We've researched over 100 of the top portable chargers you can buy, then bought 11 of the best models currently available to figure out which rules the roost. We rigorously tested these products head-to-head, even going so far as to use a digital multimeter and a simulated resistive mode to measure their capacity. We also evaluated and ranked how portable these products are and their overall convenience and ease of use. Check out the full review to find out which battery bested them all, which charger is the most compact, and which is the best for high-power devices.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on December 22, 2022, to include the results from our testing of several new and updated models from Belkin, Miisso, Clutch, TG90, and Zendure.
Capacity: 10,000 mAh | Maximum Discharge Rate: 3 A
REASONS TO BUY
Very portable
Can charge three devices at once
USB-C input/output
REASONS TO AVOID
No built-in cables or plugs
Need a portable charger with enough juice to handle multiple full charges for your smartphone? Check out the INIU Portable Charger 10000. This larger battery has three output ports, allowing you to recharge multiple devices at once. It has good capacity and is highly portable — we carried it in both front and back pockets without issue. This charger even has an integrated flashlight.
The INIU doesn't include integrated cables or a plug for recharging; you'll have to supply your own. However, if you need a reliable battery bank with a bit more capacity, we think the INIU is one of the better options.
Capacity: 10,000 mAh | Maximum Discharge Rate: 2.4 A
REASONS TO BUY
Great bargain
Can charge two devices at once
Good capacity
REASONS TO AVOID
Slow to recharge
No built-in cables or plugs
If you're on a tight budget and hoping to get the most battery for your buck, check out the 2-Pack Miady 10000. This bargain dual pack of 10,000 mAh batteries usually costs as much as a single one of its competitors and offers solid performance. Each battery can charge up to two things at once, and you have the option of using a micro USB or a USB-C cable to recharge the Miady once it's depleted. It has a decent output rate for fast charging most devices and is small and slim enough to be convenient to carry.
However, these batteries are pretty minimalistic. They don't have any built-in cables for charging different devices, and you will need to provide your USB power adapter to recharge them, as they don't have an integrated wall plug. Speaking of recharging, we also found that these batteries can take a long time to recharge — just shy of 7 hours! Despite that, we think it's hard to argue with the value of the Miady and we recommend it to anyone hoping to stretch their budget.
Capacity: 6,000 mAh | Maximum Discharge Rate: 2.1 A
REASONS TO BUY
Integrated cables (lightning and USB-C)
Small and lightweight
Quick to recharge
REASONS TO AVOID
Cables are short
Smaller capacity means fewer charges
Looking for a charger that intersects lightweight portability with charging convenience, and has a reasonable capacity? The Miisso 6000mAh Ultra Slim just might be for you. This small, thin charger weighs just 4.0 ounces and includes two integrated cables to let you charge your USB-C and lightning devices. An additional UBS-A port on the top lets you simultaneously charge a third gadget. It has enough power to get most users through a full day of using all your handheld devices and recharges very quickly.
It doesn't quite put out enough power to charge tablets though if that's one of your charging needs. The Miisso integrated cables are also quite short — though we never had an issue keeping it right next to our phones or Kindles while charging. And though its 6000 mAh capacity is fairly reasonable for its size, it's not quite the level of power we'd like for multiple days without access to electricity. Still, for an easy option that's convenient to travel with pretty much anywhere, the Miisso Ultra Slim is a great option.
Capacity: 3,000 mAh | Maximum Discharge Rate: 2.1 A
REASONS TO BUY
Exceptionally thin
Lightweight and small
Integrated cable (you choose; lighting or USB-C)
REASONS TO AVOID
Inconsistent efficiency performance
Limited capacity
No way to plug in your own cord
If all you need is a little extra power to make it through a long day on your phone, the Clutch V2 has got you covered. It's extremely small, thin, and lightweight. Its dimensions are less than half an inch longer and wider than a credit card, and with the same thickness as about 4 or 5 credit cards, it's easy to keep it in your wallet alongside your other essentials. You choose which cable you'd like — a lightning cord or USB-C cable — making it easy to keep it always ready and waiting just in case your phone battery dies before you can make it home.
