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It’s no secret: Smartphone batteries deteriorate — usually before we’re ready to upgrade — and start to die. Whether you’re waiting on an important call, sightseeing miles from the hotel, or just relaxing at the park, a dead phone can be inconvenient at best and day-ruining at worst. That’s why we always carry one of the best small power banks.
At a Glance: The Best Small Power Banks
- Editor’s Pick: Anker Nano
- Runner-Up: Charmast Portable Charger
- Sustainable Pick: Nimble Champ
- Hybrid Power Bank-Charger: Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000
- Magnetic: Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic 5K
- Ultra Thin: INIU Portable Charger
- Large Battery: Anker 737
- Extra Durable: Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC
- Also Great: Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K
The best portable chargers have become more streamlined and powerful than ever. Almost all of them hold enough juice to fully charge your phone or headphones, and most are around the same size or smaller than said phone.
However, even though they all do the same thing, there’s a surprising range of quality when it comes to portable chargers. The best portable chargers are fast, reliable, well-made, and actually last. But the cheap examples (which are sometimes hard to spot) can just add to the inconvenience of a dead phone by breaking or even becoming dangerous.
The Best Small Power Banks
To help keep your devices charged on the go, we’ve rounded up some of the best small power banks to buy right now. Below are the best portable chargers that our team of product experts swear by, all tested extensively out in the wild while commuting, running around on the weekend, and traveling. All picks are available, as of writing, from at least one reputable retailer (almost all are on Amazon) with an average customer rating of at least 4/5 stars.
EDITOR’S PICK
Anker Nano
One of the most popular portable chargers on the market is Anker’s Nano. Like many of its 4,800+ reviewers, our testers love the compact size. “The 5,000mAh isn’t quite enough for a full charge for most phones, but it’s good for topping off when on the go,” says our Commerce Writer Jonathan Zavaleta. We’re also big fans of the built-in USB-C connector, which eliminates the need to carry around a cord, and the folding port.
RUNNER-UP
Charmast Portable Charger
Most portable chargers have enough juice to sustain your device(s) throughout the day, but all that power is moot if you forget to bring the right charging cables. That’s why our Commerce Editor Sage Anderson swears by this 10,000mAh portable charger from Charmast. “I love that this one comes with its own slim cords for multiple outputs (three) so I can boost up my iPhone, my Jabra earbuds, and my portable electric fan without having to pack a tangle of wires,” they say. “Plus, the big digital display also means i never have to guess how much remaining battery is left.”
SUSTAINABLE PICK
Nimble Champ
Another one of our favorite portable chargers is this Champ from Nimble, a phone accessory brand dedicated to sustainability. The Champ comes in plastic-free packaging, and it’s made with 90% certified recycled materials. It houses a 10,000mAh battery to fully charge your phone, and our tester says it does so very quickly. We also love the size and shape, which roughly resembles a mini deck of cards.
HYBRID POWER BANK-CHARGER
Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000
If you want something compact to quickly power up your phone while you’re out and about — or double as a wall charger — we like Anker’s PowerCore Fusion. The 10,000mAh battery can fully charge any iPhone once (with some juice to spare), and its USB-C connection makes that charging very quick. Our tester liked the Anker PowerCore Fusion because it has a power plug built into it, so you don’t have to carry around a separate power adapter. It may not have the highest battery capacity, but the PowerCore Fusion’s convenience more than makes up for that.
MAGNETIC
Belkin BoostCharge 5K
Magnetic chargers, like this one from Belkin, make the process of topping off your charge much more streamlined because you can still use your phone as you normally would without also holding the power bank. This one is tiny at less than four inches tall and has a small 2,500mAh battery, but it’s ideal for getting your phone through the evening or re-charging for quick usage. Plus, we like the kickstand feature on the back.
ULTRA THIN
INIU Portable Charger
A great budget pick that doesn’t compromise on power or features is this INIU portable charger. Our tester loved its thin, light construction, which weighs in at just seven ounces — great for commuting, running around on weekends, or traveling. It’s also got a 10000mAh power capacity, putting it on par with some of the pricier power banks on this list. You’ve also got both a USB-C input and output, allowing you to easily charge up any devices that may require that. There are also two other USB ports built-in, allowing you to charge up to three devices at once.
Best of the Rest Small Power Banks
Below are a few more of the best small power banks we recommend right now. We haven’t tested these ourselves, but we’ve researched several hands-on reviews from experts and combed through customer feedback to ensure that these are worth your money.
LARGE BATTERY
Anker 737
If you need something with more juice, check out this much-loved Anker 737 power bank. It can charge up to three devices simultaneously, and top them all off thanks to a large 24,000mAh battery. It’s pricey, but according to almost all of the expert and customer reviews we’ve read, you really get what you pay for in terms of reliability, power, and features like the digital display.
