The 11 Best Portable Power Bank Chargers for Travel [2024]

Nov 06, 2024

Amar Hussain

Senior Content Contributor

823 Published Articles

Countries Visited: 63U.S. States Visited: 9

Keri Stooksbury

Editor-in-Chief

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Countries Visited: 50U.S. States Visited: 28

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When you’re miles from anywhere, a portable power bank can quickly become your very best friend.

Giving an extra burst of battery life to your cell phone or iPad can keep you amused for longer, or more importantly, ensure that you’re always able to get in touch with the rest of the world.

Size and Weight

Your power bank is designed to be portable, otherwise, what’s the point?! With this in mind, the physical size and weight of it will be major factors in considering which one is right for you.

The charger should be able to fit neatly in the same space as your cell phone; otherwise, you’ll have one in your pocket while carrying the other in your hand — not cool!

Bottom Line: Look for one that will fit neatly in your pocket, purse, or backpack. While power banks should have a sturdy feel about them, they shouldn’t be uncomfortably heavy, so opt for one that’s light enough not to weigh you (or your pockets) down.

Milliamp (mAh)

The power capacity that your power bank kicks out is measured in milliamp-hours or “mAh.” The amount of mAh available will define how much charge you can expect to get out of your power bank.

Common capacity ratings range from 2,000mAh to 20,000mAh and in some cases, even as high as 40,000mAh. To give you a rough idea of how the amount of mAh juice in the bank affects what you can charge and how often, consider the following:

Think about what devices you need a power bank for and how long you’ll be away from a power outlet. If you just need something to keep your phone topped up a couple of times a day, a 5,000mAh or 10,000mAh will do the job just fine and it will be physically smaller, too.

Hot Tip: Most airlines will cap power banks at 20,000mAh while some will allow larger. Always check with your airline as to what the maximum capacity requirements are.

Inputs (1A, 2A, or 2.4A)

At some point, your power bank will need charging up to ensure it can provide the backup charge power you need. What you want is a nice, quick recharge speed that means you can get back out there without having to be attached to a wall socket for hours on end.

The input charging speed is dependent on the type of wall charger used. A standard wall charger with a 2A output would recharge the power bank twice as fast as one with only a 1A output. For this to happen, your power bank would need to offer a 2A input.

While some do offer this, many still rely on a 1A input which will take longer to reach a full charge.

Hot Tip: Newer power banks can be charged even more quickly with the addition of a 2.4A input option. Look out for these if you want the fastest charge on the market.

Capacity: 5,000mAh

Lightweight and super useful, this tiny, compact charger is enough to provide 2 full charges for your iPhone 8 or 1 charge for your iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S9.

Measuring 4.5 x 1.3 x 1.3 inches and weighing 4.8 ounces, you’ll have no problem fitting this handy charger in your pocket or purse on the go.

With a fairly impressive battery capacity of 5,000mAh, this product is well-made and is an excellent example of an established brand squeezing good-quality components into small packages.

The charger features PowerIQ technology that identifies the type of device it’s charging to optimize efficiency, as well as a VoltageBoost to overcome cable resistance for top-speed charging.

With both a USB and micro USB port and the ability to be fully recharged in as little as 3 to 4 hours, this small battery pack will be with you on every adventure.

As a one-off, emergency charger, this is one of the best in the business. When you need that little bit extra, you can retrieve this from your handbag to allow you to stay charged on the go.

There’s no real downside to this particular power bank, but if you want more power, you’ll need to invest in a model with more capacity. As with all Anker chargers, this model also comes with an 18-month warranty.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 25,800mAh

This is a popular and very impressive power bank from Lanluk. With 2 incredibly fast USB ports, powerful and efficient lithium-ion batteries, and a highly portable design, this is a great option for anyone who needs to boost their power on the go.

Measuring just 5.9 x 3 x 0.6 inches and weighing 12.3 ounces, the slightly heavy feeling in your pocket is more than made up for by the superfast charging capability it offers.

This power bank has 2 USB ports that can be used to charge multiple devices at the same time — 1 2.1A outport and 1 1A outport. The unit also offers Auto IC technology that very cleverly identifies your device for maximum charge efficiency.

Different devices will vary on how many times they can be charged, but to give you an idea, your iPhone 8 could be charged a whopping 7 times when this power bank is fully charged.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 6,000mAh

Compact and lightweight, this small power bank is incredibly portable. Weighing in at just 4.3 ounces and measuring only 4.1 x 0.5 x 2.6 inches, complete with cables, it’s one of the smallest 6,000mAh chargers available.

