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The more powerful USB-C batteries are ideal for quickly charging iPhones and iPad Pro. They power the MacBook and MacBook Air models, and even allow you to charge a MacBook Pro when the loading speed is not a problem.
In this guide, I will compare 27, 30 and 45 W battery packs with capacities ranging from 19,000 mAh to 26,800 mAh from companies such as Mophie, Anker, RAVPower, Jackery and ZMI. MacRumeurs readers find the best USB-C battery from $ 70 + 26800 PD (30W)
Basic principles of the USB-C battery
All USB-C batteries that can be used with devices such as MacBook or Macbook Pro are large and usually weigh less than or equal to one pound. You will not want to put one in your pockets, but they go in a bag or a backpack.
Each of the battery packs we tested is 45W or less because there are no more powerful battery packs on the market. They all have a power less than 100Wh, limit that you can carry in an airplane with your carry-on baggage (power banks of this type can not be placed in checked luggage).
All of these batteries have extra USB-A ports allowing you to charge more than one device at a time, but keep in mind that the maximum power of each of them is distributed among the devices. when multiple objects are connected. If you want the fastest loading for something like a MacBook it takes all the available power, load it alone.
To charge these batteries, you will need a USB-C PD power adapter with a power of 30 to 45W. Some of them come with a proper power adapter, others not. You will get the fastest charging speeds on USB-C and, when using a power bank of this size, faster charging is essential. Most of them will recharge in 2 to 4 hours with a 30 or 45W AC adapter.
Although all these batteries have a power between 19 000 and 26 800 mAh, no battery provides the indicated maximum capacity, because energy is always lost during the transfer of load from one device to another.
IPhone charging
All these USB-C batteries are able to quickly charge compatible iPhones, including the iPhone 8 and later. With fast charging, if you use a USB-C to Lightning cable, you can charge an iPhone at around 50% in less than 30 minutes and at around 80% in an hour.
The charge slows down as the battery of an iPhone fills up, which is why it fails to 100% in less than an hour.
I tested all these batteries with an iPhone XS Max and an iPhone X only to make sure everything was functional, and each of them was able to charge these devices at 50% in half a minute. -hour with very little deviation, and pretty much. 75 to 80% in one hour.
Regarding the capacity, these batteries are able to charge an iPhone several times. Expect to see at least three charges for iPhone XS Max among the smaller batteries ~ 20,000 mAh, and about 4 to 5 charges from 26,000 mAh batteries. You will have more fees for the iPhone 8, iPhone X, and iPhone XSand similar performance of the XR.
IPad refill
For current 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, if you use a USB-C to USB-C cable, you can charge them faster with any of these USB-C battery packs that you can use. With the standard 18W charger comes with them.
On average, Apple's 18W USB-C AC adapter is charging my iPad Pro at 45 percent in an hour. With a USB-C battery of 30 or 45W, the iPad Pro regularly charge between 65 and 66% in one hour. Higher capacity batteries provide about two full charges to one iPad Pro, while those of lesser capacity are about a charge and a half.
Older iPad Pro Models that support fast charge capabilities will be able to load quickly using these USB-C power banks coupled to a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Charge MacBook and Macbook Air
All these USB-C batteries will charge USB-C MacBook and Macbook Air at the same speed you would get with the standard MacBook or Macbook Air AC adapter. The use of more than 30 W does not bring any benefit. Therefore, each of these offers offers roughly the same charging speed, the only difference being the capacity.
The higher capacity batteries will charge a MacBook or one Macbook Air once and a half to almost twice, while smaller models offer a full charge, then an additional 20%.
Charge Macbook Pro
Because the 15 inches Macbook Pro models come with an AC adapter of 85 or 87 W for charging, it can be surprising that you can also use all these chargers 30W and 45W with Macbook Pro.
Loading is much slower than what you get with the 15-inch more powerful Macbook Pro AC adapter, but it works. In fact, as you'll see in my tests below, it works even when the Macbook Pro is used for tasks that do not require intensive use of the system, such as web browsing, social media use, writing, sending e-mails, editing graphics chart, viewing YouTube videos, etc.
I have seen people ask if using a less powerful power adapter will damage the phone's battery. Macbook Proand from what I can say from my research, the answer is no. The load will be slower, but this should not have any impact on performance compared to a standard charging method.
