Guide to Buying a Power Bank 2023

Wherever the adventure takes you, staying powered up is essential for capturing those unforgettable travel and sporting moments. Whatever the device, a portable charger is a must for making sure the battery stays in the green and ready for photos, maps and comms when you’re out exploring. Here’s how to choose the best power bank for your needs, from how much charge you need to whether it’s safe to take on the plane.

What to think about when buying a power bank.

The key question here is what devices you'll need to charge, as this will influcence the capacity, port types and wattage you need, along with any special features. For example, our Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 5K comes with a stand that you can use to stream or video call when you're back at the hotel - perfect for charging one iPhone at a time ready for the next adventure. If you're travelling in a group of fellow sports fans, our 4 Port Power Bank 26K will have you all charged up in time for the game. When you're limited on space or travelling light, choose our super-compact Hybrid Wall Charger 25W, which doubles up as a 5K power bank when you're out and about.

Consider how much charge your power bank needs.

When you're all day at a big sporting event or heading off on a camping adventure, it's helpful to know how much charge you'll get from your power bank before it needs recharging itself. Power bank capacity is measured in milliamp hours (mAh), and as an example our Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 5K (5,000 mAh) delivers over 19 hours of extended video playback for iPhone 14 Pro before it needs recharging. A 10K power bank, such as our BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger, is a great all-rounder and will give you enough power to fully recharge an iPhone 15 twice, or to charge a phone and other accessories (such as headphones or an Apple Watch) at the same time. All Belkin power banks come with 100% charge, so you can get going right away.

How long does it take a power bank to recharge?

Need to hit the road or trail in a hurry? The length of time it takes your power bank to recharge depends on how much charge it had left in it and what charger and cable you’re using. If there’s a feature called ‘power delivery’ (PD), this will charge and recharge faster than a powerbank without PD. If you’re charging a connected device at the same time as recharging the power bank itself, it will take longer to recharge. However, Belkin power banks have a ‘power pass through’ feature that allows you to charge the connected device and powerbank together, giving you two fully charged devices at the end of the charge time.

Can you take a power bank on a plane?

Yes! Providing its capacity is 27,000mAh or below and you carry it in your cabin luggage instead of checking it in. Our power banks are TSA compliant, and one of the best Belkin power banks you can fly with is the 4-Port Power Bank 26K, which charges four devices at the same time so you're ready to go as soon as you land.

Choosing the best powerbank for your needs.

Your choice of power bank will come down to where you need to take it. For a good all-rounder for a city break or Olympic event, our lightweight BoostCharge Power Bank 10K gives you up to 40 extra hours of battery life for your iPhone 15/14/13/12, or allows your friends to charge their devices at the same time via 2 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. When charging opportunities are more limited, such as on a camping or hiking expedition, our BoostCharge Power Bank 20K will give you up to 78 extra hours, while the ultimate for an extended adventure is our 4-Port Power Bank 26K, which charges four devices at a time and delivers 115 extra hours of charge to your smartphone.