Macworld
Portable power banks that charge your phone are popular, but wireless battery packs using Apple’s magnetic MagSafe technology offer a simpler and smarter cable-free solution for iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and Air users.
Phone batteries are prone to run dry just when you’re heading away from a power source, so having a portable charging source is one of today’s necessities. Annoyingly, most power banks require you to carry around a cable, too. Wireless power banks do away with cables but come with their own major limitation—the inefficiency of wireless charging means you need a high-capacity power bank to fully charge a drained iPhone.
MagSafe is a technology that’s compatible with all iPhone 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, Air and Duo models, from the mini to the Pro Max, but strangely missing from the 16e model. It allows accessories to clamp magnetically to the back of the iPhone, making the charging connection more efficient. We haven’t yet had an iPhone Duo in for testing with these magnetic power banks, but the new folding iPhone is MagSafe friendly.
We put the best portable chargers through a series of rigorous iPhone recharging tests, and have listed the winners by power, portability and functionality:
- Best high-capacity 10k MagSafe power banks
- Best small portable 5K magnetic power banks
- Best multi-device charging MagSafe power banks
You should consider size when it comes to a power bank: physical size and battery capacity. The higher the battery capacity, the more recharging power you’ll get from the power bank—but you’ll also be carrying around a larger, heavier item. Lighter, slimmer power banks are easier to pocket even when clamped to your phone. Larger power banks might not fit in your trouser pocket and can slide off easier when pocketed even if clamped magnetically.
10K power banks (with a 10000mAh battery capacity) can charge a phone close to two times over, while 5K (5000mAh) battery packs usually stretch between 60-75%, which is often enough to get you to the next wall-socket powering opportunity. If you are relying on the power bank for long-haul travel or a camping trip, a 10K battery or higher will suit you better. Belkin even offers a mid-range 8K power bank.
Milliamp hours (mAh) is quite a blunt measurement of battery capacity. It’s great for quickly differentiating between power bank sizes but we also list the capacity in the more accurate watt hours (Wh).
Also, look out for power banks that are built using the latest semi-solid-state battery technology that uses less liquid electrolyte than standard litium-ion power banks, making them more durable, longer lasting, and safer.
Wireless power bank charging speedWireless charging speeds vary from 7.5W (MagSafe Compatible) to 15W (certified MagSafe and Qi2), all the way to the very fastest wireless charging at 25W (Qi2.2). While it’s not as efficient as using a cable to charge a phone, magnetic wireless charging is a step closer to doing away with cables altogether. Qi2 25W brings wireless charging close to wired speed but only iPhones 16 and later support that speed, and some power banks include a built-in USB-C cable for even faster charging up to 45W. The iPhone Air can manage 20W max on even a 25W charger. See Which wireless tech is best for your iPhone?.
We have listed the speeds at which each portable power bank can be charged itself (Input charger) and charge the iPhone (Output charger). The higher the wattage, the faster the charging should be.
Best high-capacity 10K MagSafe power banksA 10000mAh (10K) battery is the sweet spot for both power and portability. 5000mAh (5K) power banks reviewed further down are slimmer, lighter and easier to pocket, but generally offer a maximum of 70-80% recharge potential versus a 10K power bank that should be able to recharge an iPhone at least one and a half times over.
Kuxiu S3 25W 10K Solid-State Power Bank – Fast 25W wireless battery pack that has it allPros
- Large battery capacity
- 25W wireless or 35W wired charging
- Built-in USB-C cable
- Semi Solid State tech
- Digital display
- Kickstand
Cons
- Not as slim as the S4
- Capacity: 39.5Wh (10000mAh)
- Input charger: USB-C (30W)
- Output charger: Wireless (25W Qi2.2) & USB-C (35W)
- Macworld Recharge Test Score: 177%
- Battery type: Semi-Solid State
- Weight: 8.65oz (245g)
- Dimensions: 4.2 x 2.8 x 0.9 inches (107 x 71 x 22mm)
- Colors: Black
The Kuxiu S3 was the first semi-solid-state 25W magnetic wireless power bank to enter the Macworld Lab. A semi-solid state (SSS) power bank is more energy-dense than a traditional liquid electrolyte power bank because its semi-solid electrolyte is less prone to leakage and thermal runaway. SSS is therefore more durable, safer and offers more charge cycles so will last longer.
