Anker 757 PowerHouse 1500W portable power station review | 1229Wh long-life LiFePO4 | Fully tested
The power station comes well packaged with a tough outer box. Inside you get a box of accessories, a user manual and the charger itself.
Anker includes a mains charging cable, a car charging cable with an XT-60 connector and there’s a 3 x XT60 to XT-60 parallel charging cable for connecting Anker’s optional solar panels. There’s also a protective cover for the charging station which is a nice touch I’ve not seen before. The multilingual user manual is clear and concise.
The power station has an uncluttered elegant design and feels very well built with an aluminium frame, and a grey and black hard plastic outer shell. Like other power stations I’ve reviewed it doesn’t have any ruggedness or waterproof rating, but the included protective cover would offer some weather protection if using it outdoors.
There are two substantial carry handles, and they’ve kept the top flat which is handy for charging laptops etc.
You’ll generally need both these handles to carry the power station, which weighs in at a fairly hefty 20kg thanks to the 1229Wh LiFePO4 battery. This LFP battery technology based on Lithium Phosphate chemistry weighs more than standard Li-ion batteries that use NMC or Nickel Manganese Cobalt chemistry, but they support 3000 complete charge cycles compared to 500-1000 cycles for NMC batteries. And allows Anker to offer a 5 year warranty with these power stations.
It’s not as big as I was expecting, considering its capacity and 1500W output. It measures 463 x 288 x 237 mm (W x H x D).
Anker’s website provides a few examples on what you could run off this power station and for how long, and I’ll show some real life examples shortly. But anything from a portable fridge to a coffee maker to a CPAP machine to an electric lawn mower is possible.
The front of the unit has a large LCD display with a LED light strip above it with its own button. Beside this screen is a button to turn this display on and a power saving mode switch to automatically turn off the power station when your devices are fully charged. There’s also a reset switch to factory reset the unit.
Below the display is a 12V 10A or 120W car socket output with its own switch, one 100W USB-C port, one 60W USB-C port and four standard USB-A 5V 2.4A 12W ports. Then you have the two pure sine wave 220V 50Hz AC outlets with their own power button. These outlets support 1500W continuous output but can briefly surge to 2400W. The number of outputs varies depending on region – in the US you’ll get six 110V outputs.
Around the back of the unit you have the 1000W mains charging input and the 11-30V 10A XT-60 DC charging input for charging using the car charging cable or optional solar panels. There’s also the AC overload protection button. The ports are protected via a hinged cover which I found a little tricky to release with my short fingernails.
The sides of the unit have large cooling vents with no less than five fans underneath the right vent that suck in cool air and exhaust the hot air via the other side.
There are no wireless charging pads like on some power stations I’ve tested and there’s no integrated Bluetooth to monitor and control the unit via a smartphone app. This is also one of the few units I’ve tested that has no 12V DC 5525 outputs – but I’ve never found these particularly useful anyway.
Charging
One of my favourite features of this power station is mains charging. You don’t need any AC adapter – it charges directly off mains using the ubiquitous IEC mains cable – often called a kettle lead in the UK. It’s the same cable that plugs into the back of your PC and even if you lose the supplied one, you should always be able to find a spare.
And this input supports up to an impressive 1000W using Anker’s HyperFlash technology which can fast charge the unit from completely flat to 80% charge in 1 hour according to Anker. In my tests I got to between 75 and 78% in one hour but achieved a full charge in under the quoted 1.5 hours. Charging times will vary slightly based on ambient temperatures and the temperature of the unit itself. The temperature needs to be 0 – 40 °C to charge the unit (although you can discharge it in.20°C – 40°C).
In comparison, my Jackery Explorer 1000W needs the supplied 180W charger and will take over 5 hours for a full charge. The fans do turn on intermittently whilst charging and there’s no way to slow charge the unit to possibly extend battery life, but I don’t think Anker would be offering a 5 year warranty if they didn’t have complete faith in their charging system.
You can also charge the unit at up to 120W using the supplied car charging cable via the XT60 DC input, which will charge the unit in around 10 hours.
With a bench power supply set to 30V and 10A I was able to charge at just under 275W using this input, so if your car has a 24V output you could charge the power station faster.
Anker recommends using 3 of their 100W 625 solar panels together with the included 3-way parallel charging cable to charge the power station at up to 300W using solar power. The power station has a built in MPPT controller for more efficient solar charging.
I didn’t have Anker’s solar panels to test, but I tried connecting a single 160W solar panel I had which worked fine. This panel has the common MC4 connectors, so I used an MC-4 to XT-60 cable I had spare to connect the panel to the Anker. I got 55-60W on a bright but cloudy summer’s day in the UK.
