Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks to Buy for Android in 2025
What is the best portable charger for Android overall?
Low battery? Don't let it slow you down -- kick off the new year fully charged with a power bank you can rely on. Whether you're constantly traveling or your Android phone is hanging on by a thread, having a portable charger handy can be a total game changer. With countless options out there, choosing the right one -- whether you need quick top-ups or all-day juice -- makes all the difference. We've tested the best power banks for Android users so you're never left desperately searching for an outlet.
Battery cases might seem convenient, but they come with baggage -- literally. They can be bulky, heavy and sometimes mess with wireless reception. Plus, they're often limited to specific phones. A dedicated portable charger is a smarter choice -- easy to stash away and ready when you need it. From wired to wireless models, there are plenty of ways to keep your Android device going strong.
We've rounded up our top picks for Android power banks. Personally, I'm a fan of models with built-in USB-C cables -- no extra cords to lug around. And if you're budget-conscious, we've included affordable options that still get the job done. iPhone user? While we've got a separate guide for you , most of these picks will work as long as you bring your Lightning cable.
Read more: Best Wireless Car Chargers and Mounts
Best portable chargers and power banks for Android of 2025
InfinityLab InstaGo 5000
Infinity Lab is Samsung-owned Harman Kardon's new accessories subsidiary and I like its InstantGo 5000 and InstantGo 10000 power banks, which come with an integrated USB-C cable for easy charging for phones. The larger 10,000-mAh model costs a bit more and is heavier and bulkier, but it can charge most Android smartphones twice. Although the white model is currently unavailable, the black one is in stock.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD
The Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD is impressively slim for a 10,000-mAh portable phone charger and has a fast 20-watt USB-C out charging port (it's also a USB-C input to charge its battery), plus a 12-watt USB-A outport. The Anker 313 PowerCore Slim 10K is cheaper, but the fast USB-C outcharging makes spending the extra dough worth it if you have a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Anker
Anker PowerCore III 10K Portable Charger
The Anker PowerCore III 10K portable charger has fast USB-C out charging (18 watts), as well as a USB-A port and up to 10-watt wireless charging. It's not magnetic, so your phone won't stick to it but it will wirelessly charge any Qi-enabled devices.
Anker
Anker PowerCore Fusion Portable Charger
This Anker model is effectively an oversized wall charger with a built-in 5,000-mAh battery. It's got two standard USB charging ports for simultaneously juicing up your phone and a secondary gadget (or two phones). A little LED indicator on the side lets you check the charge level at the press of a button.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
myCharge Hub 4400 (Update: Out of Stock)
MyCharge's Hub portable chargers come in a few different sizes and not only have an integrated foldable wall plug but integrated Lightning and USB-C cables, so you can charge both Apple and Android devices. It's a little bulky, but with a 4,400-mAh battery, it should be able to almost fully charge your smartphone, depending on its size.
Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET
Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank (Update: Out of Stock)
Otterbox gears its Folding Wireless Power Bank toward those who like to watch movies on their phones or play games with a controller. It has a built-in stand that folds down when you take it on the go. It also has USB-C and USB-A ports that are capable of fast-charging your phone at up to 18 watts. The wireless charging is up to 7.5 watts with the iPhone and 10 watts for Android devices.
Otterbox
Factors to consider when buying a portable charger or power bank for Android
Budget
Before anything else, you'll want to figure out how much you're willing to spend on a portable charger or power bank. Value-priced chargers continue to improve, so you can find a decent wireless charger for less than $40. If you're looking for a more premium model, you'll likely have to pay more than $50 and even more for Qi-enabled chargers.
Power capacity vs. weight
Most baseline power banks now start at a 5,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge for an Android phone. Chargers with 10,000 mAh or more are available, but they weigh more. That's of particular note if you plan on traveling with the charger in a purse, backpack or pocket.
Wireless or corded charging?
