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Our editorial team selected the products in this list based on our own reviews, customer reviews and professional reviews weighted against one another. This accumulated data was then used to determine the overall winners for each different category. For each category, we carefully selected parameters based on our research and identified the products with the highest review score within those parameters.
imuto may not be a well-known brand in Australia, but buyers around the world and independent reviewers rank its chargers highly. With a strong rating of 4.4/5 from previous buyers and a category-leading score of 88% from Choice, the Taurus X6S Smart Power power bank is a powerful unit that delivers the goods for keeping your gadgets running while you're on the go.
The Taurus X6S can charge three devices at once using its pair of USB-A ports and the USB-C port. Recharging is via micro USB and takes about six hours from when it's fully depleted. It supports QC 3.0 fast charging and has built-in safeguards keep devices safe from over-charging, over-voltage, over-current and short circuits. You'll always know how much juice is left in the Taurus X6S, as it has a digital display that you can easily activate with a push of a button.
That large battery capacity does come at a cost. Although the Taurus X6S will fit into a pocket, albeit a generously sized one, it is quite heavy, at over 600g. On the other hand, that's probably lighter and easier to manage than two or three separate chargers for each device you have.
What users say
"This is the best power bank I've had so far. It provides fast charging for my mobile and has huge capacity. The LED display shows the remaining battery percentage which is really helpful."
Ratings in excess of 4/5 abound for this solar-powered battery bank. It's worth noting that the same power bank is marketed under several different names. But across the board, owners like the durability, the charging capacity and being able to keep gadgets charged up when away from their regular power outlets.
Owners and reviewers agree that the first time using this charger requires a full charge from a power outlet – the power bank uses a micro USB connection for that. Once it's full, you can take it and use the sun to top it up. A full charge requires in excess of 24 hours of direct sunlight. But that 10,000mAh capacity can fully charge a smartphone a couple of times, which is enough to get you through a trip away, particularly if you employ a few power-saving tricks on your smartphone.
As well as pushing electrons into to portable devices, this power bank boasts an inbuilt torch and a compass – which is handy for helping you read a map or navigate your way through a campground late at night.
What users say
"Outstanding if you need a charge, and you have sun, this is great. I'm using on location to keep my phone charged up while I accept credit cards taking orders for my business."
It's hard to argue with over 17,000 people who rate the Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger 4.7/5 on Amazon. And over 1,700 more give it a 4.7/5 score on Google reviews. Throw in a slew of professional reviewers who strongly recommend the PowerCore 13000 and it's tough to argue that this isn't in the upper echelon of portable power banks.
Although the PowerCore 13000 does support fast charging, it doesn't support the popular Qualcomm QC 3.0 standard, sticking with PowerIQ and VoltageBoost. So, you'll need to make sure your portable device is compatible if fast charging is a big deal for you. Otherwise, you can use the two USB ports to charge smaller smartphones three or four times, while phablets and tablets will likely only get one or two full top-ups.
The big selling point for Anker's PowerCore 13000 is its small size. It's well and truly pocket-sized and weighs less than most smartphones, so you can easily tuck it in a pocket or stash it in your bag. It also comes with a fabric pouch and micro USB cable for recharging.
What users say
"I bought the 13000 unit for a long-haul flight to keep all my gadgets going. Over 24 hours of travel time, my S8 phone, smart watch and wireless headphones were charged up to 100% at the end."
With great reviews from users, the Belkin BoostUP Charge 10K is a great option for those whose lives are embedded in the Apple ecosystem. Owners of this device give it an average rating of 4/5 on Amazon and independant reviewers from Choice give it a solid rating of 77%. Recharge time is fast according and there's overload and short circuit protection built-in, just in case something goes haywire during recharging.
Unlike most power banks, the Belkin BoostUP Charge 10k is replenished using a lightning cable – so the same cable that you use for your iPhone or iPad can be used to recharge the BoostUP. With 10,000mAh of power, it can recharge an iPhone two or three times, or an iPhone and an iPad. Or both at the same time using both the USB-A charging ports.
At just 235g and about the same size as an iPhone, the Belkin BoostUP Charge 10k won't weigh you down or take up too much room in your bag or pocket if you're out and about.
What users say
"Best charger I've had for my iPhone. I travel a lot and it lasts much longer than some I've used and it's lightning quick."
It's not often that a product garners almost universally perfect scores, but the Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition manages it. With an average score of 4.9/5 from purchasers on Amazon and unanimous praise from tech reviewers around the world, Anker's collaboration with Nintendo has delivered a portable power bank that tick almost all the boxes.
