Top 10 Best Portable Power Banks For Cell Phones in 2023

Mobility seems to be the big focus these days. We spend a lot of time with a smartphone or tablet in our hands and it seems that none of the manufacturers got the message. We need bigger batteries. A smartphone barely survives a day of regular usage. The same thing goes for tablets. we get bigger screens, more powerful hardware but the battery technology stays the same. This is why we now have the infamous power banks.

When power banks were introduced, not many people took their utility seriously. As it turns out, power banks are almost a necessary accessory. They serve a very simple purpose. Power banks can charge smartphones and tablets several times. This proves to be very useful for people traveling or any individual that simply does not have access to a wall plug to charge their phone. Most of these power banks are made with 18650 battery cells which are also used in laptop batteries. They have high capacity and they are quite safe. The capacity of these power banks can vary a bit but it is worth noting that power banks with a capacity below 5000 mAh are not very efficient and will barely charge a smartphone 2 times at best. For this reason, for our list, we only included power banks of at least 5000 mAh.

Best Portable Power Banks For Cell Phones in 2023

To keep things short let`s jump right into our list of the top 10 best portable power banks for cell phones in 2023.

10. Aibocn 10000mAh Power Bank Portable Charger

Aibocn 1000 mAh power bank is a fairly standard model. It has all the basic features one would expect and comes with a very low price tag. The device comes with two USB ports for charging. One port offers 2.1 amps while the other one has an output of 1 amp and can charge two devices at the same time. The model also has a flashlight on the back and a battery level indicator. Charging it will take several hours. The capacity of the battery makes it suitable for travelers and people that do not have access to a wall plug.

The power bank works quite well when it is fully charged. It can charge a regular smartphone about 3 times. What most users will notice that when the power bank gets to about 20%, even if the smartphone shows the charging indicator, the battery is not charging at all. This is due to the type of battery cells used for power bank.

9. Poweradd 2nd Gen 3.4A Pilot 2GS 10000mAh Power Bank

The Poweradd power bank if a cheap solution for the ones that use their smartphones a lot. It is a great power bank for travelers and users that like to game on their devices. The model has a capacity of 10000 mAh and can charge a smartphone about 3 times. Two devices can be charged at the same time as the power bank can charge at 2.4 amps depending on the smartphone. The secondary USB port can be used to charge a secondary device and has an output of 1 amp.

The manufacturers state that the device offers an output of 2.4 amps on one port. Multiple users tested this and found that the value can vary from 1.1 amps to 2 amps. The explanation to why this is happening can only be in the quality of the power cells. It seems that the manufacturers have difficulties with quality control for their product.

8. RAVPower 22000 mAh Power Bank

RAVPower 22000 mAh power bank is not a device for everyone. The model has a large capacity which also implies that it is much heavier than usual. It can be a great gadget for travelers but for someone that moves around the city or needs to charge their smartphone while riding the subway, the model might seem a bit large. It uses high quality battery cells that are guaranteed to last at least 500 cycles which is a lot based on how many charges a single cycle offers.

Since mobility is the key here, the RAVPower power bank is anything but portable. It may be fine if it is carried in backpack but it is a heavy device. Carrying in a small bag is simply not worth it. The power bank is also quite large. There are models with the same capacity and a smaller form factor and weight.

7. RAVPower 26800 mAh Portable Power Bank

RAVPower offers one of the largest capacity power banks on the market. Their 26800 mAh power bank offers a great deal for the buck since it is not that big and it can charge a smartphone more than 5 times. The power bank offers a total output of 5.5 amps and comes with a battery indicator. It has 3 USB ports which mean it can charge 3 devices at the same time and uses high-quality cells that will last at least 500 charge cycles.

The power bank will prove to be very heavy. A lot of rechargeable cells have been used to give it such a large capacity. Carrying in a small shoulder bag can be rather annoying. It is a device that caters most to travelers and people that are on the move a lot as it offers about 5 full smartphone charges.

6. KMASHI 15000mAh Portable Power Bank

KMASHI portable power bank is a good pick for the ones that want to get the best value for their dollar. The device has a capacity of 15000 mAh which is good for an average of 5 charges. It does not charge as fast as some of the other models in our list but it surely is inexpensive. It has an output of 2 amps and two charging ports that allow for two devices to be connected simultaneously.

