We test power banks designed to keep even the most power-hungry smartphones kicking day and night. Our detailed test results reveal:
- approximate charge time
- approximate portable battery recharge time
- size and weight (including which models can fit in your pocket).
Our testing also shows the usable capacity of each power bank, which often varies considerably from the stated capacity.
Shopping links on the CHOICE website
CHOICE is an independent, nonprofit organisation dedicated to helping consumers. Clicking a link will take you to a retailer’s website to shop. While we make money if you buy through some retailer links, this doesn’t influence any of our rankings. 100% of the money we make goes straight back into our nonprofit mission. We’re currently testing this service and will consider providing more shopping links in the future. Tell us what you think.
The battery life of your smartphone is under a lot of extra strain from apps, social media, music streaming and online video. Whether it’s an iPhone or Android with a micro-USB or USB-C input, a power bank will help keep your phone charged throughout the day.
Our interactive comparison table shows the number of devices each power bank can charge simultaneously, whether they can power a laptop and Nintendo Switch, and other useful features and functions such as auto on/off settings, fast charge and USB-C output.
Note: We removed the ‘total number of charges’ element of our test as we felt it had become arbitrary with the huge range of phones on the market. You can calculate the approximate number of charges yourself by dividing the usable measured capacity (shown in the table) of the power banks you’re considering by your smartphone’s claimed battery capacity.