This svelte charger can more than double the playing time you can get from your Nintendo Switch. But if that's not enough, there's also an officially sanctioned 20,100mAh version for even more playtime. As well as delivering plenty of juice for gaming, the PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition, with its Nintendo livery on the side, can give your smartphone, tablet or even laptop a power boost. But if you want to get the benefit of fast-charging over USB-C, you'll need your own cable, as the suppled unit can't move the electrons fast enough.
Although the PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition can be charged from third-party power sources, Nintendo has certified this product and recommends using the official Nintendo Switch charger to get the fastest and safest results.
What users say
"The Anker PowerCore 13400 Nintendo Switch Edition is the best carrying case power bank available for the Switch. Its capacity offers an extra 5.5+ hours of Mario or Zelda. If you need more playtime, check out the larger Anker PowerCore 20100 Nintendo Switch Edition."
With high ratings of 3.9/5 from owners reporting back on Amazon and other online stores, and great comments from tech reviewers around the world, the Cygnett ChargeUp Pro 20,000mAh power bank is a great candidate for charging your devices. Although it's a little on the hefty side, at almost half a kilo, it can deliver power to your portable devices as well as your laptop – all at the same time.
The USB-C output can connect to most modern laptops and give them an energy boost. However, that output is limited to 45w, so larger laptops, such as the 15-inch MacBook Pro, will only charge up very slowly. But smaller laptops, tablets and smartphones will charge up in quick time. There's support for QC 3.0, which is the Qualcomm standard for fast charging used by many smartphones that supports 15w or power for compatible smartphones rather than the usual 5w.
The only quibble some reviewers have is that you'll need to press the power button when connecting a device to the USB-A ports for charging, which means that if you connect a device and don't actually press this button, nothing will happen.
What users say
"This is crazy that a battery pack can output this much power. I am over the moon. Absolute game changer!!!"
With well over 1,000 Amazon reviews, with the very vast majority rating the Anker PowerCore+ with a perfect score, it's easy to see why this device is the bee's knees for high-capacity power banks. With a massive 26,800mAh capacity, the Anker PowerCore+ can fully charge a 13-inch Macbook Pro, using its 45w output over USB-C, in about the same time as a regular power outlet.
Anker supplies the PowerCore+ with a 60w USB-C wall charger and USB-C cable, making it a complete package. Unlike many high-capacity power banks that can take almost a full day to recharge, the PowerCore+ can be ready to go after just 3.5 hours. And while it's great for charging large, power-hungry devices like smartphones, tablets and laptops, it can also deliver trickle charges to smaller devices, such as headphones, that have more modest power needs.
If you're looking for a high capacity power bank, then the Anker PowerCore+ will fit the bill. Note that when you shop for these, some sellers don't include the bundled charger.
What users say
"I am absolutely blown away at how much this has changed my life. It's hard to explain, but this has probably improved my life more than any other product I have purchased. No more worrying about my tablet not having power to make it through a meeting. No more worrying about making sure my phone is fully charged for the day."
With high ratings from Google reviews, Amazon and other online stores, the Cygnett ChargeUp Swift 10,000mAh is a versatile option for travellers. Review sites rate it at around 4.2/5. It supports the charging of two devices via USB and a third device wirelessly. For example, you could charge your headphones and smartwatch using the USB ports, while also charging your smartphone wirelessly.
That ability to charge three devices at once makes it great for frequent travellers and commuters. For a day trip, it also likely means that you can leave most of your bespoke chargers at home and reduce the amount of gear you're carrying. There's an LED indicator that gives you an accurate view of the device's remaining charge. Unlike most chargers that use a series of lights, the ChargeUp Swift shows you an accurate percentage so you're not left guessing.
It's worth noting that Cygnett is an Australian company so you'll be supporting a local company if you choose this power bank.
What users say
"This is one of the best wireless charges we have had. Two seconds to connect and a Samsung S8 takes around 90 minutes to get loaded on juice and at least three full charges. It's small and light enough to be mobile, stylish and sleek."
Amazon prices last updated on 7 December, 2023 at 12:01 pmeBay prices last updated on 7 December, 2023 at 11:08 am
Methodology
15+ Brands considered
40+ Products compared
8 Best power banks chosen
Our editorial team compared more than 40 power banks from several brands sold by Australian retailers and reputable online stores.
We based our findings on real customer reviews across multiple websites, including Amazon, eBay, Google and Kogan.
We also consulted reviews from independent reviewers and consumer choice publications.
The products on this list were chosen by our editorial team and were not selected based on commercial relationships.
