Guide to Buying a Power Bank 2023

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.

First, consider what device(s) you’ll be charging with it – this affects the capacity, type of ports and wattage you need, as well as special features. For example, if you only need the power bank for one iPhone 14, a magnetic attachment will give you handy wireless charging. For a set of headphones or two phones, a 10K or 20K power bank is ideal. If you’ll need to charge tablets or laptops as well, you’ll want a power bank with a higher wattage. Think about safety, too – only buy from a reputable brand that clearly displays compliance markings such as CE and UKCA.

Consider how much charge your power bank needs.

When you have limited opportunities to recharge your power bank, you need to know how much charge you’ll get from it before it needs recharging itself. The amount of charge in a power bank is measured in mAh (milliamp hours), and the most common sizes available are 10,000 and 20,000. A 10K powerbank is a good all-rounder, giving you enough power to fully recharge an iPhone 13 twice, or a phone and other accessories (such as headphones) 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?

This 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?

The good news is that you can take your power bank on board with you as long as its capacity is 27,000mAh or below, but you’ll need to carry it in your hand luggage rather than putting it in the hold. The best Belkin power banks for flying with are the 3-Port Power Bank 10K or the Power Bank 20K.

Choosing the best powerbank for your needs.

The right power bank for you will depend on where you’re taking it. If you’re looking for one that’s a great all-rounder for a weekend away, the new Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K is ideal and is even a fast wireless charger for your Apple Watch at the same time. When you’re off to a festival with limited recharging opportunities, make it the 3-Port Power Bank 10K the Power Bank 20K so that you can get several phone charges out of it. If you’re travelling light for a day trip, the 5K Magnetic Wireless Power Bank + Stand will fit in your pocket and attaches to your phone magnetically for convenient wire-free charging.