The Best Power Banks of 2024

What the Anker Powercore Slim 10,000 ($20) lacks in some of the technology contained in other power banks on this list, it makes up for in the proprietary technology Anker applies to their products to optimize charging, preserve battery life, and protect your devices from power surges.

It’s also one of the few currently available power banks to feature Micro USB, USB-A, and USB-C ports. However, the only output is the USB-A port. Is that a big deal? No. We didn’t find it to be an issue at all. There are still a plethora of charging cables out there that are USB-A to Lightning port or USB-A to USB-C.

We found that having the option to charge the Powercore Slim through Micro USB, USB-A, and USB-C was a bigger benefit and hardly missed the quicker charging speeds USB-C was designed to provide; especially considering the minimal investment. 

The things we loved about the Powercore Slim were the Anker-specific bits of technology like PowerIQ and VoltageBoost. These two work in unison to compensate for differences in cable resistance as well as to optimize the charging of your device while making sure it’s using its own power optimally. Where we would have been more than happy with this power bank with these aforementioned aspects alone, there were still a couple of other features under the hood that blew us away.

The first was the fact that the Powercore Slim has a built-in surge protector. A little bit of protection against your device getting fried when you’re traveling goes a long way. The second feature of this affordable power bank that most manufacturers are moving away from is trickle charging.

This optimizes charging for lower-powered devices while preserving battery life on the power bank itself. It’s kind of an Easter egg that you’ll find if you press and hold the single button on the unit for 2 seconds (or read the instructions). 

That being the case, we found that the Powercore Slim lasted longer than Skull Candy’s Fat Stash 2, which has also made it onto this list. Anker claims that the Powercore Slim is good for around 2 full charges of an iPhone and 1 charge of an iPad mini. While we can confirm that it’s only good for a single charge of the iPad, we were able to get almost 3 full iPhone charges out of it.

Though we’ve awarded the BioLite Charge 100 Max ($150) as the “Best for Laptops and Larger Devices,” it’s really an optimal solution for everyone from people working remotely to families going on vacation, and anytime you need to charge multiple devices at once. This is due in part to the fact that it can charge up to five devices at once, both wirelessly and fast.  

The 100 Max has a wireless pad, USB-A port, and USB-C port, all of which can charge your devices at a max of 15W of power. However, the two remaining ports are USB-C PD, which allows you to charge devices plugged into those ports up to 100W of power. What this equates to is efficiency. Smaller devices, like a cellphone, will charge quicker. For larger devices like a laptop, it will be charged efficiently — meaning that it won’t just kill the 25,000 mAh battery.  

We’ve been using the 100 Max since May. It’s been all over New England and used for everything from writing articles like this on a MacBook Pro to charging three iPads at once so a dad and his two little girls could play Roblox, uninterrupted. Is it big? Yes. It’s the biggest power bank on this list. Is that a problem? No. Not unless you’re an ultralight runner and then this wouldn’t be the best option for you.  

An added bonus when you purchase this biggie from BioLite is the included 100W USB-C PD cable. Not all cables are the same. Most max out at 15W. Adding this to the box not only saves the consumer money, but it proves that these ratings actually do exist and that only certain cables will charge at the full ability of the power bank.  

If you’re someone who spends a lot of time in the outdoors, in the elements, or maybe even out on a raft for a crazy amount of time, you may want to pass on the 100 Max. As is the case with all of the BioLite power banks, this one is not waterproof like the Nestout 15,000mAh Outdoor Battery. We had no issues using it during a drizzle, but it’s safe to assume that if you get water into the ports, you’re going to turn this power bank into a bright yellow brick.

Read Review: Lighter, Cheaper, Faster: BioLite Charge 100 Max Review

The Dark Energy Poseidon Pro ($120) is one of the most durable power banks in this guide. According to the brand, it can be dropped from 75 feet in the air and frozen for up to 4 weeks.

Additionally, with its IP68 rating, it can be fully submerged in water for up to 45 minutes. Though we didn’t test these bold claims exactly, we used and abused the Poseidon Pro for several weeks, dropping it in the snow, tossing it loose into a backpack, and making no attempt to protect it from harm. It continues to look and perform like new.

The Poseidon Pro’s bulletproof nature does come with a slight weight increase. It’s about 3 ounces heavier than other power banks with comparable capacity. Still, that’s a small price to pay for reliable power in extreme conditions. If you’re heading to the ends of the earth, this is the right power bank to pack.

