Being stranded with a dead cell phone and no means to charge it has to be a universally nerve-racking experience. And given how attached we are to our phones, which quite literally hold everything we need, portable chargers are a worthy and necessary investment that can really help you out in a pinch (or even in emergencies).If you still have not added a portable phone charger to your existing collection of gadgets, then you might not be familiar with how saturated and overwhelming the phone bank landscape can be. While most are very intuitive and straightforward, travel phone chargers are not all created equally and possess different milliamp hours (mAh), charging speeds, connection ports and other diversifying features. Many can even power up more than just your phones but also laptops, Bluetooth headphones and more.To help you choose the one that fits your exact lifestyle and charging needs (and your budget), we meticulously combed through Amazon’s stock of power banks – a retailer that offers vast selection of this particular item. Using Amazon’s customer-fed rating system, we curated a helpful collection of charger options and clearly defined their distinctions. Note: If you plan to travel with any of the options on the list ahead, be sure the read the FAA’s restrictions on size and wattage of portable batteries. (There’s a handy supplemental explanation on Anker’s website.)Spoiler alert: our favorite pick from the list ahead is the Anker PowerCore compact charger, a trusty and popular model that’s received the most Amazon ratings (over 109,000) and an overall 4.5 stars. It promises up to two charges’ worth of juice, depending on your specific phone, and two different output functions, plus compatibility with most iPhone and Android devices.No matter which portable phone bank you end up choosing, we’re confident you’ll be able to feel good about any one of the upcoming models in the list ahead. AmazonIf you want the best overall with the most ratingsHighlights: The highest and most-rated portable charger made by a trusted and widely recognized brand, especially in this category of electronics. With 10,000 mAh, it will get the job done at a competitive price point and offer a couple of brand-exclusive charging features over other models on this list. Awarded an overall 4.5 out of 5 stars and the recipient of over 109,000 ratings, the Anker PowerCore charger is probably one of the best-known options on this list and will offer a solid performance and basic capabilities. (And don't worry, this isn't the same model number of Anker PowerCore chargers that were recalled earlier in July). One of the brand's slimmest and lightest models, this power bank has 10,000 mAh, which will charge your phone (depending on your specifc phone) fully two times before it needs the pack needs to charge again — a process that takes about five hours, which is standard for most 10,000 mAh chargers across the board. This trusty and airline-friendly bank uses PowerIQ and VoltageBoost, two brand-exclusive technologies that ensure an optimum charging speed of 15W, while “trickle-charging” mode ensures that your devices that are at their lowest battery life get the exact amount of charge they need. Built with a two-way USB-C charging port, the Anker PowerCore supports iPhones as early as generation 11, iPad minis, Apple Watches, Android devices and other USB-C-charged electronics. Bottom line: Get this if you want a reliable power bank to just charge your phone, and a select few other devices, without taking a lot of space or paying more than $30.AmazonIf you want the most compact oneHighlights: The most compact portable phone charger that offers direct-to-phone wireless charging, so you don't have to worry about cords, and a digital display that shows how much charging time is left. It has 4,800 mAh, which is enough to get an iPhone 15 to a complete charge. The iWalk is a portable charging device that frequently sells out on sales events like Amazon Prime Day and is the most diminutive option on this list. Its direct-to-phone port connection design makes this a great option for anyone who doesn't want to fiddle with cords and who wants to use their phone as it works, while the helpful digital display on the front makes it easy to tell how much charging life is left. Available in several fun and neutral colors, this 4,800 mAh power bank promises enough capacity for a complete phone charge (depending on your phone) and can bring your dead device to 50% in just 30 minutes. It has a USB-C type connector to support iPhones generation 15 and above, iPad Pro and iPad Air and several Samsung and Google devices. Bottom line: Get this if you have at least an iPhone 15 and above, want wireless functionality, and want your power bank to take up as little space as possible.AmazonThe one you want if you want a MagSafe chargerHighlights: Amazon's highest-rated