If you have a newer Android phone, or the latest iPhone 15 models, you'll want a power bank with faster charging speeds to get your battery full faster. Charging speed is measured in wattage, and the iPhone 15 can charge just a bit faster than 15W, while the Galaxy S23 Ultra can charge up to 45W.

Speaking of that wall plug, it's the most useful feature ever on a power bank. Some power banks come with a built in USB-C cord, but this Anker comes with a two-prong power outlet plug. That makes it a wall charger as well as a power bank, and the utility can't be understated. Smartphone batteries are becoming larger and more efficient. In our experience, 10,000 mAh power banks will charge a modern smartphone between two and three times. On this list, the Nitecore NB10000 is the most impressive 10k mAh power bank that we tested. It fully charged an iPhone 13 two and a half times.In general, any charging source that can deliver around 15w or more could be considered “fast charging.” Apple doesn't publish its battery capacity, but teardowns have shown that the iPhone 15 has a battery with around 3,350mAh of battery life. That means a 10KmAh battery can charge that phone twice ... almost. You may not get to 100% the second charge, but you'll be in the 90% range. We wish there wasn't such an easy answer to this question, because competition is better for everybody, but Anker is making the best power banks right now by far. It offers the best power-to-weight ratio, the fastest charging, and the most useful features. Four indicator lights convert battery levels — including one light that turns green when “fast mode” is engaged. Interestingly, this light turned green while charging an iPhone via the USB-C port, but not when charging earbuds via a USB-A port. It seems there is some kind of sensor in the OKZUthat engaged fast charging mode when the receiving device has a compatible battery. Neat.

In 2023, nearly every gadget and gizmo that we use has a battery. Our phones are the primary example, but nearly everything — from headlamps to headphones — has built-in rechargeable batteries. The next question is how you want to charge your device. You can find a power bank that charges your phone (or even your Apple Watch) wirelessly. These will usually charge slower, but they can be very convenient if you want to leave wires at home. Nearly all small electronic devices including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds, headphones, and laptops charge via one of three standard input ports: Micro USB, USB-A, and USB-C. The most important question to consider when buying a power bank is what will you be charging? If you are charging a small smartphone and that's all, a simple power bank will suffice. If you plan on charging a laptop occasionally as well, or many devices at once, you'll want something with more power and more features. To test charging times and claims, we charged a Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra and an Apple iPhone 15 to determine how many charges each battery offers these devices. We chose a common smaller battery phone as well as our best phone overall for this purpose.

Highest Rated in Mobile Phone Power Banks

There are plenty of other power bank makers around, and most of them have not caught up to the faster charging speeds available on the iPhone 15 family, let along even faster Android phones. Except for unique form factors or serious bargains, we stayed away from recommending power banks from reputable makers if they couldn't charge at 2023 speeds. In terms of charging, this massive power bank can charge an iPhone 15 more than five times. It can charge a big Galaxy S23 Ultra's 5,000mAh battery three-and-a-half times. Best of all, it charges at the fastest speed available on most of your favorite phones (excluding Oppo/OnePlus's unusual SUPERVOOC battery).

We like that this simple power bank is free of frivolous features. It serves its purpose perfectly and doesn’t pretend to be anything more than a reliable power bank. The easy-to-read LED display allowed us to keep accurate tabs on its battery life. Its rate of power delivery is right up there with the best banks on the market, but the bank itself is fairly low to charge. These days, many devices including phones, power banks, tablets, and cables claim to support “fast charging.” In reality, there is no universal standard for what “fast charging” really means. Each individual device has specifications that determine how much wattage delivery it can handle. Every element in the charging system — phone, power bank, and cable — plays a role in the rate of power delivery. For example, early iPhones came with a 5W power adaptor in the box. Those 5W adaptors took over two hours to charge standard smartphones. On this list, the speedy OtterBox Fast Charge delivers 18W power — it can fully charge an iPhone 13 in just over 90 minutes. Anker batteries also look great and are built with high quality parts. The display on our best battery for power users is bright and sharp OLED display, totally unnecessary for a power bank, but that's what makes Anker the best. It far exceeds our expectations of what's necessary to make power banks that are great. There are also cool additional features to consider. Our favorite power bank has a built in charging plug so it can go right into a wall outlet. Some power banks have data about your charging devices. Some are just super small and cute. Which power bank is the best quality?

Using the Anker Prime power bank, we were also able to test the charging speed claims of other power banks, as the Anker Prime will report charging speed in wattage. All power inputs and outputs on the Pro are hidden beneath a rugged mini door. A small LED flashlight sits next to the USB-A and USB-C ports. Four battery indicator lights relay the key information that users need. Power banks above 20k mAh start to get fairly heavy and less portable, but they’re great for folks looking to charge a larger device such as a laptop on the go. If you’re searching for a bank that can handle the demands of laptop charging, around 20k mAh is the bare minimum capacity you should consider. On this list, the Goal Zero Sherp a has an impressive capacity of 25,600 mAh. The Lion Trek is another excellent high-capacity power bank — and it even sports a standard three-prong AC outlet. Charge Times and ‘Fast Charging’ We expect this competition will heat up next year as more power bank makers catch up and make faster charging batteries. Until then, Anker is the dominant brand, and if you want the best it's an easy choice. How many times can my power bank charge my phone? You only want to charge a phone: If you don't need to charge a laptop occasionally, or you only carry a phone with no accessories, the Anker 733 is more than you need.

Power banks are physical stop gaps that prevent dreaded cases of DPS (dead phone syndrome). Whether you forgot to plug in overnight, or you’ve been traveling all day without access to an outlet, power banks are a lifeline for you and your portable electronics.

Everybody on our gift list who got a new iPhone is going to get an Anker Nano Power Bank (22.5W) this year. This cute little charger is perfectly sized to sit beneath your favorite smartphone, plugged into the USB-C port with a little plug that opens out or hides away for a sleek look.