Best power banks 2020: portable chargers to keep your gadgets going
Keep finding your devices run out of charge at the worst moment? You need one of the best power banks to top things up as and when needed.
The best power bank for you depends on what you need to charge and how much juice you need away from the mains. Phones are the most obvious device to recharge during a long day out but you may also need a power bank that is able to boost the battery of a Nintendo Switch or even a laptop.
Before making a purchase, think about the three Ps: price, power, and portability. Consider these things and you’ll find the right portable charger for your needs. Do you need it to top up your phone when you’re at a sporting event or on a night out? Or are you going camping for three days and need to charge several devices more than once without access to any wall chargers?
Pay attention to the mAh rating. The higher the number, the more charge the portable power bank will hold. You should also check how fast it can output charge as, if you’re relying on it to charge a large device like an iPad or laptop, you might be waiting around a while if the output is slow.
Below we’ve listed the best portable chargers according to capacity, slimness, and port selection, as there's no one size-fits-all solution to this purchase. Make sure to read the full descriptions of each power bank to see which best suits your needs and budget.
- Just want to charge your laptop? Check out the best portable laptop chargers
Best power banks for capacity
iMuto 20,000mAh power bank
Two ports, 20,000mAh and affordable
If you're looking for a high capacity charger that's portable, the iMuto 20,000mAh portable charger may be for you. It offers a 20,000mAh capacity that will be able to charge your average smartphone over four times and still have some charge left.
What makes the iMuto a little more useful than the other charging banks on this list is the fact you can see its exact remaining charge, not a rough estimate like in some of the competitors, so you know how much more you can charge your devices for. Sure, the body of the power bank is a little large and ungainly, but the screen more than makes up for it
Anker PowerCore 20,100 power bank
A whole 20,100mAh to play with
You've likely heard of Anker, and this is one of the company's best portable chargers. It comes with a huge 20,100mAh battery inside, meaning this will be able to charge up your phone or tablet multiple times before it needs a recharge.
We found it pretty snappy to use, in that it charges up quickly, and can also power up your devices speedily. Sure, it did heat up a bit when we were charging it, more so than other devices, but not to worrying degrees. This high-speed charging isn't available for all devices, only for if they use PowerIQ or VoltageBoost. It won't be able to use Qualcomm's QuickCharge technology, but it'll still boost your device when you're on the go.
RAVPower 20,000mAh power bank
Two ports, and slimmer than the iMuto
The RAVPower 20,000mAh doesn't look much different to a lot of the options above and below, but it offers a lot of capacity and can be cheaper than the other devices surrounding it.
You have two ports here so you can charge two gadgets at the same time and it'll have enough capacity to be able to charge both a mobile and an iPad or tablet from 0% too. It's lighter and more streamlined than other banks on this list, so unlike the competition it can actually fit in pockets (well, unless you've got a small pocket).
Morphie Powerstation all-in-one
Flexible options for Apple users
If you're fully invested in Apple products, the Morphie Powerstation all-in-one is the power bank for you. It has a built-in magnetic watch charger for your Apple Watch, the ability to wireless charge your iPhone or AirPods, plus a USB-C port for charging your smartphone in the customary way.
You can charge up to four devices at once with 8,000mAh battery meaning you're good to go for a while. Charging is speedy too with the promise of your iPhone reaching 50% battery in just 30 minutes via the USB-C port. The only real issue here is that you're going to pay for the privilege with the Morphie Powerstation all-in-one being rather pricey compared to competitors.
Aukey power bank 20,000mAh
Charge two at a time
This power bank features two ports so you can charge both your phone and your tablet at the same time and also has a light to show you how much battery charge is leftover. That's quite a standard feature on a larger power bank, but still useful for many people.
The blocky design may not be for everyone, and it's the prime reason this piece of tech isn't higher in this list, but this portable charger should be able to charge your phone and other gadgets a few times over with such a high capacity cell inside.
RAVPower Universal Power Bank Travel Charger
One for your laptop
RAVPower's portable charger is a great choice if you need a device that can charge both your laptop and your phone. It features USB-C and normal USB outputs as well as an AC output, so you can plug your laptop charger directly in.
There's also a 20,100mAh capacity battery inside, so this will be able to juice up your phone or tablet multiple times before you need to put it back on charge.
Mophie Powerstation Wireless XL Portable Battery
A wireless charging behemoth
This power bank by trusted brand Mophie gives you both wired and wireless charging from its enormous 10,000mAh capacity. You can top up two devices at once using both methods, and it’ll even charge your AirPods wirelessly too if you have the right AirPods case.
You’ll also be able to charge iPads thanks to Lightning and USB-C ports. This is truly a one-stop-shop portable charger if you have all the Apple gear and are frequently away from a plug.
That said, it’ll also charge any USB-C or Qi wireless charging compatible Android phone or tablet, so it’s not exclusively for Apple products. It’s a bit chunky at 280g and it’s not the cheapest out there, but it’s an all round excellent power pick from one of the market’s most revered manufacturers.