For the Macbook Pro45W is better because it's the biggest power bank you can get. All these chargers will charge a 15 inch Macbook Pro at least 50 percent, while some offer enough juice to give it a full charge.
I did not test those batteries with the 13-inch USB-C drive Macbook Pro because I do not have one, but everything about the 15-inch model is also true of the 13-inch model. These batteries will charge 13 inches Macbook Pro even faster (but not at 61W speeds) and will provide more capacity than with the 15-inch Macbook Pro.
30W against 45W
Most USB-C batteries available are 30W, with some 45W options on the market. Both options are therefore included in this review.
For most Apple devices, there is no functional difference between 30W and 45W because MacBook, Macbook Air, iPad Pro models, and iPhones will not charge faster with a 45W power bank than with a 30W power bank. All these devices have a maximum power of 30W, and some, like the iPhone, a maximum power of 18W.
Where 45W Is make a difference of more than 30W charge a 13 or 15 inches Macbook Pro. Macbook Pro the models will recharge significantly faster with the 45W power bank than with a 30W version. 45W is, of course, lower than the 13 and 15 inch chargers of 61W or 85 / 87W Macbook Pro models come with, so do not expect standard charge speeds with these power banks.
Test settings
I wanted to test these batteries in real-world conditions with real devices rather than relying on test equipment to give potential buyers an idea of the actual performance they can expect from a USB-C battery.
The tests were done with a 15 inch Macbook Pro from 2016 (76Wh), a 12 inches MacBook from 2016 (41.4 Wh), an 11-inch USB-C drive iPad Pro from 2018 (29.37Wh), and a 2018 iPhone XS Max (12.08Wh). IPads and iPhones were unloaded at 1% before testing, and Macs at 5%. The load tests were performed in airplane mode and with the screens turned off, with the exception of the mode in use. Macbook Pro test.
Anker PowerCore + 26800 PD (30W)
The Anker 30C PowerCore + 26800 is a simple, no-nonsense battery that does the work. At 1.27 pounds, 6.5 inches long and 3.1 inches wide, it was the largest battery pack I've tested. This is not a pocket, and it will add a good weight to a purse or small bag, but the positive side is its own USB-C 30W power adapter.
It features a brick-shaped design with rounded edges and a flat top and bottom, with a USB-C port and two USB-A ports for charging. Although it's not the most attractive food bank, it's simple and unobtrusive, except for size. My favorite feature of PowerCore + is the button on the front which, when pressed, turns on with up to 10 LED points to tell you the remaining charge level. This gives a more accurate idea of the remaining charge compared to most other batteries.
The Anker PowerCore + 26800 PD does not support relay charging, so you will not be able to plug in other devices to charge it while it is charging.
- Price: $ 129.99
- Capacity: 26800mAh, 96.48Wh
- ports: Two USB-A 5V / 3A, one USB-C 30W
- cables: USB-C to USB-C included
- AC adapter included: Yes
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – The PowerCore + at 26800 mAh m gave about 4.5 additional hours of autonomy using the usage metrics in the load section above. I connected it at 15h with my Macbook Pro 10% battery. Three hours later, the battery was exhausted and my Macbook ProThe load was about 30%, which lasted an hour and a half.
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – The PowerCore + offered about a full charge for my Macbook Procharging from 5% to 100%.
- MacBook Capacity test – Nearly two full charges. From 5% to 100% the first time and from 5% to 90% the second time.
- MacBook Charge speed test – charged at 61% in one hour and almost full in two hours while MacBook was not used.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Loaded from 1% to 66% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Charged on iPad Pro 5% full two times, then 20% before the battery runs out.
- IPhone capacity test – Charge the iPhone at maximum four times, then at 54% at the fifth charge.
- Charging speed – It took four and a half hours to recharge the Anker PowerCore + from 0 to 100% using the supplied 30W USB-C PD-USB. I started charging at 18h, half full at 20h and 22h25.
RAVPower 26800mAh PD Portable Charger (30W)
The RAVPower 26800mAh power bank is of similar design to that of all other battery packs in this review. Compared to the Anker model, it is slightly lower (6.77 inches), wider (3.15 inches) and with rounded corners instead of the flatter edges of the Anker.
