The best power banks of 2024: Expert tested

4 months ago 28

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It's the late afternoon, your office day is dragging, and your smartphone battery has plummeted to a nerve-wracking 15%. Panicked? Not quite. Remembering your power bank, you swiftly rescue your phone from its power crisis and keep your day on track.

The right power bank is a game changer. However, navigating through the tech seas and avoiding the myriad of inferior options to find a quality, safe, and reliable device can be tricky. Fortunately, I'm here to guide you through the clutter.

More: Best MagSafe battery packs of 2024: Expert tested

What is the best power bank right now?

I've rigorously tested hundreds -- yes, literally hundreds -- of power banks in recent years, putting me in the perfect position to identify which ones truly deserve your hard-earned money. My pick for the best power bank overall goes to the Anker PowerCore 10,000 mAh Redux for its portability, quality construction, and the fact that it has USB-C and USB-A ports, which means it caters to both old and new devices. While it's my favorite, there are plenty of other options with different price points, features, and brands in mind. Read on for all of my picks for the best power banks you can buy right now.

The best power banks of 2024

Pros

Small, lightweight, and portable Robust power USB-C and USB-A ports

Cons

Recharging a bit slow

While I love my giant power banks, I also know -- from experience -- that the best power bank is the power bank that you have with you, and big huge power banks don't lend themselves to being carried about the place. This power bank is small enough to be popped into a pocket or bag, and big enough to give your devices a decent boost.

Using the USB-C port, charging takes 2.5 hours, increasing to almost 5 hours if you use USB-A. It's also a sturdy and reliable unit. I have several of these in constant use for a couple of years now, in jacket pockets, backpacks, and even the back of my truck, and they've been used, abused, and bounced around from pillar to post and they are still going strong.

While I wouldn't say that they are disposable, they are priced such that I also use them to power GoPros and other action cameras when doing time lapses (the camera's own battery doesn't last long enough). It they get damaged or lost (or, as one did, fall off a cliff), I'm not out that much money.

Online reviews for this power bank are very positive, praising its lightweight, compact design.

Anker PowerCore 10,000 mAh Redux tech specs: Capacity: 10,000mAh | Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A | Max output: 25W

Pros

High power capacity Enough output power to run a laptop Easy to read OLED display

Big, chunky, and weighing almost a pound and a half -- this is not a power bank that will slip into your pocket. This beast can not only top off your smartphone, tablet, and earbuds, but it can also power a USB-C laptop thanks to its 140W output.

Another feature of this power bank that I like is the pass-through charging, which charges the power bank using one of the USB ports, while using the other ports to top up devices. This handy "splitter" feature is great when you're short on power outlets. Connect the power bank to a charger plugged into the outlet, then connect your devices to the power bank -- simple!

But the feature that sets this power bank above the rest is the OLED display that gives at-a-glance info on capacity as well as power inputs and outputs. This is a really nice feature that makes little blinking LEDs look very old school. I like how the screen also changes orientation as I rotate the power bank.

Many buyers of this power bank who leave reviews seem to pick it for high-wattage devices such as laptops and tablets, and are pleased with what it has to offer.

Anker PowerCore 24K tech specs: Capacity: 24,000mAh | Ports: 2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A | Max output: 140W

Pros

Small Magnetic, wireless pad for iPhones Trickle charge mode for low-power devices

Cons

Not enough power to fully recharge a big smartphone

This is one of the smallest power banks that you can buy, but don't let that fool you into thinking that it's basic. Here, not only do you get 5,000mAh of battery capacity, but you also get a wireless charging pad and a USB-C port that can be used both for charging the power bank and other devices.

This bank also supports MagSafe wireless charging for an additional layer of convenience, since iPhone owners don't need to carry a cable around with them. Finally, there's a trickle charge mode that allows the bank to charge low-power devices such as headphones or smartwatches without the power bank automatically switching off, so you can keep listening to tunes and audiobooks for longer.

This power bank makes a great, stylish, and practical gift -- I've sent them out to folks for the holidays, and I also keep a few handy to hand out to people who don't have a power bank of their own.

Reviews are very positive for this power bank, and owners are pleased with its size and performance. I noticed some reports of overheating, but I've not experienced that and speculate that the owner might have a thick case on their smartphone.

Tech specs: Capacity: 5,000mAh | Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x wireless charging pad | Max output: 15W

Pros

High capacity Readable display Silicon carbon battery

Cons

Not pocket size Not lightweight

Do power banks need to be big and bulky? No, they don't, and the Baseus Blade HD proves that with its thin, flat design. And this isn't just some design fluff -- the flat design makes carrying the power bank in a laptop bag much easier and far less likely to damage the laptop.

The Baseus Blade HD makes use of silicon carbon battery technology, which means that it is 18 percent lighter and 20 percent smaller than the previous version. This is a 20,000mAh lithium battery pack that's kitted out with twin USB-C and USB-A ports. The USB-C ports are capable of a maximum of 100W output and 65W input, and the USB-A ports capable of 30W output. I like this mix of modern USB-C and legacy USB-A ports because even though USB-A is on its way out, plenty of devices come with charging that still use it.

