough for a few charges. ✅ You want speedy charging: The Anker PowerCore 26800 power bank offers fast charging.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want something lightweight: This is fairly hefty.
The bottom line
🔎 Anker PowerCore 26800 power bank balances value with a sleek, slimline design and a high capacity. ★★★★½
Need to know: Having used the Anker PowerCore 26,800mAh power bank extensively at Creative Bloq, we still think it's the best power bank overall, providing a good balance of capacity, charging speed and price.
Design: We liked the sleek, slimline design, which makes it relatively compact and easy to carry in a bag or pocket, although it's not the smallest or lightest we've tested, so if you're regularly on the road and portability is key, you might want to reduce your capacity expectations and opt for the next option on our list. We would have liked a better-quality USB cable, too.
Features: The 26,800mAh capacity should be enough to charge a phone or tablet a couple of times, and it can also charge two devices simultaneously, provided those devices use PowerIQ or VoltageBoost.
Value: At around £50, depending on the retailer, this is a great value for a high-capacity portable charger.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Good value for money.
★★★★½
Features
High capacity, multiple ports.
★★★★½
Design
Sleek, but heavy.
★★★★
Best slim power bank
(Image credit: Iniu)
02. INIU 10000mAh Portable Charger
The best slim power bank.
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 198g
Size: 13.21 x 6.86 x 1.27cm
Battery capacity: 10,000mAh
Output Ports: 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C
Input Ports: 1x microUSB, 1x USB-C
Reasons to buy
+
Cheap
+
Light and portable
+
Power 3 devices at the same time
Reasons to avoid
-
Not the biggest capacity
Buy it if:
✅ You're on a budget: At under £20, this is a steal. ✅ You want something ultra-portable: It's very slim and very lightweight.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want multiple charges, or to charge larger devices: Its 10000mAh won't be enough.
The bottom line
🔎 INIU 10000mAh Portable Charger is a great value option for those who want a slim and light charger to top up their phone when out on the go. ★★★★½
Need to know: This is our value pick for its balance of a low, low price with decent charging chops, though it won't be able to handle anything larger than a phone.
Design: The INIU 10000mAh Portable Charger has two USB-A output ports and a USB-C input and output port. It's compact, simple and features a fun paw print motif.
Features: The capacity is fairly low for today's standards. It's less than half of that provided by our first choice, and it's not going to do for mulitple charges or as a power bank for laptops, but it'll do fine for smaller devices like phones and e-readers. However, it can charge three devices at the same time - though we're not sure that will ensure a full charge for all devices.
Value: Best of all, it's very reasonably priced at under £20, making it an excellent value choice if you just need a boost throughout the day.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
At under £20, it's one of the most affordable options.
★★★★★
Features
10000mAh won't go far, but if all you need is a boost it'll suffice.
★★★★
Design
Simple, erring on plain, but with ample ports.
★★★★
Best value power bank
(Image credit: Imuto)
03. iMuto 27,000mAh power bank
The best value power bank
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 648g
Size: 17.2 x 2.3 x 8.2 cm
Battery capacity: 20,000mAh
Output ports: 1x 65w USB-C, 2x 18w USB-A
Input ports: 1x Micro-USB
Reasons to buy
+
Large capacity
+
Fantastic price
+
Handy digital display
Reasons to avoid
-
Chunky design
Buy it if:
✅ You want a large capacity: Its capacity is great, and its 65W delivery allows for laptop charging. ✅ You hate LED indicators: If you prefer exact measure of the charge remaining, you'll like its digital display.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want a lightweight, sleek design: This isn't the most attractive or slimline option.
The bottom line
🔎 iMuto 27,000mAh power bank is the best option if value is key, offering a solid capacity at a reasonable price point. ★★★★½
Need to know: If the main thing that you're after is great value in your power bank, we can heartily recommend this iMuto high-capacity portable charger. Don't care too much about getting flexibility and features? This may be the power bank that suits your needs the best.
Design: It's heavier and chunkier than our top picks, but it does feature a handy digital display that shows you how much power remains in the bank.
Features: Charging is also a little slower than our top picks, but its USB-C port delivers 65W, making it an option as a cheap power bank for laptops.
Plus, its 27,000mAh capacity at this price point and with these specs makes it a great option that will cover all tech bases.
Value: If you look at its approachable £50 price point, and the money that you'll be saving, its drawbacks aren't bad trade-offs. It's roughly the same price as our top pick, but has a few value-adding features.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Excellent value for money.
