Working remotely has its ups and downs. Of course, nothing beats traveling the world, soaking up different cultures, enjoying new cuisines, and experiencing once-in-a-lifetime moments. However, it’s not always rainbows and butterflies. Digital nomads also have to make a living to sustain this kind of lifestyle.
Anyone embracing the digital nomad lifestyle knows how important it is to have uninterrupted power all day long. While you’re on the road, you won’t always have access to power outlets. Once your smartphone dies—that’s it. You need to wait for the next place where you could charge your device and send your email to a client. Thankfully, you can take a power bank with you wherever you go, and you can keep your device running for an entire day or two.
A power bank is an excellent investment for anyone who works away from home or travels often. If your smartphone’s running low on juice, all you have to do is plug it into the power bank and wait for it to charge. Some of these portable chargers are built for the great outdoors, made with waterproof and anti-shock features. Others are sleek and thin enough to fit inside a pocket, perfect for travelers navigating the bustling streets of concrete jungles.
In this guide, you will find 10 of the best power banks you can get for yourself or a travel buddy.
How to Choose the Best Power Bank
Purchasing the right power bank for your kind of lifestyle is an important decision. However, that’s often easier said than done. But there’s no need to feel overwhelmed. Here, you’ll find a few things to consider when you’re buying a portable charger for your travels.
Compatibility
What devices do you own? It’s important that you find a portable charger that’s compatible with your mobile gadgets. If the product description doesn’t mention your device, you can compare the specs of the power bank with your charger to see if they match. If you want the fastest and safest charge, you must value compatibility.
Capacity
Some power banks have low battery capacities, while others can store massive power that can keep your smartphone running for a week without being plugged into an outlet. High-capacity battery sizes mean more power for your smartphone or tablet. If you also want to use a power bank to charge bigger devices like a tablet, a Kindle reader, or a Bluetooth headset, you ought to get a portable charger with more power.
Convenience
Since you will be traveling a lot, you ought to think about convenience. Factors like size, weight, ports, and cables should matter. If you lead an active lifestyle, you might also want to look into additional protective features such as anti-shock materials and water resistance.
Our Top 10 Picks
1. Xiaomi 10,000 mAh Mi Power Bank
Do you need a portable charger that’s small enough to tote around and strong enough to survive a few drops? The Xiaomi 10,000 milliamp-hour Mi might be what you need for your travels.
One of the best power banks on the market is the Xiaomi 10,000 mAh Mi, a sleek and ultra-compact portable charger boasting a 93% conversion rate. It is equipped with two ports: a USB-A port for all your mobile devices and a USB-C port for the power bank itself which accepts power from an 18W power source, bringing charging time to just under four hours.
Made with CNC-finished edges and a double anodized aluminum casing, the 10,000 mAh Mi not only looks high-end but it’s also built to survive a drop or two.
Xiaomi’s 10,000 mAh Mi power bank is available for $23.35 at Amazon.com.
2. iMuto Taurus X4 20,000 mAh Portable Charger
Are you looking for an affordable high-capacity portable charger? With the iMuto Taurus X4, you will get the best bang for your buck.
Made by iMuto, the Taurus X4 is a 20,000 mAh high-capacity and ultra-compact backup battery that’s powerful enough to charge an iPhone 6 as much as 8 times, an iPad Air about 1.7 times, and a MacBook 2016 around 1.2 times. It offers some neat features, including an LED screen that flashes the percentage of the remaining battery life. Like many power banks on the market, it features smart power technology, which lets its USB ports deliver the fastest and safest possible charge for your device.
The iMuto 20,000 mAh portable charger is available for $29.99 at Amazon.com.
3. Anker PowerCore II 20,000 Portable Charger
Do you need a fast-charging power bank? Anker’s high-capacity and ultraportable PowerCore II is an ideal choice for digital nomads hoping for a quick charge.
PowerCore II 20,000 is a slim, ultra-high-capacity dual-port battery pack that can keep an iPhone 8 fully powered over 6.5 times, and it can power most smartphones about 4 times. Equipped with Anker’s brand new PowerIQ 2.0 smart-charging technology, which intelligently adapts to your device’s protocol and delivers high-speed charging, this power bank lets you enjoy unrivaled charging speeds. It also features an upgraded LED indicator, which lets you know how much power your device has left.
The Anker PowerCore II 20,000 mAh portable charger is available at Amazon.com for $59.99.
4. RAVPower 22,000 mAh Portable Charger
Are you looking for a high-capacity power bank to power all your gadgets? Take the RAVPower 22,000 mAh charger with you as you go off the grid, and it will keep your devices running for as long as one week.