With all these specific features, the Clutch is less versatile than most other portable chargers. There's no way to add any other cables than the one it comes with. We also found its efficiency to be rather inconsistent between tests. But regardless, it doesn't have the capacity to fully charge a dead smartphone. But if you just need enough juice to make a phone call or summon an Uber to get you back home to your regular charger, this is a great and easy unit to have on you for those types of emergencies.
Capacity: 26,800 mAh | Maximum Discharge Rate: 3.4 A shared among two USB-B, 3 A for USB-C PD port
REASONS TO BUY
Great for high-power devices
Recharges exceptionally fast
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
Expenisve
Anker now only sells the PowerCore+ PD as part of a bundle, which includes a USB-C to C cable and a wall charger. We're linking to the bundle in our review.
If none of the previous portable batteries can fulfill your device's power needs, then you should check out the Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD. This beast of a battery can supply enough current to capably charge some of the most power-hungry devices, such as newer MacBooks, laptops, or gaming systems — like a Nintendo Switch. It uses the more modern Power Delivery standard with USB-C connectors, letting you charge compatible devices at their absolute fastest rate. It has plenty of juice to fully charge most newer smartphones five times or more, and it recharges itself quite fast with the included fast-charging wall adapter — a rarity for larger battery packs.
The Anker PowerCore+ is one of the largest and heaviest portable batteries we've tested. It's cumbersome to carry around in a pocket, cutting down on its convenience quite a bit. However, just toss it in your backpack with your laptop, and you're in business. As you might guess, this product is also a bit more expensive than some smaller models. Regardless, we readily recommend this battery module to anyone that needs to charge their phone a handful of times or needs a battery that can handle the higher power draws of larger devices.
Some of the different options of highly portable chargers available today.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Why You Should Trust Us
We've tested nearly 30 portable chargers over the past five years, subjecting each to a battery of rigorous, intensive, and repeated testing. We weigh and measure every model, testing its comfort in our pockets and convenience in backpacks, clutches, and carry-on luggage. We measured their capacity and battery efficiency using various smartphones and dummy resister loads. We scrutinized their extra features, usability, and versatility. And we recharged and drained them over and over again, measuring how long it takes to do so.
Our portable charger testing is divided across four different metrics:
Portability (40% of overall score weighting)
Charging Efficiency (30% weighting)
Added Convenience (20% weighting)
Recharge Time (10% weighting)
This review involves testing, expertise, and input from several of GearLab's top Review Editors and Testing Directors. Maggie Nichols, Austin Palmer, and David Wise have put their heads together to test and examine this lineup of portable chargers. Maggie's scientific background helps her design and carry out rigorous product testing of a plethora of home goods, electronics, and outdoor equipment for GearLab. Austin and David have extensively tested and compared hundreds of consumer products for several years. David's formal training as a mechanical engineer, with a particular focus on electronics and electromechanical systems, sets him up perfectly to design the tests used to compare these portable chargers. We consulted with additional mechanical and electrical engineers as well as avid travelers and friends and family to design this battery of rigorous testing to encompass all the aspects of what makes a portable charger worth owning.
The Tzumi was a bit of a disappointment in our discharge tests.
This charger has a single USB output port and a microUSB or USB-C port for recharging.
The Zendure supports quick charging.
We've spent years testing the best and newest portable chargers to bring you the top contenders.
Analysis and Test Results
In our quest to find the best portable charger, we conducted extensive research and picked out the most promising portable power packs on the market. We then purchased them to undergo head-to-head tests here in our lab. We divided our testing procedure into four weighted performance metrics: Portability, Added Convenience, Capacity, and Recharge Time.
Value
We think the Miady 2-Pack easily offers the most bang for the buck for those shopping on a tight budget. You get the cost savings of multiple batteries, with the price of this pack being far less than some of the single batteries. The TG90 10000mAh Power Bank is another high value option. It comes with all three types of integrated plugs as well as a USB-A port to charge a ton of devices simultaneously without the added expense and hassle of carrying all those cords.
