Best Portable Power Banks for Travel: Seven Packs Across Three Sizes

Introduction

Choosing a portable power bank is harder than it should be. Capacities, wattages, port splits, pass-through charging, waterproof ratings: the spec sheets pile up fast. This guide breaks the field into three practical size categories (large laptop-class packs, midsize daily carry, and small emergency packs) and compares seven models from Anker, INIU, and Nitecore, covering what each does well and which one fits your kind of travel.

What to Check Before Buying a Power Bank

Four things matter most. First, capacity, usually listed in milliamp hours. Second, maximum wattage output and how that power splits between ports. Third, the number and type of output ports, whether USB-C or USB-A. And finally, extra features such as pass-through charging, display interfaces, integrated plugs, durability, and waterproofing.

One caveat on capacity: the number printed on the box is not what your phone actually receives. A 5,000 mAh pack operating at the standard 3.7V lithium-ion voltage delivers roughly 3,300 mAh once the USB output steps up to 5V. In practice, expect about 70% of the listed capacity to reach your device. Every manufacturer has this same discrepancy, so it should not sway your choice between brands, but it is worth knowing before you expect a 25,000 mAh pack to charge a laptop four times.

Also note that airlines cap lithium batteries at roughly 27,000 mAh (about 2 ounces of lithium), so every large pack in this guide sits below that flying limit.

Large Power Banks: Laptop-Class Charging

These are the biggest packs, typically 20,000 to 25,000 mAh, with high power output capable of charging a laptop and multiple devices at once. If your laptop needs 45W, 70W, or more, a small pack simply will not cut it; you need this category.

Anker A1695

The Anker A1695 is the powerhouse of this group, with a maximum output of 165W. It can act as a full power hub: plug it directly into the wall to charge its own battery while simultaneously charging multiple devices off it. It uses an extension plug plus a separate cable that doubles as a small leash, and its display goes furthest of any pack here, showing total output, power, and input for each port, plus battery health and operating temperature.

If you want the most functional laptop-class charger with integrated plugs and the deepest information display, this is the strongest option.

INIU Laptop Power Bank

INIU’s large pack covers the same 25,000 mAh class while being the smallest of its size in this comparison, and it is also the least expensive at around $80. The trade-off is power: 100W max output versus 165W from the Anker A1695, still plenty for most laptops but with less fast-charge headroom. Its port labels read 145W and 18W style splits depending on configuration; plug in a second device and the wattage divides per the small print, so two laptops can charge at once, just not at full speed.

This is the pick if size and price matter more than maximum wattage.

Midsize Power Banks: The Daily Workhorses

Around 10,000 mAh is the sweet spot for daily carry. These packs fit in day packs and slings, can charge multiple devices, and sometimes deliver more than one full charge for the same phone. This is the category most travelers will actually use every day.

Anker Nano Portable

The Anker Nano is a midsize pack that punches above its weight with a 45W max output, enough to charge lower-power laptops like many mainstream ultrabooks, and 22.5W capability that lets phones such as the iPhone 15 charge at their maximum supported rate. It uses two USB-C plugs that act as in-and-out chargers and includes a small built-in USB plug. Its display shows a percentage plus which ports are in use and whether the battery is charging or powering devices.

This is arguably the most versatile pack here: small enough for daily carry, strong enough for many laptops.

INIU B61

The INIU B61 is the value play of the midsize category at around $23 for 10,000 mAh, which is remarkably inexpensive. It matches the Anker Nano’s 22.5W output for phones and small devices, so charging speed for phones is not compromised. The notable omission is pass-through charging: it cannot charge the battery and a device at the same time, so you use one USB-C connection for either role.

If your budget is tight and you mainly charge phones and tablets, this pack does the core job for very little money.

View more details for INIU B61

Nitecore NB+

The Nitecore NB+ sits in the same 10,000 mAh class with a simple dot-style display showing remaining charge in a series of three or four segments. Its appeal is less about feature count and more about form: it is sleek, slim, and has no moving parts to break, making it a low-fuss daily companion that slides easily into a sling or travel bag.

