I’ve been a science journalist for nearly a decade, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing.

Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on surge protectors, portable power stations, and more. For this guide alone, I’ve spent more than 100 hours cumulatively researching and testing power banks.

Most people can find use for a USB power bank (also called an external battery pack, backup battery, or portable charger) to keep phones and other devices charged while on the go. Rather than tracking down a wall outlet, owning a USB power bank allows you to enjoy a conveniently portable (albeit limited) power supply.

The question is, which one best fits into your habits? Some might need only a small battery to give their phone a boost at the end of the day, while those who travel a lot may be looking to power multiple devices over the course of several days.

A wallet-sized power bank is great to keep on hand for those unexpected (yet critical) moments when your phone is dying and no outlets are nearby. But if you want something for weekend trips or a regular commute, the picks in this guide offer one or more full charges for most smartphones but can still fit easily in laptop bags, totes, purses, or even large pockets.

These power banks are robust yet portable, allowing you to charge small devices such as wireless headphones, computer mice, keyboards, vaporizers, digital cameras, and more. They are also helpful if you need a bit of backup power during a power outage or other emergency.

Strategically placing a few of these around the house isn’t a bad idea, either. You can keep one in your foyer to grab as you’re running out the door, or one near the couch for when you’re curled up cozily under a blanket and really, really don’t want to get up to plug in your phone.

For laptops and other large devices that charge via USB-C or AC, we have separate guides for power banks with much higher capacity ratings than the chargers we recommend here. For Qi-compatible devices, we also have a separate guide to the best wireless portable chargers and power banks.

With tons of brands and models to choose from, we checked out major retailers to find the most widely available options and narrowed the scope of our search using the following criteria:

• Powerful charging and recharging: For models with USB-C output or input, we preferred those rated for at least 15 watts. That’s the minimum wattage needed for full USB-C charging and recharging speeds (though devices that support the even faster USB-C standard—USB Power Delivery, or USB PD—need at least 18 watts). Likewise, for models with USB-A output or Micro-USB input, we looked for those rated for 8 watts or more. Anything less powerful would be painfully slow.
• No heavier than half a pound: Power banks should be small and lightweight, making them easy to tote around in a wallet, pocket, or bag for an entire day. We preferred to test power banks weighing 8 ounces or less, since we don’t think most people want to carry something in their pocket or purse that weighs much more than a smartphone (for reference, an iPhone 14 weighs 6.1 ounces and a Pixel 7 weighs 6.9 ounces).
• Capacity rating of 2,000 to 10,000 mAh: The capacity rating listed on the power bank tells you roughly how much power it can hold. Since batteries with a capacity rating of more than 10,000 mAh tend to be bigger, heavier, and more expensive, for this guide we focused primarily on those with enough capacity to give your phone a boost of power or to fully charge it several times.
• At least a one-year warranty: A year is plenty of time to use your power bank and make sure it’s working properly, although longer warranties are always preferable.
• Brand reputation: We favored brands that we’ve had good experiences with in the past when it comes to responsive customer support and product reliability. We discounted models still undergoing a crowdfunding campaign, as well as brands lacking a visible web presence.
• Price: We used a ratio of capacity (mAh) per dollar to break ties between otherwise similar models.
• Built-in cables: We preferred power banks with some type of built-in cable or plug. This type of feature is indispensable when executed well, since separate charging cables (even if they’re neatly coiled up) take up more space in a bag.

We tested the performance of each power bank in a few key areas, including the following:

• Weight: We used an Escali Primo Digital Scale to confirm the advertised weight of each power bank.
• Size: Rather than measure the dimensions of each power bank, we considered size in terms of whether a power bank fit inside a wallet, a pocket (we tried a variety of pants, skirt, and jacket pockets), or an accessories pouch.
• Look and feel: We took note of each power bank’s bulk and exterior texture, and considered how easy and intuitive its features were to use.
• Charging output of USB-A ports: We connected a half-charged power bank to a Drok USB load tester, turned up the amperage as far as it could go without overloading the power bank, and recorded the measured maximum output (watts) from each USB-A port.
• Charging input and output of USB-C ports: We used a Total Phase USB Power Delivery Analyzer to measure the maximum output (watts) from each USB-C port
• Device compatibility: Because some devices can be finicky when it comes to charging, we plugged each of the power banks into a half-charged Nintendo Switch, iPhone 14, and pair of Jabra wireless headphones to make sure they could successfully top them off.

Top pick

Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K

The best power bank for phones, tablets, and more

This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.

Buying Options

$70$49 from Amazon

You save $21 (30%)

$70$49 from Walmart

You save $21 (30%)

The Belkin Boost Charge Plus 10K is compact, sleek, and powerful. It has a USB-C PD port, built-in Lightning and USB-C cables, and as much battery life as any model we tested. It’s on the pricey side, but no other model we’ve tested matches its unique combination of features.

