In an age where everyone seems to be on the go, a versatile portable charger can be a necessity. Whether for work, camping, in the car, or for personal reasons, many people need to be able to use their phone at any time. For this reason, one of the best portable chargers with a high-capacity battery can come in handy.
Battery capacity is measured in milliampere-hours, which is commonly abbreviated to mAh. A host of output ports as well as fast charging are typically needed for charging multiple devices simultaneously. With this in mind, our product testing team thoroughly researched and rigorously tested the top-rated portable chargers in the industry.
In this article:
- 5 Best Portable Chargers
- #1 Best Overall: Anker Portable Charger
- #2 Best Value: INIU Portable Charger
- #3 Best Two-For-One: Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger
- #4 TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank
- #5 iWALK Mini Portable Charger
- Portable Chargers Buyers Guide
- Our Review Standards
- Frequently Asked Questions
5 Best Portable Chargers
#1 Best Overall: Anker Portable Charger
The Anker Portable Charger, otherwise known as the Anker PowerCore Slim 10K, is our product testing team’s choice for the Best Overall portable charger available on the market. This power bank features a 10,000.0-mAh battery with a scratch-resistant and durable exterior. This portable charger is slim and compact, as it only weighs 0.5 pounds. Additionally, this product features an LED power indicator so you always know how much charge is left.
Anker implements their exclusive PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology to ensure the fastest possible charge up to 2.4 A (amps). Anker’s MultiProtect safety system includes short circuit protection, overcharge protection, and temperature control. The portable charger also features a trickle-charging mode designed to optimize charging for low-power devices. It should be noted that the product can charge a Samsung Galaxy, Apple MacBook, and even an iPad mini 5.
What’s In The Box?
Upon purchase of the Anker Portable Charger, you will receive the portable charger itself and a few other accessories. Accessories that are included in the box include a travel pouch, a micro-USB cable to charge the portable charger, and a user manual.
Our Experience
| Overall Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Power | 5 out of 5 |
| Portability | 4.5 out of 5 |
Awarded Best Overall portable charger in 2022 by our product testing team, the Anker Portable Charger is as good as it gets in terms of this kind of product. This power bank is quick to charge and won’t break easily with its rugged design.
Ease of Use: Portable chargers by definition are relatively simple to use. Grab your charging cable, connect your device to the power bank via the charging cable and you’re good to go. You do need to remember to press the button on the front of the device to commence charging.
Power: This portable charger had the best power output out of all of the power banks we tested. It took only one minute and fifty-one seconds to charge a phone with five percent of battery, while other products took nearly ten minutes for the same job.
Portability: This product fit nicely in a pocket and could even charge a phone while our team member was on the move or in the car. However, this portable charger is noticeably heavier than the other power blocks that we tested.
What Customers Are Saying
The Anker Portable Charger has over 50,000 customer reviews on Amazon, with the vast majority of these reviews being positive. A total of 80 percent of reviewers rate this wireless charger a faultless 5 stars.
Individual reviews note the battery capacity of this portable charger as it had enough power to charge multiple gadgets to full charge, while others simply appreciate this portable charger having more than one charging port. Many reviewers were impressed with the charging speed of the product.
#2 Best Value: INIU Portable Charger
The INIU Portable Charger was recognized by our team as the Best Value portable charger on the market due to its affordable price. This portable charger has two USB-A ports and one USB-C port that allow for more charging options. It should be noted that the USB-C input can also be used as an output port. The charger is capable of charging all USB devices from smartwatches to the iPhone 12 to a Nintendo Switch™.
This portable charger from INIU features the company’s UPower+ technology that intelligently identifies your devices and auto-adjusts the output up to 3.0 A. INIU’s 12-layer SmartProtect safety system combines anti-impact casing with durable design. It should also be noted that the manufacturer asserts in the product description that this is the thinnest 10,000.0-mAh power bank on the market.
What’s In The Box?
You will receive the INIU portable charger and a handful of other accessories included in the box when you purchase this product. You can expect to receive the portable charger itself, a USB-C cable, a travel pouch, and even an attachable LED flashlight.
