The Best Battery Pack
The Stubbornest – Anker 313 Power Bank
The Anker 313 (PowerCore 10k) is the best portable battery we have found. It is the perfect mix of reliable, a good size (10,000 mAh) and extremely durable. We are continually impressed by the Anker line of products.
DURABILITY
More rugged and durable than the rest
COST
Cheaper than most alternatives
CAPACITY
10k is enough to charge a lot
Pros
Cons
Also Great – Anker Nano
We also own and have used the Anker Nano for years. It is a tiny, cheap option, and you don’t have to carry a cord as it plugs directly into your device. Available for both USB-C and iPhones
Upgrade – Anker Prime
This is a great all-in-one option with 27,650 mAh, and can charge so many things. Much more expensive, but worth every penny.
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CANDIDATES
At Stubborn Gear, we have tried so many different brands of portable battery packs over the years. We have spent hours researching, reading reviews, and watching videos to find the best battery pack. One name keeps rising to the top: Anker. We have owned all the battery packs that we recommend for several years, and they are still going strong.
Because it takes years of use to find a battery pack that will last, we were not able to conduct our usual comparison testing. Instead, take this a a hearty recommendation based on our own personal experience with the Anker line.
1 – Anker 10k PowerPack
Summary: The Anker 10k is our go-to power bank. We have owned one for years and highly recommend it for it’s durability, capacity and form factor. It also includes PowerIQ technology that charges devices faster (at 3V). The capacity is enough for charging several devices while out for the day or on a long flight.
2 – Anker Nano
Summary: The Nano is great for keeping in your pocket in case your phone dies. Its half the capacity of our main pick at 5000 mAh, but that’s enough to get you by in a pinch. The other thing we love is that you don’t have to carry a charging cord. The connecter just flips up for a plug and go configuration.
ANALYSIS
Stubborn Gear is a small team of mechanical engineers with over 20 years of experience designing hardware for the US Military, so we really know what it takes to build something tough. We put that expertise to work by spotting weak designs and materials that just won’t hold up in the long run.
We looked into power banks from all the main brands. There are also so many knock-off brands and new names that it is hard to know which you can trust. INIU, Belkin, Mophie, Energizer, Duracell, Goal Zero, and UGreen are all names in this crowded field. Over and over the Anker name stood out for it’s durability, great user reviews and cost.
We examined the following characteristics to find the best power bank:
DURABILITY
The Anker PowerCore 10K is known for its impressive durability. It features a rugged, scratch-resistant exterior, making it resistant to daily wear and tear. Internally, its high-quality lithium-ion battery cells ensure long-lasting performance, withstanding hundreds of charging cycles without significant capacity loss. With safety systems like temperature control, voltage regulation, and short circuit prevention, the power bank is built for longevity.
The PowerCore 10K holds up well over time, providing consistent charging speeds and remaining physically intact even after accidental drops. It is designed and tested to withstand a 1 meter drop. This makes it a reliable and durable choice for both daily use and travel, ensuring extended usability over the years.
FORM FACTOR
The Anker PowerCore 10K has a sleek and compact form factor, making it an ideal portable power bank. It is lightweight, weighing only 7.5 ounces (212 grams). That’s about as heavy as your average hamster. It is roughly the size of a smartphone, which makes it easy to carry in a pocket or bag. It also has a textured surface that makes it easy to hold and grip without slipping. Its slim profile allows for convenience during travel without adding bulk, and the rounded edges ensure a comfortable grip.
If you want something even smaller, the Anker Nano is comfortable attached to your phone or loose in your pocket.
COST PER mAh
We evaluated 15 different popular power banks to get a dollar per mAh number. The table below shows the current price, capacity, and is sorted by $/capacity. It also shows the weight and dimensions as well as what ports are offered for charging the bank.
WARRANTY
The Anker comes standard with an 18 month warranty. This is better than the 12 months warranty of most power banks. We like that Anker stands behind their products.
INDICATORS
The Anker 10k and Nano both display the charge state (percentage that the battery is full) using a 4 dot system. With the push of a button, or while charging, you can quickly see if the battery is at 25, 50, 75 or 100 percent full. A nice touch.
REVIEWS
After narrowing down our choices, we scoured the internet for good quality reviews. These can be very hard to find now that fake and paid-for reviews are everywhere.
Sites like ReviewMeta and FakeSpot analyze reviews with their algorithm to eliminate suspicious ones and give an updated score.
The Anker 10k that is our winner had 66,648 ratings on Amazon as of the time of this review (that’s a ton!). Fakespot review analysis gave it a score of A, showing that the reviews are accurate and high quality.
AMAZON RATING
4.7
ADJUSTED RATING
4.7
*Disclaimer: We don’t accept payment from any company, so you know our reviews are honest and unbiased. We are completely supported our fans. This page contains affiliate links. That means that we are awarded a small commission for purchases made through them, at no added cost for you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.