It has built-in cables. In addition to a fast-charging USB-C PD port, the Belkin’s built-in Lightning and USB-C cables can charge most phones or other handheld devices (or recharge the unit itself) at top speed.

It packs a lot of power. We measured up to 19 W flowing into the power bank through either the USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable, and up to 18 W flowing out through the USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C cable, or built-in Lightning cable. With two devices plugged into the power bank, we measured a total maximum output of 24 W—more than twice as much power as some models we tested.

It has passthrough charging. While recharging the Belkin, you can simultaneously charge another device (we measured up to 15 W of passthrough charging power). This is a highly convenient, yet somewhat rare, feature.

It has great battery life. With a capacity rating of 10,000 mAh, the Belkin has enough juice to fully charge an iPhone 14 (and most other smartphones) up to three times, while some models we tested struggle to bring a phone from empty to full just once.

It won’t weigh you down. Weighing 8.4 ounces, or just over half a pound, the Belkin doesn’t add a lot of extra bulk to a backpack or purse. Plus, its built-in cables negate the need to carry additional charging cables.

It’s enjoyable to use. The best-designed products are those you barely notice, and the Belkin is no exception. It has a streamlined, minimalistic look that blends in easily with its surroundings—as of this writing, it comes in blue or black. Its rounded edges make it comfortable to hold and easy to slip into a pocket, while the textured plastic shell offers some extra grip.

While the same is true of nearly every model we tested, this power bank is effortless to use: A single button turns it on and off (it also powers down automatically when not connected to anything), and four small LEDs indicate how much battery life remains.

It’s sturdily built. The Belkin has a rugged build quality, and the attached cables slide seamlessly in and out of their holsters without showing signs of straining or tearing.

Belkin offers a long warranty and good customer support. Belkin’s two-year warranty gives you more than enough time to use the power bank and ensure it’s in working order. We’ve found the company’s customer support to be responsive, too.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

• At the time of this writing, the Boost Charge Plus 10K costs $55, which is on the pricier side. But it’s worth spending more for its long battery life—if your power bank dies before you can find an outlet to recharge it, it’s failing at its main job—and its easily packable size.
• This model doesn’t come with a wall charger, or any other accessories. But since most people already have a compatible wall charger (or several) at home, and they’re fairly inexpensive, we don’t think it’s a major issue. (Plus, it helps reduce e-waste.)

Long-term testing notes

• I’ve used the Boost Charge Plus 10K on a near-daily basis for the past two years, and it looks as good as the day I got it. The cables still slide in and out of their holsters with ease, and it quickly charges my devices (usually an iPhone 15 Pro and/or AirPods Pro).
• I wrote a separate piece on why I always pack this Belkin power bank, including tips on how to make it (or any power bank) last as long as possible.

Also great

TravelCard Plus

A boost of power in an ultra-thin package

This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.

Buying Options

$39 from TravelCard

If you want an ultra-compact power bank that can fit in a small crossbody bag or clutch, the TravelCard Plus is your best bet.

It doesn’t have enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones, but it’s one of the lightest models we’ve tested, and like our top pick it has built-in USB-C and Lightning cables. Plus, it comes in a wider variety of colors than our other picks.

It’s powerful for its size (though it recharges at a snail’s pace). The TravelCard Plus isn’t quite as powerful as our top pick, but it still has plenty of juice to charge most devices (or recharge itself) at a steady clip.

This model lacks passthrough charging, but the built-in USB-C cable can pass up to 15 W to connected devices, and the built-in Lightning cable can pass up to 10 W.

We measured up to 7 W while recharging the power bank from either its USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable. That’s pretty sluggish compared to our top pick (although, since the capacity is so much lower, it still only takes about an hour to fully recharge).

It’ll keep your phone from dying (but might not fully charge it). With a rated capacity of 3,000 mAh, the TravelCard Plus is well within our desired range for battery life. Although it doesn’t have quite enough capacity to bring most smartphones from 0% to 100% charged, it can easily top off or revive a dying device.

It’s super lightweight. Weighing just 2.7 ounces—roughly akin to five sheets of notebook paper—the TravelCard Plus is one of the lightest power banks we’ve tested.

It’s sleek yet sturdy. The TravelCard Plus is a tad bigger than a typical credit card (3.6 inches by 2.4 inches), and about as thick as four credit cards stacked (0.3 inch). Not only is it slimmer than most power banks we’ve tested, but it’s sturdily built and has a sleek look with rounded edges and a polished-metal finish. The built-in cables are dainty, but they showed no signs of tearing in our testing, and they slide smoothly in and out of their holsters.

