What to look for in a portable charger | Travel Gear Awards winner | More portable chargers | What to look for in a phone charger | Best wireless chargers | Best wired chargers | Meet the expert | Has your product been featured?
For better or worse, most of us are pretty glued to our phones — but all that scrolling, texting and "liking" can really drain your battery life. That's why a solid charger or portable power bank is essential if you don't want to be running on empty halfway through your day.
That being said, the charger your phone comes with isn't always your perfect match. If you're looking for a new one that will suit your unique lifestyle, there are plenty of options out there. And Shop TODAY consulted a tech expert to find out everything you need to know about shopping for chargers and portable power banks, so you'll never be without power again, whether you're near an outlet or not.
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What to look for in a portable power bank
When you’re on vacation, hitting up an amusement park for the day or are just out running errands, there typically isn’t a lot of time to stop and charge your devices. And that’s when a portable power bank can come in handy.
If this is your first time shopping for one, you're not the only one! According to Google Trends, power banks are the second most searched-for travel gadget for summer 2024. Khurram Afridi, an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University, recommends paying attention to two aspects:
- Energy capacity: “Energy capacity is indicated on the power bank in terms of mAh,” he says. “The mAh rating tells you how much charge the power bank can hold. Just like the portable power bank, your phone has a roughly 4-V Li-ion battery inside it. The rating of this battery is also given in mAh. So if you want to fully recharge your phone battery from a portable power bank, you need the power bank to have at least the same charge capacity as your phone.” You can often find this information via the settings on your phone or by searching for the energy capacity of your model online.
- Size: “Consider the size of the power bank relative to its energy capacity,” the professor suggests.
As with phone chargers, you should make sure that your chosen power bank is actually going to work for your device before ordering it. “Most should be compatible with both types of phones [iPhones and Androids], but it is always wise to check before you purchase to make sure,” Afridi says.
Shop TODAY Travel Gear Awards winner
Veger Portable Wall Plug Charger With Built-In Cables
Average score for value, quality and satisfaction: 5/5 | Energy capacity: 10,000 mAh | Compatible with: USB-C, iPhone, Android
This portable power bank soared above the competition during our testing period. Earning 5's across the board, it was able to fully charge a phone within three hours and still have 61% battery remaining. Plus, its digital display lets you know exactly how much juice it has left so you know when to charge it up again.
More portable chargers and power banks
Miady Dual USB Portable Chargers
Energy capacity: 10,000 mAh | Compatible with: Standard USB and USB-C wires
You don’t have to break the bank to get a quality portable charger. This two-pack is less than $20 and has over 75,000 verified five-star ratings from customers who can’t stop raving about how great it is. One shopper called it “a must buy” and another said the portable charger powered up four cell phones off a single charge. The chargers are also said to be compact and compatible with a range of smartphone models.
iWALK Small Portable Charger
Energy capacity: 4500 mAh | Compatible with: iPhones 14 and older, AirPods
This compact charger offers a little bit of fashion and a whole lot of function. The 4500 mAh model is made to charge multiple iPhone models, as well as AirPods, and fits easily into bags and pockets.
Solar Charged Power Bank
Energy capacity: 10,000 mAh | Compatible with: Standard USB, micro USB and USB-C wires
Nothing is worse than realizing your portable charger is out of juice when you really need a boost — but this bestseller has a backup in place for those stressful times. The 10,000 mAh wireless battery pack offers traditional and solar charging. Shoppers say it offers “great quality” and is “extremely versatile” and many people love that it’s compatible with any Qi-enabled mobile device. Plus, it even has a built-in flashlight and compass kit for emergencies.
What to look for in a phone charger
Most phones come with a charger when you purchase them, but if you're looking to buy another one (say, yours is broken or you want to have an extra one on-hand), there are a few main qualities you should look for while shopping and questions you should ask yourself, according to Afridi.
- Efficiency: If you're conscious about conserving energy in your household, efficiency is an important element to consider while shopping for a phone charger. "Research how much of the energy drawn from the wall is delivered to the phone," Afridi advises, adding that most phones don't use as much energy as other devices. "You can search the web and see if anyone has measured and reported the efficiency of the charger you are looking to purchase."