Our Experience
| Overall Rating | 4.7 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 5 out of 5 |
| Power | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Portability | 4.5 out of 5 |
Our product testing team recognized the INIU Portable Charger as the Best Value portable charger available on the market. Although price and cost aren’t part of our testing criteria, it nonetheless was a major consideration. Our team was impressed by the affordable price that accompanies this high-quality product.
Ease of Use: Most portable chargers are easy to use in general, but this portable charger was especially straightforward to operate. You don’t need to press any buttons and you’ll simply have to attach your lightning cable to begin charging your device. Additionally, the large paw print on the front of this portable charger indicates how much battery charge is left in your power bank, which is an incredibly useful feature.
Power: This portable charger was the third quickest to charge a phone battery by five percent of charge, taking two minutes and fifteen seconds. This was only less than one minute slower than our fastest charging portable charger, hence this product’s high score in this testing category.
Portability: The portability of this portable charger was certainly high, but it wasn’t earth-shattering. Though the manufacturer asserts that this is the slimmest 10,000.0-mAh portable charger on the market, we didn’t think this product was that much slimmer or lighter than other portable chargers that we tested.
What Customers Are Saying
With well over 9,300 reviews on Amazon, the INIU Portable Charger features rave reviews from customers. A total of 81 percent of reviewers rate this portable charger a perfect 5 out of 5 stars. On the other hand, only 2 percent of reviewers rate it 1 star.
Specific reviews mention this portable charger is roughly the same size as a smartphone with a case on it, while others note how quickly it can charge devices. Many reviewers sing the praises of the paw print on the front of this power block, as it indicates how much juice your external battery has left.
#3 Best Two-For-One: Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger
The Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger is our team’s choice as the Best Two-For-One Portable Charger available on the market. This portable charger features dual output and input ports that can detect all connected devices and efficiently distribute its power output up to 2.1 A. Additionally, the charger is small and slim, as it weighs a mere 218.0 g and is only 14.0-mm thick.
The portable charger features a Li-polymer battery pack, which makes charging your device much safer than it would be through a Li-ion charger. It should be noted that though the charger is light and slim, it’s easy to hold due to its grippy design. It should be noted that the product is covered for up to 18 months through the manufacturer’s warranty.
What’s In The Box?
The Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger doesn’t include a myriad of accessories like some of the other portable chargers in this review. Customers can expect to receive two portable chargers, two USB-C cables, and a user manual.
Our Experience
| Overall Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Power | 4.5 out of 5 |
| Portability | 4 out of 5 |
Whether a portable charger is sold with a spare power bank or not is clearly not something that we tested for, but it is still something to be celebrated. We recognized the Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger as the Best Two-for-One portable charger.
Ease of Use: There’s nothing that makes this charger stand out as easy to use. A perfect rating in this testing category is warranted for portable chargers that go above and beyond to make their charger easy to use. However, there’s also nothing complicated about this charger.
Power: The charger recorded the second-fastest time for charging a phone by five percent, with a time of one minute and fifty-five seconds. This was just four seconds slower than the fastest charging portable charger, hence the power bank’s high score in this test category.
Portability: The portable charger is surprisingly light and it fits in pant pockets quite well. We were able to simultaneously have this portable charger in our pocket while it was also charging a device with no real issues.
What Customers Are Saying
The Miady 10000mAh Dual USB Portable Charger features over 60,000 reviews on Amazon at the time of publication. Of those reviews, only 3 percent rate the power bank 1 out of 5 stars, while 77 percent couldn’t be happier with the product and rate it a faultless 5 stars.
Individual reviews mention the quick charge and affordable price while others speak to the portable charger’s durability and how it can survive multiple falls. Many reviewers note how long the portable charger’s battery life is. Negative reviews simply mention that they wish a wall charger was included with the USB-C cable and portable charger.
#4 TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank
Rated at 3.7 V and 10,000.0 mAh, the TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank is a great option for those looking for a portable charger. It features three built-in cables that are compatible with IOS and Android devices, so you won’t have to worry about bringing your charging cable with you. The power bank can charge three devices simultaneously up to an output current of 2.1 A, and the power bank itself can be charged with a 2.0-A adapter.
The TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank features a built-in battery that’s certified by Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL). A UL label indicates an electrical product satisfies global safety requirements from the independent and not-for-profit organization. The portable charger weighs only 7.4 ounces, or as much as an iPhone XR. The battery in the power bank is Li-polymer rather than Li-ion, making it safer to use while Intelligent Safety Protection provides added safety.
What’s In The Box?
For customers who have purchased the TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank, there isn’t much included in the box outside of the portable charger. Customers can expect to receive the power bank itself, a USB-C cable, and a user guide.
Our Experience
| Overall Rating | 4 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Power | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Portability | 4.5 out of 5 |
The lightweight, sleek, and stylish design of the TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank meant it was one of our product team’s favorites in terms of portability. Our team really liked this product, and its power output is the only thing that kept the charger from breaking into our top three.
Ease of Use: This portable charger doesn’t require you to press any buttons to commence charging and is simple to use. You don’t need to bring a charging cable with you, as there are three built-in cables that are compatible with iPhones, Androids, and Samsung phones. Our team members do wish the attached charging cables were slightly longer though.
Power: Although the charger is rated at 10,000mAh, which is the exact same power output as all but one of the rest of the products in this review, it was much slower to charge. We found it took eight minutes and fifteen seconds to increase the battery’s charge by five percent, which is significantly longer than most other portable chargers that we tested.
Portability: Due to its extremely lightweight and streamlined design, the TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank is extremely portable and it fits nicely in a pocket. The only thing that holds this portable charger back from a perfect score is the length of the attached chargers as it can be difficult to charge a device in your pocket while you’re on the go.
What Customers Are Saying
Featuring almost 2,000 reviews on Amazon at the time of publication, the TG90° 10000mAh Power Bank has garnered a relatively positive reception from customers. A majority of 75 percent of reviewers rate this portable charger a perfect 5 stars, while only 4 percent rate it 1 out of 5 stars.
Specific reviews speak to the sleekness of design and compactness, while others mention that the portable charger holds its own charge for a long time. Many reviewers note how helpful it is that they don’t need to bring a separate charging cable with them, as the product has charging cables for Android phones and iPhones attached to it. Negative reviews complain about malfunctions or issues with the attached charging cable not properly charging their phone.
#5 iWALK Mini Portable Charger
Weighing a mere 78.0 grams, the iWALK Mini Portable Charger is an extremely lightweight portable charger. This power bank is compatible with iPhones only, as there is an attached lightning cable and no other output ports. The battery has a capacity of 3350.0 mAh, and the manufacturer asserts in the product description that the charger can add almost 1.2 charges to an iPhone 8 specifically.
This portable charger features pass-through technology which allows you to charge your iPhone while simultaneously recharging the power bank itself. Additionally, it has a long connector, meaning you’ll have the ability to charge your Apple device without removing your protective case. It should be noted that the charger only works with Apple products, but it is compatible with the earliest models of iPhone all the way to the iPhone 13.
What’s In The Box?
There isn’t much included in the box outside of the iWALK Mini Portable Charger itself. Customers can expect to receive the portable charger, a USB-C cable, and a welcome guide.
Our Experience
| Overall Rating | 3.7 out of 5 |
|---|---|
| Ease of Use | 4 out of 5 |
| Power | 3.5 out of 5 |
| Portability | 3.5 out of 5 |
The iWALK Mini Portable Charger is the lightest and most compact portable charger that our team reviewed or tested. The simplicity of design meant all of our team members enjoyed testing this product and felt it was a solid recommendation for those looking for a portable charger.
Ease of Use: This portable charger was quite simple to use, but not as simple as other products that we tested in this review. You need to press a button on the side of the power bank to begin charging rather than simply connecting the lightning cable to your device. However, our team members were big fans of the charger’s auto power-off feature, which deploys after 30 seconds without use.
Power: The power bank took longer than any other power bank in our timed charging test. After 11 minutes, our team member’s phone still had not charged even 5 percent. Compared to other options on the market though, the power of the charger is above average.
Portability: While this portable charger is arguably the most lightweight and compact product in this review, it received a poor score in our portability testing category. This is due to the fact that you cannot charge your device while it is in your pocket. The inability to charge on the go arises from the attached cable being relatively fragile.
