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Stay juiced up with our favorite battery packs and chargers

androidpit external usb battery pack 1
© nextpit

Everyone with a smartphone has the same problem of constantly needing to charge their device at home, at the office or on the go. You have to have some way of keeping your smartphone and other gadgets sufficiently juiced up, so we've put together a list of the best chargers and portable battery packs for many situations.

What are you looking for?

Batteries:

Chargers:

Best USB Type-C battery pack

USB Type-C is found on more and more Android smartphones now, like the Google Pixel, and our best external battery recommendation in this category goes to the Anker PowerCore+ 20100.

This one is our favorite because it charges fast, has a large capacity and is sturdier than its closest competitors. At around $50, it's not the cheapest charger on the list, but this isn't an outrageous price for something with a capacity of 20,100 mAh.

This amount of stored power will easily charge your Android device several times over, and it can even charge multiple USB Type-C devices at the same time! For those who are looking for standard Micro-USB charging, there's another Anker battery pack in this list too, which is ideal for a weekend away.

What's more, the PowerCore+ 20,100 features 10 LED lights on the face which display its current charge level rather effectively (some batteries only have a single on/off LED).

androidpit anker hero 2
Anker has the goods for USB Type-C charging. / © Anker

Best external battery for your pocket

We recommend the Limefuel Blast L25X as the best pocket-sized portable charger. It measures just 3.6 x 1.5 x 0.8 inches and weighs only 2.3 oz – about the same as lip balm.

The Limefuel Blast L25X holds 2,500 mAh of power, which is not quite enough to fully charge most modern handsets but it's enough to give it a quick boost. The Blast L25X's price and portability make it a great value, no-hassle charging solution.

Sorry, the offer is no longer available. But check Amazon directly for the latest offers on Limefuel Blast L25X.


androidpit limefuel blast l25x
For the best pocket-friendly battery pack, go with Limefuel.  / © Limefuel

Best external battery for your bag

The EasyAcc 6,000 mAh is slightly larger than the Limefuel option above, both in battery capacity and physical size, but it's still reasonably portable and slightly cheaper. We recommend the EasyAcc 6000 mAh if you want a portable power source that can fully charge your device with juice to spare, and don't mind sacrificing a little ease when it comes to portability. 

It’s a cleverly designed external battery, featuring a built-in USB cable, which is neatly concealed in the side of the device, and it can charge two units at once. It's well-regarded and well-priced, and you can check it out at the Amazon link below.

androidpit easyacc 6000 power bank
The EasyAcc's 6,000 mAh capacity will charge most devices more than once. / © EasyAcc

Best power bank for a weekend trip

For a weekend trip, we recommend the Anker PowerCore 15600. Anker is a veteran of portable power solutions, and the PowerCore 15600 combines a high energy capacity with lightning fast charge times and a durable build.

The Anker PowerCore 15600 can charge two devices at once and is still small enough to carry in a bag. With enough power to charge the Galaxy S7 four times over (five times, in theory), this should be your go-to power bank when you're going to be away from a power outlet for a number of days.

The PowerCore 15600 used to cost more, but it's a crazy good value at its current price of $19.99.

androidpit anker powercore 15600 hero
The Anker PowerCore 15600 is little more expensive but gives a lot more juice. / © Anker

Best battery pack case

Whether you're rocking an iPhone or Android, old smartphone or new smartphone, you're likely to need both more power and the protection of a case. There's one brand that does both with style for a wide range of devices: Mophie. For instance, you can get a wireless charging case for the old Galaxy S7 to help it keep up or for a newer device that needs extra power for its larger screen like the iPhone 8 Plus. Check out all of Mophie's battery cases on Amazon to find the right one for your smartphone.

mophie cases chargers s7 iphone 8 plus
For old and new devices, Mophie has the best charging cases. / © NextPit

Best USB Type-C desktop charger

Anker's PowerPort+ 5 is a desktop charger with five ports, one of which is a Type-C connector. It delivers 30 watts and can be used for the MacBook or Nintendo Switch. In our test with the Nexus 6P, it reached an average of 3 amps - meaning that a smartphone with a 3,450 mAh battery like this one could be fully charged in around 80 minutes. Not bad! The four Type-A ports have Anker's PowerIQ technology, which mainly ensures faster charging with Apple devices, as it isn't compatible with most of the fast charging standards for Android phones.

androidpit charger anker PowerPort plus 5 usb c
The Type-C connector, marked in blue, charges up to 30 watts. / © ANDROIDPIT

