The 10 Best Fast-charging Power Banks
This wiki has been updated 17 times since it was first published in May of 2020. These fast-charging power banks dole out juice quickly and safely when there's no AC outlet around. All of these options use either USB Power Delivery, commonly referred to as PD, or Qualcomm's Quick Charge technology. To maximize speed, you'll need to make certain that what you choose is compatible with your smartphone's fast-charging specifications and that you use a high-speed AC adapter. When users buy our independently chosen editorial recommendations, we may earn commissions to help fund the Wiki.
1. RavPower PB201
2. Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux
3. RavPower PB203
Editor's Notes
June 20, 2020:
The two most common fast-charging technologies are USB Power Delivery, commonly referred to as PD, and Qualcomm's Quick Charge. In the PD Protocol, two devices communicate to set the appropriate wattage to charge quickly. PD 2.0 and 3.0 are more advanced than the first iteration, having more intelligent charging rates for supported devices. To maximize charging capacity, you'll need cables that are designed to be used with quick-charging standards and the wattage of the wall chargers also impacts the speed.
Qualcomm Quick Charge, or QC increases power to the phone by increasing voltage instead of current. QC 2.0 enabled devices can charge at 5V, 9V, or 12V and a QC 3.0 device can charge at voltages between 3.2V and 20V at 200mV increments. Quick Charge utilizes dynamic voltage adjustment, with 200mV steps in version 3.0 and 20mV increments in 4 and beyond. The RavPower PB201 offers both a 60W PD port and a 18-watt QC port.
Anker's PowerIQ 1.0 and 2.0 are slower than Quick Charge and Power Delivery, but PowerIQ 3.0 has caught up and Anker claims it's as fast as Quick Charge 3.0 and can refuel most phones to 50 percent in 30 minutes. The Anker PowerCore 10000 PD Redux and the Anker PowerCore A1281 have this technology.
All of the options on this wiki have what is called "passthrough charging", in which the battery can be plugged into an outlet and charging, while at the same time charging other devices. Power banks rated less than 100 watt-hours, or Wh, can be a carried onto commercial flights without approval. Some power banks are rated higher, like the iMuto X6 Pro which is technically not allowed, so it's important to know the specs before trying to go through security at the airport.
This wiki focuses on power banks specifically designed for their fast-charging capability. Other wikis like best external battery packs highlight other banks not necessarily renowned for their fast charging.
These power banks don't generally include a high-wattage adapter to plug into AC outlets, which can be required to optimize the fastest charging speeds. Some of these adapters can be found by visiting our best multiple usb port chargers page.
Special Honors
Phoenix 300 Made by Renogy, The PHOENIX 300 has a very large 337 watt-hour capacity. It features Power Delivery technology that can give up to 60 watts of power to compatible devices from the USB-C port or up to 18 watts from the Quick Charge USB-A port. renogy.com
4. iMuto X6 Pro
5. Aukey PB-Y23
6. Kenu BingeBank
7. Anker PowerCore A1281
8. RavPower PB055
9. Charmast W2002P
10. ZMI QB820
Building PCs, remodeling, and cooking since he was young, quasi-renowned trumpeter Christopher Thomas traveled the USA performing at and organizing shows from an early age. His work experiences led him to open a catering company, eventually becoming a sous chef in several fine LA restaurants. He enjoys all sorts of barely necessary gadgets, specialty computing, cutting-edge video games, and modern social policy. He has given talks on debunking pseudoscience, the Dunning-Kruger effect, culinary technique, and traveling. After two decades of product and market research, Chris has a keen sense of what people want to know and how to explain it clearly. He delights in parsing complex subjects for anyone who will listen -- because teaching is the best way to ensure that you understand things yourself.