Indeed, not only does it tick those boxes but its also boasts three other top-end features: a built-in USB-C cable, integrated kickstand, and super-clear digital battery display.
Only the iPhones 16/17/18 support the very fastest wireless tech Qi2 25W, and only the iPhone 15 and later have a USB-C charging port. Older iPhones (from 12 on) can use a 25W charger such as the S3 but are pegged back at 15W—still faster than the 7.5W found on cheaper power banks.
Switch to wired charging via the integrated USB-C cable and you’ll achieve up to 35W so even faster.
The S3 has a 10000mAh (10K) battery capacity and managed to recharge that same iPhone to 177%—so up to 100% then another 77% when it came to a second recharging task. That’s not the top score we’ve had in our 10K power bank tests: the champ so far is the Ugreen MagFlow Air 10K, which scored an unmatched 208%, with the EcoFlow RAPID 10K and Anker MagGo Slim scoring 190% or close—both are reviewed here. But 177% is above average.
The same company offers two other 25W magnetic power banks: the similar S4 reviewed below, and the K1 Ultra (reviewed in our multi-device section below) that has a neat slide-out panel that can charge your Apple Watch or AirPods at the same time as the iPhone.
Read our full Kuxiu S3 25W 10K Solid-State Power Bank review
Ugreen MagFlow Pro Magnetic 10K – 10K recharge score championPros
- Best battery capacity test score
- 25W wireless or 45W wired charging
- Built-in USB-C cable
- Capacity: 39.2Wh (10000mAh)
- Input charger: USB-C (30W)
- Output charger: Wireless (25W Qi2.2) & USB-C (45W)
- Macworld Recharge Test Score: 208%
- Battery type: Lithium-Ion
- Weight: 8.29oz (235g)
- Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.8 x 0.63 inches (108 x 71 x 16mm)
- Colors: Gray
The Ugreen MagFlow Pro is a 10,000mAh magnetic wireless portable charger that pairs 25W wireless output with a genuinely fast 45W USB-C port and a built-in USB-C cable—a combination that makes it one of the more versatile chargers we’ve tested. It also is the current (non-pun intended) champion in our 10K power bank recharging tests.
Its performance in our recharging tests really wowed us. It scored 208%, so two full charges and a trickle on the third round. The previous champ, the EcoFlow RAPID 10K, scored 190%. There are a bunch of environmental factors that come into play each time you charge but there’s no doubting that the MagFlow Air is an ace. It may be helped by its CryoPulse TEC Active Cooling—it even has a screen that’s meant to show the liquid cooling in action.
Simon Jary
If you want a slimmer alternative, the Ugreen MagFlow Air Magnetic 10K Power Bank (pictured above) actually matched the MagFlow Pro in our recharge tests but is slower at 15W wireless. At 0.53 inches (13.9mm) it’s also nearly as thin as the Kuxiu S4, the slimmest 10K battery pack reviewed below. Like the Pro MagFlow it boasts a built-in USB-C cable (30W vs 45W).
There’s even a 5K MagFlow Air model, reviewed with the other small power banks further down, and that too won its class on battery capacity.
Read our full Ugreen MagFlow Pro (10000mAh, 25W, 45W Built-in USB-C Cable) review
Iniu 25W SnapGo Air 10K – Equal slimmest 10K MagSafe battery packPros
- Equal slimmest 10K power bank
- Large battery capacity
- 25W wireless or 45W wired charging
- Digital display
- Detachable USB-C cable
Cons
- No kickstand
- Capacity: 39.2Wh (10000mAh)
- Input charger: USB-C (45W)
- Output charger: Wireless (25W Qi2.2) & USB-C (45W)
- Macworld Recharge Test Score: 185%
- Battery type: Lithium-Ion
- Weight: 6.9oz (196g)
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.8 x 0.53 inches (105 x 71 x 13.7mm)
- Colors: Space Gray, Silver, Metallic Mocha, Lilac, Orange, Navy
The Iniu SnapGo Air matches the Kuxiu S4, reviewed below, as the slimmest 10K magnetic portable charger we’ve had in for testing. It’s a little lighter but a tiny bit wider, and it scored with a similar result in our iPhone recharging tests.
