Best power bank for iPhone in 2021 – CNET [CNET]

The new iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models boast some of Apple’s best battery life numbers ever. But for some of us, that’s never enough. That’s why a portable battery charger or power bank is often a more practical purchase for your iPhone than battery cases, which increase battery capacity but tend to make a phone extra-heavy and bulky to carry around.

To that end, I’ve rounded up the best portable power banks and battery chargers that will add a little extra oomph to your iPhone’s battery life. Although they cost more, I personally like batteries that have a Lightning cable built into them, so I don’t have to worry about carrying around a charging cable for fast charging when I don’t have enough power. But I’ve also included some budget picks that come with a charging cable for those who want to spend as little as possible on charging their iPhone via power pack. 

While we have a similar list of best power banks for Android phones, any portable battery pack here without an integrated Lightning cable will work perfectly well when charging an Android smartphone (or any other portable gadget), so long as you provide a compatible smartphone cable.

So which is the best portable charger for an iPhone? Which is the best portable power bank for a charge on the go? Let’s find out. We update this list of the best portable charger for iPhone options periodically, and we’ve anecdotally tested all of these models or their direct predecessors. 

Read more: Best iPhone chargers

What to look for

Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a battery pack or power bank:

• A higher power output rating (mAh, short for milliamp hours) means more charges — but also a heavier portable charger weight. 
• For the latest iPhones (everything after the iPhone 7) you should buy a battery with at least a 3,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge for a device. With the exception of the Atom XS, all of the models featured above hit that mark. 
• Multiple integrated charge cables or USB-out ports will allow you to charge more than one device at a time, such as an iPad or another iPhone.
• These best portable charger for iPhone options all use lithium-ion (li-ion) rechargeable batteries, and should thus always be stored in carry-on luggage when flying. Airlines and regulatory agencies are increasingly banning lithium-ion batteries in checked baggage.
• If you want maximum power output, opt for chargers with USB-C PD (power delivery) models, which should charge nearly every small device (smaller than a laptop), including a tablet or Nintendo Switch.

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