Your laptop dies at the coffee shop. Your phone hits 5% at the airport. A power bank isn't luxury gear, it's infrastructure. These four cover the full range from budget phone charger to laptop-capable road warrior kit.
Power banks split into two categories: laptop-capable (60W+) and phone-only (under 45W). If you need to charge a laptop on the go, you need 65W minimum, anything below that throttles or won't charge under load. The Anker 737 Gen 2 hits 87W at $70, enough for a MacBook Air at full speed. That's the price-to-power benchmark for this category.
| Model | Max Output | Capacity | Ports | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 737 Gen 2 87W | 87W | 24,000mAh | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A | ~$70 |
| Anker 737 PowerCore 24K | 140W | 24,000mAh | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A | ~$130 |
| Anker Zolo 20K 45W | 45W | 20,000mAh | USB-C + USB-A | ~$35 |
| Anker Zolo 20K 30W | 30W | 20,000mAh | USB-C + USB-A | ~$22 |
The sweet spot of power and price. 87W charges laptops at full speed, MacBook Air, most Ultrabooks, even some MacBook Pros under moderate load. Smart distribution means every device gets optimal power when you plug in multiple devices. At $70 with 24,000mAh capacity, this is the power bank that makes the premium 140W model hard to justify for most users.
Premium flagship with 140W output. Digital display shows exact remaining capacity instead of vague LED dots. Charges a MacBook Pro at full speed, the 87W Gen 2 can't match that. The price premium over the Gen 2 buys you 53 extra watts of output and a digital display. Worth it if you charge a 16" MacBook Pro regularly; overkill if your laptop draws under 80W.
Best mid-range pick. Slim enough for a back pocket. 45W handles phones, tablets, and lightweight laptops like Chromebooks. Won't charge a MacBook at full speed, but it'll keep one alive. 20,000mAh charges a phone 4+ times. If your use case is phone-first with occasional tablet or lightweight laptop charging, this is the right wattage tier at the right price.
Budget king. Twenty bucks gets you 20,000mAh. Perfect phone backup that charges 4+ times before needing a wall. 30W is phone-only territory, don't expect laptop charging. If your need is simple, keep a phone alive for multiple days without a wall outlet, this is the most capacity per dollar available from a brand you can trust.