Update Best Type Of Power Bank Review – We independently review everything we recommend. When you purchase through our links, we may earn a commission. Read more>
Three of our picks were dropped, so we’ve added models we plan to test this spring to What to Expect. Until then, our top picks and other good power banks are still going strong.
Update Best Type Of Power Bank Review
Whether you’re a screen-obsessed smartphone owner who can never make it through a full day on a full charge, or just need the occasional battery charge, USB power banks are a panacea for low-battery woes. After 21 hours of research and 55 hours of testing, we found the Zendure SuperMini 20W to be the best power bank for charging a phone, tablet or other small handheld device. It’s an all-around good portable charger that can give you peace of mind when outlets are out of reach.
Best Portable Chargers In 2023
It’s the smallest and lightest 10,000 mAh power bank we’ve tested. It has USB-C PD and USB-A ports, comes in multiple colors, and its rounded edges make it easy to fit in your pocket.
The Zendure SuperMini 20W is about as small and light as a power bank can be, while offering enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times. Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices (and charge the power bank itself) at top speed with the included USB-C cable and compatible wall charger (the one that came with your phone will work). The USB-A port can work with any older non-USB-C device you may have. The SuperMini’s rounded edges make it easy to grab and pocket, and unlike most power banks, it comes in a variety of colors: red, green, black, silver, blue and pink.
As the author of this guide, I spent 21 hours researching and 55 hours testing USB power banks and portable chargers. I’ve been a science journalist for nearly a decade, covering a variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since I started Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on surge protectors, USB-C cables and adapters, portable power packs, and more.
Most people can use a USB power bank (also called an external battery pack, spare battery or portable charger) to charge phones and other devices on the go. The question is which one suits your habits best? Some may just need a small battery to give their phone a boost at the end of the day, while those who travel a lot may want to power multiple devices for days. Instead of always having to look for a wall outlet wherever you go, owning a USB power bank allows you to enjoy convenient portable (albeit limited) power.
The Best Power Banks For Samsung Devices If You Want A Quick Charge
Even if you’re blessed with tons of charging options in your everyday life—perhaps you spend most of your day at home, in the office, or in your car—you can probably still use a portable power bank. Something the size of a wallet is good to always have on hand for those unexpected (but critical) times when your phone dies and there are no contacts nearby. But if you want something for weekend trips or regular commuting, slightly larger power banks can still easily fit in laptop bags, purses or large pockets, and offer two or more full charges for most smartphones. These power banks are rugged yet portable, so you can also charge devices like wireless headphones, computer mice, keyboards, vaporizers, digital cameras and more.
Most people could use a USB power bank. The question is which one suits your habits best?
When traveling in an unfamiliar place – and trusting your phone to guide you and possibly call for help – a power bank offers extra peace of mind. Strategically placing a few of these around the house isn’t a bad idea either: you can have one in your foyer to grab on your way out the door, or one near the couch when you’re huddled under a blanket and really, really don’t want get up to turn on my phone.
Due to the unfortunate fact that battery technology can’t keep up with the computing power of modern devices, USB power banks have become an increasingly popular way to help phones and tablets get through the day. With tons of makes and models to choose from, we’ve checked major retailers like Amazon, Home Depot, and Target, as well as trusted editorial sources like CNET, PCMag, PCWorld, and TechRadar, to find the best-known manufacturers of widely available USB -power banks. From there, we built a list of contenders based on the following characteristics:
Stuffcool Wireless Powerbank Pb9036w Review: Extremely Convenient
The Zendure SuperMini 20W is the complete package when it comes to charging a smartphone or other small electronic device on the go. It’s compact and light – about the size of a deck of cards and as heavy as the iPhone 13 – but its capacity is as high as any we’ve tested. If you want a power bank that you can easily slip into your pocket or bag on the way out the door, but still packs enough power to charge most smartphones up to three times, this is the one for you.
The Zendure has a port at each end: a USB-C PD port on one side that works for both output and input (meaning that’s how you charge the power bank itself), and a standard output-only USB-A port on the other one . In our tests, we measured a maximum power of 18.6 watts and a maximum power of 19.3 watts from the USB-C port and a maximum power of 16.6 watts from the USB-A port. Although these numbers are slightly lower than the rated output power of 20W, the SuperMini is still powerful enough to charge most devices at full speed from each port, or to charge two devices simultaneously at slightly slower speeds. With a capacity of 10,000 mAh, you can fully charge your phone up to three times (or make friends instantly by charging strangers’ phones too – the digital age “cigarette prank”).
The Zendure SuperMini 20W has a USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port to quickly charge your devices and recharge the power bank itself, as well as a standard USB-A charging port. Photo: Sarah Kobos
The exterior of the Zendure is a hard, glossy plastic shell that is relatively resistant to scratches and scuffs. It comes in a variety of colors (red, green, black, silver, blue and pink) and measures just 3.1 x 2.2 x 1 inches to fit in the palm of your hand. It weighs 6.4 ounces – about the size of a hockey puck, which is lighter than any other 10,000mAh power bank we’ve tested.
The Best Portable Chargers And Power Banks In 2023
The SuperMini is backed by Zendure’s two-year warranty – longer than any model we’ve tested – which should give you plenty of time to test it out and make sure there’s nothing wrong with it. We’ve also had a good experience with Zendure’s customer support over the more than five years we’ve been reviewing its products.
A major disadvantage of the SuperMini is the lack of built-in cables. We’d rather have built-in cables to charge our devices than ship and transport our own—they take up extra space, get tangled, and get lost easily. And unlike our other models, which can be charged via built-in cables or plugs, the SuperMini requires a separate cable (one included in the box) to charge. But we think the fact that it packs so much power into a small package outweighs the small burden of having to pack a separate charging cable or two. It also means the SuperMini can charge a wider range of devices, especially older ones that don’t use the latest connectors.
We don’t like the raised edges on the SuperMini’s main surfaces, which make it look like a small hard-shell suitcase, but that’s a cosmetic point. In addition, these shocks make it easy to recognize the power bank by, among other things, feeling the contents of the bag or purse. They also provide a little extra grip compared to other models we’ve tested that have a completely smooth exterior.
If the Zendure SuperMini 20W is not available and you want the next best thing in terms of capacity and portability: Get either the Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux or the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 PD (depending on price and which shape and color you prefer). Both models are rated for the same capacity as the SuperMini (10,000 mAh) and are roughly the same pocket size, though always slightly larger. While the SuperMini weighs 6.4 ounces, the Redux weighs 6.8 ounces and the Slim weighs 7.4 ounces. Like the SuperMini, both models have a USB-C PD port that can charge a smartphone or other handheld device (and charge themselves) at maximum speed, as well as a USB-A output.
The Best Power Banks Of 2023 (review)
If you prefer a padded exterior to the hard plastic casings of our models and don’t mind sacrificing a little power: get the ZMI PowerPack 10K USB-C Power Bank (QB910). Just like the three chargers mentioned above, the ZMI 10 has,
Usb type c power bank, type of bank risk, best type of power bank, which type of power bank is best, type c power bank, anker power bank type c, best type c power bank, type of bank, type c output power bank, type of commercial bank, type s power bank, best power bank battery type