I also tried connecting 3 120W solar panels in parallel using some 3-way MC-4 branch connectors. In again bright but cloudy conditions I got 100 to 150W peaking at around 180W. I have little doubt that without any Cloud coverage I could get close to the 300W maximum.
But even at around 150W you should be able to completely charge the unit in 8-10 hours. And in perfect conditions you could charge the unit from empty to 80% in just over 3.5 hours.
The DC input supports 11V-30V at 10A, so if you’re going to connect more than one typical 20V panel, you’ll need to connect them in parallel – not series. Otherwise you’ll exceed the maximum input voltage. This is very easy either with the supplied cable and Anker’s panels, or these cheap branch connectors and XT-60 adapter. You’ll need to check the voltage of your panels, and remember that in series you add the voltages together for each panel, and in parallel you add the current for each panel – the voltage stays the same.
I did test the overvoltage protection connecting two 20V 120W panels in series and the power station did protect itself by refusing to charge.
You can’t charge via the mains and DC inputs at the same time – mains will always override the DC input, but at the speed of AC charging that’s not really an issue.
When charging you’ll see the battery percentage, a charging icon, the charging input wattage and an estimated time remaining to a full charge based on this input wattage. You can use all of the outputs while the power station is charging.
Performance
The power station has a built-in 1500W inverter which will support a brief surge to 2400W. This makes it one of the most powerful portable power stations I’ve tested so far and it should be enough for even power hungry devices.
This UK version has two 50Hz 220V outlets both with a pure sine wave output which I confirmed with a graphical l multimeter. This is important for sensitive electronics.
I tested these outputs with a variety of devices. The LCD display shows the current output power and remaining battery capacity based on this instantaneous power.
First off I tried mowing the lawn with a 1500W Flymo lawnmower which ran fine at just under 1200W.
I could also run a 720W angle grinder, a 1750W heat gun, a 1250W SDS drill and a 1100W compressor.
The large start up draw of an old 1500W circular saw was a little too much for it, shutting off the AC subsystem. You just need to wait a few seconds and you can turn AC back on again.
Around the house I could run a 1550W hairdryer, a Nespresso coffee machine, a heater and a toaster. Interestingly, if I ran anything over 1500W for more than a few seconds, the output dropped to the maximum 1500W of the power station.
Using an energy monitoring plug, it looks like the Anker will drop the output voltage for devices like this to keep them within its limits. This heater runs normally at its low 1000W setting, but if I bump it up to its full 2000W setting it will hold close to this output for 5-10 seconds and then drops to around 1500W with the voltage dropping from around 225V to 200V.
It’s the same with this toaster when I switch it from 2 to 4 slots, doubling its output. It’s fine with devices like this with heating elements but I’d be a little careful plugging in sensitive electronics that exceed 1500W.
To measure the capacity of the built in 1229Wh battery I ran a heater via an energy monitoring plug at around 1000W until the power station turned off. The heater ran for 1 hour 18 minutes and consumed 1063Wh. Power stations like this will always have conversion losses and anything over 80% is pretty good. The Anker works out at 1063Wh /1229Wh which is around 86%.
I did a similar test using the DC output with a 10A electronic load attached. I measured 1052Wh which is very close to the result under an AC load with the same 86% efficiency.
The Anker PowerHouse also has a very useful UPS or uninterruptible power supply function. When the power station is charging off mains, any mains devices you plug in will bypass the power station and run directly off mains at up to 1500W until there’s a power cut, when they’ll switch across to the power station’s battery.
It doesn’t support professional grade 0ms switching but Anker quotes less than 20ms to switch across, which I confirmed with a graphical multimeter. I could also see the status LED blink on my heater when I pulled the charging cable on the power station to simulate a power cut.
I tried this with various devices including my desktop PC and it worked very well, directly comparable to my dedicated APC ES-700 UPS but with far longer battery life.
I tested the 12V 10A car outlet charging another power station at around 110W.
I tested this port to its limits with an electronic load tester ramping up the current to 11.6A exceeding its 10A rated output. The PowerHouse displayed 155W before it shut off with its overload protection kicking in.
Finally I tested the USB ports. I’m really pleased to see two USB-C power delivery ports to charge your phone, tablet, laptop and the ever increasing number of gadgets that support USB power delivery.
The 100W output is enough for even power hungry devices like the latest MacBook Pros. I tested both USB-C ports charging this Gooloo GT3000 jump starter which is one of the few devices I own that will charge at up to 100W over USB-C power delivery.
I got almost the full 100W from the 100W port and around 60W from the 60W port. It’s worth noting that you’ll need a 100W rated USB-C cable with the E-mark chip to use the 100W port at its full output.
The 4 USB-A ports don’t have any fast charging capabilities like Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 or 4.0, but I tested them up to their 2.4A or 12W maximum output with a load tester and they worked fine.
