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We’ve added information on the HyperJuice 5,000mAh Capsule Power Bank with Cables to What to look forward to. We plan to test it against our picks as soon as it’s available. USB C Fast Charger 18W For Phone
Whether you’re a glued-to-your-screen smartphone owner who can never make it through a day on a full charge, or you just need an occasional battery boost, USB power banks are a panacea for low-battery anxiety.
After putting in hundreds of hours of research and testing, we’ve found that the Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K is the best power bank to charge a phone, tablet, or another small, handheld device.
It’s an all-around great portable charger that can offer you peace of mind whenever wall outlets are out of reach.
This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.
This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.
This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.
We searched for power banks with enough wattage to ensure the fastest possible charging and recharging speeds.
We sought out power banks weighing 8 ounces (half a pound) or less, making them easy to carry around in a wallet, pocket, or bag.
We preferred power banks rated for at least 2,000 mAh and up to 10,000 mAh capacity, which tells you roughly how much battery life they hold.
We chose power banks with a warranty of at least one year, giving you plenty of time to use it and ensure it’s not a dud.
This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.
The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K weighs about half a pound, and its rounded edges make it easy to hold or slip into a pocket.
Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices and recharge itself at top speed (with the right USB-C cable and wall charger), and it can pass power to another device while being recharged from a wall outlet.
It only comes in one color, but it has enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones up to three times, as well as built-in USB-C and Lightning cables that are easy to slide in and out of their holsters.
This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.
The TravelCard Plus has less than a third of the Belkin’s capacity, but it’s much lighter and slimmer.
Its USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C cable, and built-in Lightning cable can fast-charge most smartphones or other handheld devices (though it recharges more slowly than our other picks).
It’s just as sleek-looking and sturdy as our top pick, and it comes in a wider variety of colors. Plus, as of this writing, it’s nearly half the price.
This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.
If money is tight, and you can live without the convenience of built-in cables, go for the Scosche GoBat 10K.
It’s on a par with the Belkin in terms of its power, capacity, build quality, and ease of use.
It has a fast-charging USB-C PD port (input and output) and a USB-A port (output only), and unlike our other picks it comes with a USB-C charging cable.
While it has a slightly chunky shape, which makes it a bit cumbersome to stow in small spaces, it weighs less than half a pound.
I’ve been a science journalist for nearly a decade, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing.
Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on surge protectors, portable power stations, and more. For this guide alone, I’ve spent more than 100 hours cumulatively researching and testing power banks.
Most people can find use for a USB power bank (also called an external battery pack, backup battery, or portable charger) to keep phones and other devices charged while on the go.
Rather than tracking down a wall outlet, owning a USB power bank allows you to enjoy a conveniently portable (albeit limited) power supply.
The question is, which one best fits into your habits? Some might need only a small battery to give their phone a boost at the end of the day, while those who travel a lot may be looking to power multiple devices over the course of several days.
A wallet-sized power bank is great to keep on hand for those unexpected (yet critical) moments when your phone is dying and no outlets are nearby.
But if you want something for weekend trips or a regular commute, the picks in this guide offer one or more full charges for most smartphones but can still fit easily in laptop bags, totes, purses, or even large pockets.
These power banks are robust yet portable, allowing you to charge small devices such as wireless headphones, computer mice, keyboards, vaporizers, digital cameras, and more.
Strategically placing a few of these around the house isn’t a bad idea either: You can keep one in your foyer to grab as you’re running out the door, or one near the couch for when you’re curled up cozily under a blanket and really, really don’t want to get up to plug in your phone.
For laptops and other large devices that charge via USB-C or AC, we have separate guides for power banks with much higher capacity ratings than the chargers we recommend here.
The best replacement for your original charger is the Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger . It’s cheaper and smaller but just as powerful and reliable.
When wall outlets are scarce, a portable laptop charger provides a handy backup for travelers or remote workers. Mophie’s Powerstation Pro AC is our favorite.
With tons of brands and models to choose from, we checked out major retailers to find the most widely available options and narrowed the scope of our search using the following criteria:
We tested the performance of each power bank in a few key areas, including the following:
This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.
The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K is compact, sleek, and powerful. It has a USB-C PD port, built-in Lightning and USB-C cables, and as much battery life as any model we tested. It’s on the pricey side, but no other model we’ve tested matches its unique combination of features.
It has built-in cables. In addition to a fast-charging USB-C PD port, the Belkin’s built-in Lightning and USB-C cables can charge most phones or other handheld devices (or recharge the unit itself) at top speed.
