I Ditched the Competition and Chose these Two Power Banks For My Long Trip Abroad

Our phones are better than ever at staying charged for a whole day. But there are days when they need to give more than 100%—particularly when traveling. Power banks are the easiest way to keep juiced up on the go—and these are my two favorites.

A Compact Power Bank for Short Trips

While traveling through Japan, my phone was running on overtime. It was my go-to for navigation, translation, photos; you name it, and my phone did it. Having it at 100% power required some active thinking on my part. But, a power bank, which I could easily carry to the hotel breakfast or a convenience store, made this easier.

In this case, I defaulted to the Anker MagGo 5,000mAh power bank. I’ve had it since September 2023, and it’s held up well. It can even fully charge my phone.

With its 5,000mAh capacity, I get a full charge whenever I use it to charge my iPhone wirelessly. If wired charging, this increases to a full charge and then some. But since it supports MagSafe—making it one of the best magnetic accessories for the iPhone—I didn’t always pack an extra cable.

I also like that it’s compact enough to not add too much bulk and easily slides into my pockets when not in use. This particular power bank can even double as a kickstand, a feature I used whenever I sat down to review my plan for the day or was catching up with my family at the end of it.

A Large Capacity, High Output Power Bank for Your Tech Essentials

Once you’ve picked out a compact power bank, add a large 20,000mAh unit to your daily carry. A large battery backup like this is especially useful if you’re going to be out for a long period or have more than just a phone to power—think cameras, portable fans, and more.

I used this simple Redmi 20,000mAh power bank because it comes with a USB-C port and dual USB-A ports, perfect for keeping smaller accessories powered while also keeping my phone charged when needed. If you’re a digital nomad who doesn’t leave home without a laptop, consider picking up a large power bank with 45W of power output—something like the Anker 537 24,000mAh power bank—these can easily keep you working for long hours, too.

Stick to power banks under 27,000mAh so you can carry it on flights without trouble.

There’s no better feeling than being prepared for whatever the day may throw at you, and having these power banks or others of this type can make your day-to-day life or trips a lot more fun.