Thursday, March 28, 2024

8 high-capacity power banks for the traveling techie

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Today’s phones and tablets are more powerful than ever, and despite more power-efficient processors, it’s not uncommon to find yourself needing to charge up at times when you aren’t near a wall outlet. Battery packs that are 20,000 mAh and higher are ideal for people that need a lot of juice while on-the-go, and while they may not fit into your pocket, they’re necessary for keeping your devices topped up. Our top pick is the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD. Here’s why it’s our favorite, along with seven other great alternatives.

Best Overall: Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD

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At the top of our list, we have the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD. This is the high-capacity power bank we think is the best choice for most people, factoring in its ports, price, build quality, and battery size.

The battery in the PowerCore+ measures in at 26,800 mAh and Anker says it’s enough to charge “most phones” over seven times and most tablets at least two times. If you have a notebook or small laptop, you should be able to get at least one full recharge out of Anker’s battery.

Speaking of charging, you have access to one super-fast 30W USB-C port and two 5V full-sized USB-A ports. This is also one of the most compact high-capacity packs you’ll find.

Along with the PowerCore+ itself, Anker also includes a USB-C to C charging cable and a 30W wall adapter to quickly charge the PowerCore+ when it ends up running out of juice. To sweeten the deal, even more, there’s a worry-free 18-month warranty to protect your purchase.

Pros:

  • Compact size
  • 30W USB-C port
  • Anker is very well-known
  • Includes a USB-C cable and wall adapter
  • 18-month warranty

Cons:

  • It’s not cheap

Best Overall

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD

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  • $80 at Amazon

Checking all of the boxes

From its compact size, fast USB-C port, and reliable capacity, the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD is one of the best out there.

Best Value: EasyAcc Monster 26000

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High-capacity power banks can get quite expensive, but if you know how to shop around, they don’t have to be. One option that we think delivers the best value is the EasyAcc Monster 26000.

For less than half the price of the Anker PowerCore+, EasyAcc offers a battery pack with a slightly smaller capacity (26,000 mAh versus 26,800 mAh) and a generous offering of four USB-A outputs with varying speeds between 4.8A and 2.4A. You won’t find USB-C anywhere on the EasyAcc Monster, but with such a low price, something has to give.

EasyAcc does offer something unique in the fact that you have two input ports for charging the battery pack. Because of this, you can charge it at double the speed compared to most of its competitors. In other words, a 16-hour charge turns into just eight hours.

There are also some nice safety features in place, specifically EasyAcc’s Multi-Protect System that prevents overheating and other pesky issues. And, just in case you need it, there’s a built-in flashlight that offers up to 100 hours of use.

Pros:

  • Very affordable
  • Four output ports
  • Fast recharging of the battery pack
  • Built-in flashlight

Cons:

  • No USB-C
  • Comparatively slow charge speeds

Best Value

EasyAcc Monster 26000

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  • From $40 at Amazon

Save money without sacrificing features

Stretch your dollars with the Monster 26000. It has a wealth of USB-A ports, fast recharge times, and even a flashlight.

Best 50,000 mAh Pack: MAXOAK Power Bank 50000

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Let’s say that you want an overwhelmingly huge battery pack with no concern about its price or size. If that’s the situation you’re in, the MAXOAK Power Bank 50000 hits all the right notes.

The 50,000 mAh capacity that’s offered is enormous, and while you may not think you need that much battery, it really comes in handy for long road trips, hurricane season, and other situations in which you’re without access to power for a prolonged period of time. With such a big battery, you could charge an iPhone X up to 16 times.

For phones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets, you have two USB-A ports at 2.1A and two USB-A ports at 1A. MAXOAK’s battery pack is also a great choice for laptops, as there are 20V and 12V DC outputs.

MAXOAK’s pack won’t be going in your pocket anytime soon, but you can easily toss it in a backpack and have hours upon hours of charge time to take with you anywhere.

