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.

That app is essential because there's a Find My feature built into the battery. It doesn't work like an AirTag over UWB, it's only Bluetooth, but it's useful if you misplace your battery in your office (or you have multiple batteries, like I do). Smaller portable batteries with capacities of 5,000mAh and 10,000mAh are available, but a 20000mAh power bank will last longer and should be able to charge your phone battery numerous times. Why Is My Power Bank Taking so Long to Charge?You want a more portable option: Because of its combo nature, the Anker 733 is a bit bulky and cumbersome, but if you use it both ways, it's worth the trade-off in size to have such a useful device.

We have tested the best power banks by using them to charge a variety of devices, including Apple iPhone, Google Pixel, and Samsung Galaxy phones. We have also charged Apple iPad tablets, and small laptops including a Pixelbook Go and a Surface Laptop Go. Avoid simultaneously charging your phone with the power bank and charging the power bank from a wall outletIf you haven’t used your power bank in a few months, you can fully charge it, but it won’t be able to charge your devices because it has entered sleep mode. You can resolve this by doing the following: As time goes on, even the most advanced batteries can wear out, especially if they’re constantly charged and discharged. You can try charging a separate gadget with your power bank if you’ve been using it to charge one mobile phone.

In addition, make sure not to leave an external battery for a long time without using it. If the power bank is of no use, dispose of it properly and go shopping for another model that will better suit your needs. Fixing Your Power Bank If your equipment is at least somewhat new, you might still be protected by a manufacturer’s warranty. If the maker finds that you’ve been using your device responsibly and that it’s still within the warranty period, they might offer to fix or replace it. Power Bank Maintenance You need fast power: This is a very slow charger, whether wired or wireless, so it's better for casual charging while you sip your water and read a book. The bottle is actually a nice, insulated affair, and it kept ice in cold water for 12 hours, which is all that we need. It has a good, strong strap to carry the bottle, though we would have liked a lid that was easier for sipping.You need power for your phone: The 3,000mAh battery inside is plenty to keep your Apple Watch going, but that isn't enough power to get you even halfway charged on an iPhone 15, and even less on bigger phones.