All power inputs and outputs on the Pro are hidden beneath a rugged mini door. Next to the USB-A and USB-C ports, a small LED flashlight sits. Four battery indicator lights relay the key information that users need. We managed to squeeze two full charges out of the Dark Energy Poseidon Pro with an iPhone 13 — competitive stats in the 10K mAh category.

The Goal Zero Flip 24 ($30) is one degree smaller than the common 10K mAh power bank size class. It’s about the same size as a 15-pack of gum, and it charged an iPhone 13 twice (almost 81% on the second charge). It’s a great value for $30, and it adds valuable peace of mind on long hikes and bike rides.

Unlike most power banks on this list, the Flip 24 only has USB-A input and output. It’s not surprising for such a small bank, but it might be annoying for folks without a compatible cable. Plus, USB-C charging tends to be faster than USB-A. The Flip 24 will charge your phone slower than most other options on this list.

On the plus side, the Flip 24’s built-in USB-A stick is quite convenient. It plugs directly into compatible ports and charges right up without a cord. The battery indicator lights light up when the user presses the USB stick, which doubles as a button — product design panache.

For phones, earbuds, and smartwatches, the Goal Zero Flip 24 is a nifty little backup battery. If you need to charge larger devices, go with a power bank with greater capacity, like the BioLite Charge Max 100.

The Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 ($40) almost beat out the Goal Zero Flip 24 for the Most Portable Power Bank until we realized that this little box packs quite a punch. Though the Fat Stash 2 tops out at 10,000 mAh, it has increased power delivery (PD) capabilities which allow it to pump out 20W of charging power.

Additionally, it has up to 40 hours of battery life. Essentially, you’re getting a power bank that fits in your pocket and can supply 50% battery life to your smartphone in roughly half an hour.

We had a lot of fun with the Fat Stash 2. Because it’s pocket-sized, it’s easy to bring wherever you go. This makes it ideal for kids as well. Though Skullcandy doesn’t state any durability or environmental ratings for the unit, we can personally tell you that it can be dropped a bunch of times and be splashed with water without any repercussions. In layman’s terms — it can withstand the active lifestyle of an 8-year-old in the middle of summer, so it’ll handle anything you do to it.

The Fat Stash 2 comes with a 6” combo charging cable that has a USB-A male end and a Micro-USB/USB-C male end. While we like the short cable because you can stack your phone on top of the Fat Stash 2 and carry it around without a long tail, we would have rather had a USB-C PD cable that can handle the 18W-20W output.

One interesting feature that was hard to ignore was how long it takes to drain the internal battery, especially when it’s already low on fuel. There were a handful of times when the power bank was only at 12-15% of power and it was able to charge our iPhone 14 Pro to full capacity from 20% power before it finally ran out of juice.

Designed to work with Apple’s MagSafe-compatible devices, the Hinovo Magnetic Power Bank ($50) is both wireless and compact. You can easily attach it to the back of your smartphone and put it into your pocket. With 5,000 mAh of onboard power, you can quickly recharge your phone once and possibly twice, depending on the model.

We’ve been living with the Hinovo for months and appreciate its ease of use and straightforward design. The slim design immediately doubles a smartphone’s battery life without much added bulk. Additionally, the 15W of output power allows for a fast recharge of your device, while the 20W USB-C input lets you recharge the power bank quickly and efficiently.

While the Hinovo Magnetic Power Bank may not be designed to withstand the elements outdoors as well as the Nestout or the Poseidon Pro, its construction allows it to easily bounce around in your pocket all day, making it great for traveling. The one downside of this compact power solution is that it only works with certain Apple products. At this time, Hinovo has no plans to make a non-MagSafe wireless charging power bank.

The Wuben Lightok X3 Owl EDC Flashlight ($87) is more of a flashlight and less of a power bank, but in our testing, it proves reliable as both. So, in our mind, it’s nice to have around either for an emergency, as a backup power bank, or the power bank you take with you on short adventures. Whatever reason you would have to bring this compact, durable, and weatherproof gizmo along with you, rest assured it’ll prove its worth.

We initially tested and reviewed the X3 Owl as an EDC flashlight that had the added benefit of being able to power your smartphone. The power bank was a “nice to have” that we quickly found the benefit of.

At full charge, it was able to bring an iPhone 14 Pro up to 100% from 20% and still had 30% power left for its flashlight function. Essentially, with the X3 Owl, you are getting two important solutions that can keep you safe in sound if you get turned around in the outdoors.

