In New York, your phone isn’t just your phone; it’s your MetroCard. It’s also your Citi Bike key, your map if you get lost, and for some, it’s even your apartment key.
So a dead phone in this city isn’t a simple inconvenience. It’s losing your wallet, your transit pass and the key to your place all at the same time.
For the New York Post’s Made It Here Awards, we tested eight power banks with one question: Which ones actually keep a New Yorker’s phone alive from the first swipe of the day to the moment you get home?
As a busy professional, hopping from home on Long Island to weekends in the Hudson Valley and excursions throughout the city, my iPhone gave up wall outlets for nearly two months while relying only on the best power banks money could buy. After eight weeks of nonstop trials, which ones passed the test and which ones ran out of juice?
Best overall: Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro
Pros:
- 25W wireless or 45W wired charging
- Built-in fan keeps charging speeds up
- Kickstand adjusts from 0 to 80 degrees
- Screen shows battery, battery health and temperature
- Recharges itself fast at 45W
Cons:
- 17.8 millimeters thick
- No built-in cable
- The fan is audible up close
- Top of its class price
This is the power bank we’d hand to any New Yorker, and it’s the one that does the most.
It snaps on magnetically and charges at 25W, the fastest wireless speed out there. It took my iPhone Air from 0 to 50% in just about 30 minutes with the fan on. Plug in a cable and it puts out 45W, enough for an iPad or a small laptop, and it recharges itself at 45W, too. Anker says that gets it to 80% in 52 minutes.
On capacity, it delivered about two full charges. That’s a full day of OMNY, maps and photos with plenty left over. With my phone on low power mode from 80% on (a default of mine these days, really), I survived two days without needing an outlet.
The fan is the reason it stays fast. Wireless charging makes heat, and heat makes most banks slow down. Anker’s fingertip-size fan keeps air moving, and Anker says the bank stays below 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit.
The kickstand holds the phone at any angle from 0 to 80 degrees, and Anker says it’s tested for 5,000 cycles. Watching something on the train or going hands-free for FaceTime at a bar counter is easy. The screen shows more than a battery percentage: battery health, temperature and charging mode, too.
What you give up: At almost 18 millimeters thick and nearly 8 ounces, it’s a tougher sell for your back pocket. It’s a no-brainer if you have a bag or coat pockets that can carry the “heavy” weight. Also, depending on how you charge, there’s no built-in cable, though Anker includes a foot-long one. And $109.99 is near the top for a 10K bank.
Why it beat the Ugreen: The Ugreen goes slightly longer, but the Anker has the kickstand, a quieter fan and 45W input versus 30W, so it refills faster when you’re back to grounded power.
Capacity: 10,000mAh | Wireless: 25W Qi2 | Wired: 45W USB-C in and out | Cooling: Fan | Kickstand: 0 to 80 degrees | Display: Yes, with battery health and temperature | Size: 4.14 by 2.79 by 0.7 inches | Weight: 7.76 ounces
Best longest-lasting: Ugreen MagFlow Pro Magnetic Power Bank 10000mAh 25W
Pros:
- Recharges an iPhone over two full charges
- Liquid cooling you can see through a window
- Built-in 45W USB-C cable doubles as a carry loop
- 25W wireless or 45W wired charging
- Screen shows charging power, cycles and battery level
Cons:
- No kickstand
- Slower 30W input
- The heaviest 10K bank here, at 8.29 ounces
If your life is out from 5 a.m. to midnight more days than it’s not, this is the one for you.
Ugreen claims it gets up to 1.76 charges for an iPhone 17. I was able to get two solid charges out of this for my iPhone Air, easy. I preferred the magnetic charging option for ease and mobility.
It also has a wild cooling system. Ugreen’s CryoPulse system pumps liquid through the bank to pull heat away from your phone during 25W wireless charging, and a clear window lets you watch it flow. Ugreen says its ThermalGuard checks the temperature 200 times a second. I didn’t see much liquid moving, but that may have been because my phone never got hot enough to trigger it.
The built-in cable is the other big win. It’s rated for 45W and more than 10,000 bends, and it plugs into the spare port to form a loop you can hang from a bag. One less cable to forget.
What you give up: There’s no kickstand. It recharges at 30W when using the magnet (the most attractive method in my opinion), which is slower than Anker’s 45W, so it takes longer to refill overnight. Lastly, it’s 16 millimeters thick and weighs 8.29 ounces.
