The Greatest Energy Banks of 2024

Offering convenient on-the-go charging when we’re traveling or there’s no wall outlet available, the best power banks help keep us out on our adventures longer. From expanded battery capacities to faster and even wireless charging, power banks have never been more viable and efficient.

To compile this list of the best power banks, we combed the market for the most popular, innovative, and well-regarded models. Then, we conducted extensive testing at home, in the field, on vacation, in the office, and beyond to determine the best model for every need and budget. We’ve used and abused dozens of models and charged phones, cameras, laptops, and other electronics to get a clear understanding of which models are worth your consideration.

From top-rated performers like the Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery or a budget power bank like the Anker Powercore Slim 10,000, we’re confident this list comprises the best power banks on the market today. To learn more about what to look for when purchasing a power bank and our rigorous testing process, check out our comprehensive buyer’s guide, comparison chart, and price & value sections below.

Editor’s Note: On October 10, 2024, we updated this guide by adding 5 new products (all award-winners), re-testing and updating our other award-winners, and expanding our buyer’s guide with a new price & value section.

The Best Power Banks of 2024

Power Bank Comparison Chart

How We Tested Power Banks

Our Expert Testers

We tested all the power banks on this list thoroughly in daily life, outdoors adventuring, and even some travel. Our three testers, Nick LeFort, Katie Davis, and Austin Beck-Doss, admit they didn’t use a wall outlet for any of their electronics for the duration of these tests.

Lead tester Nick LeFort has been writing for over 30 years but has spent 10 years writing professionally about gear, knives and tools, off-roading, overlanding, and outdoor living. He took the assignment one step further and let his two daughters use the power banks he was testing. Not only are kids tough on darn near everything they get their hands on, but they are also perpetually charging their smartphones and tablets. In his mind, they were going to use and abuse these products well beyond anything he had planned.

Our Testing Process

Power bank manufacturers make some exaggerated claims about the capacity, performance, and durability of their products. After noting the specifications of each power bank, our testers took them to task. As a baseline, we fully charged every power bank right out of the box. Then, we set them up to see how many times they could charge an iPhone before depleting their internal battery.

We split our durability test between prolonged regular use indoors and outdoors and a standardized drop test. Each power bank was dropped exactly 2 feet onto concrete to simulate the classic fumble when our hands stop doing what our brains tell them to. It happens. Don’t deny it. The power banks that didn’t pass this test didn’t make it on this list.

Regarding waterproofing—or at least water resistance—if the manufacturer claimed its power bank was designed to meet a specific rating, we tested it. However, it wasn’t a universal test because most power banks aren’t rated to get wet and definitely not to be submerged.

Between Nick, Katie, and Austin, we vetted 40 different power banks. It was a massive undertaking as no two power banks are built the same. Yes, during testing, patterns emerged that told us which power bank should be more durable. In some cases, based on the inputs and outputs alone, we determined which power banks were going to make it past the first round of testing because they indicated a higher level of efficiency.

That being said, you can rest assured that the power banks on this list are the best of the best and the most current. With technology always evolving in the world of electronics, it’s important for us to revisit and refresh this list from time to time to make sure we’re showing you the cream of the crop right from the start.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Power Bank

For better or worse, most folks today feel a wave of concern when their smartphone battery drops below 20%. Phones, tablets, laptops, and other portable electronics pack a lot of utility — and we’ve grown reliant on them to conduct our everyday affairs.

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

These days, they come in all shapes and sizes — from mini units that can dangle from a keychain to 25-pound behemoths. On this list, we focused on the most popular category: personal-use portable power banks. Portable is a subjective term. For this list, we only considered products that weigh about 2 pounds or less and fit easily into any backpack.

In this comprehensive buyer’s guide, we break down everything you need to know about power banks; capacity, charge times, inputs, outputs, solar capability, you name it. Our hope is that by using this guide, you’ll be able to hone in on the perfect portable one to suit your everyday needs.

What Is a Power Bank?

A power bank is a rechargeable battery that can transfer power to other electronic devices. It is like a wall outlet that you can take with you. Simply plug in your phone or laptop via a standard USB-A or USB-C cable, and boom, you have instant portable power. People carry them for the same reason remote freight drivers carry extra cans of gasoline: If the main supply runs out, there’s extra fuel on board.