What Customers Are Saying
The iWALK Mini Portable Charger features over 9,000 reviews on Amazon. Out of these several thousand reviewers, 69 percent of reviewers rate this portable charger a faultless 5 stars. A small minority of seven percent of reviewers rate the product 1 out of 5 stars.
Individual reviews mention that the main perk of this portable charger is not having to remember to bring your charging cable with you, as the charging port is attached to the charger, while another simply mentions how great a size this charging block is. Many reviewers speak about how light and convenient this product is. Negative reviews note that this portable charger may spontaneously stop working.
Portable Chargers Buyers Guide
Before you rush out to buy a brand new portable charger, it’s important to know what you want out of your portable charger. What’s its intended use? When will you use it? Will you be charging multiple devices at once?
Types Of Portable Chargers
There are numerous types of portable chargers that you may encounter while searching to find the best portable charger for you and your needs.
- Credit card power bank: One of the most common types of portable chargers, this kind of charger has a slim and rectangular design, making it easy to fit in your pocket.
- Wireless charging pad: This type of charger works by simply leaving your phone on top of the charger itself. It should be noted that not all devices are compatible with this type of device.
- Solar power bank: Using the sun to recharge the portable charger itself, this kind of portable charger is great for the eco-friendly and those who don’t know how frequently they’ll have access to a wall outlet to recharge their charger.
- High-capacity power bank: This type of power bank typically has batteries of 20,000.0 mAh or higher and can charge multiple devices at once.
Power Output
Power output of a portable charger is typically measured in mAh, but it’s important to know how many amps of power it can generate or the number of watts it’s capable of producing.
| Power Output | Description |
|---|---|
| 1 amp / 5 watt | This will charge your device slowly, even if the battery is big enough to charge your device more than once. |
| 2.4 amp / 12 watt | This will charge most devices at the fastest possible speed, which is otherwise known as optimal charging. |
| 2.4 amp / 12 watt (shared) | If you connect two devices, this will charge them both but not at optimal charging speed. |
| 3.4 amp / 17 watt (shared) | This has the ability to charge two smartphones or a smartphone and a tablet at the same time at the fastest possible speed. However, if you charge two tablets simultaneously it won’t charge at optimal charging speed. |
| 4.8 amp / 24 watt (shared) | This has the power to charge two tablets at the same time at optimal charging speed. |
Our Review Standards
The portable chargers in this article went through two rounds of reviews. We started by searching Amazon for top products, looking at factors like Prime shipping eligibility, customer ratings, Amazon superlatives, and price.
The five portable chargers that best met these standards were ordered by our team for testing. A team member tested each product, taking note of how well the portable charger handled being moved around, how powerful it was, and how easy it was to use. Each portable charger was given a rating out of 5 stars based on this criteria.
Portable Chargers Testing Process
We tested each of the five portable battery chargers in this review against these criteria:
- Ease of Use: A power bank’s interface is relatively self-explanatory and easy to use by definition. With this in mind, we judged how easy it was to use each portable charger and how quickly we could get a device charging.
- Power: Arguably the most important characteristic of a portable charger is its power delivery. Our product testing team recorded how long it took each portable charger to charge five percent of a phone battery to test each portable charger’s power.
- Portability: To get the most out of a portable charger, it should be easy to use while on the go. Keeping this in mind, a member of our product testing team placed each portable charger in their pocket while charging their device to find out how easy charging is for each portable charger while in the car or on the go.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is the best portable charger?
The best portable charger that is available on the market in 2022 is the Anker Portable Charger. Our product testing team thoroughly researched and rigorously tested a myriad of power blocks and found the Anker Portable Charger to be the best of the best.
Why is Mophie so expensive?
A Mophie power station could be considered expensive due to the Mophie brand name. The brand is well-known and easily recognizable, as well as popular amongst customers. All of these factors mean Mophie can charge higher than average prices.
How do I choose a good power bank?
Our product testing team recommends choosing a good power bank based on a variety of factors. Consider how easy it is to use, its power, and the power banks’ portability.
*Data accurate at time of publication.
