Portable power bank with two kilowatt-hours of electricity

What is a power bank & how does it work?

A power bank is vastly different from a power station. There's a significant difference in the amount of energy they can store, the cost of owning them and the devices they can charge. A power bank is a small, portable device that's used to charge electronic products like smartphones, laptops and more.

What is the difference between a power bank and power station?

A power bank is a small, portable device that's used to charge electronic products like smartphones, laptops and more. On the other hand, a power station can store huge amounts of energy to power electrical appliances like mini-fridges, microwaves and more. Can a portable power station be your home backup? The answer, surprisingly, is yes.

How much does a power bank cost?

For this range of power banks, you can pay anywhere from $20 to $160. Power banks with a capacity rating of 20,000 mAh or larger are the most versatile of the group. They offer the greatest array of inputs and outputs as they are designed to charge multiple devices at once or charge a single device multiple times.

Does a power bank have wireless charging?

Some larger power banks are equipped with wireless charging capability. On this list, both the BioLite Charge 100 Max and Goal Zero Sherpa 100 PD come with a wireless charging pad that can deliver up to 15W of power to compatible devices. In general, wireless charging from a power bank will be slower than using a cable.

Do I need a power bank?

If you are charging a small smartphone, a simple power bank will suffice. If you plan on charging a laptop occasionally as well, or many devices at once, you'll want a power bank with more power and more features.

What features should you consider when buying a portable power bank?

Pass-through charging is another feature to consider; with it, you can charge your device and a portable power bank simultaneously. That's convenient if both your phone and backup battery are running on empty.