How we rate the Best Power Banks
Power banks are not just crucial for all the digital creatives that are always on the road, but also for regular users who are trying to get the best out of their gadgets without having to deal with low battery issues. The good news is that power banks have gone mainstream and hence we have a lot of them. These come at different battery capacity with varying capabilities ranging from recharging a cell phone to digital cameras, and even laptops. Since they are designed to serve people on the go, a majority of them are compactly made to fit in a backpack while others are lightweight enough to slide into your pocket.
Here is the thing though, when you are going for the most lightweight and compact power bank, you usually end up compromising on battery capacity. This basically means that most super compact power banks will only give you a single round of charge. This may be enough for some guys, but if you have several gadgets to take care of or you’re out hiking for a couple of days, it probably won’t cut it. In as much as portability is vital, you must also make sure that your pursuit for a lightweight power bank doesn’t lead you into one that isn’t enough for your needs.
What’s the best power bank?
The Anker PowerCore 10000mAh is the best power bank you can buy today. Anker is one of the most successful companies when it comes to the production of power banks. In fact, all the products featured in this review are from Anker. With this particular item, Anker has utilized smart technology to deliver one of the most compact 10000mAh power banks in existence. What makes it an even better choice is the presence of a VoltageBoost and PowerIQ which facilitate fast charging while remaining very safe for you and your gadgets.
Here is everything you need to know about the Anker PowerCore 10000mAh:
Anker PowerCore 10000mAh
The Anker PowerCore 10000mAh power bank comes at 2.36” by 3.62” by 0.87” weighing around 6.3 ounces. This makes it a super lightweight power bank that you can comfortably carry around with you or slide it in the back pocket of your denim or in a handbag without feeling like it weighs you down.
Let’s put the 10000mAh capacity of this power bank into perspective. When it is fully charged, the power bank can charge a Samsung Galaxy S10 2.3 times, while an iPhone XR will be charged 2.1 times. A Samsung S9 will get 2.2 charges, 2.4 charges for the iPhone X and 3.6 charges for the iPhone 8. You can also use it to charge some tablets fully. For instance, you can charge the iPad mini 2019 almost one and a half times. Simply put, you can rely on this power bank for your numerous gadgets and even share with your friends.
We must also recognize the smart PowerIQ and VoltageBoost programmed into this power bank. Even though it does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge, it still plays a vital role in reducing how long your devices will be plugged into the power bank since it promotes fast charging.
Anker doesn’t mess around when it comes to build quality. The manufacturer has utilized high-quality chips and hardware materials not just for the sake of giving the power bank a long life span but also to make it safe for the users and all gadgets it will be used in. With this power bank, short circuit or power surge issues will never bother you. That’s why all Anker power banks, including this one, are backed with an 18-month warranty and with their good customer services, you shouldn’t have any problems reaching them should anything happen.
You are advised to use the original Apple charger when charging Apple products with this power bank. Also, the Anker PowerCore 10000mAh is not compatible with devices using an input of 50mA or less.
What’s included in the box?
- 1 Anker PowerCore 10000mAh (Available in different colors)
- 1 travel pouch
- 1 Micro USB cable
- A welcome guide
Anker PowerCore 20100mAh
Coming at a very close second is the Anker PowerCore 20100mAh. It’s insane to imagine that you can fit a 20100mAh battery into a casing measuring 6.64” by 2.28” by 0.87” and the whole thing gets to weigh just about 12.6 ounces. Yes, it is not the lightest power bank you can get but then again how many other power banks out there give you a capacity of up to 20100mAh?
Do you know what you can do with 20100mAh of battery capacity? From this little beast, you can get 4.2 charges for the iPhone XR, 7 charges for the iPhone 7, 4.5 charges for the Samsung S10, 5 charges for the Samsung S6 and 2.4 charges for the iPad Mini 2019! Oh and with two USB charging ports and a massive 4.8A output, you can plug in your iPad Mini and your brand new Redmi K20 Pro simultaneously and get a full charge for each one of them and still have some juice left!
The power bank also comes with both PowerIQ and Voltage Boost. This facilitates fast charging, but you still won’t get Qualcomm Quick Charge. Charging the massive power bank can take up to 10 hours if you are using a 2Amp charger or 20 hours with a 1 Amp charger.
Being a big and costlier power bank, Anker was also keen to give the whole thing a premium touch. That’s why the power bank features a matte finishing which feels really good, offers a firmer grip and it doesn’t collect any fingerprints or smudges. Its overall construction is also certified safe thanks to a unique MultiProtect Safety System from Anker which safeguards the users and connected devices against short circuit and power surge among other issues. It’s also covered with an 18-month warranty.
For optimal use and safety, you should use the original cable for your gadgets, the cable included with this power bank or a certified one.
What’s included in the box?
- 1 PowerCore 20100 Power Bank (Available in various colors)
- 1 travel pouch
- 1 Micro USB cable
- A welcome guide
Anker PowerCore 5000mAh
If your main concern is stylish and extremely compact power bank, then the Anker PowerCore 5000mAh is your best bet. This power bank features an arc designing, which is both stylish and really compact. It can easily fit into your pocket and still leave lots of space for some of your other accessories.
Other than the change in designing and battery capacity, everything else is pretty the same as what you get from the other two Anker power banks discussed above. Talk of PowerIQ, VoltageBoost technology, and Multi Protect Safety System, it’s all included here.
But let’s talk about the 5000mAh capacity. As you can see, it’s not really as big as the other power banks discussed above. This will be an issue if you are camping, hiking, or in need of charging multiple gadgets. If you are okay with that compromise, the Anker PowerCore 5000mAh is definitely one of the best buys. It is ultra-compact, very stylish with four colors to choose from and at $18, it’s very reasonably priced.
What’s included in the box?
- 1 Anker PowerCore 5000 power bank
- 1 travel pouch
- 1 micro USB cable
- A welcome guide