With a portable charger, you won’t ever have to worry about your phone, tablet, or other devices dying on you when you’re on the go. Some of these devices are small enough to fit in your pocket, but powerful enough to keep your batteries charged all day. Here is our list of the best portable chargers, from small budget versions, to fast-charging, wireless models for iPhone and Android users.
Anker PowerCore III Fusion: Best Budget Portable Charger
- Capacity: 5,000 mAh
- Output Ports: 2 USB-A
It might look like any other USB wall charger, but the Anker PowerCore III Fusion is actually a portable charger in disguise. With its 5,000 mAh (milliampere-hour) capacity, this power bank can fully charge most smartphones at least once.
When plugged into the wall, this 2-in-1 portable charger will recharge itself in about two and a half hours. Plus, you can plug your phone and another device into the two USB-A ports and charge them all at the same time. The plug also folds in, making this portable charger small enough to fit in your pocket.
iWalk Link Me 4: Best Small Portable Charger
- Battery Capacity: 4,500 mAh
- Output Ports: 1 Lighting cable or 1 USB-C cable built-in
If you’re looking for a portable charger that’s actually portable, the iWalk Link Me 4 is your best bet. Unlike other portable chargers, the iWalk attaches directly to the bottom of your smartphone, so you don’t have to worry about carrying any cables with you.
This portable charger comes with either a lightning port for iPhone users or a USB-C port for Android users built right in. And while it is small, the iWalk Link Me 4 is powerful enough to fully charge an iPhone X or a Samsung Galaxy S9 once.
Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux: Best Portable for Fast Charging
- Battery Capacity: 10,000 mAh
- Output Ports: 1 USB-C, 1 USB-A
If you’re looking for a reliable way to charge your devices fast, the Anker PowerCore Redux is one of the best options. This portable charger has enough power to charge an iPhone 11 Pro Max to 50% in 30 minutes.
With a power output of 18W (watts) via the USB-C port, this small charger delivers the maximum power for most devices, including the iPhone 11 Pro Max and the Google Pixel 4. However, there are some smartphones that require more power for fast charging, including the iPhone 12, which requires 20W for fast charging, and the Samsung Galaxy S20, which requires 25W for its Super Fast Charging.
In addition to fast charging, the Anker PowerCore Redux also has a 10,000 mAh capacity, which means it can fully charge an iPhone 11 twice or a Samsung Galaxy S20 one and a half times.
Anker Wireless PowerCore III: Best Portable Wireless Charger
- Battery Capacity: 10,000 mAh
- Output Ports: 1 USB-A, 1 USB-C, QI Wireless
If you don’t like carrying cables everywhere you go, the Anker Wireless PowerCore III is one of the best portable wireless chargers you can get. With a QI charger built into this power bank, all you have to do is place your smartphone in the center of the pad and it will start charging immediately.
With the additional Qi-certified charger, you can use this power bank to charge three devices at once. You can even charge a phone without removing its case, as long as it’s under 5mm thick. However, you will only get 10W of power when using the wireless charger.
Like the previous Anker model, the USB ports on this power bank can deliver 18W of power for fast charging. It also has a 10,000 mAh capacity to charge your devices multiple times.
Big Blue: Best Portable Solar Charger
- Capacity: None
- Output Ports: 3 USB-A
The Big Blue Solar Charger is one of the best portable chargers to have when you go camping or in case of an emergency. This is one of the only portable chargers with four solar panels, which can absorb enough energy to charge three devices at once.
With a maximum power output of 28W, you can fast charge almost any modern smartphone on a sunny day. However, this solar charger doesn’t come with a built-in battery, so you will need to use another portable charger to store any excess power.
Made with a flexible and waterproof fabric, the Big Blue was designed to be tied to backpacks, tents, and anywhere else you can think of. When folded up, this solar charger is just under a foot long, but its rectangular shape can be a little cumbersome.
Apple MagSafe Battery Pack: Best Portable Charger for iPhone 12 Users
- Battery Capacity: 1,460 mAh
- Input Ports: 1 lighting
- Output Ports:
The MagSafe Battery Pack will magnetically attach to the back of an iPhone 12 or a compatible case. Once it’s attached, the MagSafe battery pack will start charging your iPhone immediately. You don’t need to press any buttons or plug in any wires.
The biggest downside to this portable charger is that it only has a 1,460 mAh capacity, which is only enough to charge an iPhone 12 Pro Max to about 50% and an iPhone 12 mini to around 80%. Plus, the MagSafe battery pack can only output 5W of power, which means it will also take longer to charge your iPhone.
While it might not be the fastest or biggest, the MagSafe Battery Pack can communicate with your iPhone to preserve your battery life. It will also show its battery life on your screen. Plus, you can plug it in and turn it into a regular wireless charging pad that delivers 15W of power. However, you will also need to use Apple’s 20W wall charger to get the most out of this portable charger.
If your phone keeps dying, check out our guide on how to charge your iPhone faster.
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