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To help you find the best portable phone charger for your smartphone, we have tried a multitude of top products, testing them for charging speed and battery size, preferring high capacity power banks, and the ability to power up additional gadgets besides standard smartphones, usually via a wide variety of port options. We also took weight and form factor into consideration as we went about producing this list. A top-rated portable charger is now an essential that everyone should have even while not traveling.
The best product we tried was easily the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger, which boasts a light form factor, weighing just over 12 ounces, and a large capacity 20100mAh battery, which is enough juice to charge a standard smartphone around seven times before seeking out a power outlet. We also liked the color options on offer and the fact that it ships with dual USB ports, so you can charge two gadgets at the same time. Keep reading to learn more about the Anker PowerCore Portable Charger and the other products on this list.
Award: Top Pick
WHY WE LIKE IT: Features a large 20100mAh battery that allows for six to eight charges on your standard iPhone or Android smartphone, with a light form factor, 12 oz, and the option to purchase in a wide variety of colors.
The Anker PowerCore Portable Charger is a two amp device, meaning it can reach a full charge in just ten hours, which is decent for a battery this large. The 20100mAh battery can last you around a week of heavy use before needing to be recharged, as it can juice a standard-sized smartphone six to eight times before needing to seek out a power outlet. We also liked the relatively light form factor, given the battery’s size, and the fact that it features dual USB ports for charging multiple gadgets at once.
Though this product does ship with a micro USB cable, which is nice, it does not ship with an Apple Lightning cable, which could be an issue for some consumers. Additionally, it does not come with a wall mounted power outlet, though we had plenty of those laying around. Speaking of charging, our 6 of the best qi wireless chargers is also a great read.
Award: Honorable Mention
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely light and compact form factor, weighing just 5.5 ounces and fitting in most pockets and bags, with a two year warranty and a sturdy aluminum shell.
The Jackery Portable Charger Bar features an ultra-sturdy aluminum casing, which can help the battery survive accidental drops, and comes with a built-in flashlight, which can be handy in certain instances. The charger is also extremely light, weighing just 5.5 ounces, and compact, easily sliding into any pocket, purse or backpack. We also liked that it comes with a two year warranty, which is on the higher end for this type of product.
Though the compact size is extremely useful, it does come with some drawbacks, as it features only one standard-sized USB port, so it cannot allow for simultaneous charging of multiple gadgets. Also, this is a much smaller battery (6000mAh) than our top pick and most other picks on this list. Still it’s plenty to keep the best Android phone juiced up.
See Also: You may also want to take a look at the best compact portable charger.
Award: Most Charging Options
WHY WE LIKE IT: Comes with dual USB ports in addition to a multitude of charging options for the unit itself, including micro USB and the newly adopted USB-C platform, with a smartly designed LED display and a three year warranty.
The Iniu Portable Charger boasts a 10000mAh battery, which is enough to charge your phone around four times, along with a snazzy LED display that easily relays pertinent information as to how much charge is left. We also liked that it features a pair of high speed USB charging ports, in addition to both micro USB and USB-C ports to charge the device itself. The three year warranty is also a fantastic inclusion for peace of mind.
Though we found that the slim form factor of this product allowed it to easily fit in most pockets, the weight is somewhat heavy, at over 13 ounces. Also, this product does not feature a flashlight, which is a useful feature found in many similar products. While we are on the subject of phones, have a look at the best cell phone plans to make sure you get the one that is right for you.
Award: Largest Battery
WHY WE LIKE IT: Extremely large battery capacity (24800mAh) which can charge a standard-sized smartphone 7-10 times and a handy LCD screen that displays battery life.
The Fochew Portable Charger Power Bank boasts the largest battery on this list by a fairly wide margin, clocking in at 24800mAh. This means it can charge up a standard iPhone or Android smartphone nearly ten times before needing to seek out a power outlet. It features dual USB ports, for the simultaneous charging of gadgets, and a handy LCD screen, which shows the remaining battery life.
The battery is large and so is the form factor. It is rather bulky and not particularly pocket-friendly, in addition to weighing more than 13 ounces. Additionally, it takes over 15 hours to fully charge the unit, as opposed to the ten hours found with our top pick. That is longer than some of the best Bluetooth headsets take to charge.
Award: Quickest Recharge
WHY WE LIKE IT: Reaches maximum charge in just five hours, the quickest metric on this list, with a decent sized 10000mAh battery and includes dual USB ports.
The Yoobao Portable Charger boasts the fastest recharge metric on this list, reaching a maximum charge in just five hours. The 10000mAh battery is decent and should allow for three or four recharges of a standard-sized smartphone. We also liked the relatively light form factor, 9 ounces, and the compact size, which makes it easy to slip into a pocket, purse or carry bag. The built-in flashlight is exceptionally bright and also came in handy on a few occasions.
The product does have LED lights that relay information as to how much battery is left in the unit, but we found it somewhat difficult to read. Additionally, the 18 month warranty that comes with the charger is decent, though there are longer warranties to be found on this list. We like warranties on the best portable chargers.
Award: Best Display
WHY WE LIKE IT: Boasts a full featured LED display that is extremely easy to read, offering other useful metrics in addition to battery life, and features a lengthy standby time of 12 months, which is on the higher end.
The Getihu High Speed Portable Charger features a big and bright LED display that relays a suite of pertinent information, including battery life, where power is going and related metrics. The 10000mAh battery is decent, allowing users to charge a standard sized smartphone three or four times before seeking out an outlet, and the dual charging ports is also a fantastic addition. We also liked the incredible standby time on offer, 12 months, and the lengthy three year warranty.
Though this product is rather lightweight, clocking in at just 6.7 ounces, it is awkwardly shaped and will not easily slide into a pocket, though it can fit in a purse and carry bag. Also, the battery takes eight hours or so to reach a maximum charge, which is longer than the previous pick, despite the batteries being of a similar size. If you need AAs, read our best rechargeable aas list.
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Award: Best Budget
WHY WE LIKE IT: Budget-friendly item that does not skimp on the features, with a decently-sized 10000mAh battery, dual charging ports and an extremely sturdy accident-resistant aluminum body.
The Poweradd 2ND Gen Pilot 2GS is extremely budget-friendly, with a suite of robust features that are typically found with higher priced models. It features a decently sized 10000mAh battery, which should be enough to charge a standard smartphone three to four times, and dual USB ports for charging two gadgets simultaneously. It even boasts a suite of safety technologies, including protection from over-voltage. We also liked that there are many color options available, for aesthetics, and that the aluminum body is extremely durable and crash resistant.
This is a fairly no frills product, however, with no additional accoutrements, such as a built-in flashlight. Also, we found it somewhat frustrating to understand how much battery was left, thanks to an oddly designed display method.
To help narrow down to the above list, we focused primarily on well designed products that deliver quick charges to your smartphone, tablet or related device. We also wanted to make sure the batteries were large enough to provide for multiple charges before needing to be plugged in. To that end, no battery on the list dips below 6000mAh, with the biggest battery clocking in at a massive 24800mAh, which is enough to charge a smartphone seven to ten times.
We also liked items that featured dual USB ports, which allow multiple gadgets to be charged simultaneously, and other useful features, including big and bright displays for the relaying of battery life and other pertinent information, and built-in flashlights, which can come in handy during a pinch.
We made sure each of these batteries offers a fantastic standby life, so you won’t find it has run out of juice when you need it most, and allows for hundreds of charges before needing to be replaced, with a minimum threshold of 400 cycles. Finally, we wanted to make sure these products offered lengthy warranties, just in case anything should happen down the line.