It’s easy to use. Like our other picks, this power bank has just one button (to turn the unit on and off) and four battery-status indicator lights.

It’s well-supported. Despite a relatively small web presence, TravelCard backs its products with a two-year warranty, and we’ve had generally good experiences with its customer support.

It’s relatively affordable. Like our top pick, the TravelCard Plus doesn’t come with a wall charger or other accessories, but it’s significantly cheaper than that model ($40 at this writing). Plus, most people likely already have a compatible charger that came with their phone or another device, and don’t need a surplus.

It comes in a wide range of colors. Most models we tested come in just one or two colors, but the TravelCard Plus has eight options: black, white, silver, gray, red, teal, blue, or indigo.

Long-term testing notes

• Wirecutter Enterprise Productivity Manager Cory Hartmann gifted TravelCard chargers to everyone in his family (including himself) a couple years ago, and he and his spouse still use theirs on a daily basis. “One thing we’ve found really helpful is keeping our TravelCard chargers in our key tray by the front door. That way, when we’re grabbing our keys on our way out, the chargers are sitting there right there in our field of view. The visual reminder to bring the chargers has worked a treat!”
• Wirecutter Associate Staff Writer Kyle Fitzgerald suggested the TravelCard Plus to his brother and sister-in-law as a gift for their 15-year-old son “whose phone battery is basically always below 20 percent.” After more than a year of daily use, the teen’s parents “are very happy with it and glad [that due to its small size] he can have it in his pocket rather than leaving it in a bookbag.”

Budget pick

Scosche GoBat 10K

Plenty of power, but no built-in cables

This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.

Buying Options

$50 from Amazon

$55 from Scosche

If funds are limited, and you can stand to carry a separate charging cable or two, the Scosche GoBat 10K is a less-expensive alternative to our top pick.

It’s comparable in terms of power, capacity, and build quality. And while it’s chunkier in shape, and lacks built-in cables, it’s also a bit smaller and lighter.

It’s supremely powerful. This power bank edged out the rest of the bunch in terms of input, and it was also one of the best performers when it came to output. We measured up to 25 W flowing into its USB-C PD port, up to 20 watts out of its USB-C PD port, and up to 17 watts from its USB-A port.

It has great battery life. Just like our top pick, the Scosche has a rated capacity of 10,000 mAh, so you can fully charge a phone up to three times.

It weighs less than a roll of quarters. At just 6.4 ounces, the Scosche is a couple ounces lighter than our top pick, though still not as light as the TravelCard Plus.

It’s sturdily built. Encased in a hard plastic shell, the Scosche is relatively rugged, and it has a sturdy build quality.

It’s comfortable to hold (and easy on the eyes). This power bank’s blocky shape makes it a bit tougher to slip into small pockets or purses, but it’s still quite compact, and its rounded edges feel comfortable in the hand.

The power bank has a sophisticated look overall, though it only comes in black (we’d also prefer the company’s logo on top of the unit to be a bit subtler, but it’s not super splashy).

It has a great warranty. Scosche is a brand we trust, and its three-year warranty (longer than our other picks’ two-year warranties) gives you plenty of time to use your power bank and ensure it’s not a dud.

It’s relatively affordable. This model costs a bit less than our top pick, as of this writing, and it comes with a USB-C charging cable (which is handy if you don’t already have one or want a backup).

If you need maximum power and don’t mind a less-streamlined unit that costs a bit more than our picks: Get the Mophie Powerstation Plus. Offering slightly more power than any of our picks, it has a built-in USB-C PD cable (up to 30 W output), built-in Lightning output cable (up to 18 W output), and USB-C PD port (up to 20 W output and 23 W input) with passthrough charging.

Like our top pick, it has a 10,000 mAh capacity rating and weighs 8.4 ounces (just over half a pound). Also, it’s backed by a two-year warranty, and comes from a brand we trust.

Unfortunately, it only comes in black, and it’s the costliest model we tested ($80 at this writing, with no included accessories). Plus, while it has a generally good look and feel, its built-in cables are maddeningly difficult to slide in and out of their holsters. For some people, though, the extra power might make these sacrifices worthwhile.

If you want a power bank that doubles as a wall charger: Get the Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000. In addition to its handy fold-up input plug, it has a USB-C PD port and USB-A port to charge up to two devices with 20 W of combined output power. And like our top and budget picks, it has a rated capacity of 10,000 mAh.

It comes in either black or white, its plastic exterior has a pleasantly grippy texture, and convenient battery-status lights tell you when it needs to be recharged. It’s ruggedly built and backed by a brand we trust, and it has an ample 18-month warranty.