At $129.99, it’s only $20 more than the Anker. Pay it if you need a cord and capacity matters more than a stand.
Capacity: 10,000mAh | Wireless: 25W Qi2 | Wired: 45W USB-C out; 30W in | Cable: Built-in, 45W | Cooling: CryoPulse liquid cooling | Kickstand: No | Display: Yes | Thickness: 16 millimeters | Weight: 8.29 ounces
Best value: Belkin BoostCharge Slim Magnetic Power Bank 5K with Kickstand
Pros:
- $54.99, the cheapest magnetic bank we tested
- Built-in kickstand
- 15W Qi2 wireless or 20W wired
- 2-year warranty plus Belkin’s $2,500 Connected Equipment Warranty
- TSA carry-on compliant
Cons:
- Only about one full phone charge
- 12 millimeters thick, slightly thicker than the BMX and Mophie
- 15W is slower than the 25W banks
This is the magnetic power bank to buy if you just need a safety in your bag at all times. It’s lightweight enough not to notice, and it gives you about a full charge or keeps you topped up when you’re out and about.
It does everything the slim banks here do: 15W Qi2 magnetic charging, 20W through USB-C and a built-in kickstand for propping your phone up on the train or at your desk. At 12 millimeters thick and about 4 by 2.8 inches, it fits in a pocket with your phone. It’s one of the slimmest power banks we tested. Would it be the primary bank I take with me on vacation? No, but it would be the one I’d put in my personal item for easy access.
Belkin backs it with a 2-year warranty plus a $2,500 Connected Equipment Warranty, which covers your phone if the bank damages it. That’s the kind of coverage you usually get on surge protectors, not $55 power banks.
What you give up: It’s only a 5K bank, so plan on about one full charge. And it isn’t the thinnest here. The BMX is 5.2 millimeters thinner, while the Mophie is 3 millimeters thinner.
At $54.99, it’s $5 less than the BMX and $14.96 less than the Mophie, and it has a slim kickstand the BMX doesn’t.
Capacity: 5,000mAh | Wireless: 15W Qi2 | Wired: 20W USB-C in and out | Kickstand: Yes | Size: 4 by 2.8 by 0.5 inches | Warranty: 2 years, plus $2,500 Connected Equipment Warranty
Thinnest: BMX SolidSafe Air 5K
Pros:
- 6.8 millimeters thick, the thinnest power bank we tested
- Titanium body
- Semi-solid-state cells, which BMX says lower fire risk
- 15W Qi2 wireless or 20W wired
Cons:
- Slow 15W recharge, about 2 hours
- Output drops when charging 2 devices at once
- Thick phone cases block the magnet
- Titanium shows fingerprints
This is the one you’ll forget is on your phone. At 6.8 millimeters thick and only 4 ounces, it’s one of the least noticeable phone banks we’ve tested. The body is titanium, and it snaps on and charges at 15W Qi2 or 20W through USB-C.
This is a great power bank, no doubt, but it won’t save you if you’re stranded on a deserted island. It’s excellent for those with ample charging opportunities during the day or who want a second pack as a backup, but it has a slower charge and lower capacity..
The other pitch is the battery. BMX uses semi-solid-state cells, which it says use much less liquid electrolyte than standard lithium-ion. That means, in theory, lower fire risk. In a city with a bad history with lithium-ion batteries, that’s a reasonable thing to care about, though that’s BMX’s claim, not something we tested.
What you give up: It recharges at 15W, which we clocked at just under two hours for a full charge from empty. Charge two things at once, which is a nice feature, but the output drops to 10W wired and 5W wireless. A thick case can keep the magnet from holding.
At $59.99, it’s $5 more than the Belkin. You give up the kickstand for a thinner profile.
Capacity: 5,000mAh | Wireless: 15W Qi2 (WPC certified) | Wired: 20W USB-C out; 15W in | Battery: Semi-solid-state | Body: Titanium | Thickness: 6.8 millimeters | Weight: About 4 ounces. | Warranty: 2 years
Best kickstand: Mophie Powerstation Wireless Slim Stand
Pros:
- Kickstand rotates 180 degrees for portrait or landscape
- 9 millimeters thick
- Aluminum body
- Can charge two devices at once
- Cable included
Cons:
- $69.95 for a 5K bank
- About one full phone charge
This is the slim bank for watching something on the way home.