This TG90 power bank can easily fit in your pocket, purse, or day bag for easy charging on the go and its tiny size belies its powerful charging capabilities. Built-in iPhone and Android cables mean you don’t need to remember to bring your cables, and there are 2 additional 2A outputs (USB and Type-C) for charging multiple devices.

When it comes to charging your power bank back up, this can be done in as little as 3 hours without other connections, or you can charge up while charging your portable devices at the same time. If you happen to be short of light, this power bank also has a handy built-in LED flashlight.

This is a great power pack for the price, and should you run into any problems, you can relax knowing that it comes with a 12-month manufacturer’s warranty.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 5,000mAh

The Anker 321 MagGo Battery offers a handy amount of extra capacity for keeping your iPhone topped up while you’re away from home.

Measuring just 3.7 × 2.5 × 0.59 inches and weighing 4.5 ounces, it’s easy to take everywhere with you. It supports magnetic wireless charging for iPhone 12 series and later, and is compatible with MagSafe cases.

The battery has sensors to monitor temperatures so that you get a safer charge.

This is a great portable charger from one of the best brands on the market. Affordable and efficient, this won’t last you for weeks on end, but it will provide you with more than enough power for an extra charge or 2 when you need it the most.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 10,000mAh

The upgraded PowerCore II is an impressive power bank that features Anker’s new charging chip.

Being able to squeeze the power into a single chip makes for a lighter and more powerful charger that’s more portable than ever before. Measuring 5.39 x 2.6 x 0.59 inches and weighing just 7.52 ounces, you can easily pop this in your handbag, backpack, or pocket.

Kicking out 10,000mAh of power, you’ll be able to charge your iPhone 8/X/XS/XS Max/XR, Android smartphones, tablets, USB-C MacBook, or your iPad anywhere you go. When it comes to recharging the device itself, it can take between 4 and 10 hours, depending on the type of input you’re using.

The super-high-speed capacity means you can quickly and efficiently charge an iPhone X over 2.4 times, a Galaxy S9 2.2 times or an iPhone 8 over 3.6 times before the power bank’s battery is empty.

The PowerCore II looks as good as it functions, too, with a soft silicone surface that cushions your smartphone and helps to prevent scuffs and scratches, as well as a slim design that can rest perfectly next to your cell phone.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 13,000mAh

This ultra-portable, 2-point power bank is robust enough to go anywhere with you while offering the capacity to keep your cell phone or devices topped up on the go.

Measuring 3.8 x 3.1 x 0.9 inches and weighing just 8.47 ounces, this lightweight charger is small enough to fit in your pocket, purse, or wallet alongside your cell phone.

With enough oomph to charge an iPhone 8 almost 5 times, an iPhone X or Samsung Galaxy S8 3 times, or an iPad Air 2 1 time, this is useful for anyone on the move.

The patented PowerIQ technology ensures intelligent high-speed charging for all your devices, while the VoltageBoost prevents cable resistance from slowing your charging speeds.

With simultaneous dual-port charging, you can be off on your adventures again in no time. As some of the most popular and best-selling portable chargers in the world, the PowerCore range is fast to charge up. You can have a fully charged power bank in 4 to 10 hours, depending on the cable speed.

30% lighter than other comparable power banks and just the right size to take anywhere, this is a solid option for anyone looking for more power away from home.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 31,200mAh

This is a veritable beast of a power bank that provides a whopping 31,200mAh, an AC outlet, and 3 additional USB outputs (5V/2A, and Type-C output and input 5V/3A,) all wrapped up in a thin, highly portable power bank.

Weighing in at 2.4 pounds and measuring 2.8 x 2.8 x 8.6 inches, it’s too big to fit in your pocket but should fit just fine in a large purse or laptop case. If you want to work on your laptop on the go and keep it powered up, this is a reasonably compact choice, given the amount of power it can provide you with.

While the Sikon Power Bank is compatible with numerous devices, its primary function is to keep your laptop operational no matter where you are.

It works best in association with smaller laptops such as MacBooks, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Microsoft Surface Pro, Dell XPS, HP TPN-C116, and THINKPAD E430, as well as some others that operate at no more than 85 watts.

It provides fast and effective charging capabilities, although 1.8 full charges of your laptop will drain the power bank entirely, meaning you’ll need to plug it into a wall socket somewhere before you head out again.

It will also charge your phone, GoPro, iPad, and even gaming gadgets, so while it works well with laptops, it’s not limited to just their use.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 10,000mAh

Great for outdoor explorers, this 10,000mAh portable power bank comes complete with carabiner, compass, and a built-in flashlight to help you stay connected and on track wherever you are.