Choose it if you want a durable, minimal midsize pack without extra complexity.

Small Power Banks: Emergency Backup

Around 5,000 mAh, these packs usually cannot take most phones from zero to 100%, but they are ideal if you lean heavily on your phone and just need enough extra power to finish the day. They are also the slimmest options for pocket and sling storage.

Anker Fusion

The Anker Fusion is one of two small Anker options. Like the larger Anker packs, it features an integrated plug that folds out to charge directly from the wall, and it supports pass-through charging, so plugging it in overnight tops up both the pack and your connected device at the same time. It displays a percentage readout for a bit more information than simple dot indicators.

This is a great fit as a bedside or carry-everywhere emergency pack that doubles as a wall charger.

Anker Nano (Small)

The small Anker Nano is the other 5,000 mAh emergency option, and it stands out with an interactive display: alongside the power meter, it shows which ports are in use and whether the battery is charging or powering other devices, with multiple screens to cycle through. It also includes a built-in USB plug for cable-free convenience.

Pick this one if you want a tiny pack that still gives you meaningful information on its screen.

View more details for Anker Nano

Nitecore NB Air

The Nitecore NB Air is a 5,000 mAh emergency pack built around simplicity. It uses a dot-style display rather than a percentage readout, which keeps things basic but easy to glance at. Like other Nitecore packs, it is IPX7 waterproof rated, meaning it can be submerged in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes, and its slim profile disappears into a travel bag.

It is the low-maintenance choice for an emergency battery that can survive the elements.

Nitecore Carbon

The Nitecore Carbon rounds out the small category with the same core strengths: very compact, sleek, no moving parts, and IPX7 waterproof. Its display is the simple dot variety, showing charge level in segments rather than a percentage.

If you want the absolute smallest, slimmest battery pack with high durability, this is a leading option.

Extra Features Worth Comparing

Pass-through charging lets a pack charge itself and your device simultaneously. Most of the medium and all of the large packs here support it; some small packs with only one USB-C port cannot, since that port is either charging the battery or your device, not both. The Anker Fusion and larger Anker models handle this well thanks to integrated wall plugs.

On wattage splitting: the numbers printed next to each port (for example, 45W and 18W on a three-port pack) are maximums per port used alone. Plug in a second device and the wattage divides according to the small print on the back, so a 100W port may drop to 65W with a 45W companion port. That is still enough to power two laptops, just without fast charging.

Display Interfaces

Displays range from simple to detailed. Nitecore packs and some small Ankers use dot indicators for a quick charge-level glance. Several Anker packs add a percentage readout, still simple but more precise. The most interactive displays, on the smaller and larger Anker flagships, cycle through battery health, operating temperature, and per-port output and input while charging.

Nitecore for Durability and Waterproofing

Nitecore wins the durability conversation. Its packs are simple, sleek, and free of moving parts that can break, and they carry an IPX7 waterproof rating: submersible in up to 1 meter of water for up to 30 minutes. For anyone packing for wet or unpredictable conditions, that rating removes a real worry.

Which Brand Should You Buy?

Anker has the strongest options for power and functionality: a huge laptop power bank, midsize packs with high output and integrated plugs, and two smaller options for quick charging or simultaneous wall charging, all with the most capable displays here.

INIU makes some of the smallest packs for their capacity and the least expensive options, with a 10,000 mAh bank around $23 and the large one around $80. The downside is lower max output than comparably sized rivals.

Nitecore is the brand for the smallest, slimmest, most durable packs, with waterproofing as a genuine differentiator for travel.

Conclusion

Match the pack to the job: the Anker A1695 for laptop power and hub-style versatility, the INIU packs for capacity per dollar and smallest size in class, the Anker Nano for a do-everything daily carry, and Nitecore for slim, waterproof emergency backups. Whichever you choose, budget for about 70% of the listed capacity reaching your device, and you will not be disappointed.