Thursday, April 25, 2024

The best USB-C battery packs you can buy today

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The power delivery standard has paved the way for a new wave of USB-C battery packs that are both powerful and portable. While there are some massive power banks aimed more at charging laptops or powering devices through long camping trips, I rank the lighter and cheaper models as the most reliable option when considering the best USB-C charger. Because of their lightweight, less expensive chargers tend to quickly power a phone while you’re sitting down for lunch or store easily in your pocket during long days out and about. Whether you prefer your power banks, big or small, these are the best ones around!

Colorful chargers

Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh PD

Staff Pick

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Anker’s top-quality, durable and dependable phone-sized power bank now comes in five colors, and I, for one, am thrilled. The Terracotta Rose might not be for everyone, but the Deep-Sea Indigo and Dark Olive are universal and understated.

From $24 at Amazon From $30 at Walmart

Not too big, not too small

AUKEY 15,000mAh USB-C Power Bank

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Need to charge multiple phones over the course of your busy day or need a power bank that could last you through an entire weekend of backpacking? AUKEY’s 15,000mAh capacity is still pocket-sized, but it’ll recharge a phone up to four times.

$28 at Amazon

High capacity hero

RAVPower PD Pioneer Series 30,000mAh with 90W Output

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The beauty of Power Delivery means that even a compact power bank can be powerful enough to charge laptops, like this 90W bank. This capacity here is above the FAA’s limit, so it can’t go on a plane, but it can charge your phone 7-10 times before it runs out.

$80 at Amazon

Super small and sturdy

Zendure SuperMini (10,000mAh)

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The SuperMini is the size of a credit card and rugged as all get-out, but it can also charge your phone at 18W whether you use USB-C or USB-A. There are four fun colors to choose from, and Zendure builds its batteries to take a beating.

$45 at Amazon $60 at Walmart

Mini-purse power

Xcentz USB-C Power Bank 5000 PD

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Your power bank doesn’t do you any good if you left it at home, but this bank is about the size of a fun-size Halloween candy so that you can carry it every day! Its 5,000mAh capacity still means it can recharge your phone fully.

From $7 at Amazon

Phenomenal portable power

Anker PowerCore III Elite 25,600mAh 60W Portable Charger Bundle

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This beefy portable charger can charge most laptops at top speed — even MacBooks — and it comes with a 65W Power Delivery wall charger to top it back up in a little over two hours. I especially love that it has two USB-C ports.

$140 at Amazon $140 at Walmart

Best for Galaxy

Samsung 25W Wireless Portable Battery (10,000mAh)

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While most recent Galaxy phones don’t actually get 18W charging with most portable charges despite supporting PD, this one will charge Samsung phones at 25W using “Super Fast Charge.”

$80 at Amazon $80 at Best Buy

Charge as you watch

AUKEY Basix Pro Wireless Charging Power Bank (20,000mAh)

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This stout power bank can let you binge all day and all night without your phone going dead, thanks to the built-in kickstand. This will recharge a phone 4-5 times wired or wirelessly before it needs to recharge itself.

$40 at Amazon

Small and swift

RAVPower 10,000mAh Power Bank

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This candy bar-sized power bank is powerful enough to charge most phones from dead to full twice, and it’s now been upgraded to support 20W charging so that your iPhone-using spouse can top of quickly and give the battery back to you.

$32 at Amazon

Small and sturdy makes for the best USB-C portable charger

Again, I far prefer smaller portable batteries that actually live up to the name “portable,” which is why the phone-sized Anker PowerCore Slim 10,000mAh PD and the credit-card-sized Zendure SuperMini are two of my favorites. They’re easy to fit in a pocket or purse, and they’ll give your phone another 10-20 hours of life easily. The Anker is more affordable, and its shape makes it easier to accommodate, but some prefer the smaller, thicker size of the Zendure. I certainly prefer the bolder colors on the SuperMini. That metallic red and metallic blue just pop.

Turning to more beefy models, while Anker’s bundle is of the highest quality, it’s also of the highest price, so unless you already lack a USB-C wall charger, you’re probably better off buying the RAVPower 90W PD Pioneer Power Bank, which is less than half the price but charges phones and laptops just as fast! Aukey’s 20,000mAh Power Bank is also a nice balance of ports and pricing, and it can serve as a kickstand if you’re glued to an all-night live stream.

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