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Apr 20, 2023

Best power banks 2023: Top portable USB fast chargers

Our guide to the best portable chargers and power banks for fast-charging

Our guide to the best portable chargers and power banks for fast-charging smartphones and USB-C laptops.

In an ideal world, there would be no need for battery packs. Yet, the reality is that battery life is still a pain point for many users, even those with flagship devices.

Getting through the day with some power remaining requires some serious discipline, which is tough if you're used to spending all your time in group chats, mindlessly scrolling through Twitter, playing games or on yet another video call.

That's where our list of the best battery packs and portable chargers comes in. They've been around for years, which thankfully means there are thousands of great options to pick from, and some are now starting to include seriously high capacities along with support for high-wattage USB-C Power Delivery. These two things together, mean that you can even charge your laptop.

Let's not forget other gadgets, too. Bluetooth headphones, action cameras and drones can all benefit from a top-up, especially when you're travelling.

So, without further ado, here's our selection of the best power bank options around to deliver juice back to your gadgets.

With a luxurious feel, insane charging speeds and a useful display, the Anker 737 is about as good as it gets.

If you're looking for the best of the best, the Anker 737 might be exactly that. Not only can it deliver a staggering 140W fast charge over USB-C, but it can also be recharged at the same rate. This means that you can refill its ample 24,000 mAh capacity in less than an hour, with a compatible charger.

It's also built exceptionally well and feels like a luxury item, with a lovely texture on the sides and a full-colour display.

Now, you might not think that you need a display on a power bank, but in practice, it comes in very handy. It'll tell you the output on each port, the remaining charge, and how long it'll last at the current charge rate.

Sure, it's expensive, but considering the specifications, it's a fairly reasonable asking price. If you're looking to juice up one of the latest super-fast charging smartphones at full speed, this is the tool for the job.

If you want a power bank that makes a statement, this is the one for you.

Quite simply, this is the most impressive-looking power bank we've ever come across. It has a semi-transparent chassis that allows you to look at the components inside, along with a colour display that'll reveal all the technical details.

It's a wonderfully geeky design, that lands somewhere between a cyberpunk aesthetic and early 2000's nostalgia. We absolutely love it.

If you thought having a display on your power bank was overkill, strap in, because the Shargeek takes things to the next level. There's a full menu system on this thing, allowing you to check out individual cell voltages, temperatures and more. You can even set timers to avoid wasting your charge.

Of course, none of this matters if it's not a solid power bank, and thankfully it very much is. With a 20,000 mAh capacity and the ability to deliver 100W fast charging over USB-C, it's ready for anything. You'll have to be prepared to fork out some cash, though.

Serious power and portability, combined with unassuming looks. This could be the sweet spot for a lot of people.

This option from Excitrus has a much more subtle design, and if you didn't know better, you could easily mistake it for any other run-of-the-mill power bank.

On the inside, though, it's extremely capable. It can deliver 87W from its USB-C port, while simultaneously outputting 18W over USB-A.

That's enough power to charge a Surface Laptop 4 and a Google Pixel 6 at full speed simultaneously.

What's more, it's very compact and lightweight for its specification, along with being reasonably priced.

If you're not overly concerned with fast charging, this option offers loads of capacity and excellent build quality at a bargain price.

If you're not so bothered about fast charging and just want an affordable power bank that will keep you charged up for days on end, the Anker 325 is likely the one to pick.

It comes at a very affordable price but still benefits from Anker's excellent build quality and renowned reliability.

The massive 20,000 mAh capacity is enough to charge an iPhone over four times, so it'll keep you going for a really long time.

It's also very slim and lightweight, for its capacity, so it won't weigh you down too much when you're out and about.

Amazingly cheap and reasonably quick, this one gets things done without breaking the bank.

If you're after something cheap and cheerful, we've had great results with this option from Tecknet.

It's not the largest capacity, nor does it have the most impressive speeds, but it comes at a bargain price - and it's still a touch speedier than the Anker 325.

The 20W output is fast enough to charge phones like the iPhone 12 and Google Pixel 6 at full speed. So if you're using a basic power bank, you'll see a definite jump in charging times with this product.

It's super thin and lightweight and can be charged via USB-C or Micro USB, so it's easy to top up when the time comes.

Choosing a portable charger can feel like a monumental task, there are just so many to choose from. With such a variety of sizes, capacities, styles and specifications on the market, it's especially hard to find the right one for you.

To help narrow down your choices, here are a couple of things we recommend thinking about before you commit to a power bank.

It can be tempting to go for the largest capacity available; the more juice the better, right? Well, these high-capacity chargers also tend to be heavy and bulky, so they can be a bit of a pain to carry around with you. We recommend taking a moment to think about the situations you face that normally call for a power bank. If you're camping out in the wilderness for days on end, then a giant capacity charger may be just what you need - but if you're just trying to get an extra bit of battery life to see you through your commute, you'd likely be happier with a slimmer and more lightweight solution.

While pretty much any power bank will charge your phone, laptops, in particular, are where things get more complicated. Most USB-C-powered laptops will require a high-wattage USB-C Power Delivery (PD) specification. It all depends on the laptop model, but generally speaking, for laptops, you're likely to want 60W PD spec or above, especially if you want to charge the laptop while it is in use. Check your model's specifications to ensure you get a power bank that's up to the task.

If you'll only be charging phones or tablets, then any charger will work, but be aware that not all are created equal. If you want to take advantage of fast charging then it's worth paying attention to the specs to ensure that your device will be compatible. Samsung phones seem to be especially picky when it comes to fast charging, but so long as you cross-reference your manufacturer's charging specifications with the power bank's specifications, it shouldn't be too hard to figure out.

Prior to writing for Pocket-Lint, Luke had a long history in the PC gaming industry working on everything from marketing and PR to events and esports tournaments.Aside from PCs and gaming, he has a passion for photography and video and the technologies surrounding them, it started with filming his friends skateboarding on miniDV camcorders and escalated to cinema cameras and a University degree.These days he mainly uses these skills to make YouTube videos and can often be found strapping GoPros to racing drones in his spare time.