Size and Capacity

Power banks are available in all shapes and sizes. The smallest ones are small enough to fit on a keychain, but deliver minimal power so they’re reserved for emergencies. The largest ones in existence can charge an EV or even a house – but those aren’t exactly portable.

Generally, capacity is measured in milliamps per hour, or mAh. This unit indicates how many milliamps of electric current a given power bank can deliver per hour.

Power bank capacities can get down below 3,0000 mAh, but generally, that’s as low as you should consider going. Even if you plan on just using it for an emergency, you might find yourself unable to get a single full charge for your smartphone. In the last couple of years alone, we’ve seen capacities grow and move away from anything below 5,000 mAh. The most common size is 10,000 mAh.

10,000 mAh – 15,000 mAh

All smartphone manufacturers utilize different batteries and charging systems. The working capacity of any power bank entirely depends on the device it is charging. Most fully charged smartphones contain 3,000 to 4,000 mAh.

That means, on paper, a 10,000 mAh power bank can recharge a smartphone about three times. Most of the products on this list hold around 10,000 mAh. This is a standard size for recharging small devices like smartphones, Bluetooth headphones, and smartwatches.

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. The Nestout and Dark Energy Poseidon Pro 10200 are the two most impressive power banks tested in this capacity range. They are both durable and resistant to the elements. The Poseidon Pro is good for two to two and a half charges on an iPhone 13 and two on an iPhone 14 Pro. The Nestout (15000 mAh) gets up to four full charges at half the price of the Poseidon Pro.

Fr a long backpacking trip, it’s important to find an appropriate weight-to-capacity ratio for your adventure. You’ll also want one that fits comfortably in your backpacking backpack and doesn’t add too much bulk to your kit. Power banks in this capacity range fit easily into most pockets. They also have plenty of capacity to keep a small device or two alive for a few days.

20,000 mAh – 25,000 mAh

The next popular portable size is 20,000 mAh. Naturally, 20k power banks are bigger and heavier than their smaller 10k siblings. Most 20k banks weigh at least one pound and are roughly the size of a small tablet or jumbo candy bar.

Though 20k power banks are a bit cumbersome for everyday carry, they offer much more utility. Most banks of this size can fully recharge a smartphone six or more times. Plus, many 20k versions can charge multiple devices at the same time. If you’re looking for a product to charge multiple personal devices over the course of a multi-day backpacking trip, 20k is your best bet.

In the last year, we’ve seen a rise in the number of 25,000 mAh + power banks. Though many people find this to still be portable, they’re designed for base camps and remote work. You can totally throw one in your backpack. But, they’re great for folks looking to charge a larger device, such as a laptop on the go.

For a bank that can handle the demands of laptop charging, around 20k mAh is the bare minimum capacity to consider. We would recommend you bump up to something like the BioLite Charge 100 Max. At 25,000 mAh and with the ability to charge 5 devices at once, you can be a real hit at the local campground.

Charge Times and ‘Fast Charging’

The best products are quick to store power and equally quick to dispense it. Combined with the appropriate modern charging cable, all of the power banks on this list perform well in this aspect.

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.

All batteries operate with a specific voltage and can input and output a maximum amount of current. Fast-charging options can quickly pump more power into the receiving device.

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 Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery delivers 32W power. With this, it can fully charge an iPhone 14 Pro in around an hour.

In general, any charging source that can deliver around 15W or more could be considered “fast charging.”

While fast charging is highly sought after, it can also be a detriment to your long-term battery health. Certain small devices, such as headphones and fitness watches, have relatively low maximum tolerable power delivery. If you charge a pair of earbuds with a superpowered fast-charging wall port or power bank, it can cause irreversible damage to the battery life of those headphones. Many modern power banks — such as the OtterBox Fast Charge — can decrease their output to meet the needs of a small device or fragile battery.

PD Power

Power Delivery, or “PD,” has become something of a buzzword in the portable electronics world. It refers to how much output a charging source or cable can deliver. As our electronics have grown to be bigger and bolder in terms of power consumption, our needs have grown.

Most power banks are designed to provide up to 25W of power. However, smaller power banks will likely deliver less than that. We have found in our testing that an output rating of 15W-25W is the sweet spot. In that range, you will get efficient power delivery and quicker charging times on the go. However, a larger capacity power bank, like the BioLite Charge 100 Max, can provide you up to 100W of output power.

We realize that sounds insane. And if this were 2022, it might be insane. But, these products are innovating faster than their brand’s marketing team can keep up with their product blurbs.