It packs a lot of power. We measured up to 19 W flowing into the power bank through either the USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable, and up to 18 W flowing out through the USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C cable, or built-in Lightning cable. With two devices plugged into the power bank, we measured a total maximum output of 24 W—more than twice as much power as some models we tested.
It has passthrough charging. While recharging the Belkin, you can simultaneously charge another device (we measured up to 15 W of passthrough charging power). This is a highly convenient, yet somewhat rare, feature.
It has great battery life. With a capacity rating of 10,000 mAh, the Belkin has enough juice to fully charge an iPhone 14 (and most other smartphones) up to three times, while some models we tested struggle to bring a phone from empty to full just once.
It won’t weigh you down. Weighing 8.4 ounces, or just over half a pound, the Belkin doesn’t add a lot of extra bulk to a backpack or purse. Plus, its built-in cables negate the need to carry additional charging cables.
It’s enjoyable to use. The best-designed products are those you barely notice, and the Belkin is no exception. It has a streamlined, minimalistic look that blends in easily with its surroundings. Its rounded edges make it comfortable to hold and easy to slip into a pocket, while the textured plastic shell offers some extra grip.
While the same is true of nearly every model we tested, this power bank is effortless to use: A single button turns it on and off (it also powers down automatically when not connected to anything), and four small LEDs indicate how much battery life remains.
It’s sturdily built. The Belkin has a rugged build quality, and the attached cables slide seamlessly in and out of their holsters without showing signs of straining or tearing.
Belkin offers a long warranty and good customer support. Belkin’s two-year warranty gives you more than enough time to use the power bank and ensure it’s in working order. We’ve found the company’s customer support to be responsive, too.
This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.
If you want an ultra-compact power bank that can fit in a small crossbody bag or clutch, the TravelCard Plus is your best bet.
It doesn’t have enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones, but it’s one of the lightest models we’ve tested, and like our top pick it has built-in USB-C and Lightning cables. Plus, it comes in a wider variety of colors than our other picks.
It’s powerful for its size (though it recharges at a snail’s pace). The TravelCard Plus isn’t quite as powerful as our top pick, but it still has plenty of juice to charge most devices (or recharge itself) at a steady clip.
This model lacks passthrough charging, but the built-in USB-C cable can pass up to 15 W to connected devices, and the built-in Lightning cable can pass up to 10 W.
We measured up to 7 W while recharging the power bank from either its USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable. That’s pretty sluggish compared to our top pick (although, since the capacity is so much lower, it still only takes about an hour to fully recharge).
It’ll keep your phone from dying (but might not fully charge it). With a rated capacity of 3,000 mAh, the TravelCard Plus is well within our desired range for battery life. Although it doesn’t have quite enough capacity to bring most smartphones from 0% to 100% charged, it can easily top off or revive a dying device.
It’s super lightweight. Weighing just 2.7 ounces—roughly akin to five sheets of notebook paper—the TravelCard Plus is one of the lightest power banks we’ve tested.
It’s sleek yet sturdy. The TravelCard Plus is a tad bigger than a typical credit card (3.6 inches by 2.4 inches), and about as thick as four credit cards stacked (0.3 inch). Not only is it slimmer than most power banks we’ve tested, but it’s sturdily built and has a sleek look with rounded edges and a polished-metal finish. The built-in cables are dainty, but they showed no signs of tearing in our testing, and they slide smoothly in and out of their holsters.
It’s easy to use. Like our other picks, this power bank has just one button (to turn the unit on and off) and four battery-status indicator lights.
It’s well-supported. Despite a relatively small web presence, TravelCard backs its products with a two-year warranty, and we’ve had generally good experiences with its customer support.
It’s relatively affordable. Like our top pick, the TravelCard Plus doesn’t come with a wall charger or other accessories, but it’s nearly half the price of that model. Plus, most people likely already have a compatible charger that came with their phone or another device, and don’t need a surplus.
It comes in a wide range of colors. Most models we tested come in just one or two colors, but the TravelCard Plus has eight options: black, white, silver, gray, red, teal, blue, or indigo.
This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.
If funds are limited, and you can stand to carry a separate charging cable or two, the Scosche GoBat 10K is a less-expensive alternative to our top pick.
It’s comparable in terms of power, capacity, and build quality. And while it’s chunkier in shape, and lacks built-in cables, it’s also a bit smaller and lighter.
It’s supremely powerful. This power bank edged out the rest of the bunch in terms of input, and it was also one of the best performers when it came to output. We measured up to 25 W flowing into its USB-C PD port, up to 20 watts out of its USB-C PD port, and up to 17 watts from its USB-A port.
It has great battery life. Just like our top pick, the Scosche has a rated capacity of 10,000 mAh, so you can fully charge a phone up to three times.
