Best Mobile Charger Alternatives - 2024’S Handy Companion Devices Ranked

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• We’ve updated our buying guide with a new pick for the best solar portable charger.

The best portable chargers and battery packs keep extra juice handy for your electronic devices when you do not have nearby access to a wall or power outlet. They can power all kinds of devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops. Here are our top picks.

UPDATE: 02/05/2024

We’ve updated our buying guide with a new pick for the best solar portable charger.

Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 Portable Charger

Best Portable Charger Overall
$20 at Amazon

Iniu Portable Charger

Best Budget Portable Charger
$18 at Amazon

Omni 20 Portable Charger

Best Portable Charger for Laptops
$249 at Amazon

BigBlue 14W SunPower Solar Panels

Best Portable Solar Charger
$46 at Amazon

Techsmarter 20,000mAh Rugged Power Bank

Best Rugged Portable Charger
$60 at Amazon

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Anker 321 PowerCore 5K

Best Small Portable Charger
$28 at Amazon

Mophie Snap+ Portable Charger

Best Portable Charger for iPhone
$45 at Amazon

What to Look For in a Portable Charger in 2024

The best portable chargers charge all of your essential devices. They come in all shapes and sizes, from small, 2,000 mAh (milliamp hours ) charging sticks to high-capacity power banks packing more than 30,000 mAh of pure electricity.

Choosing the correct portable charger comes down to three key criteria: capacity, size, and charging time.

Portable chargers run capacity anywhere from 2,000 mAh to 30,000 mAh. Small 5,000 mAh chargers are typically suitable for two full smartphone charges, whereas a 20,000 mAh portable charger can charge devices with larger batteries, like laptops, several times over.

In addition, portable chargers come in different sizes and weights. Pocket-sized portable chargers are easy to carry but generally have a single USB port. Larger capacity portable batteries weigh more but charge faster and hold additional USB ports to charge two or more devices simultaneously.

Lastly, charging time is important. Fast chargers can charge a smartphone from zero to full within 40 minutes, whereas pocket-sized and solar power chargers may take more time. You need to weigh charging time against the charger size in order to find the right product for you.

Consider the devices you plan on charging, your device’s capacity, the number of devices to charge, and how frequently you have to access a wall charger. A portable charger that doesn’t fit your needs will likely just sit at home unused, so definitely think about what you need.

Now, keep reading to learn more about our picks for the best portable chargers.

How-To Geek’s product recommendations come from the same team of experts that have helped people fix their gadgets over one billion times. We only recommend the best products based on our research and expertise. We never accept payment to endorse or review a product. Read More »

Best Portable Charger Overall: Anker PowerCore Slim 10000

Anker

The Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 Portable Charger takes our top award for the best overall portable charger. Its efficiency is on point, with 10,000 mAh good to charge an iPhone 12 two times.

Recharging time from zero to full is modest, taking roughly 6 hours. It also rocks with an ultra-slim profile and fits comfortably in a front or back pocket. With a light, textured surface that mimics plaid, this portable charger also just plain looks good.

The PowerCore Slim also boasts a proprietary technology called PowerIQ , which identifies all connected devices and automatically adjusts voltage output to maximize charging speed.

A separate proprietary feature, VoltageBoost, also helps smoothen erratic voltage output due to cable resistance. Expect it to recognize your device and offer uninterrupted charging speeds this way.

Although not the most rugged option out there, the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 carries all essential safety systems (e.,g. overcharge and short circuit protection), in addition to fireproof casing and temperature controls.

Our only downside with the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 is that it can only charge a single device at a time. However, its exceptional build quality, fast/consistent charging, and valuer price point are well worth it.

Best Portable Charger Overall

Anker PowerCore Slim 10000 Portable Charger

$20 $22 Save $2

This is a well-rounded portable charger with a 10,000 mAh capacity, PowerIQ/VoltageBoost for optimized charging, and an ultra-slim profile with a light, textured surface for grip and style.

$20 at Amazon See at anker

Best Budget Portable Charger: Iniu Portable Charger

Iniu

The Iniu Portable Charger is an excellent, cheap option for users with only one device to charge regularly. Using triple 3A outputs, it can charge up to three devices at the same time. From zero to full charge, its 10,000 mAh capacity is enough to power an iPad Air once and an iPhone 13 up to 3 times.

Plus, unlike the Anker PowerCore Slim 10000, the Iniu Portable Charger comes with a power indicator. Curiously shaped like a pawprint, it lets you know how much remaining juice there is.

We also love the fact the Iniu Portable Charger is super slim. At only 0.5 inches thick, it is pocket and purse-friendly. For the price point, this portable charger offers a nice combination of capacity, size, and triple 3A outputs for multi-device charging.

Best Budget Portable Charger

Iniu Portable Charger

$18 $30 Save $12

This portable charger offers 10,000 mAh and triple 3A outputs to charge three devices at the same time.

$18 at Amazon

Best Portable Charger for Laptops: Omni 20 Portable Charger

Omni

The Omni 20 Portable Charger is our preferred choice for laptops. It is an absolute monster of a portable charger, with a 20,000 mAh battery capacity, a USB-C port, a wireless Qi charger, and two USB-A ports.

It also comes with pass-through charging, converting it into a universal power adapter that charges itself while charging other devices.