★★★★½
Features
27000mAh capacity, 65W USB-C delivery.
★★★★½
Design
Clunky, chunky, but its display is funky.
★★★★
Best powerful power bank
(Image credit: Anker)
04. Anker Prime 27,650mAh
The best power bank for high-powered devices
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 667g
Size: 6.37 x 1.96 x 2.24in / 16.2 x 4.8 x 5.7cm
Battery capacity: 27,650mAh
Output ports: 2x USB-C 140W, 1x USB-A 65W
Input ports: 2x USB-C
Reasons to buy
+
Fast charging for multiple devices
+
Powerful battery
+
Recharges super fast
Reasons to avoid
-
Big and heavy, making it less practical for commuting
-
The most expensive option on our list
Buy it if:
✅ You want fast charging: Not only does it offer fast charging for multiple devices, but it also recharges quickly. ✅ You want a powerful battery: Its 27,650mAh capacity and 140W delivery make it a beast of a portable battery.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You're on a budget: This is one pricey portable battery.
❌ You want a lightweight option: The Anker Prime 27,650 is bulky and hefty, so it's not great if you'll be carrying it often.
The bottom line
🔎 Anker Prime 27,650mAh is our pick as the best power bank for laptops or for anyone who needs to regularly charge multiple devices. ★★★★
Need to know: If you have a more power-hungry device like a laptop, or just need to charge a normal smartphone or tablet multiple times on a long journey, you might need something more powerful and heavy-duty than our previous choices.
Design: It's easily the biggest and heaviest power bank on this list and not one that you can slip into a pocket. That said the extra weight could be worth carrying if you're going to be without a mains connection for some time. It can charge an iPhone 15 at least five times over.
Features: Anker says it can charge an M2 MacBook Pro to 50% in under half an hour, and our tests backed that up. Each USB-C ports can deliver up to 140W of power and the whole device can deliver 250W, charging up to three devices at once with the two USB-C and one USB-A port. It's very fast to recharge too because you can use both USB-C ports at once to recharge, resulting in a combined recharge rate of up to 170W. We found it took around 40 minutes to fully charge, and the quality OLED digital display keeps you up to date on battery status.
There's even an app that allows you to find the charger if you misplace it, although the size of this thing might make that a little unlikely.
Value: Unsurprisingly, at £126 this power bank is also the most expensive on our list, and if you don't need to charge a phone many times, or charge a laptop, a charger of this size and price is overkill.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
It's a mighty powerful battery, but it's also a bank-breaker.
★★★½
Features
Excellent charging, great capacity.
★★★★½
Design
Bulky and heavy.
★★★½
Best phone power bank
(Image credit: Baseus)
05. Baseus Magnetic Foldable Power Bank
The best magnetic power bank for phones
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 220g
Size: 10.5 x 6.91 x 1.98cm / 4.13 x 2.72 x 0.78in
Battery capacity: 10,000mAh
Ouput ports: Wireless (7.5w) and USB-C (20w max)
Input ports: USB-C
Reasons to buy
+
Affordable price
+
Well-designed with fold-out stand
+
Small yet effective
Reasons to avoid
-
Not the fastest charging
Buy it if:
✅ You want a wireless solution: Its magnets are strong and robust, and it can double as a stand. ✅ You're on a budget: Its 10,000mAh capacity might be on the small side, but for its features, it's a solid value option.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want fast charging: No dice, this is a slower charger.
The bottom line
🔎 Baseus Magnetic Foldable Power Bank is an excellent wireless power bank that affixes securely, but its charging speeds are slow when unaided by a wire. ★★★★
Need to know: If you're looking for a power bank for phone charging, a magnetic wireless charging solution can make the job quick and easy, avoiding the need for a cable.
Design: We found the magnets on this Baseus power bank to be stronger than those on Apple's own MagSafe battery pack, holding an iPhone 15 Pro Max securely both in portrait and landscape position, and you can also use it as a handy portable stand in StandBy mode.
Features: It's not the fastest charger we've used, delivering only half the speed that iPhones can take, and its capacity is only 10,000mAh. That means I wouldn't recommend the wireless option if you often have to charge in a hurry, but there is also the option of a USB-C port, which charges faster at up to 20W.
Value: All in all, we think it offers decent value for the price, delivering an excellent power-to-weight ratio for £60. The 10,000mAh capacity should be enough to charge an iPhone 15 almost twice and a Galaxy S23 Ultra once and then some.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Decent value for money.
★★★★
Features
Smaller capacity, slower charging, but optional USB-C port helps.
