Best Portable Charger (2022): Top Picks To Keep Your Phones Running

Smartphones seem to have a penchant for running out of battery when you need them the most. In these moments, scouring for an electric outlet in sight, especially when you’re in public, can be an inconvenience. Fortunately, portable chargers have become just as necessary as the mobile devices they power. And while today’s smartphones outdo each other in battery life, portable chargers are still a nice backup. Below, we’ve narrowed down our favorites.

Best Portable Charger Comparison Chart

Model	Product Image	Price
Ainope Portable Charger
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack
INIU 20W 20000 mAh Power Bank
BLAVOR Solar Charger
Anker PowerCore Fusion

Ainope Portable Charger

Best portable charger for iPhone

Less than three inches wide, the Ainoe Portable Charger is an unassuming power bank you can clasp in the palm of your hand. Don’t let its size fool you. With 10,000mAh of battery capacity, you get enough juice to charge an iPhone 12 three times and an iPhone 13 Pro Max twice. Plus, you get ample 18W charging speeds that power your iPhone from 0% to 50% in 30 minutes.

For convenience, the power bank features an LED that displays the remaining battery level. The unit itself takes a little over three hours to charge. Although it doesn’t have the highest battery capacity, its compact size makes it a great spare charger in your pocket.

Lastly, the Ainoe Portable Charger comes with a USB-C port and dual USB-A ports. Users can charge up to three devices simultaneously. So while it’s our pick for iPhones, it’s compatible with iPads and Android phones, too.

Capacity: 10,000mAh | Ports: USB-C, USB-A (2) | Cable: Not included

Apple MagSafe Battery Pack

Best MagSafe portable charger

It’s hard to beat Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhones when it comes to wireless charging. While third-party suppliers have their own, the native integration offered by this unit is hard to match. Moreover, it’s one of the smallest in the category. Of course, this goes without saying you can only use the battery pack with a MagSafe case.

Inside the sleek charger are two battery cells with 1,460mAh of capacity. Given these numbers, the MagSafe Battery Pack is not intended to fully power a compatible iPhone. After all, wireless charging isn’t as efficient. Instead, the battery pack provides additional charges — up to 70% — to get your phone through the day.

The MagSafe Battery Pack doesn’t have any LED or LCD indicators. However, once attached to your iPhone, you get to see how much charge it has left. On your desk, the pack also doubles as a wireless charger. Connected to a Lightning cable, it provides up to 15W of wireless charging. You can also plug in a higher 20W power adapter for faster charging of both iPhone and pack.

Capacity: 1,460mAh | Ports: Lightning | Cable: Not included

INIU 20W 20000 mAh Power Bank

Best portable charger for Android phones

USB-C has become the standard port for many devices, especially Android phones. Its backward compatibility with other specifications makes it a convenient option, too. This has lent the INIU 20W 20000 mAh Power Bank an edge. The brick comes with a 20W USB-C input and output part and two 22.5W USB-A ports.

With a dual-function USB-C port, users can charge both device and power bank using the same cables. The high-speed output is also rated to power phones up to 58% in just 30 minutes. Plus, the 20,000mAh capacity means you can charge a phone like the Samsung S20 up to 3.4 times.

If you don’t have a reversible USB-C cable, don’t fret. The two USB-A ports should do the trick. This allows the power bank to charge larger devices like an iPad mini. It also means you can juice up three devices simultaneously. Perhaps the only downside to this portable charger is its size and weight. At over 6.4 inches long and 12.6 ounces in weight, it’s a hefty device.

Capacity: 20,000mAh | Ports: USB-C input and output, USB-A (2) | Cable: Not included

BLAVOR Solar Charger

Best portable solar charger

Whether hiking or camping overnight, you don’t want to get caught in the wilderness with a battery-drained phone. For those outdoor trips, consider the BLAVOR Solar Charger. One side of the rugged-looking power bank features solar panels on days no electrical socket is in sight. You can also charge the device via an adaptor, which takes 13 hours on a 5V adaptor.

BLAVOR’s solar-powered battery pack has dual USB-A ports stacked on each other. You also get a bidirectional USB-C output and a USB-C cable. If you’re not a fan of the wires, the side opposite the solar panels is a 10W Qi wireless charger. And with a 20,000mAh capacity, the power bank can charge four devices at the same time. The only downside is the max 18W charging power.

Designed for the outdoors, the portable charger boasts a built-in flashlight and compass. The flashlight even has three modes, including strobe and SOS light flashes. Plus, the unit itself is IPX5 and rated waterproof.

Capacity: 20,000mAh | Ports: USB-C input and output, USB-A (2) | Cable: Included

Anker PowerCore Fusion

Best portable charger for travel

For people on the go, a power bank you can stow in your pocket or bag is always nice to have. This is what the Anker PowerCore Fusion offers. The compact charger only comes in at 5.60 x 5.15 x 7.00 inches. Despite its size, you get two USB-A ports and a micro-USB slot, perfect for charging three devices simultaneously.

However, the appeal of the PowerCore is its versatility. The power bank comes with electrical prongs, allowing you to plug it into an AC outlet. In this mode, the unit acts as a high-speed adaptor, although it doesn’t support Qualcomm Quick Charge. It also boasts pass-through charging. This means it can charge devices connected to it, then charge itself for on-the-go use.

Anker’s 2-in-1 power bank takes about 2.5 hours to fully charge. Because of its small form, it only carries 5,000mAh of capacity. While modest, that’s still enough to charge an iPhone 13 mini twice.

Capacity: 5,000mAh | Ports: USB-A (2), micro-USB | Cable: micro-USB cable included

Verdict

In a smartphone-run world, portable chargers have become a necessity. From our list, the Ainope and INIU power banks are the standouts.

Ainope Portable Charger

INIU 20W 20000 mAh Power Bank

As people rely on their smartphones more and more, the need to keep these devices powered is a necessity. With portable chargers, you can power your phone anytime and anywhere. While the units we’ve picked are all highly recommended, two products stand out.

The Ainope Portable Charge is a sleek and compact brick for iPhone users. Despite its size, you get 10,000mAh of capacity from the power bank. It also delivers 18W of charging, enough to bring an iPhone to life in under an hour.

For Android or even tablet users, the INIU 20W 20000 mAh Power Bank is a favorite. Although it’s on the larger side, the power bank packs a punch. Aside from the generous battery capacity, you get two USB-A ports and a bidirectional USB-C port. It also retails for less than $50.

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