Anyway, this brings us to power cables.

That $5 cable at the gas station is going to do just fine. But, you’re not going to get the most out of most power banks on this list. In fact, the standard Apple USB-A to Lightning cable can only handle up to 9W of power. By today’s standards, that’s going to be slow as well. Both Apple and Android have been pushing up the power limits able to charge their smartphones. This has created a whole line of new cables that can handle upwards of 100W.

With this push, there has been an increased demand for higher-capacity USB-C cables, which has brought down prices considerably. We recommend that when you pick out your power bank, you head over to Amazon.com and find something that can handle that output, if not more. These cables will generally have a “PD” in their name, for example, “USB-C PD.” Save yourself some money by checking out the specs.

Types of In/Out Ports

Nearly all small electronic devices, including smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, earbuds, headphones, and laptops, charge via one of four standard input ports: Micro USB, USB-A, USB-C, and USB-C PD. However, we have a feeling that the “PD” distinction that some manufacturers use for their higher output USB-C ports may soon disappear, as almost all USB-C ports today deliver those desirable outputs.

Micro-USB ports are growing obsolete, but they’re still relatively common on power banks today. USB-A ports are typically used as outputs, though some small products such as the Goal Zero Flip 24 do have USB-A inputs, which eliminate the need for a charging cable.

The Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 is unique in that, although it has two USB-A outputs and one USB-C, it comes with a USB-A cable with a Micro-USB/USB-C combo end.

USB-A is still a popular port type because it’s been around since 1996 and is widely adopted on a wider array of electronics. However, USB-C is on track to become the most common input port. It’s what’s found on most modern smartphones around the world and offers higher transfer rates – which equate to faster charging times.

Another, less common port, on larger power banks like the Lion Trek Portable Solar Generator, is the North American-specific AC, three-prong plug. Yes, it’s the same outlet you have in your home and in the bed of your Toyota Tacoma, seen here in all its 12V glory. Though these are less common on power banks (and really common on Power Stations), they provide a power solution for people who need to charge laptops, fill up massive inflatable mattresses, and those of us who want to run a blender remotely (we feel seen).

Wireless Charging and Magnetic Power Banks

Some larger power banks are equipped with wireless charging capability. On this list, both the BioLite Charge 100 Max and Goal Zero Sherpa 100 PD come with a wireless charging pad that can deliver up to 15W of power to compatible devices. In general, wireless charging from a power bank will be slower than using a cable. But, it’s highly convenient in certain situations.

Some power banks attach directly to smartphones via magnetic connection. These power banks are compact units that typically pack just enough power to recharge a compatible smartphone a single time. On this list, the Hinovo Magnetic Charger is a highly functional and convenient option. It essentially doubles your phone’s battery — no cable required. Of course, only some smartphones are magnetic charging enabled.

Pass-Through Charging

If a power bank has “pass-through charging,” it is able to take in and distribute power at the same time. Pass-through equipped power banks can charge devices while plugged into a wall charger — a handy feature when you’re in a hurry. Many power banks on this list have pass-through charging, including our top pick the Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery

Durability and Waterproofing

Believe it or not, most power bank manufacturers aren’t overly concerned with water resistance and waterproofing. They assume that you won’t be using their products in the middle of the rainforest, in a rainstorm, or rafting through the rapids. But durability is a major factor in how they go about designing their products for our use and abuse.

Every power bank on this list passed our standardized drop-testing onto concrete from 2 feet. Most of them carry ratings that will protect the power bank from taller heights. This type of rating is important because accidents happen. Even if you’re carrying something in a sling pack, if you drop that pack, it could impact the power bank inside.

Depending on your needs, waterproofing may be a necessity. If you plan to use your power bank for outdoor applications such as hunting, backpacking, and off-roading, we recommend one that’s built to withstand rugged use. On this list, the Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery, Dark Energy Poseidon Pro 10200, and Wuben Lightok X3 Owl EDC Flashlight are all rated to withstand getting wet.

Overall, none of the power banks on this list will stop working if they get a couple of drops of water on them so we see no problems with you using them in the outdoors. That said, unless they’re rated for water resistance, do your due diligence to protect them from the elements.

Pro Tip: To preserve the integrity of the battery, power banks should be plugged in and charged once every few months.

Price & Value

There’s an old adage that you “get what you pay for.” While that may have been true with electronics a few years ago, many brands now aim to provide their customers with the most innovative solutions possible. Because of this, pricing structures aren’t as easy to understand.

