Checklist · 11 picks · 5 categories
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Your phone dies at the worst moment: mid-concert, mid-map, mid-group chat. A power bank in your bag fixes that, and the right size depends on what you charge.
A tiny 5,000 or 10,000mAh bank tops up a phone; a 20,000mAh one handles a whole weekend; a laptop needs a 25,000mAh bank with serious wattage. Engadget reviewed dozens of power banks, including a MagSafe pick that snaps onto your iPhone and laptop banks with built-in cables. Going off-grid? Outdoor Life reviewed power stations with real wall outlets, and OutdoorGearLab reviewed the solar panels that recharge them. Engadget's power bank picks are all small enough for your carry-on; power stations stay on the ground. Each card shows the drawback its outlet called out.
Who this is not for. Skip this if you're prepping for a blackout at home; the Power Outage list adds flashlights, lanterns, a weather radio and other backup basics.
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Estimates based on typical prices, checked Oct 31, 2026. Prices change; see the store for today's price.
| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 10K Fusion | budget | $25-50 | carrying one thing instead of three | 1 outlet |
| Anker Nano Battery (Foldable USB-C) | budget | $15-25 | a tiny top-up for your phone or earbuds | 1 outlet |
| Belkin BoostCharge 20K with Integrated Cable | mid | $50-100 | a whole weekend of phone charges | 1 outlet |
Best power bankbudget pick · 10,000mAh
Best for carrying one thing instead of three
Engadget's best low-capacity power bank: a built-in USB-C cable and fold-out wall prongs, so it doubles as its own charger.
Heads up. iPhone charging is slower than other banks in its range
1 outlet. Engadget best low-capacity power bank.
$25-50
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budget pick · 5,000mAh
Best for a tiny top-up for your phone or earbuds
Engadget's best portable charger for Android: lipstick-size, with a fold-down USB-C connector so you never need to remember a cable.
Heads up. Small enough to get misplaced
1 outlet. Engadget best portable charger for Android.
$15-25
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mid pick · 20,000mAh
Best for a whole weekend of phone charges
Engadget's best medium capacity power bank: about three phone charges, a magnetized built-in USB-C cable and colors beyond black.
Heads up. Charge isn't as fast as other banks
1 outlet. Engadget best medium capacity power bank.
$50-100
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Best magsafe power bankmid pick · 10,000mAh
Best for charging while you scroll, no cable
Engadget's best MagSafe power bank: the most well-rounded one it has reviewed, with fast Qi2 charging, a kickstand and a battery display.
Heads up. More expensive than other MagSafe packs
1 outlet. Engadget best MagSafe power bank.
$50-100
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| Pick | Tier | Price | Best for | Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Laptop Power Bank with Built-In Cable | mid | $100-150 | keeping a laptop alive on a long travel day | 1 outlet |
| BioLite Charge 100 Max | splurge | $150-200 | charging a phone, tablet and laptop at once | 1 outlet |
| Anker Prime Power Bank (26K, 300W) | splurge | $200-300 | charging a laptop and phones at once | 2 outlets agree |
Best laptop power bankmid pick · 25,000mAh
Best for keeping a laptop alive on a long travel day
Engadget's best laptop power bank: two built-in USB-C cables, including a retractable one, so you're never left without a cord.
Heads up. Screen picks up smudges easily
1 outlet. Engadget best laptop power bank.
$100-150
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splurge pick · 25,000mAh
Best for charging a phone, tablet and laptop at once
Engadget's best multi-device power bank: four USB ports plus a MagSafe-compatible wireless pad, in a compact, rounded shape that packs well.
Heads up. More expensive than similar-capacity batteries
1 outlet. Engadget best multi-device power bank.
$150-200
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splurge pick · Compact
Best for charging a laptop and phones at once
Engadget's best premium power bank: super fast speeds and a big capacity, and it put more charge into a MacBook Pro than any other battery Engadget reviewed.
Heads up. Pricey, especially with the optional charging base
2 outlets agree. Engadget best premium power bank. Popular Science best overall power bank.
$200-300
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Best power stationmid pick · Large
Best for backup power on a budget
A big battery with wall outlets for lamps, a router or a small fridge. Outdoor Life's best value power station: strong output for the price.
Heads up. Less efficient, and it loses a lot of power with the AC port on
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best value power station.
$500+
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splurge pick · Large
Best for whole-house essentials during long outages
Outdoor Life's best overall power station: strong in every test, fairly light and easy to use.
Heads up. Not water resistant
1 outlet. Outdoor Life best overall power station.
$500+
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Best solar panelbudget pick · 100W, 4.1 lb
Best for topping up a power bank at camp
OutdoorGearLab's Best Buy for portability: a 100-watt panel that folds down to the size of a coffee-table book and goes anywhere you carry it.
Heads up. 100 watts isn't as fast at charging, and it's hard to set up at an angle
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab best Buy solar panel for portability.
$100-150
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splurge pick · 200W, 14.8 lb
Best for recharging a power station off-grid
OutdoorGearLab's Editors' Choice portable solar panel: affordable and efficient, which makes it a great option for most people.
Heads up. Slightly heavy for a suitcase design, and the Velcro legs are trickier to adjust
1 outlet. OutdoorGearLab editors' Choice portable solar panel.
$300-500
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means three independent outlets recommend a pick, means one, and limited evidence means none has yet. I research these picks. I have not tested them myself. How I pick · Broken link, wrong price range or an outdated pick? Tell me
For a phone top-up, 5,000 to 10,000mAh. Engadget found a 10,000mAh bank delivers roughly 5,800mAh to a device, so a 20,000mAh bank like the Belkin BoostCharge 20K gives about three phone charges. For a laptop, look for 25,000mAh and a high-wattage USB-C port.
Engadget notes the TSA allows batteries of 100Wh or less, which covers all its picks, but only in your carry-on, never checked. Power stations are a different category and can't go on planes.
A power bank charges phones, tablets and laptops over USB. A power station is a much bigger battery with wall outlets for things like lamps, a router or a mini fridge. Outdoor Life's best value pick is the Oupes Mega 1, and a solar panel lets you recharge it off-grid.