Measuring 5.9 x 2.9 x 0.9 inches and weighing 9.3 ounces, this is a great choice for anyone needing extra power on the go.

This power bank also doubles as a Qi wireless charging device.

This power bank has a choice of micro USB, USB-A and USB-C connections. It can efficiently charge 3 devices simultaneously and most cell phones between 2 and 2.5 times on 1 full charge.

While it does offer solar power capabilities, it’s advised that this function is used as backup and that the power bank be fully charged before you set off on your next adventure.

Designed to last, this sturdy charger is IPX5 waterproof, dustproof, and shockproof and covered in flameproof material, making it a durable outdoor addition to your camping, hiking, or trekking equipment to ensure that you can reliably keep in touch with the rest of the world when you head off the grid.

The only downside to this particular model is that the solar panel seems like a bit of a gimmick, but if that doesn’t worry you, it’s still a useful little charger for using away from home.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 10,000mAh each

This 2-pack of Miady power banks will ensure that your devices never run out of juice. While not in the same leagues as the more expensive, bigger brand power bars and banks on the market, the Miady portable charger is a nifty bank that will see you right for an extra charge when you need it most.

Keep both chargers for yourself or gift the second to your partner or friend. You can choose between a set of black and white power banks or a couple of other brightly colored combinations.

This power bank can charge cell phones and small devices quickly and offers 10,000mAh capability. There are 2 USB outputs on both devices, both rated at 2.4A, and a micro USB port rated at 2A.

4 LEDs light up to indicate the percentage of power remaining (each light represents 25%) and the power bank automatically powers off if no device has been connected for 30 seconds.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 10,000mAh

With enough power to charge up your Nintendo Switch even while you play it, this is a medium-sized charger that measures 6.1 x 3.2 x 1.9 inches and weighs 8.8 ounces. It was the first power bank to neatly attach directly to the back of a Switch, so there’s no need to hold it awkwardly while you play.

This nifty power bank will give you between 8.5 and 12 hours of total charge playing some of your favorite Nintendo Switch games.

While this power bank has a built-in Type-C cable to connect to your Switch, there’s also a Type-C port and a USB (3A) to charge up your iPhone and other devices.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

Capacity: 22,000mAh

Made from 2 high-density, lithium polymer batteries, this multi-device charging power bank is an effective and affordable way to keep your cell phone, iPhone, or iPad fully charged on the go.

Weighing just 1.1 pounds and measuring 7.5 x 4 x 1.3 inches, this clever pack will easily fit in your purse, backpack, or laptop bag.

This power bank features 2 USB A ports, 1 Type-C port, and 2 micro USB ports, which can charge multiple devices at the same time, and it comes with a couple of charging cables, too. The highly efficient 22,000mAh capacity battery can charge most phones over 5 times, and most tablets over 4 times, meaning you can keep entertained and in touch wherever you go.

The 15W and 30W ports supply super-quick charge times that are 2 to 3 times faster than traditional power banks, and to give you an idea of this speed — an iPhone XS Max can be charged to 50% in just 30 minutes.

For its size and capability, this power bank is to back to full charge in as little as 7 hours, and should you experience problems, it does come with a full 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.

What We Like

What We Don’t Like

There are plenty of reasons why you should invest in a portable power bank and there are just as many types and variations for you to choose from.

Before you commit, look for a model that can charge your devices quickly and efficiently and that doesn’t take days on end to charge itself.

An efficient power bank will completely transform the way you use our portable devices when you’re away from home. Choose wisely, and you will be able to extend the battery life of your cell phone, tablet, laptop, and even small gaming consoles, literally anywhere in the world.

Love streamlining your travel tech? Don’t miss out on these other product reviews:

Power banks can only be transported on a plane in a carry-on and cannot be in your checked luggage.

Airlines usually allow a 100Wh power bank with a 5V output, which equates to 20,000mAh.

Some airlines will allow 160Wh power banks if you declare it beforehand. Always check with your airline before you fly.

Some of the best portable power banks that we recommend are:

20,000mAh is a fairly common capacity for many portable chargers, which equates to around 6 full charges of an iPhone 7.

Think about what devices you need a power bank for and how long you’ll be away from a power outlet. If you just need something to keep your phone topped up a couple of times a day, a 5,000mAh or 10,000mAh will do the job just fine and it will be physically smaller, too.

The important things to consider when choosing a portable charger are:

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Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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