The 10 Best Power Banks 2020 [Under $20 / $50] Review

If you’re living in 2020, you’re probably living the smart life.

You probably spend a lot of time on your smartphone, your laptop, or any other mobile device. And if so, you probably understand the importance and the need for a power bank. It becomes essential to have backup because if your device runs out of juice, you’re stranded. But, given so many choices, it might be overwhelming.

There are so many competing brands and products, but how do you know which one is worth your money? We are here to help.

Before buying a power bank, there are a few things that you should consider.

We did the legwork in this article for you, but you should be aware of what things to look for before you hand out your money.

Firstly, you should check for the mAh capacity of your phone (or any other device you intend to use the power bank with), and purchase only those power banks with mAh capacities higher than that. If your phone has a battery capacity of 2000 mAh, and you purchase a power bank of capacity 6000 mAh, you will be able to charge your phone thrice. Also, look at the type of cells in the power bank.

There are two types – Lithium-ion and Lithium-polymer. The former is cheaper but the latter hold more charge.

Best Power Banks 2020 Reviews

This list has been created after extensive research and information presented here is a collective representation of customer reviews, tech experts’ opinions, and extensive testing. A lot of hours were spent in putting this together and care was taken so that this ends up being the one place you can find your perfect power bank and do not have to look elsewhere.

01. ZMI 2-Way Ultra-Compact Power Bank

The ZMI is one of the thinnest and lightest 10000 mAh power banks on the market right now. It weighs only 6.2 oz and that makes it perfect to carry in your backpack. Also supports Quick Charge 2.0, so if your device supports that, you can charge is in high speed.

Pros:

• Supports Quick Charge 2.0 for faster charging.
• Really high capacity at 10000 mAh and can charge most smartphones 4 times or more.
• A really comfortable footprint and really lightweight which makes it easy to carry around.

Cons:

• Two charging inputs (USB C and Mirco USB) but only one charging output (QC 2.0) which means it can only power one device at a time.

02. EC Technology 22400mAh Power Bank

The EC Technology is one of those with the highest capacities available in the market, at 22400 mAh. It also has 3 output ports so that you can charge multiple devices at a time. But that comes at a price. With that capacity, it is a little heavy at roughly 16 oz.

Pros:

• Really high capacity which means that you can charge your smartphone roughly 7-8 times with one full charge.
• You can charge up to 3 devices at once with this power bank.
• This device charges up at least twice as fast as most other devices because of two micro USB input ports.

Cons:

• Considerably heavy and thick.
• Not Quick Charge compatible so devices that support fast charging will not be charged at that speed.

03. EasyAcc 20000mAh Power Bank

This is another high capacity power device by EasyAcc, with 20000 mAh capacity. It has 4 USB output ports which allow for 4 devices to be charged simultaneously. It also has a built in LED flashlight (if you happen to need it).

Pros:

• High capacity of 20000 mAh which means that you can charge an average smartphone around 7 times with one full charge.
• 4 output USB ports which means that you can charge 4 devices simultaneously.
• Two micro USB inputs which allows for faster charging of the battery pack.

Cons:

• Considerably heavy.
• Quick Charge not supported.
• When charging more than 2 devices at a time, the power bank gets considerably warm.

04. Jackery Giant+ 12000mAh

Jackery offers good balance between battery capacity and weight. At about 10 oz, it has a capacity of 12000 mAh which is reasonable. It has two output ports (fast charging) and an LED flashlight built-in.

Pros:

• Reasonably lightweight and portable for its capacity.
• Can charge two devices simultaneously.
• Reasonably priced for what you are getting.

Cons:

• Only one USB output supports fast charging so when charging two devices simultaneously, one charges fast while the other does not.

05. Anker PowerCore 20100mAh

This device by Anker, which is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to battery packs, is currently the bestseller on Amazon. It is really lightweight for it’s capacity, at only 12 oz for 20100 mAh. It delivers fast charge but does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge.

Pros:

• Really portable for the capacity it offers.
• Can charge two devices simultaneously.

Cons:

• Does not support Quick Charge.
• Might be a little too long to carry in a pocket. Suitable to carry in your backpack though.

06. Anker PowerCore+ 26800mAh

One of the more expensive options on this list, this device by Anker is possibly one of the best you can get for your money. Even with a capacity this huge, this power bank is not super heavy (about 20 oz). It recharges really fast and comes loaded with all the features like Quick Charge 3.0.