Pros:

  • Gigantic 50,000 mAh capacity
  • Two dedicated laptop ports
  • Four USB-A ports for smartphones
  • Relatively portable considering the battery you’re getting

Cons:

  • Expensive
  • No USB-C

Best 50,000 mAh Pack

MAXOAK Power Bank 50000

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  • $130 at Amazon

So much battery

Need a lot of battery? This power bank from MAXOAK has a massive 50,000 mAh capacity, giving you an insane amount of juice.

Best for Camping: ToughTested Solar Charger 24000

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One of the best use cases for a power bank is using it as a source of power while on a camping, hiking, or other outdoor adventure. If this is the primary scenario in which you’ll be using your new power bank, we recommend checking out the ToughTested 24000.

For people that spend a lot of time outdoors, one of the best features of this battery pack is that it has solar panels on the top that allow it to recharge using the sun. ToughTested says that around four-five hours of solar charging offers enough juice for one full recharge for your phone, but if you want to quickly top-up the battery pack, there’s also a USB-C input port.

An IP67 rating offers ample protection against dust and water, there’s a built-in flashlight to help you see at night, and the 24,000 mAh capacity should be plenty of battery for most adventures. The two USB-A output ports are a little disappointing, but other than that, this is a very strong package.

Pros:

  • Solar recharging
  • Recharges via USB-C
  • Generous 24,000 mAh capacity
  • IP67 rating protects against water and dust
  • Built-in flashlight

Cons:

  • Only two USB-A output ports

Best for Camping

ToughTested Solar Charger 24000

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  • $70 at Amazon

The sun’s all you need

Plan on using your power bank outdoors a lot? The ToughTested Solar Charger can be recharged using the sun. Seriously!

Best Port Selection: Anker Powerhouse 200

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There are battery packs that are overkill, and then in another league of its own, there’s the Anker Powerhouse 200. Not everyone needs to spend this much money on a battery pack, but if you want one of the most powerful options out there and have the money to afford it, this is it chief.

So, what makes the Powerhouse 200 so noteworthy? It has one of the most unique designs of anything on this list, featuring a variety of ports (more on this soon), an LCD display, and a handle on the top for carrying it around. The capacity is also huge, coming in at 57,600 mAh. With that big of a battery, Anker says you can charge a MacBook Pro over three times and power a mini-fridge for more than four hours.

Going back to the port selection, you have a lot to choose from, including:

  • 12V DC car charger
  • 110V AC output
  • Two USB-A 5V/3A ports
  • USB-C Power Delivery output

While it is expensive and cumbersome, the Powerhouse 200 is one of the best options out there for having a reliable power source during power outages, emergencies, and long camping treks.

Pros:

  • Outrageous battery capacity
  • Tons of output ports
  • USB-C Power Delivery
  • Carrying handle
  • Great for emergencies

Cons:

  • This is a thicc boi
  • Quite pricey

Best Port Selection

Anker Powerhouse 200

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  • $300 at Amazon

Ports for days

With output ports of varying speed and function, the Anker Powerhouse 200 has you covered no matter your needs.

Best Mid-Ranger: RAVPower PD Pioneer 26800

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Whether you’re shopping for smartphones, TVs, battery packs, or any other gadget, mid-range options tend to offer a great mix of features, performance, and value. For this segment of power banks, our top pick is the RAVPower PD Pioneer 26800.

This power bank has a lot to offer, the first of which is a substantial 26,800 mAh capacity. In the real world, that means you can charge the Galaxy S9+ up to 4.5 times and get six iPhone XS recharges. You can charge up to three devices at once using the 30W USB-C port and two USB-A ports. The Pioneer 26800 is also equipped with RAVPower’s iSmart 2.0 technology, meaning it will automatically detect your device’s battery level and adjust charging speeds accordingly.

In regards to charging the Pioneer 26800, this is done via a USB-C cable (not included) and takes just 4-5 hours for a full recharge.