It beats the S4 with 45W wired charging (but matched it on 25W wireless) and by including a detachable (but not built-in) USB-C cable. It’s also available in a wider range of colors. Unlike the S4 it’s not semi solid state, which may mean it can perform fewer recharge cycles although it will take you a long time to find out. There are two USB-C ports but total output is pegged back to 15W when more than one id used at the same time.
Its neat base-mounted digital display is helpful and better than most LED indicators but the S4’s display shows a bit more information if you need it. The S4 also features a kickstand, missing from the SnapGo Air.
Kuxiu S4 Semi-Solid Safe 25W Wireless 10K Power Bank – Equal slimmest 10K MagSafe battery packPros
- Equal slimmest 10K power bank
- Large battery capacity
- 25W wireless or 30W wired charging
- Semi Solid State tech
- Digital display
- Kickstand
Cons
- S3 offers built-in 35W cable
- Capacity: 38.5Wh (10000mAh)
- Input charger: USB-C (30W)
- Output charger: Wireless (25W Qi2.2) & USB-C (30W)
- Macworld Recharge Test Score: 182%
- Battery type: Semi-Solid State
- Weight: 7.55oz (214g)
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.7 x 0.53 inches (104 x 69 x 13.7mm)
- Colors: Black, Cosmic Orange
Like its S3 sibling, the Kuxiu S4 is a semi-solid-state 25W magnetic wireless power bank with all the safety and durability benefits gained from that technology.
While it lacks the S3’s super-useful and powerful built-in 30W USB-C cable, it measures up in terms of slim profile. At just 13.7mm thin, it’s the slimmest 10K power bank we’ve tested (equakl with the Iniu SnapGo Air 10K, reviewed above). The S3 and most 10K power banks look chunky in comparison. If you want thinner, you need to switch down to a 5K capacity power bank.
Its integrated kickstand is not quite as robust as that found on the S3 but it does the job well enough, and its digital battery display carries even more charging information.
You’ll need to bring your own cable to switch to wired charging for 30W output. The S4 recharged our test iPhone to 182%, so a little higher than the S3 but close enough for the difference to be down to environmental factors such as temperature.
Read our full Kuxiu S4 Semi-Solid Safe 25W Wireless 10K Power Bank review
Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro – Fast 45W wired & 25W wireless battery packPros
- 25W wireless iPhone charging
- 45W wired charging
- 10K battery capacity
- Easy-to-read display
- Kickstand
Cons
- No built-in USB-C cable
- Capacity: 39.2Wh (10000mAh)
- Input charger: USB-C (45W)
- Output charger: Wireless (25W Qi2.2) & USB-C (45W)
- Macworld Recharge Test Score: 199%
- Battery type: Lithium-Ion
- Weight: 7.76oz (220g)
- Dimensions: 4.1 x 2.8 x 0.7 inches (105 x 71 x 17.8mm)
- Colors: Phantom Gray, Burgundy Red, Polar Night Blue, Starlight Silver
The Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro is a solid, fast 10000mAh magnetic wireless portable charger with a built-in kickstand that scored very highly in our iPhone battery recharge tests.
Its sole USB-C port is rated at 45W so will charge your iPhone much faster than wireless if you need to power up as quickly as possible, but you’ll need to bring a USB-C cable as it doesn’t come with its own built-in as you find on some power banks. 45W USB-C, also found on the Ugreen MagFlow Pro and Baseus PicoGo AM52, is the fastest we’ve seen on a magnetic power bank.
The Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro has two charging modes, which you activate with the charging button while looking at the display. Silent Mode is without the fan on, and Cool Mode is with the fan working for slightly faster charging.
You can tap through six screens on its large, informative digital display to check charging status, battery level, battery health, and temperature, or quickly switch Silent and Cool charging modes and wireless charging on or off.
You can still buy the similar but slower (15W) Anker Qi2 MagGo 10K Power Bank that scored 170% in our tests.
Read our full Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro review
EcoFlow RAPID Magnetic Power Bank 10K – Best wireless battery pack for input speedPros
- Large battery capacity