Despite the fact that phones and tablets are more powerful than ever, it is not uncommon to find yourself needing to charge up at times when you aren't near a wall outlet. If you need a lot of juice while on the go, and you don't have a lot of space in your pocket, a high-capacity battery pack is necessary. The RAVPower 90W Power Delivery Portable Charger is our top pick. It is the best high-capacity power bank, along with other great alternatives, if you need something even bigger.

Best overall: RAVPower 90W Power Delivery Portable Charger

RAVPower has some of the best prices for power banks on the market, especially considering the high build quality and the 30,000mAh capacity of this model, and that is before you factor in sales, which happen at least once a month. The box has a 5 Amp capable cable that will allow you to get top speeds instead of what your older cable might allow.

Even with its increased capacity and faster charging speeds, the RAVPower 90W is still about the same size as many portable chargers. It does this by sacrificing the third and fourth ports most power banks have, as if we always need to charge five things at the same time. It would allow us to stick to one cable type, rather than having to carry around multiple cables when we want to charge our laptop and phone at the same time.

You can only get 90W charging speed when you leave the power bank empty, which is standard for multi-port power banks, but is always worth mentioning. When both ports are engaged, you get 65W through the USB-C port and 18W through the USB-A port for a total output of 83W. 65W is still more than top speed on Chromebooks and is a perfectly fine speed for most Macs and Windows laptops so long as you are not gaming or rendering something in Premiere Pro.

The power bank supports the Power Delivery sub-certification called Programmable Power Supply. The protocol allows for more variable charging rates that will help keep the device cooler and improve the safety of higher-speed charging. Even though the S21 supports 25W charging if you plug it into a 30W or 45W charging, it usually only pulls 18W. This is great news for laptop owners, but it is even more important to the owners of the galaxy.

The FAA has a 100Whr limit for flights in the U.S., but the 30,000mAh power bank puts it above that limit. If you want a high-capacity battery that you can take on a plane, the next entry from Anker is your best bet.

Best bundle: Anker PowerCore+ 26,800mAh PD 45W with 60W PD Charger

Anker PowerCore+ 26800

(Image credit: Source: Anker)

One of the biggest names in power banks is Anker. The PowerCore III Elite 25,600mAh is a major upgrade from previous generations, thanks to exemplary build quality and long-term durability. The power bank can be used to charge phones, tablets, and power-hungry laptops.

25,600mAh is on the lower end of the high capacity spectrum, but it can still charge a phone four to six times on a single charge or a laptop from empty to full at least once. The max output from the bank's two ports combined is 15W, as the bank has a combined total output of 78W.

This bundle is not lightweight, but it is large. The PowerCore III Elite is small enough to fit in and out of a backpack while you are at an airport or convention. For those of us who already have cables and wall chargers, it would be nice to see the PowerCore III Elite 25,600mAhPD sold.

High speed and capacity: Goal Zero Sherpa 100 PD Qi

Goal Zero SHERPA 100PD

(Image credit: Source: Michael Fisher / MrMobile)

When it comes to charging multiple devices quickly with a power bank, you don't need a lot of ports, just a few that charge at decent speeds. If you need a big, powerful battery that you can still fly with, the Sherpa 100PD is just what you need.

The main port here is a 60 watt power delivery port, which will give your laptop a quick charge when you reach your destination. You also get a wireless charging pad on the top of the bank.

Goal Zero is a brand you might not have heard of before, since it deals with solar and portable power solutions. This is a battery pack that will not leave you hanging, because it is geared towards outdoor tech. The newer model of the Sherpa 100 AC is half the price of the newer model of the Sherpa 100PD.

Best 50,000mAh pack: MAXOAK Power Bank 50000

MAXOAK Power Bank 50000

(Image credit: Source: MAXOAK)

If you want an overwhelmingly huge battery pack with no concern about its price or size, then you should. The MAXOAK Power Bank 50000 hits all the right notes.

The 50,000mAh capacity here is enormous, and while you may not think you need that much battery, it comes in handy for long road trips, hurricanes, and other situations in which you are without power for a long period of time. You could charge the phone up to 16 times.

There are two ports at 2.1A and one port at 1A for phones, tablets, and other mobile gadgets. The MAXOAK battery pack has 20V and 12V DC outputs, making it a great choice for laptops.

MAXOAK's pack won't be going in your pocket anytime soon, but you can easily toss it in a backpack and have hours upon hours of charge time to take with you anywhere.

Best big brand station: Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300

Jackery Explorer 300 power station

Source: Jackery (Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

Jackery and its Explorer Series are familiar to anyone who has played in the rugged power space. I think the Explorer 300 is the best power station in Jackery's current lineup for three reasons.

  • The Explorer 300 has a USB-C Power Delivery port, while the 500 and 240 do not.
  • You get both AC wall plugs and a car outlet, which many camping appliances runoff.
  • 300Whr is a good capacity without getting super expensive or too heavy.

