9 of the Best Small Power Banks

Given how much time we spend on our screens, it is no surprise that many of us are concerned with battery life. Thankfully, power banks, or portable chargers, can top up our phones and tablets when we can’t get to an outlet. However, you don’t want a portable charger the size of a brick while you recharge on the go. You want a power banks with a small footprint. This list takes a look at nine of the best small power banks.

1. Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000

Price: $55

Dimensions: 3.2 x 3.2 x 1.3 inches

Battery Capacity (mAh): 10,000

First, the “Fusion” in the name references the fact that this device is a power bank and a 20W wall charger. The US-style plug folds out from the body, enabling users to plug it straight into the wall to charge devices. Folding the prongs back and the Anker PowerCore Fusion 10000 becomes a portable charger. Unfortunately, this device is still relatively large. If you’ve ever seen an old Apple MagSafe charger or a hockey puck, you’re familiar with the size. Furthermore, the block-like, square design is not suitable for pockets, meaning you’ll still need a bag and may need to check if you can take this power bank on your flight.

Pros

• Dual function as a wall charger and portable charger
• Massive 10,000 mAh capacity
• Can charge two devices at once

Cons

• Fairly large compared to other portable power banks
• Awkward square design makes it hard to fit in your pocket

2. Anker PowerCore Fusion 5K

Price: $40

Dimensions: 4.45 x 1.18 x 1.18 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 5,000

The PowerCore Fusion 5K features a 5,000 mAh battery, and the more elegant design makes this power bank much more pocket-friendly than the bulkier Fusion 10000. It also features Anker’s PowerIQ 3.0 fast charging protocol. The company claims this technology can fully charge an iPhone 13 Pro in 1.3 hours. The Fusion 5K’s compact design and integrated foldable wall plug make this an excellent choice for charging your phone at home or on the go.

Pros

• Combined wall and portable charger
• PowerIQ fast charging adjusts voltage output for optimized charging speed

Cons

• 5,000 mAh battery capacity
• When plugged into a vertical wall outlet, the power bank will obscure the power bank

Helpful Hint: Looking to learn how to do it without a power bank? Read on to learn how to prolong the life of your battery.

3. Poweradd EnergyCell 10000

Price: $20

Dimensions: 0.98 x 1.95 x 4.05 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 10,000

Poweradd likes to boast that their 10,000 mAh EnergyCell 10000 is one of the thinnest and lightest, weighing just 6 ounces and measuring 0.98″ x 1.95″ x 4.05″. Furthermore, Poweradd claims that the batteries are of the highest quality. In fact, the cells in this power bank are the same ones used in the Tesla Model 3. However, there are a few issues: the power bank is charged via micro USB, an odd choice in 2022 and only has one output port. For such a large battery, it curiously doesn’t support simultaneous charging of more than one device.

Pros

• High battery capacity
• One of the most affordable portable power banks

Cons

• Can only charge one device at a time
• Charges via micro USB

4. Anker 321 (PowerCore 5K)

Price: $25

Dimensions: 3.78 x 1.78 x 0.91 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 5,200

The Anker 321 (aka PowerCore 5K) from Anker is one of the smallest portable chargers in the company’s lineup, measuring a mere 3.78 x 1.78 x 0.91 inches and weighing only 4.5 ounces. Given the small design, Anker deserves praise for being able to cram in a beefy 5,200 mAh battery, enough to fully charge your iPhone 14 or Samsung S22. With 12W of power delivery and Anker’s PowerIQ protocol, you can be assured that your devices will charge quickly. Furthermore, the Anker 321 can charge two devices simultaneously through the USB-C port (which also functions as power input for the battery itself) and the USB-A port.

Pros

• PowerIQ technology ensures optimal charging time
• Impressive battery capacity for the size

Cons

• No Qualcomm Quick Charge
• Not as fast as other chargers

Good to know: do you have a Pixel? Learn all about the Pixel’s adaptive charging feature.

