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David Carnoy Executive Editor / Reviews

Executive Editor David Carnoy has been a leading member of CNET’s Reviews team since 2000. He covers the gamut of gadgets and is a notable reviewer of mobile accessories and portable audio products, including headphones and speakers. He’s also an e-reader and e-publishing expert as well as the author of the novels Knife Music, The Big Exit and Lucidity. All the titles are available as Kindle, iBooks, Kobo e-books and audiobooks.

Expertise Headphones, Bluetooth speakers, mobile accessories, Apple, Sony, Bose, e-readers, Amazon, glasses, ski gear, iPhone cases, gaming accessories, sports tech, portable audio, interviews, audiophile gear, PC speakers Credentials

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$42 at Amazon

Best magnetic power bank with integrated stand

Anker 622 MagGo magnetic battery

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$70 at Amazon

What’s the best power bank for the iPhone overall?

If we had to pick the single best iPhone power bank right now, it would probably be the Anker MagGo 622 or the new Qi2-certified Anker MagGo Power Bank 6.6K, which has an adjustable and foldable stand. Anker also released the higher capacity Qi2-certified MagGo Power Bank 10K with an integrated kickstand.

To be clear, nearly all of the models below will work with any recent iPhone — you’ll just need to make sure you have a charging cable that matches the ports on both sides (power bank and phone). On the wireless side, all Qi chargers have worked with iPhones since the iPhone 8 and iPhone X lines, but chargers officially certified as MagSafe-compliant will charge the phones faster and offer better feedback on the screen. Apple has yet to clarify if the forthcoming Qi2 chargers offer any additional benefits on the iPhone 15 line.

While we wait for newer models, here are our current picks. All the products reviewed below have been tested by me or other expert CNET editors. This list is geared toward iPhones, but any portable battery pack on the list with USB-C or USB-A out ports will work perfectly well for charging an Android smartphone (or any other portable gadget), so long as you provide a compatible smartphone cable. Wireless (or inductive) charging should also work for Android phones that are so configured.

Read more: Best iPhone Chargers

Best power banks for iPhone for 2024

old version (which confusingly retains the same 622 model number).

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What’s cool about Anker’s 622 magnetic battery is that it’s a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won’t get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts), but it’s slim and easy to carry around.

It charges via USB-C, and if you use a USB-C-to-Lightning to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That’s not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it’s faster than 7.5 watts.

Note that Anker has updated this model to move the charging port to the side (from the bottom), so you can charge it while using it as a stand. That’s a worthy upgrade worth the premium price versus the old version (which confusingly retains the same 622 model number).

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GaNPrime chargers with next-generation GaN 3 technology, which the company says is even more energy-efficient. The Anker Power Bank 733 combines a 65-watt charger with a 10,000-mAh portable battery and is part of the new GaNPrime line. It’s pretty compact for what it is and offers two fast-charging USB-C ports and one fast-charging USB-A port. You can charge up to three devices at once, but note that to get a full 65-watt charge for a laptop, you can only plug in the laptop.

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Thanks to gallium nitride technology, chargers have been getting more powerful while shrinking at the same time. The latest example of that trend is Anker’s new line of GaNPrime chargers with next-generation GaN 3 technology, which the company says is even more energy-efficient. The Anker Power Bank 733 combines a 65-watt charger with a 10,000-mAh portable battery and is part of the new GaNPrime line. It’s pretty compact for what it is and offers two fast-charging USB-C ports and one fast-charging USB-A port. You can charge up to three devices at once, but note that to get a full 65-watt charge for a laptop, you can only plug in the laptop.

Lightning vs. USB-C

Every new iPhone from the iPhone 5 in 2012 to the iPhone 14 series in 2022 used Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector for charging. With the iPhone 15 series, Apple has made the jump to USB-C. The differences between these two connectors matter only if you’re seeking out a power bank with an integrated cord. Otherwise, you’ll want a model with USB-C or USB-A output — that can be used to power your iPhone (or nearly any small electronic device) with the cable that came in the box.

Wireless charging: MagSafe vs. Qi

Most iPhones since the iPhone 8 and iPhone X models introduced in 2017 offer inductive wireless charging. Apple’s standard for these phones is called MagSafe, and power banks that are fully MagSafe compatible — like Apple’s own MagSafe Battery Pack — will charge iPhones at a fast 15-watt level when the power bank magnetically adheres to the rear of the iPhone. Many other more affordable models will still attach to iPhones magnetically, but charge them at half speed (7.5 watts). In all cases, you’ll need to make sure the iPhone has a MagSafe-compatible case. (Apple has indicated that the iPhone 15 series is compatible with the emerging Qi2 standard, but the company has yet to specify if that includes any benefits versus the original Qi standard, such as higher capacity charging.)

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 iPhone. 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.

A few more things to keep in mind when shopping for an external battery pack or power bank:

A higher power output rating (mAh, short for milliamp hours) means more charges — but also a heavier portable charger weight.
For the latest iPhones (everything after the iPhone 7) you should buy a battery with at least a 5,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge for a device. All of the models featured above hit that mark.
These best portable chargers for iPhone all use lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, and should thus always be stored in carry-on luggage when flying. Airlines and regulatory agencies are increasingly banning li-ion batteries in checked baggage.
If you want maximum power output, opt for chargers with USB-C PD (power delivery) models, which should charge nearly every device smaller than a laptop, such as a tablet or Nintendo Switch.
Multiple integrated charge cables or USB-out ports will allow you to charge more than one device at a time, such as an iPad or another iPhone. Just don’t expect to charge a laptop unless you get a power bank with 65 watts of output power or more, which is comparatively rare.

At the current time, we do anecdotal testing on these models. Each is fully charged and used on a recent iPhone 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.

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.

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.

Mophie Snap Plus Juice Pack Mini: Mophie’s magnetic power bank is similar to Anker’s but is slightly slimmer (it’s suitable for a 5,000-mAh battery) and doesn’t have an integrated flap that converts into a stand. It’s designed to adhere to the back of MagSafe-enabled iPhone or MagSafe cases, it comes with a “snap adapter” ring to stick onto the back of Android devices so they’ll be magnet-friendly.

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. Official MagSafe for iPhone accessories and Made for iPhone wireless chargers (based on the Qi standard) should charge the iPhone at up to 15 watts. Unofficial wireless and magnetic chargers may still work but will be limited to 7.5 watts and lack some of the additional power management and on-screen indicators that official MagSafe chargers do.

Can these iPhone 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, iPads 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 (Power Delivery) 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, USB-A and Lightning?

Power banks for iPhones 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.