Take, for instance, the Dark Energy Poseidon Pro. At $120, that’s actually a really good price when you consider that you’re getting a 10,000 mAh power bank rated for extreme outdoor conditions. However, Elcom, a lesser-known brand, offers its Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery for half that price. It boasts the same weather protection features and durability but has one more outlet and contains a 15,000 mAh battery.

Where there’s no clear way to define which of these is premium, budget, or even mid-tier in terms of classifications, we can tell you what to expect to pay for a power bank based on its capacity and features.

Sub 10,000 mAh

As we’ve said throughout this guide, power banks that are less than 10,000 mAh are usually purpose-built for smaller devices. These are great for things like earbuds and fitness trackers. They can also give a smartphone a single full charge, making them great in emergencies. Additionally, based on their size and purpose, they generally only have one output.

The Hinovo Magnetic Charger has 15W wireless charging, but it can only charge an iPhone. This power bank has no additional outputs and is, therefore, purpose-built.

The Goal Zero Flip 24 fits this mold because, at 6,700 mAh, it will bring a smartphone back from near death to a full charge one time before it needs to be recharged. It has one USB-A input for recharging and a single USB-A output for charging your devices.

For power banks like this, you can expect to pay less than $50.

10,000 mAh – 15,000 mAh

Power banks in this range are the most common and the most diverse. These are designed to charge a wider variety of devices from earbuds to tablets. They can even come in handy in a pinch if you need to get a little juice to your laptop.

These power banks could have a wide array of inputs (Anker Powercore Slim 10,000) or outputs (Skullcandy Fat Stash 2). This makes them more versatile, either in being recharged or in charging more than one device.

These power banks, which are also aimed at portability, may have some extra features like durability and water resistance. The Nestout 15000mAh Outdoor Battery and Anker Powercore Slim 10,000 have a wider array of inputs and outputs but are also rated for use and abuse in the outdoors. These power banks have been rated for higher drops and being submerged in water.

For this range of power banks, you can pay anywhere from $20 to $160.

20,000 mAh and Larger

Power banks with a capacity rating of 20,000 mAh or larger are the most versatile of the group. They offer the greatest array of inputs and outputs as they are designed to charge multiple devices at once or charge a single device multiple times.

These power banks are less portable and designed to go in your backpack instead of your pocket. They’re great for remote work, as they can keep your laptop up and running when there’s no wall outlet around. They’re also great for base camp or vacation, as they can service all the electronics in your party.

The BioLite Charge 100 Max fits this mold perfectly. At over one pound, you won’t want to carry it around in your pocket (unless you have a really good belt), but it can sufficiently charge up to five devices. We’re seeing a larger assortment of this size power bank hit the market as more people are working remotely and more of our devices require more power.

You can expect to pay between $80 and $250 for power banks in this range.

Frequently Asked Questions

If treated properly, the power banks on this list should perform reliably for several years. All batteries degrade with time and regular use. Most modern products can be fully charged and discharged about 1,000 times before they no longer function. For most users, this equates to 3-5 years’ worth of use.

All of the power banks on this list are relatively small and portable. The majority of users pick 10,000 mAh to 15,000 mAh power banks, a good choice for recharging a personal smartphone.

Compact 10,000 mAh options like the Skullcandy Fat Stash 2 and the Nitecore NB 10000 offer a nice balance between utility and portability. They fit in a pant pocket, and they pack enough power to keep a smartphone or satellite messenger alive for several days without a wall outlet.

If you plan to charge larger devices like a tablet or laptop, we recommend sizing up to the 20,000+ mAh range. These products typically weigh 1-2 pounds and are still compact enough for hiking, traveling, etc. On this list, the BioLite Charge 100 Max is our top choice for these situations.

Most small portable option can be carried onto an airplane. According to TSA, power banks cannot be kept in checked luggage. Certain airports don’t allow passengers to travel with more than 27,000 mAh in total battery storage.

It’s been a long-standing, widely accepted fact that electricity on water do not mix. However, with electronics becoming more prevalent in our day-to-day lives, power bank manufacturers are realizing that their products will be used outside.

Power banks like the Dark Energy Poseidon Pro 10200 are designed to deliver power to your devices in the worst weather conditions. It carries an IP68 rating and all of its ports can be covered when the device is not in use.