Packed with a massive 22,000 mAh battery pack, RAVPower’s portable charger can power an iPhone X 4.9 times, a Galaxy S8 around 4.4 times, and an iPad mini about 2.6 times. It boasts triple-device charging, with three iSmart USBs that can charge multiple devices simultaneously; however, it doesn’t support the Qualcomm Quick Charge feature. Thanks to its high-density Li-Polymer battery, which you can recharge in 11 to 12 hours using a 2.4A charger, you can have a powerful yet lightweight and portable energy storage device.
RAVPower’s 22,000 mAh battery pack with 5.8A output is available at Amazon.com for $45.99.
5. Aukey PB-N36 20,000 mAh Power Bank
Do you take all sorts of gadgets with you while you travel? The Aukey 20,000 mAh power bank is ideal for digital nomads armed with different gadgets as it is compatible with most USB-powered devices, from iOS and Android devices to Bluetooth headphones.
Measuring 5.9 x 3.3 x 0.8 inches, the Aukey PB-N36 features AiPower adaptive charging technology, which can recharge an iPhone and Android phone using the safest and fastest possible charge. The power bank also has additional built-in safeguards to prevent overheating and overcharging. You can use the Aukey power bank to fully charge your 12.9-inch iPad Pro 1.4 times, an iPhone XS around 6 times, and a Samsung Galaxy Note 9 about 4 times.
The Aukey 20,000 mAh power bank is available for $33.99 at Amazon.com.
6. Jackery 6,000 mAh Bolt Portable Charger
Do you want a portable charger that can fit in your pocket? Measuring 4.3 x 0.9 x 1.9 inches, the Jackery 6,000 mAh power bank is just the perfect size.
This portable power station is a lightning-fast charger with a built-in micro USB charging cable for Android gadgets and an Apple MFi certified lightning cord for iOS gadgets. Jackery’s sleek and slim power bank is small enough to fit inside your pocket, giving you maximum portability and convenience for charging your devices while you’re on the go. Not to mention, it supports pass-through charging, a feature that lets you power multiple devices while the portable charger itself is recharging its batteries.
The Jackery Bolt portable charger is available for $29.99 at Amazon.com.
7. Mophie Powerstation Plus XL 12,000 mAh Portable Charger
Are you tired of wires getting tangled up inside your luggage? With the Mophie Powerstation Plus XL’s hide-away cables, you can say goodbye to those tangled cords and conveniently charge your devices while you travel around the globe.
The new Powerstation Plus XL is a low-profile portable charger sporting an elegant and compact build that makes it 40% thinner than previous generations. Not to mention, its upgraded hide-away cable with a switch-tip design eliminates cable clutter and maximizes portability.
Equipped with a 12,000 mAh battery with smart charging circuitry, this power bank allows you to conveniently charge your iOS and micro USB devices while you’re on the road using the safest and most efficient charging speeds possible. Other features include a micro USB cable, lightning connectors, and an integrated power indicator that displays the charging status and battery life of the portable charger itself.
Mophie’s Powerstation Plus XL is available at Mophie.com for $99.95.
8. Unifun 10,400 mAh Waterproof Power Bank
Do you lead an active lifestyle? If you like being in the great outdoors, this waterproof power bank from Unifun should be perfect for you.
Compared to the rest of the portable chargers on this list, the Unifun 10,400 mAh power bank might not look as sleek or as chic, but it’s built to last a long time. It is dust-proof, skid-resistant, and waterproof with an IP66 rating, making it the ideal power bank for outdoor enthusiasts. Moreover, this portable charger comes with a flashlight, four smart LED indicators that let you know the device’s remaining battery life, and an auto power-off feature, which turns off the device when not in use, allowing you to conserve energy.
The Unifun 10,400 mAh waterproof power bank is available for $19.99 at Amazon.com.
9. Krisdonia 50,000 mAh Laptop Power Bank
Is your laptop crucial to your livelihood? With the Krisdonia 50,000 mAh portable charger, you can work while you’re on the road and finish before you get to your destination.
There’s no need to worry about running out of battery while you’re traveling. This high-capacity power bank can charge most laptops, notebooks, smartphones, and even your Nintendo Switch. It offers four output ports, a bright LED display, and a powerful DC input that will charge the power bank in six to eight hours.
The Krisdonia 50,000 mAh portable laptop charger is available at Amazon.com for $135.99.
10. Hiluckey 10,000 mAh Solar Charger
Are you in search of an eco-friendly power bank? With the Hiluckey 10,000 mAh solar charger, you can harness the energy of the sun to power your devices.
The Hiluckey solar charger is ideal for those who like to camp and hike for days or weeks at a time. Once your power bank runs out of juice, you can recharge it using solar energy as many times as you want. This features a nine-fold protection system, which detects the optimal current for your device, preventing it from overheating or short-circuiting.
Hiluckey’s solar charger is available for $16.69 at Amazon.com.
