Lightweight and small power bank recommendations

I like this one I have for a few reasons.

https://a.co/d/09W7jdet

It’s small. Barely larger than an chapstick. And fits easily at the bottom of my small cross body purse. It’s not too heavy. You can charge the phone and the power bank at the same time with one cord.

I bought one like that one, too, Laurie Ann (after it was recommended on the forum) to use for my recent trip. It is wonderful. Charges really fast and is so light. I thought I had forgotten to put it in my bag a couple of times bc it’s so light. Great travel power bank. I got mine on sale at Best Buy.

Target has the version I bought on sale rn

https://www.target.com/p/anker-nano-5000mah-22-5w-power-bank-with-built-in-usb-c-connector-black/-/A-89089904?TCID=OGS&AFID=google&CPNG=Electronics&adgroup=80-8&srsltid=AU7gw4VljMWfXJknd_TVVvsf-PBQyqzc-ZlCETbGUO7icCJ7x9pj9A0DjY0

I have this one and really like it.
https://a.co/d/00YjjfBS

Just realize that the above power banks they're talking about can only be used with phones that use a USB-C connection. If you have an older iPhone that needs a lightning connection, you won't be able to use it.

FYI, with questions like this, it's good to give us as much detail as possible, and it would be helpful to know what kind of phone you have.

Mardee - mine comes with a mini cable that is not attached to the power bank per se, and it has USB-C and A entry ports. But it does come with a small dual USB-c cable as a side bonus.

Thanks much, great suggestions. Good point, Mardee - I have iPhone 16, so no port issues.

Won't go into brands, but I found the ones that are about the same length and width of a cell phone and about the same thickness are ideal. With improved battery technology, in both your cell phone and the power bank, this is about all you would need. You really only need a back-up for heavy use over a day. Most newer cellphone batteries will last a day or a bit more, under heavy use, for a couple, a power bank about the size of a cell phone will cover both phones.

I have one very similar to Joy's. I like that the strap is actually a USB-C cable. This way I never forget a cable which is something I've done in the past. It also allows me to add "juice" to more than one item at a time.

I have been eyeing this one, although I have not yet purchased. But being Anker, should be as reliable as the old trusty one.Anker MagGo

Joy, sorry, I posted that right around the same time you did, and I was referring to the power bank mentioned in the 2 posts above you.

goodrich_yas, here is the one that I use. I bought this Anker power bank a year or so ago, and I love it. It's smaller than most power banks, around 3x2", is 10K, 45W and best of all, it has a built-in retractable USB-C cable, so you don't need to remember to bring another cord along if you need to charge the power bank. I was really surprised at how quickly it charged my phone, and you can charge it up to 3 times without recharging the power bank.

You can find it on the Anker website. It comes in five different colors. https://www.anker.com/products/a1638-10k-45w-power-bank

Another thing to consider to keep your battery going longer is the settings on your phone. There are lots of youtube videos on the topic.

I don't have a specific recommendation, but given that power banks are an item that can very occasionally burst into flames, I would avoid sketchy brands I never heard of (no matter how many positive reviews they have on amazon), and stick with trusted brands like Anker or Belkin.

We flew to the British Isles in May; it was our first flights since fall of 2024. The safety briefing included instructions to place power banks only in the seatback pocket or under the seat in front of you. That was the first time I'd heard that rule. Makes sense.

My phone can usually last a regular day with a full charge. But when traveling and taking lots of photos, the battery goes down much quicker! I also have the settings to use less battery whenever possible, but those clicks do make battery drain faster.

I have the same one as Mustlovedogs linked (Anker Nano). Definitely recommend as a small and light alternative. It's been one of my most impactful travel gear updates I've made over the past few years. Do note, however, it isn't a ton of capacity, especially if you're coming from a much larger power bank. I find it gives less than one full re-charge of iPhone 16 Pro Max. So, best as a little supplemental/just in case power for peace of mind (like if you're out all day, or on a light hike), and less of a solution if you are using your devices pretty heavily or multiple people might need to use it.

The Anker power bank several of you recommended is an Amazon Big Prime Deal today and tomorrow (October 6/7): Anker Nano power bank 5.000 may with built in USB-C connector.

I like the idea of the little ones and will probalby buy one very soon. But do keep in mind that 5000mAh isnt enough for even one full charge with most phones.

I'm another one that only goes with well-known brands like Anker, as I think they're safer. I also use tricks with my settings to keep from running out of battery juice. For example, if I'm out for the day traveling and I know I will be taking a lot of photos, which eats up battery life like crazy, I will start off the day by setting it to Low Power Mode, which reduces background activities, processing speed, mail fetch, and so on. It's stuff you don't need when you're out anyway, and it'll make your battery last longer. To change it on an iPhone, go to Settings >Battery >Power Mode >Low Power Mode

Also, keep in mind that the older your phone is, the more battery it will use up and the less you'll have. Right now, I have an iPhone 17 Pro, and it's fairly new, so I can go the whole day without worrying about it, even taking a lot of photos. But my previous phone's battery life was pretty much shot by midday, even with setting changes.

That's why I like my Anker or similar ones. It will fully charge an iPhone up to three times on one charge. And something like that is what I would be using if I had an older phone. Because the smaller ones will just give you enough to get you through for another few hours and then you're stuck again.

@MrE and @Mardee: Points noted. I have an iPhone 16 and do what I can to minimize battery usage. Besides photos, navigation apps use up a lot of juice. I found I usually just needed a back up at the end of a long day, not a complete phone charge, so going to try a lighter/smaller Anker power bank and see how that works. I appreciate all the recommendations.

Keep in mind that the capacity will decrease with "small and lightweight" power bank. Be sure to assess your requirements so that you get one that will last for a full day. This will likely mean charging the power bank each night. The 10K version of this would probably be a good compromise - https://www.belkin.com/ca/p/power-bank-10k/BPB011btSL.html .

These guidelines provide good information on the current rules for power banks on aircraft - https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe/lithium-batteries . However be sure to check the airlines you'll be travelling with, as some airlines may have their own limits.

Mardee:
Anker PowerCore 10000 (Model A1263): Over 1.1 million units sold from 2016 to 2022 linked to 19 reports of fires/explosions and property damage.

goodrich_yas, I am like you, I just thought I would point out the obvious. I would rather have a small one that I can always carry than a large one that I dont bring because its too big.

The new FAA regs are written around the IATA trade organization recommendations. The airlines comform with the FAA regs but adopt the IATA most of the time. So thats the one worth looking at if the topic interests you: https://www.iata.org/contentassets/6fea26dd84d24b26a7a1fd5788561d6e/passengers_travelling_with_lithium_batteries.pdf

Mr. E, that's not the one I have. I have no idea what the data is on the one I have, but so far it hasn't blown up on me. 😊

I have a Veektomx 10,000mAh 22.5W battery which I bought 3 years ago. It is still much smaller than most that are new today and the latest ones are even smaller. Together with Inui, you won't find smaller, more power for the price.