Power banks

How to choose a power bank

A power bank is insurance against a dead phone — but with the wrong capacity and wattage it is either too heavy or too slow. Start with what you charge and how many times, then pick ports and shape.

• Capacity. 5000 mAh charges a phone once and fits in a pocket, 10,000 mAh twice and is the everyday companion, 20,000 mAh four times or a tablet and laptop. Bear in mind that voltage conversion eats 30–35% — 10,000 mAh delivers about 6500 mAh to the device.
• Charging power. 20–22.5 W fast-charges a phone, 30–45 W a tablet, 65–100 W a laptop. Check the input too: 100 W PD input refills in an hour, a 10 W input takes all night for 20,000 mAh.
• Standards. USB-C Power Delivery is universal, PPS adds full Samsung speed, Quick Charge 3.0 charges older Androids over USB-A. Pick two USB-C ports if you charge a phone and earbuds at once.
• Magnetic charging. A MagSafe-compatible bank snaps onto an iPhone 12 or newer and charges wirelessly at 7.5–15 W; Qi2 models do the same with Android. Handy on the move, but a cable is twice as fast.
• Flying. Hand luggage allows up to 100 Wh, roughly 27,000 mAh; 100–160 Wh needs airline approval and anything above is not allowed. Power banks may never go in checked baggage.

Power banks in our range

Pocket banks of 5000 mAh are the Intenso XS 5000 USB-C, Vention 20 W in several colours and the fast-charging EcoFlow RAPID 5000. Everyday 10,000 mAh — Intenso XS10000, F10000 with Quick Charge 3.0 and PD10000 USB-C, Vention 22.5 and 35 W, Rivacase VA2511. Travel and laptop banks of 20,000–30,000 mAh: Intenso F20000 and XS20000, Intenso HE20000 100 W USB-C, Vention 20,000 mAh at 22.5 and 100 W, Vention 27,000 mAh at 140 and 200 W, Trust Laro 100 W, Rivacase VA1090, VA1091 and VA1083 up to 30,000 mAh and EcoFlow 25,000 mAh 170 W. MagSafe and magnetic banks — EcoFlow RAPID Mag and Mag 5000/10,000, Intenso Mag 10,000 and MagSafe 5000, Rivacase VA2603 and VA2607 with an Apple Watch charger, Vention magnetic 5000 mAh. For the outdoors there are the Nitecore CARBO 10000 Gen2 in a carbon-fibre shell and the Nitecore Pocket 10,000 mAh. Filter on the left by capacity, fast charging and number of USB-C ports.

Brands

Intenso is a German brand and the backbone of the range — the XS, F and PD series cover 5000–20,000 mAh at a fair price. Vention gives more watts for the money: 22.5 W already at 10,000 mAh and 200 W in the flagship. Rivacase is strong in laptop and MagSafe banks, and the EcoFlow RAPID series charges fastest both out and in. Nitecore makes the lightest and toughest outdoor banks.

Related products

A power bank refills only as fast as the charger allows — pick a USB-C charger of at least 30 W and a proper USB-C cable. The devices to charge are under smartphones and tablets; the full selection is in charging and memory.

Frequently asked questions

How many times does a 10,000 mAh bank charge a phone? A modern phone with a 4500–5000 mAh battery 1.5–2 times. The advertised figure is the cell capacity; 65–70% reaches the device.

Will a power bank charge a laptop? Yes, if it has a USB-C PD output of at least 65 W and the laptop charges over USB-C. The Intenso HE20000, Trust Laro and Vention 27,000 mAh deliver 100–200 W.

Can I take a power bank on a plane? In hand luggage, yes, up to 100 Wh (about 27,000 mAh) without approval. Look for the Wh figure printed on the shell — a 30,000 mAh model is 111 Wh and needs the airline's consent.

Does a MagSafe bank work with Android? Only an iPhone 12 or newer, or a phone in a magnetic case, snaps on. Wireless charging still works with any Qi phone.

How is a power bank delivered? To a parcel locker (Omniva, DPD) or by courier within 1–2 working days.