Best Portable Chargers for Phones and Laptops

There are a number of factors to consider when starting your shopping, depending on your needs and preferences.

This is one of the most important factors when choosing a portable charger, says CR testing engineer Bernie Deitrick. These backup batteries typically have capacities between 5,000 mAh (milliamp-hours) on the low side and 30,000 mAh or more on the high end. To choose, consider what you need to charge. An iPhone 16, for example, has a battery capacity of about 3,500 mAh, so a 5,000-mAh portable charger can only charge it once from zero or top it off a few times. Keep in mind that you won’t get 100 percent efficiency; you’ll likely be able to use about 70 to 80 percent of the charger’s stated battery capacity.

A 10,000-mAh portable charger is likely a good fit for everyday phone charging—reasonably compact and lightweight, while providing at least a couple charges for your phone. To charge a more power-hungry device like a laptop, you’ll need a larger-capacity model with at least 20,000 mAh of capacity and faster charging capabilities, but keep in mind these models will likely be bulkier, too. Larger-capacity power banks may also be a good fit if you want to quickly charge multiple devices at once, or if the charger needs to last you multiple days.

Some portable chargers can power your devices faster than others. This is largely determined by the kinds of ports the charger is equipped with and their max wattage output.  

Take a look at the port options on different models when shopping. Portable chargers are usually outfitted with USB-C ports and USB-A ports, which both can be rated for different wattage outputs. USB PD, (or USB Power Delivery), for example, is a type of fast-charging via USB-C that can deliver up to 240 watts. Some more powerful portable chargers also have 100-watt AC outputs, allowing you to insert a standard two- or three-pronged plug.

For speedy laptop charging, you likely want a portable charger capable of outputting 100 watts of power or more, while around 18 watts or more could provide fast charging to a phone.

Most models in our ratings get excellent scores for charging speed, but a few power banks have more middling scores. Of course, once the portable charger is drained, you need to recharge it at an outlet or a portable power station. Most models in our ratings recharge quickly, but there were some underperformers (along with a few particularly good models). Unsurprisingly, solar portable chargers, like the BioLite Foldable 10 watt Solar panel, take far longer to recharge if you’re only relying on sunlight. 

A backup battery is no use if it’s too bulky to carry around when you need it most. Take a look at the dimensions and weight of a charger. The lightest charger in our ratings comes in at just 3.6 ounces, while the heaviest weighs 2.2 pounds. The bigger models would be fine stashed in your car’s glove compartment or a backpack, while others are petite enough to fit in a fanny pack or even your pocket.