Pros:

  • Ample battery capacity
  • USB-C Power Delivery
  • 4-5 hours to recharge the battery pack
  • Automatic charging speed adjustment
  • Great value

Cons:

  • Doesn’t come with a USB-C cable or AC adapter

Best Mid-Ranger

RAVPower PD Pioneer 26800

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  • $60 at Amazon

An impressive mid-ranger

RAVPower’s PD Pioneer 26800 falls right in the middle, giving you tons of power and features at a competitive price.

Best Versatility: Aukey PB-Y3 Power Bank 30000

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Aukey is another company that’s built a reputation for itself in the mobile accessory space, and one of its products that stands out is the Aukey PB-Y3 Power Bank 3000. Terrible name aside, the PB-Y3 has a lot to like about it.

First thing’s first, the 30,000 mAh capacity is a good deal larger than similarly-priced power banks and makes a big difference for those times when you need to squeeze out as much juice as possible. With a 30,000 mAh capacity, you can charge an iPhone XS Max 7.5 times or a Galaxy Note 10+ 5.5 times. Yeah, that’s a lot of battery.

You’re able to charge up to three devices at once, with port options including a USB-A Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 port, another USB-A port at 2.4A that uses Aukey’s AiPower, and one 3A USB-C Port. The AiPower port is quite interesting, as Aukey designed it to adjust output power based on the status of the device you’re charging — resulting in better overall battery health.

Rounding things out, the PB-Y3 comes with a built-in flashlight, internal safeguards to prevent overheating/overcharging, and a generous 24-month warranty. For the price you’re paying, Aukey offers a lot of features and functions.

Pros:

  • Quick Charge 3.0 output
  • USB-C port
  • Flashlight
  • 24-month warranty
  • Competitive price

Cons:

  • The USB-C port doesn’t do Power Delivery

Best Versatility

Aukey PB-Y3 Power Bank 30000

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  • $60 at Amazon

Use it however you want

There’s not much this battery pack can’t do. It has a large capacity, Quick Charge 3.0, a flashlight, and a 24-month warranty.

Best Budget Option: Kenruipu Power Bank 24000

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Last but not least, if you’re trying to spend as little money as possible but still want a quality battery pack, we’d like to steer your attention towards the Kenruipu Power Bank 24000.

This is one of the cheapest power banks on this list, but you’ll still get a surprisingly full-featured gadget. The 24,000 mAh capacity is plenty of space for charging up your phone a few times, and unlike some more expensive packs, you have access to four USB-A output ports for charging your various devices. When you need to recharge the pack itself, you can do so via Micro-USB or Lightning.

In addition to the sizable capacity and wealth of ports, Kenruipu has added some other little details to make the experience that much better. There’s an LCD that shows your current voltage/current and remaining power, a soft faux-leather surface on top of the battery pack, and you get a 24-month warranty with your purchase.

Kenruipu is relatively unknown, but the battery pack is getting to be well-known and is a great choice amongst 24,000 mAh power banks.

Pros:

  • Excellent price
  • Unique design
  • Four USB-A ports
  • 24-month warranty

Cons:

  • No USB-C ports
  • Kenruipu isn’t very well-known

Best Budget Option

Kenruipu Power Bank 24000

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  • $27 at Amazon

How low can you go?

For penny-pinchers, this power bank delivers a 24,000 mAh capacity, four USB-A ports, and a 24-month warranty at a stellar price.

Bottom line

You’ll be happy no matter which of the battery packs on this list that you choose, but at the end of the day, we think the best pick is they Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD.

Anker’s battery pack is a little pricey, but when you consider everything it brings to the table, you’re getting quite a lot for your money. The 26,800 mAh capacity is quite lovely, as are the two 5V USB-A ports. Better than all of that, however, is the 30W USB-C output port that does Power Delivery for high-capacity charging. If you plan on charging something like a MacBook with your battery pack, USB-C PD is a must (we’ll delve more into that below).