The kickstand is the difference. It rotates a full 180 degrees, so you can prop the phone sideways for a show or upright for a FaceTime. It’s 9 millimeters thick, in anodized aluminum with silicone grip accents, and Mophie says it’s made with up to 50% recycled material.
It charges at 15W Qi2 and 20W through USB-C, and it can do both at once, so your phone and earbuds can charge together.
What you give up: The price clocks in a little high for a 5,000mAh bank. And similar to our other slim banks, it’s about one full charge.
At $69.95, it’s $14.96 more than the Belkin. You get a better stand and a thinner body, not a better charge, so that’s something to consider.
Capacity: 5,000mAh | Wireless: 15W Qi2 | Wired: 20W USB-C | Kickstand: Rotates 180 degrees | Thickness: 9 millimeters | Body: Anodized aluminum | Warranty: 2 years
Best for sharing: Nimble SHAREPOWER
Pros:
- Splits into 2 separate 5,000mAh banks
- Charges up to 3 devices together, or 4 split apart
- Built-in cable doubles as a strap
- A battery readout on each half
- Shell made from recycled material
Cons:
- The magnetic connection between halves is weak
- No wireless charging
- 20W max to a single device
This is the power bank for two light packers at a concert, a game or a long day out.
It’s a 10,000mAh bank that pulls apart into two independent 5,000mAh banks, each with its own USB-C port and 20W charging. Keep one, hand one to your friend and nobody has to stand by an outlet. Snapped together, it charges up to three devices at up to 35W total.
What you give up: The magnetic connection between the halves is weak enough to come apart without trying and the built-in cable could wear if you use it as a strap. There’s no wireless charging, and one device tops out at 20W.
At $79.95, it costs more than a basic 10K bank. You’re paying for the split.
Capacity: 10,000mAh (2 x 5,000mAh) | Wired: 20W per half; 35W total combined | Wireless: No | Size: 3.1 by 2.8 by 1 inches | Weight: 7.6 ounces
Best for travel: Scosche GoBat 5K 3-in-1
Pros:
- 40W wall charger, 5K bank and USB-C cable in one
- Folding prongs
- Recharges itself while it charges your phone
- Digital battery percentage
- 3-year warranty
Cons:
- About one full phone charge, which is discouraging for the size
- Built-in cable can’t be replaced
- No wireless charging
This is the one to pack instead of three.
The GoBat is a 40W USB-C wall charger with folding prongs, a 5,000mAh power bank and a built-in USB-C cable. Plug it into the wall at the hotel, and it charges your phone and itself at the same time. Unplug it, and it’s a power bank. A second USB-C port charges another device. 5K is about 1 full phone charge, and if the built-in cable fails, the convenience goes with it.
At $49.99, it’s the cheapest bank we tested, and it replaces your wall charger, too.
Capacity: 5,000mAh | Wall charger: 40W USB-C | Cable: Built-in USB-C | Extra port: USB-C | Pass-through charging: Yes | Display: Digital percentage | Warranty: 3 years
Best for blackouts: Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC
Pros:
- A real 100W AC outlet
- 95 watt-hours, the most you can carry on a plane without airline approval
- 100W USB-C, enough for most laptops
- 15W wireless pad on top
- Charges up to six devices at once
Cons:
- 2 pounds
- Pricey
- The fast 60W charger is sold separately
This is the one to keep in the closet for when the power goes out.
The Sherpa 100AC has a 100W AC outlet, so it runs small things that plug into the wall: a lamp, a fan or a Wi-Fi router. It holds 94.7 watt-hours, just under the 100Wh limit for carry-on batteries, and it has a 100W USB-C port, a 60W USB-C port, 2 USB-A ports and a 15W wireless pad on top. This gave the most charges without heading back to the wall. I was able to get nearly 9 iPhone Air charges or two full laptop charges out of it. And my bag is so heavy all the time I really didn’t notice it was nearly triple the weight of most of these other chargers.
What you give up: It weighs just over two pounds and is about the size of a paperback. The 60W wall charger for fast recharging is sold separately. This is not a pocket bank. It’s a backup plan. At nearly $275, it’s the most expensive bank here.
