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I have a drawer full of power banks. Most of them just sit there, dead, bought on a whim. Only one stands out.
It’s an Anker. 25,000 mAh, 165W, two built-in cables, and a screen that has no business being on a power bank. It charges my iPhone, Apple Watch, and MacBook without flinching.
It’s probably the best one I’ve ever had. Here’s why.
The One I Take Everywhere
Hiking, mountain refuges with no outlets, last-minute weekends: it lives in my backpack. In the mountains, when the phone battery drains fast with the cold and GPS, it saves the day every single time.
At sports events too. It sits at the bottom of my bag while I do my Hyrox , and in between, it recharges my watch and phone. Pretty handy when you spend the day outside and your Apple Watch drains battery with the GPS constantly running, like on a long mountain endurance run .
Two Cables, Zero Hassle
The first is a retractable USB-C cable that comes out of the top of the case. You pull it out, plug it in, and it retracts on its own. 70 cm is more than enough.
The second is even cleverer: a built-in cable that doubles as a carrying strap. It’s a simple detail, but I never have to dig around for a cable at the bottom of my bag anymore. Plus, there are two standard ports left—one USB-C and one USB-A. Four outputs in total, enough to charge multiple devices at once.
A Screen Too Good for a Power Bank
The screen is what blew me away. Bright, crisp, and accurate. It shows the remaining charge, but more importantly, the real-time power draw when a device is charging. Watching the wattage jump when I plug in my MacBook never gets old.
It even has little animations and a smiley face. Honestly, it’s almost too much for a power bank. I’m not sure I need it making puppy eyes at me while it charges… but I look at it every single time. 😅
It Holds Its Charge and Doesn’t Drain on Its Own
The real plus: it doesn’t drain when idle. You pick it up three weeks later, and it’s still full. That might sound normal, but half the stuff in my drawer can’t do it.
As for battery life, the 25,000 mAh capacity charges an iPhone four to five times. Each USB-C port goes up to 100W, peaking at 165W total—enough to power a MacBook. And for everything it offers, it costs way less than I expected to spend. You can check the current price on Amazon .
The Only Real Downside
595 g. It is heavy, quite literally. In a backpack, it’s totally fine, but in a jacket pocket, you’ll definitely feel it. For this kind of capacity, that’s the trade-off, but it’s worth knowing before you buy.
So, Should You Take It on Vacation?
Yes, without a doubt. It’s one of the few power banks I’m actually happy with, and the only one I’d recommend with my eyes closed for the summer. Throw it in your bag, forget about it, and it’ll be there the day you need it.
And if you’re looking for something to do while everything is charging, I have a few summer reading ideas .
Feel free to get in touch if you want to share your thoughts on this article or tell me about your favorite power bank.