A portable charger is a great way to ensure you never get caught with a dead phone.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Portability
Although none of these batteries are too large to be carried around, some are more conducive to traveling than others. Many can easily fit in a pocket, while others are more suitable to carry around in a tote, backpack, or laptop case. We looked at each charger's dimensions, weight, and how easily it fits into a pants pocket, purse, backpack, and other bags to calculate their scores. We also considered other aspects of portability — like if you have to keep a cord on hand along with the charger.
It's easy to see why the Clutch V2 is an obvious choice for portability. It weighs only 2.3 ounces, and its credit card-like shape allows you to carry it in a wallet — a unique and rather unusual trait for these products. It is also virtually unnoticeable in a pocket, so easily forgotten that we worry some people might put it through the washing machine by mistake. It includes a single integrated cable as well, so you don't have to worry about packing that with you.
The Clutch is an amazingly compact charger with just enough juice to get you home.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Miisso Ultra Slim is the next smallest and lightest model we tested. Though it may seem significantly larger than the Clutch, we actually find the Miisso overall more versatile and therefore more worthwhile to carry for a greater variety of reasons. Rather than forcing you to choose between a lightning or USB-C charging cable (like the Clutch), the Miisso offers both. It also has a USB-A port on top for additional options, though bringing along an extra cable isn't very portability-friendly. Still, for this greatly enhanced versatility, the Miisso wins our vote for the most portable charger around.
The Miisso is quite compact and has plenty of charging options to keep you going.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Following that, we think the INIU Portable Charger 10000 is easily the next most portable. This charger is very lightweight and has a slim profile, making it easy to carry around in a pocket without becoming uncomfortable. The Anker PowerCore 10000, the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000, and the 2-Pack Miady are also very portable options. We looked at a single one of the Miady 2-Pack chargers for this metric. None of these three chargers are too heavy, weighing between 5.5 and 7.5 ounces. They are all easy enough to carry around in your pocket, with the Miady 10000 having a slight edge over the two by being just a bit slimmer.
The INIU is a pretty portable size with a slim design that makes it easy to carry.
Credit: Jason Peters
The TG90 10000mAh Power Bank is another quite portable model. It's roughly the same dimensions and weight as the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 (the TG90 is slightly smaller and lighter, but barely), but also includes 2 integrated cables with 3 possible charging options: lightning, USB-C, and micro USB. By cutting down on additional items to carry, the TG90 makes itself quite portable. The Zendure Power Bank 10000mAh is another quite portable option. It's much smaller in length and width than the vast majority of models we tested, though it's also much thicker. While this rules it out as a comfortable pants pocket option, it's still a very compact size that we love tossing in a backpack or purse. Plus, in a bright color like red (it also comes in several other bright colors like blue and silver), it's easier to locate in your bag, further contributing to its overall portability.
The TG90 is slightly smaller than this iPhone 12 Pro Max but has all its cables integrated, making it even easier to take with you.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
Charging Efficiency
We evaluated each model based on its power output at its maximum discharge rate relative to its rated capacity. We also verified how well various manufacturers' claims stood up to actual testing, such as charging a specific phone a certain number of times. We used a dummy resistive load set to draw power at the maximum rate from each battery pack and a digital multimeter to measure how much electricity each pack put out. We discovered that no battery pack even came close to its listed capacity.
The Belkin Boost Charger Power Bank 10K proved to have the highest efficiency of any model we tested, at 67% efficiency. The next most efficient model in our lineup was the Clutch V2, though it proved inconsistent between our testing measuring dummy loads and charging phones. The dummy load pulled just 57% efficiency while charging phones pulled an impressive 71% efficiency. However, with such a small capacity (just 3000 mAh), such a large variation in results is even more alarming to us.
The Belkin Boost is one of the most power efficient portable chargers we tested.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD came up with a respectable 62% charging efficiency during our testing, slightly exceeding its marketing claims. The INIU 10000 and Zendure Power Bank weren't far behind, both achieving 61% efficiency and matching their manufacturers' claims. The Miady and Anker PowerCore Slim 1000 were just a few marks behind that, reaching 59% efficiency.
The Miady did alright in our capacity test with a resistive load.