To avoid any confusion, the power bank is located in the case and not in the flashlight itself. Additionally, the flashlight carries an IP65 rating that protects it from water and debris, but the case does not. However, the charging port on the case is protected from the elements, as is the inside of the case when the flashlight is inserted into it. After nearly a year of use in the outdoors, we have never had any issues while using it in the elements.

Overall, where the X3 Owl really shines as an EDC flashlight, the power bank feature shouldn’t be ignored.

Read Review: Stick It, Turn It, Hang It, Bang It: Wuben Lightok X3 Owl EDC Flashlight Review

Now in its second generation, the Nitecore NB10000 ($60) is a lightweight, no-frills power bank that seriously impressed during testing. This minuscule unit is one of the smallest 10,000 mAh banks on the market. It fits easily in any pocket, and it weighs just over 5 ounces — excellent stats for a power bank that fully charged an iPhone 13 to 100% two and a half times — exactly as the brand claims.

The NB10000 isn’t the most heavy-duty or luxurious power bank on the market, but it simply performs well in every category without any major flaws or weaknesses. Sure, the battery power indicator light isn’t the most precise, but that’s a nit-picky criticism in a compact power bank. Ultimately, the NB10000 provides reliable portable power for charging small devices.

Our 2-foot drop test didn’t leave a scratch on the Nitecore’s carbon fiber exterior, so we especially recommend this power bank for outdoor use. It’s light and packable enough for ultralight thru-hiking, and it contains enough power to keep a phone charged for quite a long time — depending on phone use, of course.

Compared to the first generation of the NB10000, the second generation offers increased USB-C output for faster charging. It also has a “low current mode,” which is useful for sensitive devices with small batteries such as smart watches and Bluetooth earbuds.

If you need to charge two devices at once — the Nitecore NB10000 has you covered. Additionally, it has “pass-through charging,” which allows users to tap into the NB10000’s outputs while it is plugged into a wall outlet.

During our testing for this roundup, we focused primarily on compact pocket-sized power banks in the 10-20k mAH range. Though these small devices are great for charging small devices on the go, they aren’t suitable for larger devices like laptops.

The Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD ($250) is larger than most power banks on this list. It weighs 1.5 pounds, and it won’t fit in a pocket. That said, it’s still relatively compact, and it’s the perfect choice for airline travel or car camping, especially when a charged-up laptop is essential.

Compared to the smaller banks we tested, the Sherpa boasts several significant upgrades. First, it offers wireless charging. Just set a compatible smartphone or another device on the charging pad and it’ll power up sans cable.

A small display screen keeps the user informed on outgoing wattage, remaining battery life, and more. It’s far more informative than the standard series of indicator lights that most small power banks have.

The Sherpa charged an iPhone 13 from dead to 100% a whopping seven times using a USB-C to USB-C cord. The brand advertised eight full charges, but this figure depends on many variable factors. In any case, the Sherpa is about four times more powerful than most 10k mAh power banks in this regard. Using the wireless charging surface, the phone fully charged in about 100 minutes.

The Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD fully charged a MacBook Air over two times before it ran out of steam — more than enough for a weekend of off-grid computing.

Anker has a solid reputation for simple, long-lasting, and fast-charging power banks. The Anker PowerCore III Elite ($130) boasts an impressive 25,600 mAh of capacity — an excellent figure for a power bank that’s only about 7 inches long.

Most power bank users can get by with 10K mAH — a perfectly suitable capacity for a weekend’s worth of phone and earbud charging. The PowerCore III Elite is a major step up — it contains more than double the capacity of most of the power banks on this list. It’s potent enough to charge laptops and tablets, and it still manages to fit into most pants pockets.

Of course, the extra capacity has to come from somewhere. The PowerCore III weighs 1.3 pounds, which is a bit heavy for backpacking. Still, compared to similar capacity options like the Goal Zero Sherpa 100PD, the PowerCore is relatively svelte.

The PowerCore III fully charged an iPhone 13 just over six times. Anker claims it can charge three devices simultaneously. During testing, it easily charged two smartphones at the same time.

The Anker PowerCore III Elite dented easily during our 2-foot drop test, but it went on working without issue. It’s a great compact choice for photographers or remote workers on the go.

It’s tough to beat the performance and generous capacity of the UGREEN 145W power bank ($150) for the price. Offering 25,000 mAh of storage, this battery brick has enough juice to charge three small devices at once.

While the UGREEN may be a little hefty for backpacking, it’s great for road trips and air travel. During testing, we charged two smartphones and a Kindle all at once, and the UGREEN still had over 50% power left over.