Best USB desktop charger

With the UC5F, Tronsmart is offering us a Quick-Charge 2.0-capable beast of a charger. In addition to Quick-Charge, Tronsmart's Volt-IQ fast-charging technology is also used, which enables your devices to be charged as quickly as possible without Qualcomm's standard. Unfortunately, Tronsmart has not installed a Type-C connector in the Titan adapter. The maximum total load is 90 watts, thus beating all other candidates in this collection. So if you want to charge five smartphones at the same time just using one socket, you should buy the Tronsmart UC5F.

androidpit charger tronsmart UC5F
This beast has a total output of 90 watts. / © ANDROIDPIT

Best car charger

Do you need two Quick-Charge sockets for your car? Tronsmart has exactly what you need with the CC2TF if you'd like to be able to charge two devices during your commute. Particularly advantageous is the Volt-IQ technology which allows Apple devices to charge even faster, too.

androidpit charger tronsmart cc2tf
The small Tronsmart plug has it all. / © ANDROIDPIT

What's your favorite portable battery pack? Have any brands gone beyond expectations or let you down? Let us know in the comments.

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Brittany McGhee

Brittany McGhee
Editor androidpit.com

Brittany loves to keep up with the latest technology and innovation, so she is excited to have the opportunity to write about the wonderful world of Android. She thinks spreadsheets and numbers are fun, in addition to reading books and volunteering.

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32 comments
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  • 3
    Linda D. Jul 12, 2017 Link to comment

    This article is of great help!

    Instead of owning different chargers for different purposes, I would go for the best portable chargers that serves all the purpose single-handedly. I mean to say, capable of charging all types of devices and portable enough to be carried in pocket, purse, or backpack.

    CJ Brown


  • Albin Foro 30
    Albin Foro Jun 12, 2017 Link to comment

    Anker also makes a 10k mAh car jump starter (about U$80) that also works as a USB device charger and flashlight - well worth it. (To note below: Amazon doesn't seem to have an auto jump starter by Flux, but I do see others much cheaper than Anker now.)

    CJ Brown


    • 3
      Linda D. Jun 24, 2017 Link to comment

      Albin go for Flux portable charger 10,000 mAh which comes in just $59 with built in cable to charge your smartphone. I am using it and have no issues.

      CJ Brown


  • 12
    joost Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

    So, all phones get thinner and thinner by a tenth of a millimeter... and as a price for that we have to carry an extra power pack. I so like the world we are living in...!
    (Not to forget the extra silicone drop-protection we all put around or phones, doubling the thickness of the original phone)

    Kevin Williams


  • 3
    Alaxhoo Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

    The highest rated


  • Shankar Prasad Nandi 18
    Shankar Prasad Nandi Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

    Portable power packs will soon start to be released by major manufacturers like Samsung and Huawei, I am sure. They are currently ignoring the market for portable power packs as they want to pretend that their batteries are so good that users won't even think of losing charge. Which is false of course. Once the fact that users aren't going to be fooled becomes clear to them, they're going to start making battery packs. Battery packs are going to become as much of a standard accessory as earphones.

    CJ BrownSorinBrittany McGhee


    • Bastian Siewers 66
      Bastian Siewers Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

      Samsung is already selling battery packs, they are not really promoting them though.

      CJ BrownSorinVinicius. G. Romero


    • Kevin Williams 2
      Kevin Williams Feb 20, 2017 Link to comment

      Samsung already makes portable chargers.

      CJ Brown


  • 26
    Andrew Burgin Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

    With all this modern technogly we suppose to have, no one yet as solve the problem that nearly everyone is worried about when using your phone or tablet,, the BATTERY, Samsung did there Best when they offered the Removable battery option which was a super idea, but just because Apple never offered this, Samsung thought copying the iPhones an remove the removable battery they would gain iPhone users to there phones, Plastic battery covers were easier to remove but again the Android phone makers had to copy Apple again and offered solid backs so no battery could be removed, but instead of helping consumers with there batterylife on there phones when your paying so much for a phone or Tablet is totally disgusting, power banks might o. K for women with there handbags, but not good for men, bought some powerbank case for the S6 or S7 edge but makes your phone to bulky in your pockets, Samsung now after the Note 7 saga should think about bringing back the Removable Battery option to please future Note 8 users

    CJ BrownSorin


  • Dean L. 34
    Dean L. Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

    I have four but they're all only USB which is universal. I usually carry at least two with one being an Anker that is able to power a tablet and which also provides many charges for a phone.

    CJ BrownSorinBrittany McGhee


    • Brittany McGhee 21
      Brittany McGhee Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

      Are you happy with the Anker brand? We included two of their power banks in this article.