At 0.82 pounds, it's not as heavy as the Anker model, but it's still bulky and will add noticeable weight to a bag. It does not come with an AC adapter, and to charge it in a reasonable amount of time you will need a 30W + USB-C power adapter, so you have to buy it separately.
The RAVPower power bank has 2 USB-A ports, a USB-C port and a micro-USB port used for charging, which is useless because you will not want to load a power bank. of this size using micro-USB because it's going to take forever. A button at the front of the RAVPower turns on 4 LEDs to give you a vague idea of the remaining battery life. Direct billing is not supported.
The RAVPower has consistently underperformed for me in all tests. Although it was a 26800mAh battery, its performance was poor and it did not keep pace with the other batteries I tested. I do not recommend the RAVPower for its questionable performance during some load tests..
- Price: $ 79.99
- Capacity: 26800mAh, 99.16Wh
- ports: One USB-C 30W, two USB-A (5V / 3A), a micro-USB
- cables: USB-C to USB-C, USB-C to Micro USB
- AC adapter included: No
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – The RAVPower 26800mAh battery offered approximately 3.5 extra hours of battery life. It was connected at 10:00 with the Macbook Pro battery at 10 percent. Two and a half hours later, the battery was exhausted and the Macbook ProThe charge level of the device was about 22%, one hour more than the batteries
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – Charged on Macbook Pro from 5% to 76% before dying.
- MacBook Capacity test – Charged on MacBook at once, then at 50% the second time.
- MacBook Charge speed test – Charged on MacBook at 65% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Charged on iPad Pro at 66 percent in an hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Two full charges.
- IPhone capacity test – Loading the iPhone to full 3.5 times over two days.
- Charging speed – It took 3 hours and 45 minutes to fully charge the RAVPower with the help of a 30 W AC adapter (not supplied).
Mophie Powerstation USB-C 3XL (45W)
Mophie's 45W USB-C Powerstation 3XL is the most expensive battery I've tested and that I've read previously. I like everything in the Powerstation 3XL with the exception of its price, which is a bit higher than most competing products.
The Powerstation 3XL has a body covered with comfortable fabric and, as it is wider than some of the other battery packs, its weight is better distributed. It is also the only battery with a finish other than plastic or aluminum, so it does not attract fingerprints. It is the most beautiful of the group, as it should be at this price. The Powerstation 3XL measures 6 inches long and 3.7 inches wide, and weighs 1.13 pounds.
There are two USB-C ports (one for charging the battery and the other for charging your devices) as well as a USB-A port for charging an additional device. The Mophie Powerstation 3XL does not come with a power adapter, which is a little outrageous considering its cost. If you want to charge it at maximum speed, you will need a 30W USB-C AC adapter.
A Priority + charging function allows you to connect a device and charge it while the charger is plugged in, so you can charge everything at the same time. It's the only one of the power banks I've tested that supports direct USB-C charging because it's the only one that has two USB-C ports. At the top right of the Powerstation 3XL, a button turns on four lights to indicate your charge level, but it's a little hard to find because it's so small, which is one of the most irritating aspects of the power bank day by day. Daily use.
- Price: $ 200
- Capacity: 26000mAh, 94.30Wh
- ports: Two USB-C (one input, one output), one USB-A (5V / 2.4A)
- cables: USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C
- AC adapter included: No
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – The 26000mAh battery from Mophie has given me reason four and a half hours of extra autonomy. I started testing at 6:00 pm when my battery was around 10 percent, and at 8:00 pm, the battery was dead and my Macbook Pro was at 45 percent.
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – fully charged on Macbook Pro from 5% to 100%, but was dead after.
- MacBook Capacity test – Charged on MacBook to fill one time and then to 82 percent in the second round.
- MacBook Charge speed test – Loaded at 53% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Loaded at 66% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Charged on iPad Pro full two times.
- IPhone capacity test – Loaded the iPhone to 4.5 times out of three.
- Charging speed – Recharged in three hours with a 45W AC adapter (not supplied). It took four hours to charge with a 30W AC adapter.
Jackery Supercharge 26800 PD Portable Charger (45W)
The Jackery Supercharge 26800 PD portable charger is similar in design to the Anker version, with a few exceptions.
