Best Battery Packs

The 9 Best Battery Packs to Keep Your Gadgets Going

When your smartphone's battery can't get you through the day, always have a back up plan.

By Don Melanson

We're more dependent on our portable devices than ever, but we always rely on the batteries that power them. To avoid running completely dry, it's best to carry a portable battery pack.

But picking the wrong battery packcan still leave you stranded. These are nine options to consider that fit a range of different demands, from ultra-portable units that'll provide a quick top-up for your phone to more rugged and outdoor-friendly power banks that will keep your devices going for days.

Anker PowerCore 20100


Anker's portable battery packs are among the most widely recommended, and come in sizes and capacities to suit just about any need. This one's a particularly popular choice, providing enough juice to fully recharge an iPhone 6s seven times. It's also notable for having a USB-C port in addition to a pair of standard ports, which Macworld found could fully charge a 12-inch Macbook with a bit of power to spare.

Anker Compact Jump Starter and Portable Charger



Some battery packs can even recharge much larger batteries, like Anker's Compact Jump Starter and Portable Charger, which can charge your smartphone and your car. Digital Trends found that it largely delivers, but notes that it won't provide enough of a boost for large engines (anything over 3L for gas engines or 2.5L for diesel). It also packs a built-in LED  flashlight. May it be a light to you in dark places, when all other lights go out.

ZeroLemon ToughJuice 30000mAh



It won't fit in most pockets, but ZeroLemon's ToughJuice charger is the best if you need ruggedness and maximum power. Macworld gave this one high marks, but says that while it has lots of power—enough to recharge an iPhone 7 up to eleven times —it's not the fastest at recharging devices (or recharging itself). You can charge plenty of devices at once, though, with it packing no less than five charging ports, including USB-C.

Mophie Charge Force Powerstation



Mophie has long been one of the most respected brands when it comes to battery packs, and the Charge Force is its most advanced yet. This battery pack is much like Mophie's Powerstation lineup ($50, $63, $90), but also includes Qi wireless charging. This makes the Charge Force a 12,000mAh battery with set-it-and-forget-it convenience.

Of course, you can still charge through a cord. But many Android phones and (supposedly) the next iPhone will feature wireless charging, so the Charge Force would be a more forward-thinking option.

Goal Zero Venture 30



If you need to recharge your devices in more outdoorsy conditions, Goal Zero's Venture 30 is worth the extra cost. It's rugged, fully weatherproof, and provides enough power to replenish most phones two or three times over. If that's not enough, you you can also pair it with one of Goal Zero's solar panels for an extended stay off the grid.

AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank 5,600 mAh




The AmazonBasics battery pack is a safe choice if you're looking for a solid and inexpensive battery pack.. This 5,600mAh one will give you enough power to recharge most phones two or three times and is not much bigger or heavier than a large smartphone, but other models are available if you need more power or more portability.

Anker PowerCore+ mini



Another of Anker's most popular chargers, the lipstick-shaped PowerCore+ mini has maintained a four-and-a-half star rating on Amazon after nearly 25,000 customer reviews. Available in your choice of five colors, the charger will provide enough power for one full recharge of most phones, although it doesn't have integrated connectors (a micro-USB cable is included, iPhone users will need to use their own Lightning cable).

Jackery Bolt



If you're looking for something that's not too big but not too underpowered, the Jackery Bolt packs a lot into a small package, and is The Wirecutter's favorite charger for everyday use. It'll fully charge most smartphones at least twice before needing to be recharged itself, and includes built-in micro-USB and Lightning connectors so you don't have to worry about carrying any extra cables.

TravelCard Charger



It won't keep your phone powered for an extended trip, but you won't find a much more portable option than the 5mm-thick TravelCard Charger. It has both Lightning and micro-USB cables built-in, and The Wirecutter found it to be better made than most other credit card-sized battery packs. You'll pay a bit of a premium for the convenience, though.