On the downside, it’s pricier than most of our picks ($55 at this writing), and you’ll need to supply your own charging cables. It’s also significantly bigger and heavier than our picks, weighing a whopping 9.6 ounces. But if you want more versatility, and can live with the extra bulk, it’s a great option.

If you want a power bank with replaceable batteries and don’t mind sacrificing some power: Get the Panasonic BQ-CC87. Powered by up to four AA or AAA rechargeable batteries, this power bank has an unusual design that allows you to reuse it indefinitely—making it more sustainable than most power banks, which become useless when the internal battery wears out.

The BQ-CC87 is fairly lightweight (around 3.1 ounces with four AA batteries inserted), and it comes in two colors (black or white). It’s made by a reputable company and backed by a two-year warranty. And costing just $21 at this writing, it’s the least expensive model we tested.

On the downside, its charging ports are less powerful than those of other models we tested (we measured just 5 W flowing into its Micro-USB port and out of its USB-A port), and it has only about 2,550 mAh of battery life (with four AA batteries inserted) to top off a phone or other small device.

Lastly, this unit has a blockier shape than most models we tested, and the plastic cover is relatively flimsy (we strongly recommend stowing it in a pocket or bag organizer to keep the batteries from popping out of their slots in transit). But if you’re someone who already uses rechargeable AA and/or AAA batteries, this could be a versatile addition to your charging setup.

We’re currently in the process of testing several new models, including the following:

• Anker 733 Power Bank (A1651)
• Anker MagGo Power Bank (A1657)
• Anker Nano Power Bank (A1259)
• Anker Power Bank Fusion (A1636)
• Anker Prime Power Bank (A1339)
• Clutch Pro Lightning
• Clutch Pro USB-C
• Elecom Nestout 10,000 mAh Outdoor Battery
• Journey Axie Portable Fast Charger
• Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3 Ultra-Slim USB-C Power Bank

This is not a comprehensive list of every power bank we’ve tested. We’ve removed models that no longer meet our requirements or are discontinued.

The Anker Nano Power Bank with Built-in USB-C Connector is pleasantly diminutive (weighing just 3.5 ounces), it comes in a multitude of colors (light blue, light green, light purple, black, and white), and its built-in USB-C plug lets you use it without a charging cable. However, we kind of hated using this power bank. Instead of sitting flush on the bottom of your phone, there’s about a quarter-inch gap between your phone and the power bank when connected, which makes it tough to hold your phone naturally. Plus, it has half the battery life of most of our picks, and no additional charging ports.

The Anker PowerCore Fusion 5000 is our former pick for people who want a power bank that doubles as a wall charger. It has a handy fold-up plug, and a pocketable size and shape. However, its charging ports (two USB-A output ports and a Micro-USB input port) are much less powerful than those on our top and budget picks, and it has half their rated capacity (5,000 mAh).

The Clutch Max has as much battery life as any of our picks, and it includes both USB-C and Lightning built-in cables. However, it costs more ($70 at this writing) and has an impractical shape (measuring 6.5 inches by 4 inches, it won’t easily fit in most pants pockets).

The Mophie Powerstation Hub is a power bank that can also be used as either a wall charger or wireless charging pad. However, its rated capacity (6,000 mAh) is significantly lower than that of our top pick, and its angular shape makes it less comfortable to hold or slip into a pocket.

The Mophie Powerstation PD is super lightweight, weighing just 5.2 ounces, and has a pleasantly pocketable shape and grippy texture. However, it offers significantly less capacity (6,700 mAh) than our top pick, and lacks built-in cables.

The Mophie Powerstation Plus (USB-C) and Mophie Powerstation Plus Mini (USB-C) are sleek-looking and lightweight. But they have less capacity than our top pick, and the built-in USB-C cable on both models is especially tricky to get back into its slot, which we think would drive most people up the wall.

The RAVPower 10000mAh Power Bank (RP-PB186) is on a par with our budget pick in terms of its capacity (10,000 mAh) and charging options (one USB-C PD port and one USB-A port), but it has rough ridges at each of its seams that make it less comfortable to hold. Plus, it’s out of stock as of this writing.

The TG90° Portable Charger 6000mAh External Battery Pack is one of the smallest and lightest power banks we’ve tested, weighing just 4.1 ounces, and its capacity rating (6,000 mAh) is higher than those of power banks we’ve tested that are twice its size. As a major added convenience, it has two built-in cables (USB-C and Lightning) that slide in and out of their holsters easily, as well as a USB-C input port. It’s also relatively sturdy and well built. Despite these attributes, however, we don’t feel comfortable recommending this model without long-term testing; aside from its Amazon storefront, the company has no web presence.

This article was edited by Ben Keough and Erica Ogg.