One of our favorite features of the Omni 20 Portable Charger is its design and construction. A sharp LCD shows remaining power, and a soft touch rubber construction helps absorb shock and provides grip in tight quarters.

The Omni 20 isn’t the cheapest portable charger around, but it’s worth the price of admission.

Best Portable Charger for Laptops

Omni 20+ Portable Charger

The Omni 20 is an easy-to-use portable charger with easy-to-read LED display, Qi wireless charging, and Qualcomm 3.0-compatible quick charge port.

$249 at Amazon

Best Portable Solar Charger: BigBlue 14W SunPower Solar Panels

BigBlue

The BigBlue 14W SunPower is a compact and lightweight solar charger—5.8 x 6.02 x 2.12 inches when folded and weighing only 0.8 lbs—that won’t occupy much space inside your backpack. Once unfolded, you can expand it over your bag while walking or lay it on the ground. As long as there’s enough sunlight, the BigBlue 14W SunPower can deliver up to 14W of power to your phone or other gadgets, as hinted in its name.

The charger comes with a detachable USB-A to USB-C charging cable, meaning you can hook up a different charging cable (such as a Lightning cable) with the only requirement being the cable having a USB-A port on one end to connect it to the charger.

Aside from the charging cable, you’re also getting two carabiners for hooking the BigBlue SunPower to your backpack while on the move, or even attaching it to a tent and letting it charge your devices while you take a rest. The good news is that thanks to IPX-4 water resistance , you can use the charger even when it’s raining.

While it does a lot, the BigBlue SunPower doesn’t feature an auto resume option. In other words, if there’s a sudden drop in sunlight severe enough to thwart the charging process —for example, if you enter a tunnel— you’ll need to reconnect the charging device to continue the top-up process.

Best Portable Solar Charger

BigBlue 14W SunPower Solar Panels

Compact and lightweight, and delivering up to 14W of power to your phone or any other compatible gadget, the BigBlue 14W SunPower is a perfect companion for outdoor activites.

$46 at Amazon

Best Rugged Portable Charger: Techsmarter 20,000mAh Rugged Power Bank

Techsmarter

If you need a portable charger that’s rugged enough to take wherever you go, Techsmarter’s Rugged & Waterproof Power Bank is a great choice. It offers a large 20,000mAh cell that’s suitable for at least five full charges of most modern Android phones (and more for iPhone users), and it comes with three outputs, including an 18W USB-C Power Delivery port.

What makes this charger special is its design, which is built to withstand up to three-foot drops without getting damaged. It comes with IP66 certification which helps to protect it against water and dirt, and its rubberized construction makes it robust enough to toss in a backpack while on the go. It even comes with a built-in LED flashlight with High Torch, Low, Strobe, and SOS settings.

Other chargers offer faster speed, and there’s no fancy solar-powered recharge feature or wireless charging, but this power pack will certainly get the job done for anyone who needs extra power on the go.

Best Rugged Portable Charger

Techsmarter 20,000mAh Rugged Power Bank

If you need a portable charger that can handle every adventure, Techsmarter has the power bank you’re looking for.

$60 at Amazon

Best Small Portable Charger: Anker 321 PowerCore 5K

Anker

The Anker 321 PowerCore 5K is a small portable charger that packs enough power to fully recharge most phones at least once. And, thanks to its 12W power output, it can do so in just a couple of hours. The small size and low weight make it perfect for use when traveling or just as some emergency power to carry around in your daily life.

The 5200mAh power bank has both a USB-C and USB-A port for charging—allowing you to charge two devices simultaneously. Trickle charge mode is a button away if you need to power smaller devices like Bluetooth headphones without overcharging. The power bank itself can be recharged in a couple of hours.

Overall, the Anker 321 is smaller than most lipstick-style portable chargers, and the flatter design makes it easier to carry in your pocket. As long as you aren’t expecting to be able to charge your iPhone 14 multiple times, or fast charge your Samsung Galaxy S22 , it’s a great battery backup.

Best Small Portable Charger

Anker 321 PowerCore 5K

The Anker 321 makes a perfect emergency battery backup for daily life. Small enough to be carried easily in a pocket or bag, but packing enough power to fully charge most phones in a couple of hours.

$28 at Amazon

Best Portable Charger for iPhone: Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack

Mophie

The Mophie Snap+ Juice Pack is our favorite iPhone charger. It contains a 5,000mAh battery, which is good enough to charge an iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro from 0 to 100 almost two times.

Where the Mophie Snap+ shines with its compactness and design. It measures only 2.64 by 4.41 by 0.49 inches with a gunmetal aluminum texture, with all buttons and ports strategically placed on the bottom. A MagSafe attachment allows it to attach to the back of your iPhone as well, letting it charge wirelessly without a charging cable.

Mophie’s charger might not be the biggest battery pack, but it’s simply great for the iPhone. This portable charger is compatible with the iPhone 13 , iPhone 13 Pro , and the iPhone 13 Pro Max .

Best Portable Charger for iPhone

Mophie Snap+ Portable Charger

$45 $50 Save $5

This sleek portable charger offers a 5,000mAh battery and magnetically mounts on the back of your phone for fast, wireless charging.

$45 at Amazon See at bestbuy

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