We like that this simple power bank is free of frivolous features. It serves its purpose perfectly and doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a reliable power bank. The easy-to-read LED display allowed us to keep accurate tabs on its battery life. Its rate of power delivery is right up there with the best banks on the market, but the bank itself is fairly low to chNestout 15000mAh Outdoor Batteryarge.

Unlike many of the smaller banks on this list, the UGREEN 145W power bank is potent enough to support a laptop. It doesn’t support Samsung Super Fast Charging, but it seems to thrive when paired with Apple products.

The Otterbox Fast Charge ($35) is available in three sizes: 10k, 15k, and 20k mAh. We tested the 10k version, though all three models have the same design and two-port layout. With just one in/out USB-C and one USB-A out, it’s a simple and effective power bank that works best with smartphones and small devices.

The “Fast Charge” moniker sets up high expectations. This power bank fully charged an iPhone 13 from dead to 100% in just over 90 minutes. While this stat is competitive for a small power bank, it’s about the same as several other top performers on this list. This Otterbox is a reasonably fast-charging product, but it’s on par with its peers on this list, not necessarily superior.

Compared to the more durable options we tested, the Fast Charge has an all-plastic casing that feels a bit delicate and cheap to the touch. It survived our drop test and continued to function, but it just doesn’t have the feel of excellent build quality. Still, it’s a perfectly usable power bank.

The 15k version of the Otterbox Fast Charge ($45) is a nice middle ground between common power bank sizes. We expect it could charge a newer iPhone three or four times, a meaningful improvement over the 10k version.

This unassuming powerhouse came to be one of our tester’s favorite power banks by accident. After getting his sleek, lightweight Anker charger stolen on a recent climbing trip, the BioLite Charge 80 PD ($80) — his backup bank — found its way into his backpack on several ultralight treks and long road trip adventures.

It takes a lot for a power bank weighing over a pound to end up in a backpacking kit, but for super remote excursions where energy efficiency was a must, this thing was a lifesaver for our tester. Despite its 16.4-ounce weight, it can charge a smartphone over 5 times (tested with an iPhone 11), a tablet twice (tested with an iPad Pro), and even a computer once (tested with a MacBook Pro).

While you don’t need all these devices on a backpacking trip, this is a welcome power source for road trips, wilderness photo/video shoots, or international travel. And, for those backpacking jaunts that have you off the grid for five days or more, it’s hard to beat the power-to-weight ratio that this delivers.

The two USB-A Quick Charge and single USB-C PD ports offer exceptionally fast charging. The bank also only takes 4.5-5 hours to fully charge, which is better than some other models with similar capacity we’ve tried. Its durable plastic shell gives it an indestructible feel, and we haven’t noticed a scratch on it after many miles of rough use.

With a 20k mAh capacity, it has the inherent cons of being quite heavy and comparatively large, but is on par with other banks in its category. We do find the battery indicator to be somewhat lacking. It is a bit hard to gauge exactly how much power is left, and we don’t like that the light remains on while charging. Some energy could be saved by having it switch off after it’s been plugged in for a second, and it can get annoying at night if it’s not covered up.

These slight gripes aside, we think that the BioLite Charge 80 PD delivers reliable power in a packable, durable design. If pure ultralight minimalism is what you’re after, there are better options out there. But, for the adventurer in need of a bit more juice on their excursions for multiple devices, this would be a solid pick.  

The Lion Trek Power Bank ($149) is the largest power bank on this list in both size and capacity. At 2.1 pounds and 8.5 inches long, it takes some liberties with its self-described “portable” nature. Still, this power bank justifies its size with a massive 27,000 mAh capacity and a handy AC power outlet.

Unlike most of the options on this list, the Lion Trek packs enough power for laptops, tablets, and small appliances like lamps, TVs, and coffee grinders. It’s the perfect size for a long-term solo road trip — especially when paired with a compatible solar panel.

We’ve been testing the Lion Trek for several months. Though it’s a bit too big and inconvenient for airline travel, it’s been our go-to power bank for car camping. On a single full charge, the Lion Trek recharged an iPhone 13 nine times. It kept a MacBook Air alive for 3 days of frequent use. According to its display, the Lion Trek only used 5% of its total battery life to fully charge a pair of wireless earbuds.

For some folks on the go, an AC outlet is a must-have. The Lion Trek is one of the smallest banks to include one. Additionally, the unit houses two USB-A outputs and one in/out USB-C port. For mobile remote workers, the Lion Trek can function as an ultra-compact solution for the solar-powered off-grid lifestyle.