That's 45W instead of 30W, which means that he's able to charge a Macbook Pro faster and is able to recharge faster. Charging a battery this size takes forever, so it's nice to charge it as fast as you can with the 45W top bracket. The Jackery power bank supports direct charging, which allows it to charge an item plugged into the USB-A port while charging.
Jackery 's battery is a little lighter than Anker' s at 1 pound. It is 6.69 inches long and 3.18 inches wide, so its size is quite similar to the other options. There are only two ports, a USB-C port and a USB-A port, which is inferior to most other batteries.
What I like in the Jackery is the digital reading of the current charge level when you press a button at the bottom, which is by far the most granular reading of the remaining charge for any of these battery packs.
The Jackery provided the exact amount of energy I was expecting from a battery of this size, and I was generally impressed by its performance. This is one of the favorite batteries I tested, especially because it comes with its own 45W power adapter.
- Price: $ 120
- Capacity: 26800mAh, 97.28Wh
- ports: A USB-C, a USB-A (5V / 3A)
- cables: USB-C to USB-C
- AC adapter included: Yes
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – Jackery battery added around 4.5 hours of additional battery life in use has my Macbook Pro. my Macbook Pro was at 10% when I plugged it in at 3:40, it charged at 33% at 4:40, and at 5:40 it was at 53% and the food bank was dead.
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – Offered a full charge for the Macbook Pro.
- MacBook Capacity test – Charged on MacBook full the first time and then 67 percent.
- MacBook Charge speed test – 60% charged in one hour.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Charged on iPad Pro from 1% to 68% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Charged on iPad Pro two full time.
- IPhone capacity test – Charged my iPhone XS Max 5 times over three days.
- Charging speed – It took two hours and 40 minutes to charge the Jackery 28600 from empty to full, which was one of the fastest charging times.
Anker PowerCore 19000+ PD Portable Charger and USB-C Hub (27W)
The Anker PowerCore 19000+ PD was one of two lower capacity power banks I tested. Some people do not need 26,800 mAh, and a smaller power bank offers a good compromise between decent capacity and high volume.
The PD PowerCore 19000+ is not as small as the ZMI, it's a similar capacity, but it's close. It weighs 15 ounces and measures 6.7 inches long by 3 inches wide.
Like other Anker batteries, its charge is visible through a ring of 10 LEDs at the front, which is nice to see the remaining charge. Compared to ZMI, it is overpriced ($ 60 more), although it comes with a 30W AC adapter and has an extra USB-A port.
However, it is only 27 W, compared to 45 W in ZMI, although it does not make a huge difference for iPhones, iPads, or MacBooks. Direct billing is not supported.
You can use the PowerCore 19000+ PD as a hub. So, if it's plugged into your MacBook, you can also connect a USB-A hard disk or other device and it will read the data. It is a practical feature limited to the low capacity power banks that I have tested. It can be a little hectic because you have to put it in special mode.
- Price: $ 130
- Capacity: 19200mAh, 71.04Wh
- ports: One USB-C, two USB-A (5V / 3A)
- cables: USB-C to USB-C
- AC adapter included: Yes
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – Anker's PowerCore 19000+ PD portable charger struggled to keep pace Macbook Pro use. I connected it at 2:45 pm when my MBP was at 10%. An hour later, the MBP was at 6%. By the third hour, the MBP was at 5% and half an hour later the PowerCore died. This gave me an additional 3.5 hours of autonomy, but would not have withstood more intensive work. I do not recommend this one for Macbook Pro use.
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – From 0, he loaded my 15 inches Macbook Pro at 60%.
- MacBook Capacity test – Charged on MacBook full, then again to 20%.
- MacBook Charge speed test – Charged on MacBook 57% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Loaded from 1% to 62% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Charged on iPad Pro to fill once and then to 50%.
- IPhone capacity test – Loaded the entire iPhone about 3 times.
- Charging speed – It took three hours and 20 minutes to fully charge the PowerCore 19000+ using the included 30W AC adapter.
ZMI USB PD Emergency Battery and Hub (45 W)
The ZMI USB-PD 20000mAh backup battery is the smallest battery I have on hand and the lightest, which is a huge plus. I think for most use cases, like load a MacBook, iPad, or iPhone, sacrificing ~ 6000mAh may be worth it to improve the portability and convenience of a smaller package.
The functionality and design of the ZMI backup battery is similar to that of the Anker PowerCore 19000+, but its power is greater than 45W. Most devices offer no real benefit, but it means they recharge faster than other options and it's best to use them with a handheld. Macbook Pro. The ZMI power bank provides a direct charge for connected USB-A devices.
I was not a fan of the ZMI's limited four-LED power meter, but it was comparable to other more affordable power banks I've tested. It has a useful feature that you do not see often – the hub feature. You can use it as a hub, so if you have it plugged into a MacBook, you can also connect a USB-A device and it will read the data. You must enable hub mode, but ZMI provides clear instructions and a light to let you know when it is active.
- Price: $ 69.95
- Capacity: 20000mAh, 72Wh
- ports: One USB-C, two USB-A (5V / 2.4A, 9V / 2A, 12V / 1.5A, 18W max)
- cables: USB-C to USB-C
- AC adapter included: Yes
Usage tests
- Macbook Pro in use – ZMI worked well by charging my Macbook Pro because of its higher power. He was able to charge the Macbook Pro from 5% to 25% in one hour of use, then to 33% before dying. It has added approximately 3 to 4 additional hours of battery life.
- Macbook Pro Capacity test – Charged on Macbook Pro from 5% to 71% before dying.
- MacBook Capacity test – Charged on MacBook from 5% to one full, then back to 25%.
- MacBook Charge speed test – Charged on MacBook from 5% to 62% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Charge speed test – Loaded at 67% in one hour.
- iPad Pro Capacity test – Full charge, then 55% charge.
- IPhone capacity test – Charge the iPhone up to three times, then it stays 10% for a fourth charge.
- Charging speed – By using a 45 W charger, because it supports the load of 45 W, the ZMI recharges completely in 2.5 hours. The use of a slower 30W charger would probably take about half an hour longer.
Which charger is the best?
All of these chargers are solid options, but there were some great solutions for different use cases. If you want to get something that can be used to charge a range of devices like the Macbook Pro, MacBook, iPhone and iPad Pro, the Jackery wins.
That's 26,000mAh, providing enough capacity for a full Macbook Pro charge, and it is 45W, so that it can charge Macbook Pro faster models than other food banks. It works equally well with all other devices, although 45W is excessive for anything other than Macbook Pro. It recharges quickly and comes with an AC adapter.
The Jackery power bank is expensive, but it is comparable to the similar Anker model (also excellent, but heavier and more loaded. Macbook Pro Slow down). You can go a lot cheaper with the 26,000 mAh RAVPower power bank ($ 80), but you will have to provide your own power adapter, limited to 30W, and I found this model less reliable as the Jackery and Anker options.
If you do not need to load a Macbook Pro and want something mainly for use with the iPad Pro, iPhone and even MacBook, the ZMI power bank of 20,000 mAh is a great option at $ 70. It is smaller, works well and can even be used as a hub, although you need to provide your own power adapter.
I liked the Mophie Powerstation 3XL and the Anker PowerCore 19000+, both powerful and with useful features, but they are more expensive than the competing options. The Powerstation 3XL, which is comparable to the Jackery, the RAVPower and the major Anker food banks, costs $ 200, or $ 70 more than the second most expensive option.
The Anker PowerCore 19000+ costs $ 130, which makes it $ 60 more expensive than the ZMI. Both of these power banks have similar capabilities and hub features, making the ZMI power bank the best solution.
In summary, I think most people will be satisfied with the Jackery power bank or the ZMI power bank according to their needs, but none of these power banks n & # 39 is a good option for charging all USB-C compatible devices in a sufficient and reliable manner. . For Anker and Mophie models, I would not hesitate to buy them, but I would wait for a sale.
How to buy
All of the food banks for this review are available on Amazon, with the exception of the Mophie Powerstation 3XL, which you can purchase from Mophie or Apple. The links are below:
Questions?
If you have any questions about any of these food banks, feel free to comment on them below. I spent a lot with all over the last few months and I will be happy to discuss in more detail everything that is mentioned in the guide (or not in the guide).
Note: Anker, Jackery, Mophie, RAVPower, and ZMI provided MacRumors with USB-C power banks for this review. No other compensation has been received. Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner of some of these providers. When you click on a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which allows us to keep the site active.
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