5. Mophie PowerStation Keychain

Price: $30

Dimensions: 1.5 x 3.15 x 0.6 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 1,200

This has to be one of the cutest portable chargers. The Mophie PowerStation Keychain is tiny enough that the carabiner it comes with is almost as large. Despite its small size, the Mophie PowerStation Keychain features an integrated USB-C cable. so that you don’t have to grab a separate charging cable on your way out the door, assuming you aren’t charging an iPhone. Unfortunately, this power bank’s small size also limits its battery capacity to just 1,200 mAh, and you’ll only get about a quarter of the charge of most devices. It probably can’t use charge laptops or other large devices.

Pros

• Super small
• Included carabiner makes it easy to attach to keys or bag
• Integrated USB-C charging cable

Cons

• Not suitable for iPhones
• Small battery capacity
• Cannot fully charge most flagship phones

Tip: Have you been wondering why your phone charges so slowy? We can answer that for you.

6. Nimble Champ

Price: $50

Dimensions: 3 x 2.2 x 0.99 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 10,000

The Nimble Champ is hands down the smallest large-capacity charger available. The Nimble Champ somehow packs 10,000 mAh worth of power into a package roughly the size of a credit card, which makes it one of the most impressive options. it’s also eco-friendly, made from at least 72 percent post-consumer recycled plastics. Additionally, Nimble uses plastic-free, biodegradable recycled packaging, and each Nimble product comes with a prepaid shipping bag to recycle your old and unwanted electronics for free.

Pros

• One of the smallest 10,000 mAh power banks
• Compatible with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4.0 & 18W PD

Cons

• Not available on Amazon
• Can be pricey via third-party retailers

7. Clutch V3

Price: $50

Dimensions: 3.6 x 2.5 x 0.16 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 3,300

The Clutch V3 is a super sleek power bank, so thin that the company claims its chargers are the thinnest in the world. It has an integrated cable that folds into the device for easy storage so that you don’t have to mess with a separate cable. Unfortunately, this power bank’s sleek design comes at a cost in the form of battery capacity, clocking in at 3300 mAh of power, while still set at a $50 price point. Also, buyers should carefully select the appropriate model based on their phone (Android or iPhone).

Pros

• One of the thinnest power banks available
• Integrated cable included in power bank

Cons

• Separate Android and iPhone models
• Fairly expensive given the battery capacity

Helpful hint: if you’re an iPhone convert, learn how to transfer your contacts from Android to iPhone.

8. iWalk DBL10000L

Price: $30

Dimensions: 3.3 x 1.93 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 9,000

The iWalk portable charger measures only 3.3 inches tall and 1.93 inches wide yet manages to cram an impressive 9,000 mAh of power inside. It was designed with iPhone users in mind, as it features an integrated Lightning cable. However, Android users are not entirely forgotten. The iWalk is charged via USB-C, and the charging port can also output power to an Android device. Also, iWalk gets some bonus points by ensuring that the power bank can charge an iPhone and an Android simultaneously.

Pros

• Integrated cable (for Apple devices)
• Quick recharge via USB-C
• Can charge iPhone and Android devices simultaneously

Cons

• Made for iPhone, meaning Android users need an additional cable
• Cannot recharge power bank via integrated Lightning cable

9. Portacharge

Price: $40

Dimensions: 3 x 1 x 1 inches

Battery capacity (mAh): 2,600

The Portacharge is unique in that it features a tubular design that resembles a tube of lipstick. There is a magnetic power output, holding the charger horizontally, where users can swap out USB-C, Lightning, and micro USB connector tips, depending on which device needs extra juice. Roughly the width of most modern phones, the charger is unobtrusive and doesn’t add much weight, making it perfect for use while charging. However, the power bank only has a 2600 mAh charge, which would give you roughly 50% battery for most phones. Furthermore, the device’s cables and adapters are all proprietaries, so you’ll have to buy replacements directly from the manufacturer, should you lose them.

Pros

• Small and unobtrusive
• No cables required
• Connector tips included for every device

Cons

• Not available on Amazon
• Proprietary charging cable and adapters

Which Portable Power Bank Will You Choose?

There are a ton of portable chargers on the market, but many of them are a pain to lug around. Thankfully, with advances in technology, like increased battery density, manufacturers can make higher-capacity batteries in smaller packages.

The chargers on this list represent the best options available for those who like to travel light. In addition to picking up one of these devices, you can also learn how to save your phone battery life while you travel.

Image credit: Pexels. Images by Ryan Lynch.