option for MagSafe chargers that offers strong, uninterrupted and hands-free charging for iPhones. Anker has made this battery pack using MiniCell technology to deliver the same reliable charge, with a much smaller battery size. This is another (non-recalled) Anker power bank that's Amazon's highest-rated option for MagSafe chargers, a term that refers to a magnetic type of portable charger that connects directly to the back of most phone models to offer direct charging. The Anker 621 MagGo is compact, lightweight and promises 5,000 mAh of wireless, uninterrupted and hands-free power using a much smaller battery compared to other models — it's enough to bring dead iPhone 15 models up to 80% per charge. Keep in mind that, due to an overheating prevention safety feature that preserves battery quality, MagSafe chargers and such as the Anker MagGo, will automatically stop charging your phone once it reaches 80% and they will also have a decreased mAh due to energy conversion. You can also use this pocket-sized and airport-safe charger using a cord plugged directly into the MagGo's USB-C port if desired, and it's compatible with iPhone series 12 and above, just be sure to use it with a MagSafe case, or none at all. Bottom line: Get this if you want the hands-free functionality and portability of MagSafe chargers and you have an iPhone series 12 and above. AmazonThe one to get if you need to charge multiple devices at onceHighlights: A 4.6-star portable charger ideal for charging multiple devices at once or having on hand if you have multiple USB-type devices. It has a solid 10,000 mAh to limit recharging in between juicing up devices, packed inside a slim, travel-friendly design. Hidden inside this ultra-slim and lightweight design are four integrated cords, six outputs and three inputs, which allow you to charge up to six devices all at once. Each of the four cords has different port types, which means that with this one power bank, you can juice up iPhones, Androids, tablets, smart watches, Bluetooth headphones and most other popular devices, while a front LED digital display shows how long you have left until its time for the next charge, which can take as little as four and half hours. It has 10,000 mAh, which is enough milliamp hours worth of power to bring a dead iPhone 14 to full power nearly twice per charge, and an iPad Mini 6 to full power a little over once and much more. Bottom line: Get this if you have multiple devices that have different USB types or want the capability of charging multiple devices at once. AmazonThe one to get if want emergency preparedness featuresHighlights: A 10,000 mAh portable powerbank, with a rugged construction, fast charging times and helpful emergency preparedness features like a compass and flashlight. It can be recharged using a conventional plug-in, or using the sun using the integrated solar panel. The Blavor solar charging bank offers more than just juicing up your phone; it's also a helpful emergency preparedness item that, when in a pinch, can also be recharged using the sun thanks to the solar panel on the phone bank's face. This phone charger has a 10,000 mAh capacity and a 20-watt output, so certain devices can reach up to 65% in as little as 30 minutes. Its rugged, waterproof and shockproof design is also supplemented with a compass carabiner for clipping on to backpacks or belt loops, a dual bright flashlight and even supports wireless charging thanks to the MagSafe charger on its underside. For corded charging, however, the Blavor offers a USB-C input/output, a USB output and an input for newer iOS devices.Bottom line: Get this if you're a frequent hiker, camper or outdoors person who wants some emergency preparedness functionality from your portable phone charger. AmazonThe one to get if you want the longest battery lifeHighlights: An ultra-long-lasting, fast-charging and high mAh-capacity powerbank that is beneficial for more than just juicing up phones on the go, but also larger devices like laptops. It supports multi-device charging, has a battery life LED display and an integrated flashlight.Though not the most compact or lightest of power banks, this Nuxgal Power phone charger certainly has the highest mAh capacity out of any options on this list (60,000 mAh) and supports over 15 charges for an iPhone 15, and 14 times for Samsung S24. It can charge up to four devices at once and is outfitted with one USB-C input/output port, three USB output charging ports and a microport. This long-lasting bank would be a good gadget to take camping in order to keep essentials like USB-powered fans, lamps and more – there's even a built-in flashlight on one side. Bottom line: Get this if you want the highest mAh capacity possible and fast charging, without venturing into power station territory, and if you need your bank to charge more than just your phone and don't care about size.