Most Android phones since the Samsung Galaxy S6 and Galaxy S6 Edge models introduced in 2015 offer inductive wireless charging. Android's standard for these phones is called Qi, and power banks that are fully Qi-compatible offer faster charging speeds for Android devices with speeds capped at around 7.5 watts for iPhones. In all cases, you'll need to make sure your phone case is thin enough to allow inductive charging through the back of the phone.
How we test power banks and portable chargers for Android
At the current time, we do anecdotal testing on these models. Each is fully charged and used on a recent Android model for at least a week in real-world conditions. We verify that charging speeds and recharge times are within expected parameters and -- for models with integrated stands or cables -- confirm that the connections and build quality are sturdy and free of any notable annoyances or caveats.
Other Android power banks we've tested
Anker MagGo Power Bank 6.6K: The Anker MagGo Power Bank 6.6K has a 6,600-mAh battery that can fully charge most iPhones once. It's Qi2-certified, which means it offers 15-watt fast charging capabilities and is fully MagSafe compatible, offering twice the speed of standard 7.5-watt wireless chargers for MagSafe-enabled iPhone 13, 14 and 15 models and Android smartphones that support 15-watt wireless charging.
Anker Nano Power Bank (USB-C): This 5,000mAh power bank weighs in at 3.5 ounces, or 100 grams. It features 22.5 watts of fast charging power with the option to charge two devices at the same time if you plug a cable into the power bank's USB-C in/out charging port. (Charging two devices simultaneously divides the charging power in half, delivering 11.25 watts to each device.)
myCharge Hub 6700 (Discontinued): MyCharge's Hub portable chargers come in a few different sizes and not only have an integrated foldable wall plug but also integrated Lightning and USB-C cables, so you can charge both Apple and Android devices. It's a little bulky, but with a 6,700-mAh battery, it should be able to almost fully charge your smartphone, depending on its size. The step-up 10,050-mAh model is still available and about $25 more.
Nimble Champ: Nimble's updated Champ portable charger uses recycled plastic in its construction. You have to pay a bit more for going green, but it's a nice, compact 10,000-mAh charger that features 20-watt PD fast-charging with dual USB-C ports (one on either side of the power bank) that allow you to charge two devices at the same time. If you are charging two devices, your charging speeds will be limited to 10 watts per device.
Android portable charger and power bank FAQ
Can these Android power banks charge other devices too?
Yes, these power banks should charge any device that's USB-powered, such as phones, headphones, ebook readers and Bluetooth speakers. Some may also charge larger devices such as tablets and the Nintendo Switch, albeit at slower speeds. You'll stand a better chance of charging the larger devices if you get a charger with USB-C PD support. Don't expect to charge laptops or Chromebooks without getting larger, higher-capacity power banks that are specifically designed for that purpose (with 65 watts of power output or more).
What's the difference between USB-C and USB-A?
Power banks for Android invariably have USB inputs and outputs for charging themselves and other devices, respectively. (Some power banks have single ports that double for both.) The USB-A port is the "classic" rectangular USB port that's been on computers since as early as the late 1990s. The newer, smaller USB-C port is reversible (there is no "top" or "bottom" to the plugs) and has the capacity to charge at higher speeds. Some power banks have integrated cables that terminate with Lightning (iPhone-specific) or USB-C cables.
What's the difference between MagSafe and Qi?
MagSafe for iPhone -- not to be confused with the identically named magnetic power connector for MacBooks -- is an Apple standard that allows for inductive charging with magnetically attached batteries. Qi wireless chargers don't necessarily have a magnetic component but also allow for inductive charging. Devices that are Qi-2 certified offer twice the speed of standard 7.5-watt wireless chargers for MagSafe-enabled iPhone 13, 14 and 15 models and Android smartphones that support 15-watt wireless charging.
What does mAh mean on a power bank?
The mAh on a power bank stands for milliampere-hour which represents the storage capacity of a battery. The higher the mAh rating, the more power the power bank can store.
What is the largest power bank allowed on a plane?
Most airlines allow batteries of up to 100Wh or approximately 27000mAh on a flight. Larger batteries or power banks will require special permission from an airline.
