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Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks to Buy for Android in 2024 [CNET]
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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews
Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e-books and audiobooks.
Expertise Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e-readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers Credentials
- Maggie Award for Best Regularly Featured Web Column/Consumer
CNET’s expert staff reviews and rates dozens of new products and services each month, building on more than a quarter century of expertise.
Slim high-capacity battery with USB-C fast charging
Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD
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What is the best portable charger for Android overall?
Battery life is a key factor in the usability of any device. We use our phones a lot, so keeping them charged while on the go can be challenging. You may end up with a dead phone while out hiking, spending time at the beach or hanging out at an amusement park if you’re not close to an outlet. Though many Android devices have better battery life than iPhones, they still need a little help on occasion. Luckily, we have portable chargers and power banks that can solve this issue.
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If you use a battery case to keep your phone running, you’re not alone. Battery cases are convenient, but they come with their own set of drawbacks: Some are bulky and heavy, and they can negatively affect wireless reception at times. That’s why going for a dedicated portable charger or power bank is the better option, especially one that you can store easily and take out only when you need it. With both wired and wireless models, there’s a slew of options when it comes to keeping your Android device going.
I’ve put together our top picks for the best portable charger for Android devices. Although they cost more, I like batteries that have an integrated USB-C output built into them so I don’t have to worry about carrying around a charging cable for enough power for my devices. (The models with built-in USB-C cables should also work for iPad Pro devices.) I’ve also included some budget picks for folks who don’t want to shell out as much for portable power. We have a separate power bank roundup for iPhones, but anything here without an integrated USB-C cable will work perfectly well with an iPhone (and non-Pro iPad models), so long as you provide the Lightning cable.
Read more: Best Wireless Car Chargers and Mounts for 2024
Best portable chargers and power banks for Android of 2024
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Thanks to Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, chargers have been getting more powerful while shrinking at the same time. The latest example of that trend is Anker’s new line of GaNPrime chargers with next-generation GaN 3 technology that the company says is even more energy-efficient. The Anker Power Bank 733 combines a 65W charger with a 10,000-mAh portable battery and is part of the new GaNPrime line. It’s pretty compact for what it is and offers two fast-charging USB-C ports and one fast-charging USB-A port. You can charge up to three devices at once, but note that to get a full 65W charge for a laptop, you’ll have to plug in just the laptop.
Budget
Before anything else, you’ll want to figure out how much you’re willing to spend on a portable charger or power bank. Value-priced chargers continue to improve, so you can find a decent wireless charger for less than $40. But if you’re looking for a more premium model, you’ll likely have to pay more than $50 and even more for Qi-enabled chargers.
Power capacity vs. weight
Most baseline power banks now start at a 5,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge for an Android phone. Chargers with 10,000-mAh or more are available, but they weigh more. That’s of particular note if you plan on traveling with the charger in a purse, backpack or pocket.
Wireless or corded charging?
Most Android phones since the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models introduced in 2015 offer inductive wireless charging. Android’s standard for these phones is called Qi, and power banks that are fully Qi compatible offer faster charging speeds for Android devices with speeds capped at around 7.5 watts for iPhones. In all cases, you’ll need to make sure your phone case is thin enough to allow inductive charging through the back of the phone.
At the current time, we do anecdotal testing on these models. Each is fully charged and used on a recent Android model for at least a week in real-world conditions. We verify that charging speeds and recharge times are within expected parameters and — for models with integrated stands or cables — confirm that the connections and build quality are sturdy and free of any notable annoyances or caveats.
Anker MagGo Power Bank 6.6K: The Anker MagGo Power Bank 6.6K has a 6,600-mAh battery that can fully charge most iPhones one time. It’s Qi2-certified, which means it offers 15-watt fast charging capabilities and is fully MagSafe compatible, offering twice the speed of standard 7.5-watt wireless chargers for MagSafe-enabled iPhone 13, 14 and 15 models and Android smartphones that support 15-watt wireless charging.
Anker Nano Power Bank (USB-C): This 5,000mAh power bank weighs in at 3.5 ounces, or 100 grams. It features 22.5 watts of fast charging power with the option to charge two devices at the same time if you plug a cable into the power bank’s USB-C in/out charging port. (Charging two devices simultaneously divides the charging power in half, delivering 11.25 watts to each device.)
myCharge Hub 6700: MyCharge’s Hub portable chargers come in a few different sizes and not only have an integrated foldable wall plug but also integrated Lightning and USB-C cables, so you can charge both Apple and Android devices. It’s a little bulky, but with a 6,700-mAh battery, it should be able to almost fully charge your smartphone, depending on its size. The step-up 10,050-mAh model is about $25 more.
Nimble Champ: Nimble’s updated Champ portable charger uses recycled plastic in its construction. You have to pay a bit more for going green, but it’s a nice, compact 10,000-mAh charger that features 20-watt PD fast-charging with dual USB-C ports (one on either side of the power bank) that allow you to charge two devices at the same time. If you are charging two devices, your charging speeds will be limited to 10 watts per device.
Can these Android power banks charge other devices too?
Yes, these power banks should charge any device that’s USB-powered, such as phones, headphones, ebook readers and Bluetooth speakers. Some may also charge larger devices such as tablets and the Nintendo Switch, albeit at slower speeds. You’ll stand a better chance of charging the larger devices if you get a charger with USB-C PD (Power Delivery) support. Don’t expect to charge laptops or Chromebooks without getting larger, higher-capacity power banks that are specifically designed for that purpose (with 65 watts of power output or more).
What’s the difference between USB-C and USB-A?
Power banks for Android invariably have USB inputs and outputs for charging themselves and other devices, respectively. (Some power banks have single ports that double for both.) The USB-A port is the “classic” rectangular USB port that’s been on computers since as early as the late 1990s. The newer, smaller USB-C port is reversible (there is no “top” or “bottom” to the plugs) and has the capacity to charge at higher speeds. Some power banks have integrated cables that terminate with Lightning (iPhone-specific) or USB-C cables.
What’s the difference between MagSafe and Qi?
MagSafe for iPhone — not to be confused with the identically named magnetic power connector for MacBooks — is an Apple standard that allows for inductive charging with magnetically attached batteries. Qi wireless chargers don’t necessarily have the magnetic component but also allow for inductive charging. Devices that are Qi-2 certified offer twice the speed of standard 7.5-watt wireless chargers for MagSafe-enabled iPhone 13, 14 and 15 models and Android smartphones that support 15-watt wireless charging.
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