- Charging rate: Ideally, the charger you purchase will power up your device quickly — but not all models are created equal. "The charging rate is determined by the power rating (or wattage) of the charger given in watts (or W)," Afridi explains. However, more does not always mean better. "The charging rate is also limited by the phone itself, so using a high power charger will not necessarily charge the phone any faster than the charger(s) recommended by the phone manufacturer." For fast-charging, specifically, your phone brand's recommendation is likely fine.
- Wired vs wireless: Whether you prefer a wall charger or a wireless version, there's an option for everyone, and Afridi says that finding the right one is really based on personal preference and convenience. "Wired chargers can charge at a faster rate than wireless chargers, while wireless chargers give you the freedom to simply place the phone on the charger and not have to plug it in for it to charge."
Once you've decided what type of charger you want, it's time to make sure that it's actually compatible with your phone. "You should always check this," Afridi says. "There are differences in connectors. Also, some phones (including Apple phones) require additional features in the charger before they will accept a charge."
Best wireless phone chargers
Yootech Qi-Certified 10W Max Fast Wireless Charging Pad
Compatible with: iPhone, AirPods, Samsung Galaxy, Galaxy Buds, Google Pixel, Pixel Buds, LG | Wattage: 5-10W
This versatile wireless charging pad works with several iPhone and Android models. The bestseller, which has 130,000 verified five-star ratings, features three charging modes, including 7.5W, 10W and 5W. It also comes in six colors and is even compatible with select wireless ear buds.
Wireless 3-in-1 Fast Charging Station
Compatible with: iPhone, Samsung, LG, Google Pixel, Apple Watch, AirPods | Wattage: 15W
Prefer a charging station? This 3-in-1 version can power up your iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods all at the same time. It's also compatible with several Android phones. The charging station has racked up nearly 43,verified 000 five-star ratings and many customers say that they love its sleek design. "The station also takes up much less room than I ever imagined," one reviewer wrote. "All that mess of cords is gone!"
MagSafe Charger
Compatible with: iPhone, AirPods | Wattage: 15W
Many of the recent iPhone models feature MagSafe (aka magnetic) technology for wireless charging, and this popular option is a must-have if you’re all about the latest and greatest tech releases. The MagSafe Charger can be attached to several iPhone models, and the brand says it provides fast and efficient charging up to 15W. It’s also compatible with select AirPods models.
Apple MagSafe Duo
Compatible with: iPhone, AirPods, Apple Watch | Wattage: 11-14W
Own multiple Apple devices? This Duo charger can charge iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods with wireless charging cases. You can power up two devices simultaneously simply by placing them on the charger — no wires required! It also folds up to a convenient size when you’re done, making it an ideal option for travel.
Best wired phone chargers
Ailkin 2-Port USB Wall Charger Block
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Compatible with: Standard USB wires | Output: DC 5/2.1A
If you're short on outlet space and find yourself regularly battling with your family over who gets to charge their phone first, this handy gadget is perfect. The popular USB wall charger comes with two built-in ports and can power up two devices at once. Over 77,000 Amazon customers have left a verified five-star rating for the popular product. Many say it's "extremely useful" and offers "great value for the money." Did we mention that it comes in 10 colors, too?
Samsung Super Fast Charging Wall Charger
Compatible with: USB-C charging ports | Wattage: 45W
Compatible with multiple devices and said by the brand to offer speedy charging to save you time, this Samsung option also comes with a detachable USB-C cable that makes it easy to charge your phone from a laptop or portable power bank.
How we chose
For award winners, we sorted through hundreds of new launches, editor recommendations, trending products flooding our social media pages and tried and true products to curate a list of travel items worth reviewing. We then tried the products in our studios, putting them through practical experiments to see if they meet requirements when it comes to durability, function and quality for travel gear. Finally, our panel of experts reviewed some of our winners and gave feedback based on their expertise.
For more options, the Shop TODAY team scoured the internet to gather picks for all budgets with high ratings.
Meet the expert
- Khurram Afridi is an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering at Cornell University.
Has your product been featured?
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