★★★★
Design
MagSafe chops are excellent, simple and effective.
★★★★½
Best solar power bank
(Image credit: Riapow)
06. Riapow Solar Power Bank, 26800mAh
The best solar power bank
Our expert review:
Specifications
Weight: 471g
Size: 17.4 x 8.51 x 2.87cm
Battery capacity: 26800mAh
Output ports: 2x USB-A, 1x USB-C
Input ports: 1x USB-C
Reasons to buy
+
Decent capacity
+
Slim design
+
good price for the capacity
Reasons to avoid
-
Takes a long time to fully charge from solar
-
Fairly heavy
Buy it if:
✅ You want an eco option: Its solar charging is great for the eco-conscious. ✅ You're on a budget: Considering its capacity and solar charging, it's pretty reasonable.
Don't buy it if:
❌ You want to charge exclusively from solar power: It's very slow, so either prepare to be patient or still use mains power to give it an initial charge.
The bottom line
🔎 Riapow Solar Power Bank, 26800mAh offers an impressive capacity, great portability, and its LED indicators shows the remaining battery. ★★★½
Need to know: If you're going to be outdoors a lot, but don't want to go completely off grid, a solar power bank is a great way recharge your phone when you're away from civilisation.
Design: It's slim by design, but fairly heavy, which might be too much of a concession for backpackers looking to keep things lightweight.
It's also not the most discrete or attractive-looking by design, however it does suit the more rugged aesthetic of camping, hiking or other outdoor activities.
Features: It's a great option, both for practical and environmental reasons, but you have to be realistic. The solar panel recharges the battery very slowly, so you'll still need to make sure you charge it via the mains before you head off into the wilderness.
Still, its 26800mAh capacity is admittedly pretty good for its class.
Value: At £33, this is a surprisingly affordable option, given it features solar charging and offers such a solid capacity.
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Test results
Attributes
Notes
Rating
Value
Great value for money.
★★★½
Features
Solar charging and 26800mAh capacity.
★★★★
Design
Slim, but heavy.
★★★½
How to choose the best power bank
There are four main variables to take into consideration when choosing the best power bank for you. Firstly, there's the output of a power bank, which can determine whether it's compatible with the device you want to use it with. Check the output of the power bank and the requirements of your devices. If you're looking for a power bank for a laptop rather than a phone make sure the device specifies that it can power laptops.
Portability is another factor and will depend on the size and weight of the power bank. Most people will want a power bank that's easy to carry around in a bag or even a pocket. Related to this is the issue of durability. We've checked the devices above are built to last, but some go further by using a water-resistant build. Finally, price is obviously an issue, and you'll need to decide how much your prepared to spend.
How we chose the best power banks
We chose the best power banks in our guide based on a combination of our own tests, reviews from our sister sites and verified customer reviews. We compared the stated specs of each power bank and where possible tested them by charging a variety of devices from different brands, including iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones, iPads and, when the power bank is powerful enough, laptops.
FAQs
How do power banks work?
Power banks are portable devices that basically comprise a battery, ports for input and output. These external batteries can be used to charge cell phones, tablets and the like when you're on the move and don't have access to a plug socket. To use a power bank, you first need to plug it into an electrical outlet to charge it. Once charged, you simply connect an electronic device to it, usually via a USB cable.
When connected, the power bank transfers the electrical energy stored on it, charging the internal battery on your device. While most power banks use cables, but there are also wireless power banks.
The charging speed will vary depending on the charger, and the number of times that a power bank can charge your device will depend on its capacity and the battery capacity of your device. For example, a 10,000mAh power bank is likely to be able to charge a 2,500mAh phone battery around four times before the power bank itself needs to be recharged. Most good quality power banks will be able to charge most phones in full two to three times.
How long do power banks keep their charge?
When charged, a power bank can lose its charge even if you don't use it as all rechargeable batteries have inherent self-discharge rates, which can vary from 2% to 10% a month, depending on quality and capacity. A good quality power bank can be expected to keep its charge for up to around six months while lower-quality power banks might last as little as four weeks before it needs recharging.
How long do power banks last?
Power banks can have very different lifespans. A quality 10,000mAh power bank can last around 500 charging cycles, so it should provide a decent charge for up to around two years if you use it once a day.
How can I protect a power bank's life?
If you want to try to extend the life of a power bank as much as possible, there are some tips that you can follow. Store the power bank in a cool and dry place when not in use and charge it regularly, but use the power bank only when necessary. Use the power bank's original cable is possible.
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Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