We started our search by looking through product listings at a number of major retailers including Kogan, Catch, Amazon and eBay, as well as going directly to well-known power bank brands. When then looked at the features and prices of a number of devices, looking for products that had at least 50 customer reviews, and we checked that those reviews were consistent with the comments of professional reviewers.
We looked at the following brands:
Alogic
Taoxiwave
Anker
Belkin
Moshi
Mophie
Native Union
ROMOSS
Cygnett
imuto
Xiaomi
RAVPower
We value our editorial independence, basing our comparison results, content and reviews on objective analysis without bias. However, Finder may receive compensation when you click some links on our site. Learn more about how we make money from our partners and why you can trust our guides.
What is a power bank?
Power banks are encased, portable batteries that serve as portable power points. Instead of plugging your charger into the wall, you plug it into your power bank. These gadgets are suitable for charging smartphones, tablets, cameras and even some laptops.
As you charge your power bank, you deposit electrical energy into the battery. Later, when you plug your device into the power bank, withdraw that same energy and use it to charge your device.
There are a number of reasons to buy a power bank, including:
Portability. You can take a power bank anywhere and don't have to be dependant on a powerpoint or a computer to charge your device. This can be particularly handy if you need to use a navigation app on a long journey or are planning to be away from home for a while.
Efficiency. Power banks can offer fast charging, sometimes in under an hour.
Flexibility. If you buy a power bank with a range of different port types, you'll be able to charge a matching range of devices. If you buy a power bank with multiples of the same port, you'll be able to charge multiples of the same device. It's up to you. Pick whichever option gives you the most flexibility.
Power bank capacity
The most important feature of a power bank is its capacity. Capacity is shown as a milliamp-hour (mAh) reading. The higher the mAh, the more charges you'll get out of your power bank.
Here are some numbers to keep in mind:
3,000 mAh. The average amount of power it takes to charge a smartphone.
10,000 mAh. This is widely regarded as the ideal power bank size. Most models with this capacity will allow you three smartphone charges, while still fitting in your pocket.
20,000 mAh. Tablets tend to charge fully at just under 10,000mAh. If you're mainly purchasing a power bank for your tablet, then aim for a 20,000 mAh power capacity.
Power banks tend to increase in size and weight as mAh figures increase. There are many 10,000 mAh models that are pocket sized. Once you start looking for power banks of 20,000 mAh or over, you'll begin having to make a compromise between size, convenience and extra power.
How to compare power banks
When comparing power banks, be sure to keep an eye out for these features:
Passthrough charging
This is a convenient feature that allows you to charge your device and the power bank at the same time.
Number of ports
The more ports, the better. Extra ports will allow you to charge multiple devices at the same time which is ideal for a family trip or the office.
Port type
Most power banks offer the standard USB-A port which works for most smartphones and tablets. Some power banks will have a USB-C port as well, which you should look for should your device require such a port. If you need extra USB-C connectivity, be sure to check out our USB-C hub buying guide.
Fast charge
Different power banks charge your devices at different speeds. This will depend on whether the bank charges at 1A or 2A (2A is faster). Power banks that advertise "fast charge" features usually come with a compatible cable. Make sure that your device accepts a fast charge, otherwise, you'll be paying for a feature that is of no use to you.
Cables
You should receive the cables required to recharge your power bank with the product itself. Just remember that you'll also need the cable compatible with the device that you actually wish to charge. For example, you need your smartphone's charging cable to plug your smartphone into the power bank.
Design
Consider shape and weight when purchasing a power bank. As power banks offer portability, you'll most likely be putting yours in the car, in your bag or even resting it on your lap. Find a shape and size that is suitable for the way you'll use it.
Buying a power bank
Do I need a power bank?
Power banks are an essential tool for travellers or if you're in a place where reliable access to power for recharging your devices is a challenge. For example, if you're overseas and the local power system is poor, a power bank can protect your device, as most include some circuitry to protect against voltage fluctuations, short circuits and other electrical hazards.
You may also find a power bank handy around the office. A reliable power bank can be a great way to reduce desktop clutter. When your smartwatch, headphones or smartphone are low on power, you can pull a power bank out of a drawer and use it to charge your device – you can even hide them in a drawer while charging. Or, if you're heading into a meeting room, you can keep your devices charged up when away from your main workspace.
If you're the outdoorsy type, a power bank is a handy and lightweight addition to your backpack. With some power banks supporting solar charging, you can keep your devices going for days between trips to a power outlet.
Anthony Caruana is an experienced technology professional and writer with a career spanning over two decades. His work has appeared in Lifehacker, CSO, Which-50, Macworld and many other publications. He's especially interested in the way tech and humans work with and against each other.
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