Pros:

• Really high capacity which will allow you to charge an average smartphone 8-9 times.
• Comes with all the features you would expect from a power bank, like Quick Charge 3.0 and fast recharging.
• Can charge 3 devices simultaneously.

Cons:

• Only one port supports Quick Charge 3.0.

07. Crave PowerPack 50000 mAh

If you need the absolutely highest capacity, this is the one you are looking for. It might be a little expensive, but that is because it packs a monstrous 50000 mAh within it. It is heavier than most other power banks, but most other devices do not pack this capacity.

Pros:

• One of the highest capacities available in the market. Allows to charge an average smartphone at least 15 times.
• Can charge up to 4 smartphones and 2 laptops at once.
• Comes with an included travel pouch which is a nice little touch.

Cons:

• Really heavy at about 32 oz but it is small enough to fit in a backpack, though the weight might be noticeable.

08. Lumina 15000 mAh Portable Charger

This one is a device from a lesser known company Lumina with a 15000 mAh capacity which is plenty. It also has two USB outs so that two devices can be charged simultaneously. A small display also displays the current battery percentage of the power bank.

Pros:

• Lightweight and portable while offering a decent battery capacity. There are, however, more portable options on the market.
• Can charge two devices simultaneously.
• It also comes with a 9in Micro USB cable (most devices do not have this included).
• The LED display comes in very handy which shows the exact percentage of power left.

Cons:

• Not light enough to carry in your pocket.
• Supports fast charging but not Qualcomm Quick Charge.

09. iMuto 30000mAh Portable Charger X6

This power bank, the Taurus X6, is by one of the lesser known brands out there, which might make it a tough purchase. But this offers really high capacity at about 30000 mAh but is really heavy. The digital screen is a nice little addition as well.

Pros:

• Really high capacity which means you can charge an average smartphone more than 7 times and an average laptop twice with just one full charge.
• Has a digital screen which displays the exact percentage of power left.
• Can charge 3 devices simultaneously.

Cons:

• Really heavy, at 24 oz, it is not suitable to carry around in your pocket or handbag.
• Does not support Qualcomm Quick Charge.

10. RAVPower 26800 Battery Pack

The RAVPower is also a relatively unknown brand when it comes to power banks. But this product is one of their better offerings. With a 26800 mAh capacity, it can simultaneously charge 3 devices. It also comes with a travel pouch and 2 Micro USB charging cable, which means you will not have to spend extra cash on getting those for your devices.

Pros:

• Great build which means it can survive a few sloppy drops.
• Good capacity at 26800 mAh which means you can charge your average smartphone around 6 times.
• The travel pouch and Micro USB cables included in the box are nice additions and come in really handy.
• Can charge 3 devices simultaneously.

Cons:

• At this weight, there are other power banks which offer slightly more capacity (around 30000 mAh).

Things to consider before making a purchase

As is the case with any other product, there are a few things that one should consider before making the purchase, depending on their specific needs and expectations.

1. What is the optimal capacity for your needs?This one depends on a few things – the number of devices you intend to charge with the power bank and their battery capacities. For example if you carry a tablet with a 5000 mAh battery and a smartphone with a 2500 mAh battery, then the power bank you purchase should be at least 8000 mAh so that you can charge both these devices at least once.
2. Do any of your devices support Qualcomm Quick Charge?You can look up your devices’ manuals for this, and if they do indeed support Qualcomm Quick Charge, you should invest a little more money and buy a power bank with support for that so that you can charge that device faster.
3. How do you intend to carry it?If you intend to carry the power bank in a backpack, weight should not be an issue for you and you can go ahead and get the heaviest one. But if you wish to carry it in your pocket or handbag, then you should look for the lighter ones.
4. Does the power bank come with cables?You must check if the power bank comes with cables because if it does not, you must make sure you have the cable, or purchase the required one separately.

Conclusion

There is a plethora of choices out there and depending on your needs, you must buy the one that makes the most sense for you, following the things to consider given above. We did the legwork for you and made a comprehensive list of the products you can look at. All in all, you should get a power bank which has sufficient capacity while not sacrificing portability (if that is important to you) and which allows you to charge your devices fast and safely.