Read the review: Baseus Blade HD

The large, easy-to-read display is a nice touch and gives you at-a-glance info on the capacity, charge/recharge time, and the Volts and Amps being output by the power bank. Not only does this keep me in the loop as to what the power bank is doing, it also brings out the nerd in me.

Online reviews highlight the thin design of this power bank making it easy to carry in a laptop bag, and also mention how useful it is to have four ports available.

Baseus Blade HD tech specs: Capacity: 20,000mAh | Ports: 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A | Max output: 100W

Pros

Thin and lightweight IP68 water for dust and water-resistance Built-in trickle charge feature

Cons

No covers for the USB ports allow dirt and water to collect No larger option

Whenever I encounter a power bank that's rated for water and dust resistance, it immediately captures my interest. This kind of resilience in a power bank is not only impressive but also incredibly practical for anyone leading an active outdoor lifestyle.

The Klarus K5 offers just that, a carbon fiber clad power bank that has it all -- it's ultralight, ultra-thin, and waterproof to IP68. I've thoroughly tested the dust and water resistance of this power bank, and it impressively shrugs off both elements.

Read the review: My favorite power bank for traveling is waterproof and surprisingly lightweight

At 157 grams, the Klarus K5 is ideal for lightweight adventures, and the 10,000 mAh capacity offers enough power for multiple recharges of my iPhone 15 Pro Max. It can also keep my GoPro running overnight for time-lapse photography.

Online reviews praise this power bank's ultralight and ultra-thin design, stylish good looks, and water resistance rating.

Klarus K5 tech specs: Capacity: 10,000mAh | Ports: 1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A, | Max output: 22.5W

Which is the best power bank really depends on what you want from a power bank -- for some, portability is the main feature, for others it might be having the maximum possible output power. For others, it might be how many ports it has.

This chart will help you pick the right power bank for you.

Power Bank	Price	Ports	Max output
Anker PowerCore 10,000mAh Redux	$35	1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A	25W
Anker PowerCore 24K	$110	2 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A	140W
Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Power Bank	$30	1 x USB-C, 1 x wireless	15W
Baseus Blade HD	$100	2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A	100W
Klarus K5	$56	1 x USB-C, 1 x USB-A	22.5W

As always, it depends on your needs and what you're looking for. Some people want giant power banks for multi-day adventures, others want something small to get them out of an emergency. Some want something stylish and sleek, while others want total geekery and get something that's more like a charging computer than a simple power bank.

Choose this power bank…	If you want…
Anker PowerCore 10,000mAh Redux	The best power bank overall. It's portable, well built, and offers both USB-C and USB-A ports.
Anker PowerCore 24K	The best power bank for its large battery capacity and power. One of my all-time favorites.
Ugreen 5000mAh Magnetic Power Bank	A tiny power bank that packs a big punch. Yu can have this attached to your iPhone and forget that it's there.
Baseus Blade HD	A big power bank perfect for desktop use, and yet thiun enough to slip into a laptop bag.
Klarus K5	A sleek, stylish, and lightweight power bank that's also dust and water-resistant. This is perfect for use when camping, hiking, or working outdoors.

A variety of factors impact the quality and usability of power banks. Here are some things to take into consideration before buying one:

Battery size: Power banks range from giving you a single charge to several charges, and may increase in size and price accordingly. Portability: Some people want giant power banks for multi-day adventures, while others want something small they can hold in their pocket for daily charging or emergencies. Design: Some want something stylish and sleek, while others want total geekery and get something that's more like a charging computer than a simple power bank.

I test and review a lot of power banks, and this allows me to filter through hundreds of units to find the best of the best. On top of that, I use power banks a lot when traveling or going off-grid for hiking and camping. This allows me to get real-world, hands-on experience of the product for extended periods of time. Finally, every product that I use, test, or review is thoroughly safety tested to make sure that you'll be buying a reliable, safe product.

Here are the key factors I consider when testing power banks:

Capacity: I've seen plenty of companies make exaggerated claims about their power bank's capacity. I charge and discharge each power bank several times to test the rated capacity to make sure that this corresponds with the capacity stated on the box.Power output: A lot of cheaper power banks might be able to hit the rated power output for short periods, but this can take a dive under heavy load or when the power bank gets warm. I test every power bank under heavy load to make sure that it can output the maximum stated output power for extended periods.Safety: If the power bank overheats in use or when charging, it doesn't make this list. Plain and simple. Robustness: How does the power bank stand up to regular use? Does the shell resist scratches and knocks? Are the ports high quality and durable? If it's going to make this list, it must be tough enough to put up with heavy use.

There is, but fear not, because it's actually quite a generous limit.

FAA rules (and this rule is mirrored by most aviation authorities) allow you to take a power bank with a capacity up to 100Wh or 27,000mAh without declaring it. Beyond this, you must check with the airline and declare the power bank.

Most modern power banks have a feature called pass-through charging that allows you to charge it and use it to charge other devices simultaneously. This is a handy feature if you have limited number of power outlets and what to charge multiple devices -- for example, when traveling.

Lithium-ion batteries -- the batteries found in most power banks -- are good for about 800 recharge cycles. This means if you used a power bank daily, and each day you ran it empty before recharging it for the next day, you'd get more than two years of life.

In reality, people easily get 5 years from a power bank, and normally, it's technology moving forward and making the power bank obsolete that kills it, not usage.