I’m a Tech Writer, and This Anker Power Bank Is My Go-to Travel Charger

I’m obsessed with gadgets and cover them for a living. And as a tech journalist, I often travel for press events and product demos. While on the road, I do a lot of my work on mobile devices, and it would be a major disruption if any of my gear ran out of juice. Whether I’m taking pictures of products, showing my boarding pass for flights, or joining remote meetings, my phone and laptop need power no matter where I am. That’s why even before I pack clothes for a trip, I often plan what chargers and batteries I’ll need to keep all my devices working.

If you’ve ever shopped for a portable battery, you know there’s no shortage of options. But during recent trips, one model has stood out and become my go-to travel companion: the Anker Nano Power Bank (A1638). There are lots of good backup batteries on the market, including MagSafe options, but this is the one I keep reaching for again and again. Here’s why I never travel without it and why it’s such a great fit for on-the-go charging.

What I like most

While there are many reasons I think the Anker Nano Power Bank is a great portable battery, a couple of features stand out in particular: its high capacity (without being bulky) and its built-in charging cable.

If you want to keep your phone powered throughout a trip, your portable battery needs to have enough juice to recharge it. The Anker Nano Power Bank has a 10,000 mAh capacity, and I’ve found it perfect for a long day away from outlets.

The 10K capacity offers an ideal balance between physical size and charging power. For my iPhone 17 Pro, I can get about two extra charges from the Nano. In practice, while traveling, I use the Nano to top up my phone multiple times throughout a day.

For example, on a recent cross-country trip, I used the Nano Power Bank at the airport gate. (I seem to always find the seat with a non-working outlet.) While I waited and downloaded music, the Nano boosted my phone’s battery by 15%.

At other times, I’ll give my iPad or MacBook Neo a bump — enough to finish the night or make it to another wall outlet. And while on a plane, I can easily plug the Nano into my laptop’s side port without fiddling with the outlet under my seat.

The Nano Power Bank’s built-in 2.3-foot USB-C cable is the other key feature I love. It’s freeing not having to pull out the power bank and a wire from my bag and then keep them together. Having the retractable cable also means that the battery is never a mess. I’m not wrapping the cable around it or losing it. I’ve tried some other power devices that just dangle a cable off the side. In practice, I much prefer the retractable cord.

The Nano’s power capacity, size, and retractable USB-C cable are the main reasons I keep reaching for it when I travel, but it has other things I like too.

For example, it has an extra USB-C and USB-A port, so you can plug in longer cables if you prefer, or charge multiple devices. The power bank also supports pass-through charging, so in a hotel I can plug the Nano in to recharge its battery while still powering my phone with the retractable cable.

The Nano Power Bank also has an integrated display, and though this may seem silly at first, it’s actually really handy. Mostly, I use it to see how much battery is left, but it can do more. The screen will show how much power a device is consuming, and you can get a sense of how quickly it will power up. I also like that the display will tell me how long it will take to recharge the Power Bank back to 100%.

Importantly, the 10K Nano Power Bank can also provide up to 45W of power. That means when you plug it into a fast-charge-compatible device, like newer iPhones, iPads, or MacBook Airs, they’ll recharge quickly.

Are there drawbacks?

As much as I love the Anker Nano Power Bank, there are a few small shortcomings to keep in mind.

The biggest knock against the battery is that it doesn’t support Qi wireless charging or MagSafe. Those are cool features, but wireless charging wouldn’t work as quickly and would add bulk.

It’s also harder to share the Nano with people who use older iPhones since it doesn’t have a Lightning port. But USB-C is universal enough now that devices without this port are increasingly rare.

The bottom line

The Anker Nano Power Bank (A1638) retails for $59, but is routinely on sale for under $50. At that price, it’s a good value compared to other options on the market. Plus, there just aren’t that many choices if you want a small power bank with its own built-in cable that never tangles. It’s clean and efficient.

While the Nano isn’t quite pocketable, it will fit in plenty of purses, bags, and jackets. I find it too useful to ever leave at home.