The 4 Best Portable Laptop Battery Chargers of 2023

Your laptop is portable; why not your power, too?

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Factors like size and weight are important considerations when shopping for a laptop power bank. We’ve researched and reviewed the best portable laptop battery chargers to find the best ones for different needs.

Best Overall

Omni 20+ Wireless Power Bank

4.8
Omni 20+ Wireless Power Bank

B&H

What We Like
  • Plenty of ports

  • Hyper-specific display

  • Wireless charging

What We Don't Like
  • Very expensive

  • Fairly heavy

  • No case or accessories

The first thing you notice about the Omni 20+ is how different it looks from an average portable charger. Along the perimeter, there are two 60W USB-C ports (ideal for charging up power hogs like a laptop or a Nintendo Switch), two 45W USB-C ports for less power draw, two full-sized USB-A ports that are QC 3.0 compatible, a full-on wall socket, and a DC in/out port. This spread of functionality is pretty compelling, but there are two additional features that Omnicharge has thrown in. First, there’s the ability to use the ports as a USB 2.0 file transfer hub.

Arguably the coolest feature is the ability to use the flat side of the brick as a 10W wireless charging pad. The unit has a 70h capacity, and that full charge can be achieved in as little as 3 hours using the 45W USB-C input. This functionality comes at a cost, as this unit will run you around well over $200, more than double what you expect for a more limited, similar-capacity charger. But if the best is what you want, the Omni USB-C+ is a definite contender.

Omnicharge Omni 20 Portable Power Bank

Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen

Best for USB-C

Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Battery Pack

4.8
Anker PowerCore+ 26800 Battery Pack

Amazon

What We Like
  • USB-C fast charging

  • TSA approved

  • Comes with wall charger

What We Don't Like
  • Laptop compatibility limited to MacBooks and Dell XPS

The PowerCore+ 26,800mAh power bank includes a wall charger and a USB-C charging cable. The power bank has two standard 15W USB ports and a 45W USB-C port. This faster connection and the included USB-C wall charger make this bundle a fantastic option for USB-C-compatible laptops like the MacBook Pro or Dell XPS 13.

The Anker PowerCore+ power bank is TSA-approved and weighs about 1.5 pounds. Unlike many other laptop batteries, it’s surprisingly compact at 7.7 x 3.5 x 2.4 inches, making it an easy addition to your carry-on or commuter bag. And it holds a lot of power for its size. The PowerCore+ can charge a smartphone up to six times or completely recharge a 13-inch MacBook Pro. That’s hours and hours of extra time on your devices without finding a wall outlet.

Anker PowerCore+

Lifewire / Gannon Burgett

Best High Capacity

Halo Bolt 58830 Portable Laptop Charger

4.2
Halo Bolt 58830 Portable Laptop Charger

Amazon

What We Like
  • Lots of battery capacity

  • Includes AC plug

  • Can jump start cars

  • Built-in protection against over voltage

What We Don't Like
  • Heavy

The Halo Bolt is a high-capacity portable laptop charger with plenty of juice to meet all your needs. It's a big, hefty power bank with two USB-A 2.4V charging ports, a 120V AC wall outlet, and the ability to double as a portable jump starter.

The battery has a 58,830mAh capacity, making it one of the most capacious chargers we've seen. It can charge a phone for up to 116 hours, a tablet for 19 hours, and a laptop for 11 hours, enough to keep most of your devices powered for a workday. You can charge three devices simultaneously with the two USB outputs and AC plug.

The jumper cable features over-voltage protection, auto power off, short circuit protection, reverse polarity protection, reverse current protection, timer circuit protection, and jumper cable spark protection. The charger also does double duty as a car emergency kit. It has an LED light, included jumper cables, and a carrying pouch, making it an excellent tool to have in your glove box.

Halo Bolt ACDC 58830

Lifewire / Andrew Hayward

Best Versatility

MAXOAK 185Wh/50000mAh External Battery Power Bank

4.2
MAXOAK 185Wh/50000mAh External Battery Power Bank

Amazon

What We Like
  • High capacity

  • Includes a ton of adapters

What We Don't Like
  • Absolutely massive

  • Slow and underpowered ports

The MAXOAK External Battery is a versatile power beast. First, it features six charging ports. One is a 20-volt/3-amp port for laptops, one is a 12-volt/2.5-amp port for digital cameras, two are 5-volt/2.1-amp USB ports, and two are 5-volt/1 amp USB ports. Second, it has 50,000 mAh of battery life, meaning you can recharge your laptop and phone many times before recharging the external battery power bank.

Our tester also liked that it measures 8.1 x 5.3 x 1.3 inches and weighs 2.77 pounds, so it could easily fit into your camping bag and won’t be that much heavier. Finally, it includes 14 types of laptop connectors, so it covers most models but not Apple laptops. If you don’t have an Apple laptop or a laptop that uses USB Type C, you’ll likely be able to plug it in, but check if your laptop is supported before purchasing.

Max Oak

Lifewire / Gannon Burgett

ZMI PowerPack 20000

Lifewire / Andrew Hayward

What to Look for When Buying Portable Laptop Battery Chargers

Capacity

When picking a portable laptop battery charger, one of your primary considerations should be its capacity to store energy (measured in mAh)—this denotes the device’s battery life before it needs to be recharged. Be sure that the battery has equal or more capacity than the one already inside your machine so that you can expect a full charge.

Output

Some portable chargers can be a bit slow when outputting a charge, so be sure that the battery you’re purchasing has an output equal to or higher than the wattage of your typical laptop charger.

Connectors

It’s critical to ensure you can plug your laptop into your new portable charger. Check the type of inputs the charger supports—whether that’s a standard wall outlet plug, a USB-C port, or other universal solutions.

Omnicharge Omni 20 Portable Power Bank

Lifewire / Jeremy Laukkonen

FAQ
  • What's the largest battery you can travel with if you're flying?

    According to the TSA, this depends on the battery's number of watt-hours (Wh). Laptop batteries are only allowed in carry-on luggage and cannot be inside checked bags. Passengers can carry up to two spare batteries, but they can't exceed more than 160 watt-hours each. All laptop batteries are required to list their capacity on the actual product but typically list it in milliamp-hours (mAh). That equates to about a single 81K mAh battery or two 43K mAh batteries.

  • How can you extend the life of your laptop battery?

    There are a number of ways to improve the lifespan of your laptop battery. Firstly, keep your laptop cool by shutting it down when not in use, and never storing it in a hot place. If your battery is fully charged, never leave it plugged in. And finally, you should fully discharge the battery once a month, this helps your battery life estimate stay accurate.

  • How does a laptop battery explode?

    There are a number of failsafes in place to prevent "thermal runaway" which refers to a battery generating more heat than it can handle. This process usually is a result of faulty manufacturing or product tampering, but can also result from overcharging or storing the battery in excessively hot areas. However, batteries will rarely combust under these conditions, but more likely rupture. Regardless, if the battery begins to swell, it's important to safely dispose of it and have it replaced immediately.

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