Best Portable Chargers and Power Banks to Buy for Android in 2023

It's no secret that most people are spending way more time on their smartphones these days. There's social media, news, productivity, connecting with loved ones, and the seemingly unavoidable doomscrolling. All this activity can lead to a quickly dwindling battery. And while many Android devices have better battery life than iPhones, they still need a little help from time to time. 

If you rely on a battery case to keep your phone running, you're not alone. Battery cases are convenient, but they have some drawbacks: Some are bulky and heavy, and they can negatively affect wireless reception at times. That's why nothing beats a dedicated portable charger or power bank that you can store easily and only take out when you absolutely need it. With both wired and wireless models, there's a slew of options when it comes to keeping your Android device going.

To that end, I've rounded up top picks for the best portable charger for Android devices. Though they cost more, I personally like batteries that have an integrated USB-C output built into them so I don't have to worry about carrying around a charging cable for enough power for my devices. (The models with built-in USB-C cables should also work for iPad Pro devices.) But I've also included some budget picks for those who don't want to shell out as much for portable power and their charging needs. And, while we have a separate power bank roundup for iPhones, anything here without an integrated USB-C cable will work perfectly well with an iPhone (and non-Pro iPad models), so long as you provide the Lightning cable.

Read more: Best Wireless Car Chargers and Mounts for 2023

Best battery packs with built-in USB-C cables and foldout wall plugs

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

InfinityLab InstaGo 5000

Best power bank with built-in USB-C cable

$49 at Amazon

Infinity Lab is Samsung-owned Harman Kardon's new accessories subsidiary and I like its InstantGo 5000 and InstantGo 10000 power banks, which come with an integrated USB-C cable for easy charging for iPhones. The larger 10,000-mAh model costs a bit more and is heavier and bulkier, but it can charge most Android smartphones twice. Though the white model is currently unavailable, the black one is in stock.

$49 at Amazon

Best high-capacity power banks with PD quick charge

Best battery packs with foldout wall plug (no cable)

Best portable wireless Qi chargers

David Carnoy/CNET

Anker 622 MagGo magnetic battery

$50 at Amazon

What's cool about Anker's 622 magnetic battery is that it's a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won't get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts) but it's slim and easy to carry around.

$50 at Amazon

Otterbox

Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank

Power bank that converts into wireless charging stand

$42 at Otterbox

Otterbox gears its Folding Wireless Power Bank toward those who like to watch movies on their phones or play games with a controller. It has a built-in stand that folds down when you take it on the go. It also has USB-C and USB-A ports that are capable of fast-charging your phone at up to 18 watts. The wireless charging is up to 7.5 watts with the iPhone and 10 watts for Android devices.

$42 at Otterbox

Portable battery packs compared

We used all the models above in recent anecdotal testing. Each battery pack highlighted above are ones we recommend over the dozens if not hundreds of others currently on sale at Amazon and elsewhere, which is why we zeroed in on a handful of favorite brands: Mophie, MyCharge and Anker, with some notable one-offs from Aukey, Ventev, Moshi and Harman Kardon thrown in for good measure.

What to look for in a battery pack

Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for a battery pack:

• A higher power rating (mAh, short for milliamp hours) for a battery pack means more charges -- but also a heavier weight. 
• For the latest Android phones, you should buy a battery with at least a 3,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge. With the exception of the Harman Kardon, all the models featured above hit that mark. 
• Multiple USB-out ports will let you charge and recharge more than one

  phone

• These products all use lithium-ion (li-ion) rechargeable batteries, and should thus always be stored in carry-on luggage when flying. Airlines and regulatory agencies are increasingly banning li-ion batteries in checked baggage.
• A few of the battery pack options above are USB-PD (power delivery) models, which provide faster charging of phones with varying battery capacity and other USB-C products that support fast charging. These PD chargers will charge larger USB-C devices (laptops, Nintendo Switch and the like), as well as USB-C enabled iPad Pros, but sometimes at slower rates than larger-wattage wall chargers.