EXTRA DURABLE
Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC
Another high-end pick with fantastic reviews across the web is this Sherpa from Goal Zero. It boasts a bevy of ports, including two USB-C ports (60-watt and 100-watt), two USB-A ports, and a 100-watt AC port, all linking up to a large 25,600mAh battery. The build — an aluminum unibody construction — is also more durable than most portable chargers, making the Sherpa a good choice for camping or backpacking.
ALSO GREAT
Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K
As mentioned above, Belkin’s BoostCharge 5K is one of our team’s go-to portable chargers. If you want more power and the reliability that Belkin is known for, this Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K is a great option. The battery size is quadrupled (compared to the magnetic Belkin above) to 10,000mAh for a full phone charge plus extra for a top-off or headphone charge. It also features integrated USB-C and lightning cables, eliminating the need to carry them around.
Small Power Bank Shopping Guide
Here’s what to look for while shopping for the best small power bank for you.
Capacity: First and foremost, make sure the portable charger you use can fully charge your device in one go. Consider what devices you’re going to need the charger for, and for how long you’re going to be away from an outlet. Check the power bank’s mAh (milliamp hours), and compare it to what your device requires, whether that’s a small 3,000 mAh battery (great for phones), or a robust 20,000 mAh model (powerful enough for laptops).
Size: The idea behind the portable charger is that it should be, you know, portable. So don’t forget to think about the size and weight of the power bank when shopping around. Are you carrying a bag or do you want something to slip in your back pocket?
Compatibility: Keeping in mind what kind of device you need to charge, and how many devices you’ll want to charge at once, which will make a difference when shopping. All of our chargers work with both iPhones and Androids, though be sure to note the type of cable you’ll need to connect to your device.
Keep in mind the power bank itself will need to be charged up after it juices your devices. The best power banks can dispense enough charge to power up a phone 2-3 times, or fully charge a laptop once. After that, they will need to be plugged in to recharge, a cycle that could take a few hours.
How We Chose the Best Small Power Banks
While reviewing small power banks for this roundup, we considered all the above features and tested portable chargers in a variety of situations including traveling, commuting to work, and just running around town. We looked for fast charging and an amount of charge that matched the brand’s claims, and we gave extra points for convenient features like smaller sizes and built-in cords. After choosing our favorites, we cross-referenced our experiences with those of other experts and customer reviews to create the list you see above.
1. Anker PowerCore Ultra High Capacity
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Our number one pick is undoubtedly this beast of a high-powered portable battery. It packs 20,000 mAh and, according to the brand, weighs less than a can of soup. Granted, that’s more than a few of our other suggestions, but we think the trade off is worth it for the capacity.
It’s powerful enough to get several charges in one go for bigger devices like an iPad, even more for smaller smart-phones. It’s a great option for all-day charging, or whenever you know you’re going to be away from a power source for a long time, and it also has universal capacity so it will work on all devices.
Pros: Powerful and long-lasting.
Cons: On the heavy side.
2. Anker PowerCore 5000 Portable Charger
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If you only need something to quickly power up your phone while you’re out and about or in an emergency, we like this considerably smaller 5,000 mAh charger, also from Anker. The 5,000 mAh isn’t going to fully juice up an iPad for days on end, but it is more than enough to fully charge your phone once.
This lipstick-sized charger is super slim and lightweight, so it fits easily into your pocket without any awkwardness. The other big selling point for this product is that it provides a super-fast charge (the brand says the fastest possible). In any case, it’s convenient, it’s durable (in case you are prone to dropping things), and reliable.
We also really like the lipstick design — sleek and unassuming, yet somehow still cool.
Pros: Smallest, most portable option on our list.
Cons: Capacity is only enough for one full charge at a time.
3. LANLUK Portable Charger Power Bank
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Another monster of a power bank, this is the external battery you might take with you on a camping trip for a few days if you want to flout the “no devices” rule someone in your group has inevitably declared. With 25800mAh, this battery has enough charging capacity to power your phone for several days, or a day or two’s worth of charge for a larger tablet.
Other features we like: it has two ports, so you can charge two devices at once, it has a fast charge, and it’s durable enough not to burn out in a couple of months. Because it’s so high-capacity, it is on the heavy side, so we wouldn’t necessarily recommend this as a tuck-in-the-back-pocket option. That said, you won’t feel like you’re lugging around a brick, either.
Pros: Long-lasting, charges multiple devices at once.
Cons: Heavier option and larger size.
4. INIU Portable Charger
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If you’re looking for a budget pick that doesn’t compromise on power or features, go with the INIU Portable Charger.
It’s extremely thin and light, weighing just seven ounces, meaning you can carry it with you while you travel or when you’re commuting for work. It’s also got a 10000mAh power capacity, putting it on par with some of the pricier power banks on this list. This is enough capacity to fully charge up an iPad Air at least once, according to the brand.
You’ve also got both a USB-C input and output, allowing you to easily charge up any devices that may require that. There are also two other USB ports built-in, allowing you to charge up to three devices at once. You’ll even get a travel pouch as well as a USB-C cable to help you charge on the go.
