Power Banks

Power Banks

A power bank is sized by two figures and both matter, because one decides how long it lasts and the other decides what it can charge. Capacity in milliamp hours runs 4,600mAh to 30,000mAh, which is roughly one phone charge at the small end and six or more at the top. Output in watts runs 7.5W to 250W, and that is the figure that separates a powerbank which trickles a handset overnight from one that fast charges a USB-C laptop in an hour. For a bag carried daily a slim 10,000mAh unit is the usual compromise between capacity and bulk, 20,000mAh is the size most people choose for travel and festivals, and anything above that is really a charger for a tablet or a laptop rather than a phone. Beyond the two headline numbers, the practical differences are in the fittings. Built in USB-C cables save carrying a lead and are the single most useful feature on a commuter model. Magnetic wireless power banks clip straight onto a compatible handset and charge without any cable at all, which suits a phone used for navigation in a car or on a bike. LED percentage displays show exactly what is left rather than four indicator dots, which matters more than it sounds when you are deciding whether to top up before leaving the house. Pass through charging lets the bank charge a device while it is itself plugged into the mains. Check the number of ports too, since a single port unit will not serve a phone and a pair of earbuds at once.

Anker runs across the Nano, MagGo, Zolo and Prime lines, covering compact built in cable models, magnetic wireless banks and the high wattage 737 and Prime units for laptop charging. Energizer covers everyday and high capacity packs, and Canyon and Joyroom add slim pocket chargers. For a unit with mains plug sockets rather than USB ports see Power Stations, for recharging away from the mains see Solar Panels, and for the wider outage range see Power Cut & Emergency Essentials.