10 Best Portable Chargers & Power Banks

All of us love sharing the joy of travel. Whether you’re experiencing the beautiful colors of nature or touring London, you’ll want to be connected so you can share your travels with others. But what good are smartphones or tablets if the battery dies halfway through your hike or your tour? In order to prevent that from happening it’s important that you have the best portable travel charger.

What makes a travel charger the best depends on what you need to use it for, but a portable charger is an absolute must have when you travel. Not just because it keeps your phone alive to text and take pictures, but because you’ll want your phone to be charged in case of an emergency.

However, not all portable chargers and power banks are created equal, so to help you make the best decision, here are the best power bank chargers currently on the market.

Quick Answer: Best Power Banks

Below is a list of the best portable power banks:

• Anker PowerCore 20100
• Anker PowerCore 5000
• INIU 10000 Ultra Slim
• Jackery 6000 Bolt
• Anker PowerCore 10000
• RAVPower 26800
• Aibocn 10000
• Poweradd Slim 2 5000
• Belkin 15000
• iMuto 30000

What to Look for in a Good Portable Charger

Here are some important things to think about when you’re on the hunt for the best portable charger for traveling.

1. Power

The power capacity of a portable charger will be shown in mAh (milliamp-hours). Capacities can range from 40,000mAh or higher to as low as 2,000mAh. This number will determine how much charge you’ll get from the power bank. Because different devices require different amounts of power, it’s better to consider what devices you’ll need charged with the power bank and choose a capacity that’ll work well for you. Older and heavier phones tend to need additional power to charge them at the same rate as newer phones.

If you’ll only be using your power bank for long-haul flights or for day tours when you’re traveling (and you’ll be able to charge it at the end of each day), then something under 10,000mAh should be sufficient. If you’re looking for the best portable charger for iPhone use, then a power bank around 20,000mAh would likely be able to charge one of the new iPhones multiple times. If you’re heading out on a seven-day trekking trip, then it’s probably best to consider a power bank with 30,000mAh or higher.

While the TSA’s website doesn’t specify a maximum capacity, if you have a more powerful portable charger, be sure to check with your airlines and the security department from the countries you’re traveling within to see if they have power bank restrictions for air travel.

2. Weight

The weight of your power bank is part of what determines if it’s portable or not. You’ll want something that can easily fit in your pocket or backpack and won’t weigh you down when you’re on the move. That being said, weight is more important for some than others. If you’re going on a five-night backpacking trip without electricity then an ultralight 5,000mAh power bank might not do you much good after day two. To get a portable charger that will work throughout the trip it’ll have to be heavier. However, it shouldn’t need to exceed two pounds to get the job done.

3. Size

The size of your charger will also determine its power. When you search for the best cheap portable charger, you can find quality smaller options. The more power, the larger the charger must be because of the battery size. When it comes to size, think about where and how you’ll be carrying it. If it needs to fit in your pocket then obviously it needs to be smaller than if you’ll be keeping it in your duffel bag to charge your devices on the go. If the ones that fit in your pocket won’t give you enough power, consider getting a larger power bank with more power so even though it won’t fit in your pocket, it will charge your devices quicker so you can get back to using them ASAP.

4. Output

There are two things to consider when it comes to output. The number of ports and the amps of the outputs.

If you only need to charge your phone then a single output charger is fine. If you need to charge your phone and tablet, then multiple outputs will be beneficial. Even if you think you only need a power bank with a single output, you might find it convenient to have multiple outputs at a later time.

Power banks with multiple outputs can have the same power or different power per port. One output might offer 2.1 amps while the other might offer 1 amp. For other power banks, each of the three outputs might offer 3.4 amps. If charging multiple devices quickly is important to you, be sure you know how much power is offered in each output port.

5. Input

Input is significant if you need your power bank to be able to recharge quickly. If you’re often able to charge it overnight, then it’s not a huge deal. Many power banks will have a 1 amp input. The better power banks will offer a 2 amp input, which can recharge the bank twice as fast. For the fastest charge time, look for one with a 2.4 amp input. Keep in mind, even with the higher inputs, you must be sure the wall charger you’re using matches the capacity.

Depending on what countries you’re traveling to, be sure you bring along your travel adapter so your wall charger works properly to recharge your power bank.

6. Flashlight

Some power banks include the convenient feature of a flashlight. While this isn’t a necessity, it can certainly be helpful if you’re trying to find something in your car, hostel, or luggage in the dark. 

Best Portable Charger Reviews

Now that you know what to look for, here are the best portable chargers currently available.

Now that you know about the best portable power banks on the market, you can choose the one that will work best for you. Whichever charger you choose, you can be confident you’ll never end up with a dead phone battery ever again.