Capacity: 94.7Wh (25,600mAh) | AC: 100W | USB-C: 100W and 60W | USB-A: 2 by 12W | Wireless: 15W pad | Input: 60W USB-C | Size: 7.69 by 5.51 by 1.02 inches | Weight: 2 pounds 1.6 ounces | Warranty: 2 years
Power banks compared
| Award | Price* | Standout features |
| Best overall: Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro | $109.99 | 25W wireless; fan; kickstand |
| Longest lasting:Ugreen MagFlow Pro | $129.99 | 2 full iPhone recharges; built-in cable |
| Best value: Belkin BoostCharge Slim Magnetic 5K with Kickstand | $54.99 | Kickstand; $2,500 equipment warranty |
| Thinnest: BMX SolidSafe Air 5K | $59.99 | 6.8mm; semi-solid-state cells |
| Best kickstand: Mophie Powerstation Wireless Slim Stand | $69.95 | 180-degree stand; 9mm |
| Best for sharing: Nimble SHAREPOWER | $79.95 | Splits into 2 banks |
| Best for travel: Scosche GoBat 5K 3-in-1 | $49.99 | 40W wall charger built-in |
| Best for blackouts: Goal Zero Sherpa 100AC | $274.85 | 100W AC outlet |
*At time of publication.
How we tested
I spent two solid months testing eight of the best portable power banks across New York City, dedicating one full week to each model as the sole power source for my daily-driver iPhone. To mimic a true commuter stress test, I banned myself from using wall chargers entirely. These batteries exclusively backed my device for every critical task: displaying my LIRR ticket twice a day, tapping OMNY at subway turnstiles for appointments and events, running power-hungry GPS navigation in unfamiliar neighborhoods and taking endless photos and screenshots. We judged every power bank on five criteria, weighted equally.
- Charging speed: How quickly it recovered a dying battery between transit stops or during short coffee breaks
- Real-world capacity: Whether it actually held enough juice to outpace the heavy drain of active 5G and maximum screen brightness. How much charge each bank actually delivered to a phone, not the number on the box. A 10,000mAh bank never delivers 10,000mAh, because some energy is lost as heat
- Portability: Thickness, weight and how comfortably it fits into a back pocket, jacket pocket or daily bag without adding excessive bulk or sharp edges
- Heat: Wireless charging makes heat, and heat slows charging and wears out batteries. We noted how warm each bank and phone got during wireless charging, and whether the cooling systems on the Anker and Ugreen made a difference
- Value: Whether the physical design and electrical performance justified the retail price.
Which power bank is worth it? Final verdict
If we can only pick one, the Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro is the one we’d slap to our own phones.
Charging speed: 25W wireless, 45W wired and 45W to recharge itself, the fastest refill of the magnetic banks. Real-world capacity: Nearly two full charges without issue. Portability: 7.76 ounces and 17.8 millimeters, with a built-in kickstand. Heat: The fan keeps it charging fast, and it’s quieter than Ugreen’s. Value: $109.99, $20 less than the Ugreen.
It isn’t for everyone. If you want the most capacity and don’t need a stand, get the Ugreen. If you want something that disappears in a pocket for under $60, get the Belkin or the BMX.
Your phone gets you through the turnstile, across town and home again, so give it the $109.99 Anker that made it here.
Our tester
Barret Wertz, senior commerce editorial director
I’ve spent 15-plus years in lifestyle media, including as managing editor and style and grooming editor at multiple men’s sites, and style and grooming director at Men’s Fitness. More recently, I’ve been reporting from the ground for our Best of CES and Best of IFA awards. For this Made It Here Awards test, I personally carried all eight finalists – ranging from slim magnetic 5K backups to the heavy-duty Goal Zero – using them as the sole power source for my iPhone Air. After two months of relying on them to keep my LIRR tickets, OMNY taps and GPS navigation alive during grueling 14-hour city days, my main takeaway is simple: in New York, a reliable power bank isn’t a tech accessory; it’s a basic survival tool. While the Anker MagGo 2 Pro ultimately won me over with its incredible 25W speed and active cooling, leaving your apartment without at least one of these in your bag is a risk you just don’t need to take.
Why Trust Post Wanted by the New York Post
For over 200 years, the New York Post has been America’s go-to source for bold news, engaging stories, in-depth reporting, and now, insightful shopping guidance. We’re not just thorough reporters – we sift through mountains of information, test and compare products, and consult experts on any topics we aren’t already schooled specialists in to deliver useful, realistic product recommendations based on our extensive and hands-on analysis. Here at The Post, we’re known for being brutally honest – we clearly label partnership content, and whether we receive anything from affiliate links, so you always know where we stand. We routinely update content to reflect current research and expert advice, provide context (and wit) and ensure our links work. Please note that deals can expire, and all prices are subject to change.