We wish there wasn't such an easy answer to this question, because competition is better for everybody, but Anker is making the best power banks right now by far. It offers the best power-to-weight ratio, the fastest charging, and the most useful features. Basically, you’re trying to balance four factors: size, speed, capacity and price. The rules are simple enough: the less you spend, the lower the capacity and the slower the power bank will charge. With a power bank, though, you can always get a recharge – even when you’re far from home. In fact, with bigger power banks, you can get away for a weekend or go camping and still keep your phone juiced up. And it’s not only smartphones that can benefit. Tablets, digital cameras and Bluetooth speakers can often do with a top-up, and a decent power bank is a must-have accessory if you love playing on a Nintendo Switch. There are plenty of other power bank makers around, and most of them have not caught up to the faster charging speeds available on the iPhone 15 family, let along even faster Android phones. Except for unique form factors or serious bargains, we stayed away from recommending power banks from reputable makers if they couldn't charge at 2023 speeds.

When you're after a power bank for a camping trip or weekend getaway, or to power your Switch or laptop, you'll want something with a higher capacity. The next question is how you want to charge your device. You can find a power bank that charges your phone (or even your Apple Watch) wirelessly. These will usually charge slower, but they can be very convenient if you want to leave wires at home. The best power banks you can buy in 2023 1. EnergyCell Portable Charger 5000mAh: Best cheap power bank You only want to charge a phone: If you don't need to charge a laptop occasionally, or you only carry a phone with no accessories, the Anker 733 is more than you need. You have a watch that isn't from Apple: The Otterbox 2-in-1 Power Bank only attaches magnetically to the Apple Watch. Other smartwatches, like the Pixel Watch, won't work with this one, not at all.All of our tests were conducted using the same wall adapter and, when possible, USB-C or Micro-USB cable. This was done to eliminate any discrepancies with wall adapters and cable throughput. What to look for in a portable power bank Anker’s exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technologies combine to ensure the fastest possible charge up to 2.4 amps. Tylt also wisely left enough of a gap between the battery and the bottle that you can coil a small USB-C cord (included) into that space. That way, even if you're not charging wirelessly, you're not adding a lot of extra bulk to your bag. It's a smart setup. It's also worth noting how the power bank itself is charged up. Some devices from Anker still support micro USB, while others use USB-C. At the moment, no Anker power banks can be charged up with a Lightning cable.

Dimensions: 10.39 x 6.91 x 2.01 cm | Weight: 223.11g | Capacity: 10,000mAh | Ports: USB-C (input and output) and wireless charging That means I could twist my phone sideways into landscape mode and use the Baseus power bank as a portable stand for Apple's new StandBy mode, which is one of my favorite features on iOS 17, and certainly the one I use the most often. If you're prone to forgetting your cable, some power banks can recharge your phone wirelessly. You'll just need to place the smartphone on the charger and press a button to start – you may have to reposition it to get perfect alignment, although there are magnetic models (more on those below) for the latest iPhones that'll always snap into the correct position. Magnetic power banks Place your phone on the center of the wireless pad to ensure stable charging. If your phone does not show as charging, adjust the position of your phone.

Belkin USB-C Portable Power Bank

Quality Throughout:Built adventure-tier touch with superior durability and scratch resistance, Anker 313 Power Bank (PowerCore 10K) is premium both inside and out. The use of USB-C for the single input/output port is a little weird given the target market, and you’ll need a fast USB-C charger and a USB-C to Lightning cable to make the most of the device. What’s more, the wired charging isn’t super-speedy; our Android test smartphone only recovered by 11% from a 15-minute charge. But if you’re an iPhone user looking for a light and convenient portable charger, the Anker 622 is almost perfect for the role. We've used the latter of those two products a lot, and find it'll get around a charge and a half on your Nintendo Switch. It's especially useful for long plane journeys considering the console itself usually lasts for only around three hours with intensive playing. Price

Brand Reliability: When it comes to portable power banks, it's essential to choose a trustworthy brand. Brands like Anker have a solid reputation for producing safe and high-quality products, ensuring your devices are charged efficiently and without any risks. This charger also fell a little short of its charging claims in our test. Anker states that you should be able to charge an iPhone 8 3.5 times and a Samsung Galaxy S8 2.5 times, but we were only able to charge an S8 about 2.2 times. Added ConvenienceUse the included Micro-USB cable, your original cable or a third-party certified one (such as MFi); AC adapter not included. It's easy to get used to being a couple of feet away from a power cable or wireless charging pad on those days when you're working from home. The Anker Nano is only 5,000mAh, but that doesn't mean it can fully charge a 5,000mAh phone battery like you'll find in the Galaxy S23 Ultra. Power banks are about 60-70% efficient, depending on the phone's technology, so this power bank is good for charging an iPhone 15 to nearly full, but that big Ultra will only get about 65% charge. That app is essential because there's a Find My feature built into the battery. It doesn't work like an AirTag over UWB, it's only Bluetooth, but it's useful if you misplace your battery in your office (or you have multiple batteries, like I do).

Read the Instructions: Take a few minutes to read the user manual that comes with your power bank. Familiarize yourself with its features, usage instructions, and safety precautions. This will help you make the most of your new gadget while keeping yourself and your devices safe. Connect an 18W charger (not included) to the USB-C port to fully recharge the internal battery in just 4.5 hours. Dimensions: 9.91 x 6.4 x 1.65 cm | Weight: 173g | Capacity: 5,000mAh | Ports: USB-C (input and output) and wireless charging Everybody on our gift list who got a new iPhone is going to get an Anker Nano Power Bank (22.5W) this year. This cute little charger is perfectly sized to sit beneath your favorite smartphone, plugged into the USB-C port with a little plug that opens out or hides away for a sleek look. Ports: Different devices have different charging ports, and your power bank should be compatible with them. Look for power banks with the right ports, such as Lightning or USB-C, to ensure seamless charging for all your devices. Having multiple ports is a bonus, allowing you to charge multiple gadgets simultaneously.

How did we choose these power banks?

Apple doesn't publish its battery capacity, but teardowns have shown that the iPhone 15 has a battery with around 3,350mAh of battery life. That means a 10KmAh battery can charge that phone twice ... almost. You may not get to 100% the second charge, but you'll be in the 90% range. Anker's power banks generally do what they aim to with relatively little extra. For example, the brand doesn't have any power banks that also support wireless charging or any other exciting features.