Best portable batteries and power banks for your Android smartphone [2020]

Batteries in phones are getting better and better, including some crazy 5000mAh options hitting the market. Processors are more efficient, too, which is great for staying away from a charger for a long time. But even with all of those improvements, sometimes you still just run short. Maybe you found a new game on your phone that you really like, or you're traveling and hitting the GPS harder than usual. Whatever the case, having extra portable batteries in your pocket can help you recharge on the go without needing to immediately find a wall outlet.

We've sifted through a ton of batteries to find your best options, covering all kinds of use cases. We've got high capacity portable batteries, utility batteries, wireless chargers, and more.

Top Pick: RAVPower USB C 26800mAh Battery

There are a ton of great batteries on the market, but if you're looking for something well-rounded without breaking the bank, RAVPower has your back. The $40 26800mAh USB C portable charger delivers a ton of features to cover all of your charging needs, including fast recharging of both the battery and your phone, a high-powered output to handle even tablets and small laptops, and of course that generous mAh capacity.

This battery has  USB C port to connect to more modern devices, plus two standard universal USB A ports and a microUSB port for recharging the battery itself. That microUSB is just one of two charging ports, however, since you can actually connect a charger via the microUSB and USB C port to cut your recharge time in half.

Plus, these portable batteries aren't too bulky to carry around, since it's just bigger than an iPhone 8 Plus. You can get it in white and black, too.

Ravpower USB-C26800 mAh Battery | $42 | Amazon

Wireless Option: Aukey Sprint 8000mAh Battery

Aukey introduced an entirely new line of charging accessories last year, and we found most of them to be some pretty solid extra gadgets to throw in your bag. The Sprint wireless power bank, for example, is one of our favorite options for something minimalist and lightweight.

It still covers all the bases of what you'd expect from a wireless charger.  You get a USB-C port with Quick Charge 3.0, up to 18W of power delivery, and an 8000mAh capacity that's enough to last for an entire day, but still not get too bulky.

But there's a wireless charger built-in, too, so instead of having to carry a cable or anything else with you, simply turn the battery on and drop your phone on it. You'll need a wireless charging capable phone, obviously, but that's fairly common these days.

Aukey Sprint 8000mAh Battery Bank | $30 | Amazon, Aukey Store

Massive Capacity: Aukey 30000mAh USB C Charger

Sometimes you don't care about portability, or fancy wireless charging, or any extra fluff features. You just want a huge capacity battery that you don't have to worry about recharging often, and Aukey has a solution for you.

This 30,000mAh (!!) battery is a behemoth of a battery, but with its insane capacity and ability to deliver Quick Charge 3.0 speeds you're guaranteed to be able to charge up anything from a phone to a tablet to a Nintendo Switch without even worrying about where the nearest wall outlet is. Aukey's AIPower charging tech keeps the battery from overcharging your devices, too.

Oh, and it has a built-in flashlight. If you're going camping or adventuring, or you just want a good option in an emergency kit, look no further.

Aukey 30000mAh USB-C Power Bank | $60 | Amazon, Aukey Store

Best value: INIU 10000mAh Power Bank

You don't have to spend a ton of cash to get a decent portable battery. INIU, for example, is a lesser known brand that can still deliver a high-quality product without breaking the bank.

It's a pretty simple 10000mAh battery with two 2.4A fast charging USB outputs, so there's not many extra bells and whistles here, although it does have a built-in flashlight. But it's just $20, and that's probably the best dollar-to-mAh ratio that you're going to find, even if it's not particularly fancy. You do get a free cable and carrying pouch with the battery, though, which is a plus.

INIU 10000mAh Power Bank | $20 | Amazon

Most Portable: Anker Astro E1 5200mAh Battery

On the other hand, sometimes you do care about portability. Sometimes you need something small and convenient that'll fit in your pocket or bag, and you don't really need it to last for three months away from civilization.

Anker's Astro E1 battery is a nifty little option that still packs in a respectable 5200mAh capacity, but without the bulk of everything else on the list. It slims down to a single USB A port for output and a microUSB charging port, but for a single person or device, that's really all you need. It can still deliver up to a 2 amp charge, too, so don't worry about being hamstrung by slow speeds.

It's less than $20 and comes with its own carrying case. If you don't already have a backup charger like this, you really can't beat this one.

Buy it now: Amazon

Slimmest battery: Attom Tech 5000mAh battery

If you want to step up into something that's a little higher spec'd, Attom Tech offers a portable battery that's about the size of a credit card and really convenient. It's slim size makes it easy to pocket or put in a bag, but you're not sacrificing much in the way of capacity or ports.

It's a 5000mAh battery, which should be enough for all but the longest days, and you do get a USB-C port included here. That helps make the battery a little more universal with all of your devices, but it does still have two regular USB-A ports for legacy device support. It can support charging through all three of its ports at once, too, if you're really in a bind.

At just $20, this might be a good option to have regardless of what else you buy off this list. You can't beat the convenience for an emergency battery.

Attom Tech 5000mAh Battery | $19 | Amazon

Convenience: myCharge Portable Battery w/ built-in cables

The worst part of carrying around extra batteries is definitely having to lug around different cables with it. If you mix and match devices you may not be able to use one cable for everything, and if your buddy with an iPhone needs a charge you better hope he has his own cable, too.

myCharge has a solution for this. Instead of making a battery that you have to supply the cables too, they're already built-in to the power bank itself. There's a USB-C and Lightning cable that simply fold into the chassis of the battery, so they're always available regardless of whether you brought the cable with you. It also charges by plugging directly into the wall, so you could theoretically buy this thing with 0 other cables in your possession and still manage to charge your phone up. Pretty neat.

It's a 10050mAh battery, which is plenty for most outings, and it's capable of some fast charging speeds.

myCharge Portable Charger | $70 | Amazon