Credit: David Wise
Added Convenience
To evaluate convenience, we considered additional features, functions, and extras that make any of them easier to use or stand out in any way. We took into account very handy features like integrated cables and wall chargers, the ability to charge multiple devices at the same time, and the ability to quick charge devices. We also checked to see which models are capable of charging tablets, if they have battery indicators, and even above-and-beyond extras like built-in flashlights.
The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD lacks any integrated features, but it can charge multiple devices simultaneously and has the standard battery level indicator. It earns additional points for having USB Power Delivery capabilities, which means that it can function as an all-in-one charging solution for devices as more new products adopt this standard. It can charge large devices that other batteries can't, like a Nintendo Switch or a new MacBook computer.
The PowerCore+ 26800 PD will charge a Nintendo Switch while you are playing.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
When it comes to integrated cables, there are several options to choose from. If you need to charge devices that use pretty much every type of plug, the TG90 10000 is your best bet. It has two built-in cables — one lightning cable and one dual-headed cable with USB-C and micro USB plugs. It also has a USB-A output on the top that you can plug an additional cable into, allowing you to charge three devices simultaneously. The Miisso Ultra Slim is quite similar. It has two integrated cables — one lightning and on USB-C — as well as a USB-A port that also allows you to charge up to three gadgets at the same time. The Clutch V2 also comes with a single integrated cable: either a lightning cable or a USB-C cable (you choose which model you prefer). However, it lacks any additional ports to use your own cable or charge more than one device at a time.
The TG90 includes all three main types of charging cables (as well as a USB-A port) so you don't have to worry about bringing anything extra with you, no matter what types of devices you use.
Credit: Maggie Nichols
The INIU 10000 has an integrated flashlight and can charge multiple devices simultaneously. However, it doesn't have an integrated charging cable or wall plug. The Aibocn Power Bank 10000 also has an integrated flashlight. The Zendure doesn't have any visible extra features but its input port (USB-C) can also be an output port, which is convenient. All the models we tested have battery indicators to let you visibly keep tabs on how much juice they have left.
The Miady lets you charge two devices simultaneously.
Credit: David Wise
Recharge Time
Last but not least, we timed how long it took for each completely dead unit to fully recharge, using their LED indicator lights as a gauge. We used either the included charging cable with a standard 2.1 A USB wall adapter or the integrated charging plug (if one was built in) to power each power pack if the charger had one.
Two products came with or required a fast charging option. The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD and the Zendure Power Bank. The PowerCore+ took just 250 minutes to charge with its included fast charger (just under the average amount of time for this lineup, of 265 minutes). The Zendure didn't include a power block but comes with a USB-C to USB-C charging cable that we plugged into our available USB-C wall charging block, which outputs 3 A (a standard block outputs 2.1 A).
The PowerCore+ 26800 PD has a super charger for a quick recharge time.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
The Miisso Ultra Slim took just 165 minutes to recharge, coming in 100 minutes under the average for this group. While a slightly shorter recharge time can be expected with its smaller capacity of just 6000 mAh, it's even faster than can be accounted for just from the lower capacity alone. Additionally, it has both a micro USB input (which is the cord it comes with) as well as a USB-C input, which allows you to connect it to a quick charging block and power it up even faster. The Anker PowerCore 10000 and the Aibocn Power Bank 10000 both took 240 minutes to recharge, coming in under average for our lineup; a solid showing for their capacities.
The Aibocn battery fully recharged in about 240 minutes.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Shockingly, the Clutch V2, despite its tiny capacity of just 3000 mAh took 293 minutes to fully charge, which is well over the average amount of time, while giving under a third of the power. The 2-Pack Miady also took a very long time to recharge — a full 405 minutes, or nearly 7 hours! However, if you're diligent with your charging schedule, none of the units we tested would take longer than that, making them all doable for an overnight recharge.
Never let your phone, smartwatch, or any other USB-charged devices go dead again, with the perfect portable charger.
Credit: Laura Casner
Conclusion
Hopefully, this review has given you a better understanding of what to look for in a portable charger and has helped you narrow down your options to pick the perfect model for your needs and budget. Whether you are looking for the lightest possible portable battery, the one with the most capacity of them all, or something in between, our lineup has the ideal option for you.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