It is no surprise that the power bank takes a very long time to charge. It takes about 4 hours to get it fully charged and that is because of its high capacity. However, the power bank will not need to be charged all too often because it can charge a smartphone at least 5 times.

5. DULLA M50000 Portable Power Bank

The DULLA M50000 is a 12000 mAh power bank with a compact form factor and surprisingly lightweight. It has a metal enclosure and battery charge level indicator LEDs. The device features 2 USB ports that allow for 2 devices to be charged at the same time. In average, the power bank can provide another 30 hours of power for a smartphone that is used intensively. Maximum rated output for charging is 2 amps when only one device is being charged.

The battery cells used for the power bank are not that great. It seems that after a few cycles, the power bank seems to be unable to charge smartphones if it goes below 20%. The battery cells are not powerful enough. Still the capacity it has should be enough for a few charges and should provide at least some sort of mobility.

4. Anker PowerCore 10000 Power Bank

Anker PowerCore 10000 is a compact power bank that was made mostly for the ones that travel a lot. It is fairly compact and lightweight. The model offers a capacity of 10000 mAh which is enough to charge a smartphone about 3 times. It has two USB ports which can charge at the same time. The kit includes a micro USB cable, travel pouch and a small guide. Last but not least the power bank comes with an 18-month warranty which is more than what most other manufacturers offer.

Passtrough charging is a nice feature to have but not mandatory. Not all power banks have it but this usually happens with cheaper power banks. The feature allows for a device to be charged while the power bank itself is charging. It allows the current to pass through directly. Still, not having the feature the does make the power bank a bad product.

3. Jackery Bar Pocket-sized 6000mAh Ultra Compact Power Bank

Jackery makes a very compact power bank that can be used by pretty much anyone in any circumstance. It is very compact and quite lightweight. The device has a capacity of 6000 mAh and can charge only one device at a time as it has just one USB port. In terms of charging the power bank itself, it takes about 2 hours. The power bank also has LED indicators to check the battery levels and offers a maximum output of 2.1 amps.

A lot of power banks seem to have this issue. Once they reach about 20%, even if they are not completely drained, the power banks stop charging devices. The smartphone might be showing the charging indicator but it is still not charging. Regardless, the power bank should be able to charge a smartphone at least once.

2. Anker PowerCore 20100 Power Bank

Anker PowerCore 20100 power bank is a popular pick for mobile individuals. It has a large capacity of 20100 mAh and offers a total output of 4.8 amps. It can charge 2 devices at the same time with its two USB ports and it has a small battery level indicator. The power bank can be charged in about 10 hours and can charge a smartphone almost 7 times. It offers great performance for a rather modest price tag.

Because it has such a large capacity, the power bank can take a very long time to charge back. On the other hand, it will not need to be charged back all too often as it can charge a smartphone 7 times. According to the manufacturers, charging the power bank takes about 10 hours.

1. RAVPower 16750 mAh Power Bank

RAVPower makes one of the best-selling power banks in our list. Their 16750 mAh power bank offers the perfect balance between weight, size, and capacity. It has an easy to read battery level indicator and a small flashlight. The 2 USB ports can be used to charge 2 devices at the same time while charging the power bank itself should take about 8 hours using a 2 amp charger. The model also comes with a modest price tag.

It is difficult to complain about anything regarding the RAVPower power bank. It has a low price tag and does everything a power bank is supposed to do. The device charges smartphones quite fast as it pushes little over 2 amps per USB port and makes it very easy to see how charged it is.

What To Look For When Searching For Power Banks?

There are literally thousands of different power banks on the market. This is because they are quite easy to manufacture. Sadly, there are a lot of manufacturers that use bad rechargeable cells, lie about the capacity or have very poor quality control which is why making a top 10 list has been quite difficult. Here are some of the things worth watching out for.

USB port numbers. Usually, power banks that have a capacity lower than 10000 mAh tend to have just one USB port. Larger power banks have multiple USB ports which means they can charge multiple devices at the same time.
Capacity. The capacity of the power bank determines how many times it can charge a smartphone. Ideally the larger, the better but this also makes the power bank larger and heavier.