NOVOO Power Bank 22,500mAh
For when USB-C or Lightning isn't enough
Sometimes you don't want to charge a USB-C, microUSB or Lightning device up, and that's why you'll want something like this power bank. It has a socket like you'd find it a wall, letting you plug anything in there.
Sure, it's quite a big device, and most devices you'd plug into the wall might want a little more juice than 22,500mAh. But with a connection of plugs and ports, this is a very malleable piece of tech.
Mophie Powerstation Plus XL
The best portable charger designed for iPhones
The Mophie Powerstation Plus XL is one of the best power banks designed for the iPhone and iPad (aside from the new iPad Pro 2018 range with its USB-C port), and we say that for several reasons.
It contains an embedded Lightning cable you can’t lose, it charges via a Lightning cable and you can charge it wirelessly with any Qi charger, so you may already have everything you need.
This 10,000mAh power bank has a soft fabric finish and can charge two devices at once, one via the 10W USB-A port and another with the integrated Lightning charger. You won't find as much use from this portable charger if you're on Android, though it's still possible to use that USB-A port so you can help a friend charge.
Best slim power banks
Xiaomi 10,000mAh Power Bank Pro
A slim, well-crafted portable charger
Xiaomi has a hand in some unexpected and disparate sectors of technology, including phones, scooters, kettles, audio and portable chargers. But don't sleep on either, as it's onto something worth checking out.
During our testing, its 10,000mAh Power Bank provided good results, both in terms of its portability and charging potential. While not the fastest charger out there, it was able to charge our Google Pixel 2 in a little over two hours. Thankfully, it's discreet enough that you can bring it with you just about everywhere to plug in when necessary.
It's not rare for a power bank to come with a charging cable, but we appreciate that this one has been built with care to suit both micro USB and USB-C users with the same cable, as seen in the above gallery.
Veho Pebble P1 Pro
Fast charging with a great design
With 10,400mAh inside, two USB outputs and fast charging technology the Pebble P1 Pro may be one of the best all-round power banks you can buy right now. This doesn't have anything to do with the defunct watch brand, but instead it's called the Pebble for its curved edges design.
This should be able to recharge most phones at least two and a half times from a single charge, plus this power bank can be charged up by either microUSB or USB-C so you won't need to have a specific cable with you to pump it up again when it's out of juice.
Poweradd Pilot 2GS 10,000mAh
Metal and sleek
Poweradd also offers a great slim portable charger, and it's one of the cheapest options on this list yet boasts a substantial 10,000mAh cell inside.
It may be quite heavy, but this is only 1.3cm thick, making it a great device to slip into your back pocket when you're out and about. You'll want to grab a cable to go with it though as unlike the Iceworks choice above it doesn't come with one built in.
Anker PowerCore II 10,000mAh power bank
The one to slip into your pocket
We love this little guy. The Anker PowerCore II 10,000 power bank is perhaps the most portable option on this list and allows you to have at least two full charges for your phone in your back pocket ready to go.
At only 209g and 1.5cm thick, you'll be able to take this around with you and not feel weighed down while still having 10,000mAh of extra power for any of your devices. Plus it comes with Anker's own fast-charging tech that should mean you won't be plugged into it for too long.
Like a lot of the chargers on this list, it doesn't come with a cable attached so you'll need to take your own out and about with you.
RAVPower 6,700mAh portable charger
Bright with a large capacity
This is the cheapest option for a portable charger we have on the list, but this option from RAVPower should suit you for recharging your mobile phone while on the go.
It has a capacity of 6,700mAh, which should recharge your average smartphone at least once and maybe even twice. There are three color options here with the choices of either pink, bright blue or silver.
The LEDs on the side of the device also show you how much charge is left and there's fast-charging tech built-in too.
Omars Power Bank 10,000mAh
Charge your USB-C device
One of the problems with most power banks is that they still use the outdated microUSB, both to charge up and to power other phones (this isn't a problem for iPhone users, who have had to use the slightly antiquated Lightning charging for years now).
This Omars power bank can be charged up by its USB-C port, letting you fill it up quickly, and also comes with a USB to USB-C cable, so you can power up your modern Android phone, tablet or iPad Pro without having to remember your own. The USB-C connector is actually snapped on to a microUSB cable, so you're not getting true USB-C fast charging, but it's a start.
Best power banks with lots of ports
MAXOAK 50,000mAh
A whole six ports
This may not be the most portable charger on our list, but it features a lot of ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time. It'll even charge laptops as well as your phone and tablet.
You can charge six devices at once, and with a 50,000mAh capacity it has the juice to do that, so if you're usually surrounded by a lot of tech this is possibly one of the best chargers to buy.
A-Elefull-E 30,000mAh power bank
Big capacity without being too large
If you want an above-average power bank without having to break your back at carrying the thing around, this device might be for you. With a 30,000mAh capacity, two USB ports and several other connectors, it'll keep multiple devices going.
It also has a mini readout, telling you the remaining charge, which is a feature we like in power banks as it lets you know exactly how much juice you've got left.
- Looking for a laptop charger? Here are our best portable laptop chargers
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