Where the use of smartphones is increasing, the battery-draining features are also on the rise. Owing to this the portable battery chargers – Power Banks – have become an important accessory to carry with you.
Batteries of the latest smartphones hardly last for more than a day without a charge. So, power banks are a must-have accessory for most users. Let’s take a look at the best portable battery packs for cell phones.
It is very stressful to see your phone running out of battery when you are nowhere near any power outlet. At that time, a power bank can be a lifesaver. Many power banks are available in the market.
They vary in their prices, shapes, sizes, charging capabilities, and power-storage capacities. They also vary in the number of input and output ports, and features.
Some power banks are also equipped with features like fast charging, smart charging, pass-through charging, built-in cables, and LED indicators, just to mention a few.
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So, it is by no means an easy task to select a power bank of your choice, one which can fulfill your requirements, from a big role of available options.
Best Powerbanks between 3.000mAh and 8.000mAh
In this article, we will look at some power banks which are good for everyday use with capacities ranging from 3.000mAh to 8.000mAh. We will compare their specs and features, look at their reviews and suggest better options for use in different circumstances.
In a hurry? iWalk Mini can be a great option for iPhone users only when they won’t have to use headphones while charging their phones.
If you want to enjoy most of the above-mentioned features, then Anker PowerCore 5000 is the best choice in the mini power bank range.
Although it doesn’t support pass-through charging, it has enough power to overcome that. It features a great design and fast charging speeds. It is also very portable considering the capacity.
Comparison table:
| Product Name | Capacity (mAh) | Input / Output Ports | Output Charge | Type of Output Ports |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker PowerCore+ Mini | 3 350 | 1 / 1 | 5V/2A | USB |
| RAVPower Luster | 3 350 | 1 / 1 | 5V/1A | USB |
| iWALK Mini | 3 350 | 1 / 1 | 5V/1.5A | Lighting |
| Anker PowerCore 5000 | 5 000 | 1 / 1 | 5V/2A | USB |
| Jackery Bolt | 6 000 | 1 / 3 | Built-in Lightning cable: 5V/2.1A; Built-in USB cable: 5V/1A; USB port: 5V/2.4A max (shared by the 3 ports) | Lightning cable, USB cable, USB port |
| Jackery Mini | 3 350 | 1 / 1 | 5V/1A | USB |
| Poweradd Slim 2 | 5 000 | 1 / 1 | 5V/2.1A | USB |
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Anker PowerCore+ Mini
Main highlights:
- 3.350mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/2A)
- 1 input port (5V/1A)
This power bank is really easy to use thanks to its elegant design. It’s very small and lightweight. It has a capacity of 3.350mAh and can completely charge some smaller battery smartphones. Because the Panasonic battery cells, it has a great conversion rate and lasts longer.
It has a good charging speed thanks to the output charge of 5V/2A but the recharging speed is quite low (can take 3-4 hours) because of low input charge of 5V/1A. It also does not support pass-through technology.
But has Anker’s smart tech charging and PoweriQ features to provide optimal charging to connected devices.
Also, PowerCore+ Mini has an Aluminum shell, protecting it from dust and giving surge protection. Furthermore, it has short circuit protection as well.
Pros:
- Very small size and lightweight
- Great design
- Uses Panasonic battery cells
Cons:
- Slow recharging
- Does not support pass-through charging
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RAVPower Luster
Main highlights:
- 3.350mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/1A)
- 1 input port (5V/1A)
This power bank has a perfect size and is portable and reliable. It has a rectangular shape that prevents it from rolling from flat surfaces. Features a true capacity of 3.350mAh and a very good conversion rate because of its Panasonic battery.
Can charge some smartphones once and some older ones with smaller batteries twice. Supports smart charging.
Nonetheless, charging speeds are very ordinary as it provides a 5V/1A charge both at its input and output port. So, it is not recommended when you need to charge your smartphones quicker.
It has few safety features like surge and over-current protection and does not generate heat. Besides, it also does not support pass-through charging.
This device takes considerable time to recharge your phone and also to recharge itself.
Pros:
- Small size and perfect portability
- Great conversion rate
- Uses Panasonic battery cells
Cons:
- Slow charging and recharging
- Does not support pass-through charging
- Does not provide surge and over-current protection
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iWALK Mini Portable Charger
Main highlights:
- 3.350mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/1.5A)
- 1 input port (5V/1.5A)
- Pass-through charging
This charger is small, lightweight, and can fit into your pocket along with your iPhone. It has a capacity of 3.350mAh and you can completely charge your iPhone with this charger.
It provides a reasonable charge of 5V/1.5A at the input and output port and, thus, reasonable charging and recharging speeds. Besides, it also supports pass-through technology and can be recharged while charging your phone.
Furthermore, the charger has an iPhone lightning cable and a lightning cable for charging the power bank itself.
You do not need to carry a cable to charge the power bank or to connect it to your iPhone, as required for other chargers.
Yet, this device can only charge iPhone.
Pros:
- Compact and light
- Designed with LED lights that show the remaining battery level of the charger
- Supports pass-through charging
Cons:
- The design of the power bank makes it block the headphone jack while charging your Apple device
- Only supports iPhone
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Anker PowerCore 5000
Main highlights:
- 5.000mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/2A)
- 1 input port (5V/2A)
This power bank is one of the best in the category of mini portable charges. It has an awesome design with a larger capacity (5.000mAh) compared to other devices of its size. It offers a good charging speed of 5V/2A on both its input and output port.