It weighs less than a roll of quarters. At just 6.4 ounces, the Scosche is a couple ounces lighter than our top pick, though still not as light as the TravelCard Plus.
It’s sturdily built. Encased in a hard plastic shell, the Scosche is relatively rugged, and it has a sturdy build quality.
It’s comfortable to hold (and easy on the eyes). This power bank’s blocky shape makes it a bit tougher to slip into small pockets or purses, but it’s still quite compact, and its rounded edges feel comfortable in the hand.
The power bank has a sophisticated look overall, though it only comes in black (we’d also prefer the company’s logo on top of the unit to be a bit subtler, but it’s not super splashy).
It has a great warranty. Scosche is a brand we trust, and its three-year warranty (longer than our other picks’ two-year warranties) gives you plenty of time to use your power bank and ensure it’s not a dud.
It’s relatively affordable. This model costs nearly half as much as our top pick, as of this writing, and it comes with a USB-C charging cable (which is handy if you don’t already have one or want a backup).
If you need maximum power and don’t mind a less-streamlined unit that costs a bit more than our picks: Get the Mophie Powerstation Plus. Offering slightly more power than any of our picks, it has a built-in USB-C PD cable (up to 30 W output), built-in Lightning output cable (up to 18 W output), and USB-C PD port (up to 20 W output and 23 W input) with passthrough charging.
Like our top pick, it has a 10,000 mAh capacity rating and weighs 8.4 ounces (just over half a pound). Also, it’s backed by a two-year warranty, and comes from a brand we trust.
Unfortunately, it only comes in black, and it's the costliest model we tested ($80 at this writing, with no included accessories). Plus, while it has a generally good look and feel, its built-in cables are maddeningly difficult to slide in and out of their holsters. For some people, though, the extra power might make these sacrifices worthwhile.
If you want a power bank that doubles as a wall charger: Get the Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000. In addition to its handy fold-up input plug, it has a USB-C PD port and USB-A port to charge up to two devices with 20 W of combined output power. And like our top and budget picks, it has a rated capacity of 10,000 mAh.
It comes in either black or white, its plastic exterior has a pleasantly grippy texture, and convenient battery-status lights tell you when it needs to be recharged. It’s ruggedly built and backed by a brand we trust, and it has an ample 18-month warranty.
On the downside, it’s pricier than most of our picks ($50 at this writing), and you’ll need to supply your own charging cables. It’s also significantly bigger and heavier than our picks, weighing a whopping 9.6 ounces. But if you want more versatility, and can live with the extra bulk, it’s a great option.
If you want a wide range of color options and can live without built-in cables: Get the Zendure SuperMini 20W. A former top pick, it has a USB-C PD port with up to 19 W output and 20 W input, as well as a USB-A port with up to 17 W output. It also has passthrough charging and a rated capacity of 10,000 mAh. Weighing just 6.4 ounces, its rounded edges make it easy to hold and slip into a pocket. It is intuitive to use and ruggedly built, and thick ridges on its outer shell make it easy to grip (or locate at the bottom of a cluttered bag).
Zendure backs this model with a two-year warranty, and we’ve generally had good experiences with its customer support. It costs more than most of our picks ($48 at this writing), but it comes with a USB-C cable and it’s available in more colors than any of our picks, including red, white, silver, blue, light green, light purple, and light pink.
If you want recycled materials and packaging and can live without built-in cables: Get the Nimble Champ. It has a USB-A port (up to 16 W output) and USB-C PD port (up to 18 W output and 16 W input) with passthrough charging, and a capacity rating of 10,000 mAh.
Weighing just 6.5 ounces, it’s sturdily built and has a chunky yet compact shape. It’s easy to use, comes from a reputable brand, and has a two-year warranty. Sadly, it's more expensive than most of our picks ($50 at this writing), and the charging cable that comes with it only supports up to about 12 W. But it’s one of the only options we tested containing (at minimum) 72% post-consumer recycled plastic, and with entirely plastic-free packaging.
It also comes with a free e-waste recycling kit (we have more tips on how to recycle used electronics here), making it a slightly more sustainable option overall.
If you want a power bank with replaceable batteries and don't mind sacrificing some power: Get the Panasonic BQ-CC87. Powered by up to four AA or AAA rechargeable batteries, this power bank has an unusual design that allows you to reuse it indefinitely—making it more sustainable than most power banks, which become useless when the internal battery wears out.
The BQ-CC87 is fairly lightweight (around 3.1 ounces with four AA batteries inserted), and it comes in two colors (black or white). It's made by a reputable company and backed by a two-year warranty. And costing just $25 at this writing, it’s the least expensive model we tested.
On the downside, its charging ports are less powerful than those of other models we tested (we measured just 5 W flowing into its Micro-USB port and out of its USB-A port), and it has only about 2,550 mAh of battery life (with four AA batteries inserted) to top off a phone or other small device.
Lastly, this unit has a blockier shape than most models we tested, and the plastic cover is relatively flimsy (we strongly recommend stowing it in a pocket or bag organizer to keep the batteries from popping out of their slots in transit). But if you’re someone who already uses rechargeable AA and/or AAA batteries, this could be a versatile addition to your charging setup.
Hyper announced the HyperJuice 5,000mAh Capsule Power Bank with Cables at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in January 2024, and we’re planning to test it against our current picks. Its unique design includes a 1-foot USB-C cable on one end, a 3-foot USB-C cable on the other, and a built-in cable clip to keep them tidily wrapped up. It can charge up to two devices at once, or charge a single device while recharging itself, and it has a rated capacity of 5,000 mAh. It’s set to sell for $50 when it becomes available in fall 2024.
Several other companies—including Anker, Belkin, ESR, Mophie, and more—have recently released power banks with Qi2 wireless charging capabilities, which allows compatible devices to take advantage of the new standard’s faster charging speeds and secure magnetic connection. We plan to test as many Qi2 power banks as we can get our hands on in the coming months, and we’ll add our testing notes to our guide to the best wireless portable chargers and power banks as soon as we can.
This is not a comprehensive list of every power bank we’ve tested. We’ve removed models that no longer meet our requirements or are discontinued.
The Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 is our former pick for people who want a power bank that doubles as a wall charger. It has a rated capacity of 5,000 mAh, a handy fold-up plug, and a pocketable size and shape. However, its charging ports (two USB-A output ports and a Micro-USB input port) are much less powerful than those on our top and budget picks.
We tried the Clutch V3 Lightning, Clutch V3 USB-C, and Clutch Max in our latest round of testing, and all three were disappointing. Despite costing nearly twice as much as comparable models, their built-in cables are flimsy (we literally ripped one out of its socket), and the Clutch Max failed to charge past 25% (we gave up after three attempts).
The Mophie Powerstation Hub is a power bank that can also be used as either a wall charger or wireless charging pad. However, its rated capacity (6,000 mAh) is significantly lower than our top and budget picks’ ratings, and its angular shape makes it less comfortable to hold or slip into a pocket. Plus, it costs $100 at this writing, which is far pricier than comparable models.
The Mophie Powerstation PD is super lightweight, weighing just 5.2 ounces, and has a pleasantly pocketable shape and grippy texture. However, it offers significantly less capacity (6,700 mAh) than our top pick, which is just a few ounces heavier.
The Mophie Powerstation Plus (USB-C) and Mophie Powerstation Plus Mini (USB-C) are sleek-looking and lightweight. But the built-in USB-C cables are especially tricky to get back into their slots, which we think would drive most people up the wall.
The RAVPower 10000mAh Power Bank (RP-PB186) is on a par with our budget pick in terms of its capacity (10,000 mAh) and charging options (one USB-C PD port and one USB-A port), but it has rough ridges at each of its seams that make it less comfortable to hold.
The TG90° Portable Charger 6000mAh External Battery Pack is one of the smallest and lightest power banks we’ve tested, weighing just 4.1 ounces, and its capacity rating (6,000 mAh) is higher than those of power banks we’ve tested that are twice its size. As a major added convenience, it has two built-in cables (USB-C and Lightning) that slide in and out of their holsters easily, as well as a USB-C input port. It’s also relatively sturdy and well built. Despite these attributes, however, we don’t feel comfortable recommending this model without long-term testing; aside from its Amazon storefront, the company has no web presence.
The Tronsmart Trim 10000mAh USB-C Power Bank has the same capacity rating (10,000 mAh) as our top and budget picks, plus it adds a Micro-USB input port. However, we don’t think an extra (and slower-charging) input option offers a significant benefit for most people, and we prefer the look and feel of our picks.
This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.
Sarah Witman is a senior staff writer who reports on powering and charging technology for Wirecutter. She previously worked as a writer, editor, and fact checker for several science magazines. Though she researches and tests chargers for a living, her phone battery is usually low.
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TYPE-C Portable Phone Charger 30W Wirecutter is the product recommendation service from The New York Times. Our journalists combine independent research with (occasionally) over-the-top testing so you can make quick and confident buying decisions. Whether it’s finding great products or discovering helpful advice, we’ll help you get it right (the first time).