Jackery goes for the traditional toolbox style where all the ports go on the front, and all the power cells sit in the bottom and back with a box, making it easy to grab and carry from a car to campsite. There are two AC plugs that can be used to charge electronics and run smaller appliances like a camp fridge or a TV, but they are not rated for higher wattage electronics like the Explorer 500 and 1000. It has an automatic shutoff, which means you can't trust it to stay on all night with a CPAP machine.

Jackery makes solar panels that are perfect for charging this power station when you are out in the woods for three weeks, but also, like Goal Zero, those solar panels will come at a steep premium. You can combine the 60W Power Delivery charging with the 90W wall charging to get the Explorer 300 to 80% in two hours.

Jackery makes solar panels that are perfect for charging this power station when you are out in the woods for three weeks, but also, like Goal Zero, those solar panels will come at a steep premium. You can combine the 60W Power Delivery charging with the 90W wall charging to get the Explorer 300 to 80% in two hours.

Upgrade pick: Fanttik Evo 300 Power Station

Fanttik Evo 300 power station

(Image credit: Chris Wedel/Android Central)

There are battery packs in a league of their own. If you want one of the most powerful options out there and have the money to afford it, this is it.

A lunch box-sized emergency power station is what the Fanttik Evo 300 is. You can get a lot of ports and surge output up to 600W, which can be used to power the AC outlet and car sockets for a day or two.

You have a lot to choose from, going back to the port selection.

  • 12V DC car socket
  • Two 110V AC output
  • Two USB-A 3A ports
  • Two USB-C ports, one rated at 60W PD
  • DC input combines with USB-C for faster recharging

One of the best options for having a reliable power source during power outages, emergencies, and long camping treks is the Fanttik Evo 300. The power station has a large room light to make sure you are never left out in the dark.

Best for camping: BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank

Blavor Solar Charger Power Bank

Source: Amazon (Image credit: Source: Amazon)

While camping, hiking, or on other outdoor adventures, a power bank can be used as a power source. If this is the main scenario in which you will be using your new power bank, we recommend checking out the BLAVOR Solar Charger Power Bank.

One of the best features of this battery pack is that it has solar panels on the top that allow it to be charged using the sun. It is nice to have solar recharging. If you need to replenish the BLAVOR more quickly, you can do it via Micro-USB. There is a single 18W power delivery port, two 9V/2A ports, and a 10W wireless charging pad in this bank.

There is an IPX5 rating that protects against splashing water, a built-in flashlight to help you see at night, and a 20,000mAh capacity that is plenty of battery for most weekend adventures.

Balancing size and sensibility: What makes the best high-capacity power banks

You will be happy no matter which battery pack you choose, but at the end of the day, we think the best pick is the RAVPower 90W Power Delivery Portable Charger with its 30,000mAh capacity. It is the most affordable entry on the list, and it also has one of the highest charging speeds, so it will fit easily in your backpack or suitcase. It only has two ports, but unless you need to charge 3-4 devices at once, why pay for ports you don't need?

You can charge three devices at the same time with the PowerCore+ bundle, which comes with a high-quality cable and wall charger. The 26,800mAh is still the best for longevity because they are lower capacities with higher prices.

How to choose the best high-capacity battery pack

There are a number of things you should consider before buying a battery pack.

If you take the time to understand the little differences between everything, you will end up with a battery pack that works the best for your specific lifestyle.

How much battery capacity do you actually need?

The capacity of the battery pack is the most important thing to consider before buying it.

We are only looking at 20,000 or higher options since we are dealing with high-capacity packs. The picks on this list will be able to charge your phone multiple times and still have some leftover fuel in the tank.

The capacity of the batteries in most phones is between 3,500 and 4,500mAh. If you want to use your battery pack to charge your phone, tablet, or headphones, you should get something with a capacity of around 10,000-15,000mAh by the end of the day. If this sounds like a better fit for you, you might want to look into a more compact power bank.

There are power banks with capacities of 30,000 and more. There are some good reasons.

  • For people that want to charge a larger device, such as a laptop, having a big capacity will ensure you have access to enough power.
  • For backpacking or other outdoor adventures where outlets are few and far between, a high-capacity bank ensures you can keep your phone charged and your lifeline alive, as well as power small camping appliances.
  • If you live somewhere prone to severe weather like hurricanes or tornadoes, a power station-style high-capacity portable charger like the RAVPower 252.7Whr Power Station will ensure you can stay connected while waiting for the electrical grid to be repaired.

Why USB-C is so important

We talked a lot about the power delivery in this article, but we need to explain why it is so important and why you should get a battery pack.

The Micro-USB ports used to be prevalent on just about every phone for charging. Not only does it benefit from the fact that it is reversible, but it is also more powerful because it can be used to charge at speeds up to 100.

Not allusb-c ports are created equally The Power Delivery standard is used to signify that ausb-c port offers considerably faster charging and data speeds. If the port only offers 15W, you should skip it.

Power Delivery is a must when you want to charge a device that has a big battery. Not only are a lot of newer devices moving to Power Delivery ports, but it will also cut down on the time it takes to charge them.