This $40 Anker charger ruined every other power bank for me

Here’s one thing I really, really, really believe: everyone should own a good power bank. Why? Because you never know when your phone’s battery will fail on you, and it sucks when it happens when you’re far from home. It’s a safety net. Peace of mind. And it doesn’t have to cost very much, though I also believe it’s worth spending up a bit.

I actually own several power banks, but the one that’s usually in my bag is the Anker Zolo power bank. Let me tell you about this bad boy.

Gabriela Vatu

This is a 20,000mAh capacity power bank, which is pretty run-of-the-mill these days. You’d only go down to 10,000mAh if you really needed something ultra-tiny and/or below $20. For most people, a capacity of 20,000mAh is perfect. It’s more than enough to keep my smartphone charged all day (even while playing Hearthstone).

My Galaxy S24+ phone has a battery capacity of 4,900mAh, so the Anker Zolo should charge it about four times over in optimal conditions. (I say “should” because most power banks have deceptive mAh ratings). I’ve used it to recharge my earbuds while I’m out on the town for the day, and I’ve also used it to quickly juice up my Kindle when it’s low. That doesn’t happen often since Kindles last forever, but I digress…

This Power Bank is my favorite

Anker Zolo 20,000mAh USB-C Power Bank

As for charging speed, the Anker Zolo provides 30 watts of power delivery, which isn’t the fastest out there but plenty fast for me. I haven’t empirically timed it, but Anker says this power bank can get a phone from 0% to 50% in about half an hour, and that matches my experience.

So, if I have several different power banks, why is the Anker Zolo my favorite of the bunch? Because it has a built-in 6-inch USB-C cable. That’s so convenient because it means I don’t have to carry a separate cable with me everywhere I go. The only time I pack a separate cable is when I know I’ll be charging multiple devices at once (like on a road trip), which is possible via the power bank’s USB-C and USB-A ports. That means up to three devices charging simultaneously.

Gabriela Vatu

The cherry on top? That built-in cable doubles as a carrying strap. I was cautious at first because, well, come on. Can a cable really hold this 0.8-pound power bank up? Won’t the weight damage the cable? Or even snap? Of course, none of that happened. I’ve taken my Anker Zolo to several concerts while hooked to my belt loop and the cable held and stayed plugged in without issue.

I have to admit, this power bank isn’t the lightest one out there. But given the capacity, that’s perfectly understandable. If you’re looking for this kind of design but hoping for less weight, check out the 10,000mAh variant that’s lighter and smaller. For me, though? The 20,000mAh Anker Zolo power bank is simply perfect.