It takes 2-3 hours to recharge. It’s able to charge most of the latest smartphones up to 1-1.5 times and maybe more in the case of smaller batteries.
The charger is also integrated with some special features such as PowerIQ and Voltage Boost technology. The former provides the optimal charging speed for a connected device.
While the latter ensures charging speeds are not affected by the resistance of charging cables. It provides a multi-protect safety system such as surge protection and short circuit prevention.
High capacity with nimble portability makes this charger very reliable. Yet, it has a few shortcomings as well. The charger does not support pass-through charging.
It also cannot charge many devices at a time, although that’s to be expected in such a compact unit.
Pros:
- Fast charging and recharge speed
- Very portable
- Great Design: small size with large capacity
Cons:
- Does not support pass-through charging
- Won’t fit easily into a pocket
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Jackery Bolt 6.000mAh
Main highlights:
- 6.000mAh battery capacity
- 3 output ports (5V/2.4A / number of ports used)
- 1 input port (5V/2A)
The design of this power bank is awesome and can easily fit into the pocket. Equipped with Panasonic battery cells which give a better conversion rate. It has 3 output ports: 2 built-in lightning and micro USB cables which are easy to access and are bendable, albeit both are short; and 1 USB port.
It has 1 input port with an input charge of 5V/2A giving a reasonable recharging speed. It can simultaneously charge 3 devices. But it is not a great idea to do so because the maximum output charge is 5V/2.4A and 2.4A current divides among the 3 ports.
If 3 devices connect, they will charge slowly. To get a reasonable charging speed, it is better to only connect 2 devices at a time.
It has an aluminum central body that provides surge protection. It also has several inside safety features giving short-circuit and over-charging protection. Besides, it supports pass-through charging.
Still, power banks with built-in charging cables are not preferable. The cables are usually short and can easily break, rendering the whole power bank useless.
Pros:
- High enough capacity with a really good conversion rate
- Small enough to be very portable
- Built-In Lightning cable and Micro-USB cable read to charge
- USB output charging port that allows you to charge 3 devices at once
Cons:
- Charging 3 devices at once will result in slower charging speeds since the max output is 2.4A
- If a built-In charging cable breaks, a vital point from the power bank is gone
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Jackery Mini Power Bank
Main highlights:
- 3.350mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/1A)
- 1 input port (5V/1.5A)
This power bank provides a charging speed of 5V/1A at its output port and 5V/1.5A at its input port which is slightly slower than other available chargers.
Despite that, its design, small size, and great conversion and conservation rate makes this charger a great choice. It can fit into the pocket along with the smartphone and puts its 3.350mAh capacity to greater use.
Also, the design features of this charger help in the conservation of stored power. The charger does not begin auto-charging and you have to press a button to begin to charge your device.
When no device is connected to the charger, it automatically turns off after 30 seconds. It does support pass-through charging. Also, has many safety features, which help to keep your connected devices safe.
Pros:
- Great design and small size
- Good standby time
Cons:
- Slower output charging
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Poweradd Slim 2 5.000mAh
- 5.000mAh battery capacity
- 1 output port (5V/2A)
- 1 input port (5V/2A)
This power bank has pretty good charging speeds of 5V/2A at both its input and output port. Small in size with an advertised output capacity of 5.000mAh, it supports pass-through charging and smart charging (adjust charging speed to the connected device).
It also has safety features such as short circuits and over-charging protection. Besides, it costs far less than the power banks of the same specifications.
Against this backdrop, it seems to be a rather pragmatic choice to go for this charger. But its reliability is not good as there have been reports of its failure after a short period of usage.
Furthermore, according to its previous reviews, its output capacity is far less (appx. 3.700mAh) compared to its advertised capacity.
Pros:
- Fast output and input charging
- Small size and very lightweight
- Size / capacity ratio
Cons:
- Despite being small it’s too thick to fit comfortably into a pocket
- Bad reliability reports
Get Your Best Small Powerbank
Different power banks have their pros and cons. It’s difficult to know which portable charger will work best for you. The most important features to consider while buying a portable battery pack for cell phones are size and capacity.
Still, they also consider input and output ports and their charge rates. That determines how fast it gets its job done. Pass-through charging and safety protections should also be taken into account.
For mini power banks with capacities ranging from 3.000-8.000mAh, the number of output ports does not matter much. More output ports can reduce the output charge resulting in slow charging. Hence, more output ports can be useless, as we have seen in the case of Jackery Bolt 6.000mAh Power Bank.
Power banks with built-in lightning cables are not preferable. Built-in cables are usually small and can break thereby rendering the whole power bank useless.
Poweradd Slim 2 5.000mAh Mini portable charger is cheap and provides all the features present in their competitive chargers, but it is not reliable. Anker PowerCore+ Mini and RAVPower Luster are great in their features. But, they are not recommendable when you need faster charging and recharging speeds.
Also, they do not support pass-through charging. Considering their small capacity of 3.350mAh, they cannot last long and need constant charging. Therefore, these chargers are only recommended when charging speeds are of no matter to you.
In case you want to learn more about what to look for when choosing a power bank, check out this article: How to get the best powerbank
If for some reason you’re looking for higher capacity power banks, check your best solution in our articles on:
