3 best mobile batteries for iPhone, with tips on how to choose – CNN.co.jp

（CNN） There’s nothing worse than having your iPhone’s battery die when you need it most. That’s why it’s important to have the best mobile battery for your iPhone. A convenient portable charger quickly replenishes your battery on the go so you can respond to important messages and avoid being stranded on the road. The slim design that easily fits into your pocket or bag is also attractive.

However, the difficulty lies in the large number of options available. There are countless options, from large and powerful ones that can charge multiple devices to slim MagSafe battery packs that can be attached to the back of your smartphone. Furthermore, some people may be confused as to what “10000mAh” and “45W” mean. Okay, let us explain in detail.

This time, we conducted our own rigorous charging tests on dozens of types of mobile batteries for iPhone, and confirmed their durability under daily use. Here we would like to introduce three recommended products that we selected after testing many charging cycles.

Best iPhone mobile battery: “Anker Nano Power Bank”

There are certain products that I keep borrowing from friends. This is exactly the case. Every time I go out with my colleague, reporter Henry T. Casey, I always end up taking this speedy, slim, and ultra-convenient portable charger with him.

The reason why the Anker Nano Power Bank has been on CNN Underscored’s list of recommended mobile batteries for over a year is because of its outstanding design. As the name suggests, this compact product is approximately 10 centimeters tall and easily fits in your pocket. Unlike many competing products, it comes in a wide variety of colors.

The biggest feature is the built-in USB-C cable, which eliminates the need to carry a separate cable. What’s more, this cable is handled very skillfully, as it passes through small metal parts and forms a loop, allowing you to easily hold your smartphone and charger at the same time. In addition to the built-in cable, it also has USB-C and USB-A ports, so you can charge multiple devices at the same time.

Of course, the charging speed is also fast. This small 30W mobile battery achieved the highest score among models in its price range, charging an iPhone 16 to 56% in just 30 minutes. The small screen that displays the remaining power and the 10,000mAh capacity are also excellent, allowing you to fully charge your smartphone twice. Requires charging much less frequently than a basic 5000mAh battery. All this in a $50 package (5,990 yen including tax in Japan), making it the perfect option to meet the charging needs of many iPhone users.

Best cost performance iPhone mobile battery: “INIU mobile battery”

If your budget is under $30 but you don’t want to compromise on charging performance, this INIU model is for you. It consistently outperforms lower-priced competitors in our tests, and its easy-to-carry design with a convenient loop-shaped cable is also appealing.

INIU charged an iPhone 16 battery to a whopping 56% in just 30 minutes. Results are on par with the #1 overall Anker Nano Power Bank, and outperform all models under $40 we tested. The capacity is 10,000mAh, the same as the Nano, so you can safely use it for 1 to 2 days on a single charge.

There’s a built-in cable for easy connection to the INIU, and it also has USB-C and USB-A ports, so you can use it to charge another phone or tablet. The built-in cable can be used by hooking it onto your finger like the Anker model, but I didn’t find it very convenient to use when using a smartphone while charging. Also, while the paw-shaped LED indicator is cute, the accuracy of checking the remaining battery level is not as good as the Nano’s detailed display. But these are just minor points, and it’s a great product that costs between $15 and $25.

Best MagSafe compatible iPhone mobile battery: “Baseus PicoGo AM61”

If you want both the magnetic convenience of MagSafe and fast wired charging, the Baseus PicoGo AM61 may be the only iPhone power bank that meets all your needs.

While it’s far from the thinnest MagSafe battery pack we tested, it’s still compact enough that you can comfortably use your iPhone 17 Pro with the battery attached and even put it in your pocket.

Wireless charging is the main attraction of this power bank, and the PicoGo AM61 performed best among the competing products we tested. It supports 25W Qi2 fast charging and charged an iPhone 17 Pro from 0% to 44% in just 30 minutes.

In addition to MagSafe’s superior charging speed, it also has a built-in USB-C cable that supports 45W super-fast wired charging. Charge your iPhone to 38% in just 15 minutes. Additionally, you can charge up to three devices simultaneously using the MagSafe charging pad, built-in cable, and USB-C port. Perfect for when you want to charge your iPhone, AirPods, and iPad at the same time.

At $70, it’s not cheap, but if you’re looking for the convenience of MagSafe charging and high-speed wired charging in one device, there are few products that offer a better value for money.

Test method

performance

Charging speed:For conventional wired mobile batteries, we measured the rate of increase in the remaining battery power of the iPhone 16 after charging each product for 30 minutes. The MagSafe compatible wireless battery test was similar, and after fully depleting the iPhone 17 Pro’s charge, we recorded the battery increase rate after charging for 15 minutes and 30 minutes for each product.

capacity:The charging capacity of each mobile battery (usually 5,000 to 10,000mAh) was included in the evaluation items, and the remaining capacity after full charge was also checked.

design

Portability and appearance:The purpose of the iPhone mobile battery is to be able to charge it anywhere, so we focused on making it easy to put in your pocket or bag when you go out. Additionally, we gave points to products that are available in multiple colors and have a good appearance that complements everyday use.

Ports and cables:Most iPhone power banks come with one or more charging ports and a USB-C cable, but their versatility varies widely. We highly praised the model with multiple ports that can charge multiple devices at the same time, and especially the model with a built-in cable so you don’t have to worry about forgetting the cable. The same standards were applied to MagSafe compatible wireless chargers. The best models often feature a USB output port for fast wired charging.

How to choose the best iPhone mobile battery

Wired or wireless (or both)?

First, you need to decide whether to choose wired or wireless MagSafe compatible. In our experience, charging with a wired USB-C cable is almost always faster and often cheaper than wireless. MagSafe, on the other hand, is just so convenient. Many MagSafe-enabled batteries also support wired charging, so if you can pay the higher price, you can get the best of both worlds.

Charging capacity and speed

For those who are concerned about technical terms such as “5000mAh” and “25W”, let me explain. Milliampere hours (mAh) indicates the total capacity of a mobile battery, and watts (W) indicates the charging speed. Most mobile batteries are 5,000mAh or 10,000mAh, with the former being able to be charged for about one full charge, and the latter being able to be charged for about two times.

Naturally, the higher the wattage, the faster the charging speed. MagSafe compatible batteries are generally 7.5W to 25W, and some of the mobile batteries we tested were 45W. However, choosing the fastest charger is not always the best option. Check in advance whether your smartphone supports fast charging.

Compatibility with iPhone

If you are considering purchasing a MagSafe compatible device, you need to make sure that your smartphone is compatible. MagSafe is compatible with iPhone 12 and later, but some entry-level models such as iPhone SE and iPhone 16e are not eligible. However, the latest “iPhone 17e” is compatible with MagSafe, which means that most current new iPhones can use magnetic mobile batteries. In general, newer models have faster wireless charging, and while the iPhone 14’s MagSafe charging speed is up to 15W, the iPhone 17’s is faster at up to 25W.

One more piece of advice. You should also check whether the mobile battery you purchase is optimized for your iPhone model. For example, the latest iPhone 17 series supports 40W fast charging, so you can use a power bank with the same wattage. On the other hand, older models such as the iPhone 14 have a cap of 20W, so a mobile battery with modest output is sufficient.

The last thing you should pay attention to is the standard of the charging cable. iPhone 15 and later devices use the universal USB-C port, but iPhone 14 and earlier devices use Apple’s proprietary Lightning standard. Most modern power banks come with a USB-C to USB-C cable, so if you want to charge an older iPhone, get a separate USB-C to Lightning cable. Alternatively, you could choose a power bank that has both USB-C and Lightning connectors built-in.

◇

This is a product review article written by Mike Andronico of CNN Underscored.

Why you can trust CNN Underscored

With veteran writers and editors with years of experience testing, researching, and recommending products, CNN Underscored carefully edits each article to ensure products are properly researched. When appropriate, we speak to leading experts to ensure we accurately test each product and recommend only the best products, ensuring we consider the pros and cons of each item.

As an Amazon Associate, CNN.co.jp earns from qualifying sales.