To help offset the PowerCore+’s cost, Anker also includes a USB-C cable and a 30W wall adapter — a reasonably expensive pairing on its own. Tie that together with an 18-month warranty, and it’s easy to see that Anker is making your dollars work as much as possible.

How to choose the best high-capacity battery pack

While battery packs are seemingly simple gadgets, there are quite a few different things you should take into consideration before buying one.

Sure, you could go out and buy the cheapest one you see, but if you take the time to understand the little differences between everything, you’ll end up with a battery pack that truly fits your needs and works the best for your specific workflow/lifestyle.

How much battery capacity do you really need?

Perhaps the most important thing to consider before buying a battery pack is its capacity — in other words, how big of a battery it’s packing.

Since we’re dealing with high-capacity packs, we’re only looking at options that are 20,000 mAh or higher. As such, any of the picks on this list will be able to charge your smartphone multiple times and still have some leftover fuel in the tank.

For comparison’s sake, most smartphones in 2019 have batteries that vary in capacity from around 3,000 and 4,000 mAh. If you’re planning on using your battery pack to charge your phone, tablet, or headphones, something with a capacity of around 26,000 mAh should be more than enough.

If that’s the case, why do power banks with capacities of 50,000 mAh and more exist? There are a couple of good reasons:

For people that want to charge a larger device, such as a laptop, having a big capacity will ensure you have access to enough power.
Power banks can be extremely helpful for times when you’re without a power source for a prolonged period, such as a camping trip or if you lose power during a storm. For these situations, a bigger capacity will ensure you can stay connected for longer until you’re near a working wall socket again.

Why USB-C is so important

We’ve talked a lot about USB-C Power Delivery throughout this article, but let’s take a step back for a second and explain why it’s so important.

USB-C is essentially the evolution of Micro-USB ports that used to be prevalent on just about every Android phone for charging. Not only does USB-C benefit from the fact that it’s reversible (meaning there’s no “wrong” way to insert it), but it’s also considerably more powerful.

Here’s the thing though — not all USB-C ports are created equally. Some USB-C ports come with a Power Delivery standard (often referred to as PD), and this signifies that a USB-C port offers considerably fast charging and data speeds.

As such, when you’re looking to charge a device that has an extraordinarily big battery, USB-C is a must. Not only are a lot of newer devices moving to USB-C ports, but it’ll also cut down quite a bit on recharge times.

Make sure the port selection matches your devices

On a similar note, it’s also important to take note of the port selection when buying a power bank.

Let’s say you have the Galaxy Note 10, Galaxy Buds, and a MacBook Pro. All three of these devices charge via USB-C, so if you buy a power bank without a USB-C output port, you’re going to be in for a world of headaches. Sure, USB-A to USB-C cables exist, but they aren’t nearly as fast as C to C cables.

Alternatively, if none of the devices you own have USB-C, it might not make sense to spend extra money on a power bank that has the newer port if you don’t plan on taking full advantage of it. In that case, you could save some cash and pick up a bank that just has USB-A outputs.

Always buy battery packs from a reliable brand

This is something that applies when you buy pretty much anything, but especially with battery packs. Make sure you’re buying from a brand that you trust.

Batteries can be dangerous when not handled properly, and the last thing anyone wants is to buy a battery pack from a random, unknown company and have something bad happen.

Brands like Anker, Aukey, and RAVPower are some of the most recognizable in this space, meaning you can buy them and rest assured you’re getting a quality product.

We did include battery banks from some lesser-known companies, such as Kenruipu and EasyAcc, but that’s only because they have an extensive fan following.

Most of the picks on our list also come with 18-24 month warranties, so in the unlikely event that an issue does occur, you can rely on that to protect your purchase.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

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Joe Maring is Android Central’s News Editor and has had a love for anything with a screen and CPU since he can remember. He’s been talking/writing about Android in one form or another since 2012 and often does so while camping out at the nearest coffee shop. Have a tip? Send an email to [email protected]!

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