      CJ BrownSorinDavid “LagunaStarMan” MitchellDean L.


      • Dean L. 34
        Dean L. Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

        Yes I am. I've had it over a year and it works great. Particularly when I travel on a long flight.

        CJ BrownSorin


      • David “LagunaStarMan” Mitchell 4
        David “LagunaStarMan” Mitchell Feb 17, 2017 Link to comment

        We have used over a dozen in the last year and a half in all kinds of environments with excellent success :-)

        CJ Brown


  • Chris Yurkin 3
    Chris Yurkin Oct 8, 2016 Link to comment

    Actually, for the price, this one is far more superior. It is indeed not as well known of a brand as most but, you're not always getting top notch quality for the name brands... This beast lives up to the test and gets close to the actual mAH vs most that falsely advertise....

    Poweradd Pilot X7 20,000mAh

    It's only 23.99 on amazon.

    www.amazon.com/Poweradd-Pilot-X7-External-Smartphones/dp/B00YDNSH7I/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_product_top?ie=UTF8

    CJ BrownDean L.


  • Nicole Horner 2
    Nicole Horner Sep 12, 2016 Link to comment

    The highest rated, reviewed and bought portable charger at the moment is by far the Anker Astro Mini.

    Currently on discount here:

    no-fuel.org /product/anker-astro-mini-3200mah-external-battery-with-poweriq-technology-black/

    CJ BrownDean L.


  • Paul Mitty 1
    Paul Mitty Aug 26, 2016 Link to comment

    In other words, whenever the sac is full, the pump empties it. ... by either external sources or rechargeable batteries located in the motor controller. ... These accessories include wearable accessories to facilitate mobility, surgical implant tools.


  • 5
    Street Mix Jul 21, 2016 Link to comment

    When the low battery problem in android's phone will be solved , how are these companies going to survive ?


  • Masud Parvez 2
    Masud Parvez Jul 20, 2016 Link to comment

    Pretty cool. I personally think ChargeTech’s portable power outlet is a better product because it has higher 27,000mAh battery capacity, cheaper, soft touch satin finish, ships immediately via Amazon.com, and they even have a new 48,000mAh version with 2 AC outlets and 250W of power launching soon.

    CJ Brown


    • Matthew 1
      Matthew Jul 26, 2016 Link to comment

      It looks good, if you wish to spend $200 for a battery!!!


  • 18
    Juan López G. Jul 20, 2016 Link to comment

    Personally if I didn´t have one already I would buy this:
    RAVPower 20100mAh External Battery; Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 USB-C/Type-C Port -


  • Greg1100 24
    Greg1100 Jul 19, 2016 Link to comment

    SorinDeactivated Account


  • 46
    Deactivated Account Jul 18, 2016 Link to comment

    The best battery back up is a phone with a replaceable battery, spare batteries and an external charger. I have 3 spares for my Note 4 never have to worry about battery life. It is also mush lighter than a brick AKA a battery bank.

    SorinGreg1100


  • 4
    Luis Salvatore Jul 18, 2016 Link to comment

    Still hoping for a future with stronger battery life on smartphones in general...

    Still, good article! Saving this.

    Omar Hamwi


  • 28
    itprolonden May 27, 2016 Link to comment

    I think Anker is the best all around. Definitely not the cheapest but the most reliable.

    SorinSergey Moraru


  • 5
    anvil May 26, 2016 Link to comment

    where is it for 20 bucks, Amazon?


  • Alex 17
    Alex May 25, 2016 Link to comment

    Though this article sounds good sadly all these Things are not available in where I am living in !!!

    Manuel


    • 1
      Kelan McGuire Jun 12, 2017 Link to comment

      I hear you. I'm in the same boat. Almost no-one ships external battery packs to Hawaii.


  • 1
    Alejandro Rioja Feb 9, 2016 Link to comment

    I would love you to checkout fluxchargers.com, it is one of the thinnest portable chargers in the market right now and works great with iPhones and Androids.


    • 1
      Alejandro Rioja Feb 9, 2016 Link to comment

      I can ship a test unit if you like


      • Bobby Bell 1
        Bobby Bell May 16, 2016 Link to comment

        I'll be happy to test a unit for you and post the review. I'm currently using a Mophie. Love them but not the price point.


  • 5
    Myron Jan 12, 2016 Link to comment

    Need one that supports USB C.

    Scott Adam Gordon


    • Scott Adam Gordon 31
      Scott Adam Gordon Jan 12, 2016 Link to comment

      I do!!! I just haven't had any experience with any of them yet :/. I'll do it in a future update!

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