Most of the time the power station is silent in operation and with lower powered devices its cooling fans will rarely kick in which is great if you’re powering something overnight like a CPAP machine. The only time I got all 5 cooling fans to come on is whilst mains charging. Around 1 metre away I measured 46dB, around 11dB louder than room noise with all 5 cooling fans running which is the worst case scenario. You can hear the fan noise in the accompanying video.
And they do keep everything cool which I confirmed with a FLIR thermal imaging camera.
The power saving mode switch is a useful feature that turns off the power station when everything connected to it is fully charged. If you want to connect devices that use low power or intermittently turn on and off you can easily turn this switch off. So you should leave this turned off for portable fridges, CPAP machines etc. If the AC and car outlet subsystems are turned on, they will slowly drain the battery, even if nothing is connected when the power saving mode is turned off.
The LED light strip above the LCD screen has 3 brightness levels which change with each press of the button and an SOS mode that can be activated if you hold this button down for 2 seconds. It’s not your typical harsh white LED having a warm soft light. It’s not super bright but would be useful for camping or emergencies.
Conclusions
It’s difficult to fault the Anker PowerHouse 757. Its 1500W of output is enough to power even power hungry devices and the 1229Wh battery can keep lower powered items running for days.
I’m pleased to see Anker use a LiFePO4 battery that can remain in a healthy state after 3000 complete charging cycles. It is heavier than power stations using more traditional Lithium Ion batteries, but I think it’s worth it for up to 6 times longer battery life. These power stations are a considerable investment – you want it to last and it’s reassuring that Anker offer a 5 year guarantee – longer than any other brand of portable power station I’ve tested so far.
I was also impressed with the charging speeds. I could fully charge this unit in under 1.5 hours and directly off mains without having to carry an AC adapter.
If I was being picky I’d like an app to monitor and control the unit, a user replaceable battery, some fast charging USB-A ports and a couple of wireless charging pads wouldn’t go amiss. But these are all minor points.
If you don’t need the power or capacity of this unit at the top of Anker’s range, they also do smaller models including the 500W 535 and the 200W 521 PowerHouse models, that all still come with long lasting LiFePO4 batteries. I’ve not tested them yet, but I’ll provide a link down below so you can check them all out for yourselves or you can just search Anker PowerHouse on Google for further details and pricing.
Don’t forget to take a look at my YouTube video at the top of the page, and subscribe to my YouTube channel where I’m releasing videos every week on the latest technology and how to get the most out of it. If you tap the bell icon when you subscribe you’ll get a notification as soon as I release a video, and there’ll be a link to my site here for the written article. YouTube is also the best place to leave a comment. I read all of them and respond to as many as I can!
Portable Power Station Expansion Battery (2048Wh) by Anker
Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery
Need that extra juice to run your electrical devices and home appliances? The Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery is the perfect solution! This Anker expansion battery pack doubles the battery capacity of the Anker PowerHouse 767 portable power station for you to get a 4096 wh capacity for a longer run time. Long-lasting portable power station paired with a Long-lasting expansion battery, the perfect combination for everyday use, outdoor camping, and makes sure you are ready for any power outage!
What’s included?
Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery (2048 Wh battery capacity)
User Manual of Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery
Lifetime friendly customer service.
Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery features
Long-Lasting Battery
With a proprietary long-lasting technology InfiniPower, combined with LiFePO4 batteries, a Smart temperature control system, a drop-proof unibody design, and only the best quality electronic components. The Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery is guaranteed to have a 3000 charge cycle or the longest-lasting 10-year lifespan compared to other batteries.
Hyperflash Technology
With Hyperflash, you are ready for any emergency! Faster charging speeds compared to other Generators and Expansion batteries. From 0 to 80% within just 1.4 hours. This Fast recharge feature makes sure you are ready for any adventure or emergency and lets you enjoy more and worry less.
Safe and Extremely Durable
An impact-resistant structural design built with quality electronic components that have a 50,000-hour lifespan, and a ventilation grille for better airflow, guaranteeing a long run time and a worry-free experience! It also has a secure 3-point protective clasp that safeguards the battery and ensures no leakage current occurs while charging.
Top-notch 5-Year Warranty
Compared to other Solar Generators and their expansion battery packs, the Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery offers a superior 5-year full-device warranty. Designed for reliability to keep your medical equipment, home appliances, power tools, and electronic devices powered and guaranteed to last 10 years even with daily use, truly a worry-free experience, especially for those who are going solar for the first time. Pair your Anker 760 Portable Power Station Expansion Battery with the Anker Solar Generator 767 and some solar panels for the best performance!
Anker Expansion Battery Specs
Rated Capacity. 51.2V 40,000mAh/2048Wh
Battery Type. LiFePO4 Batteries
Dimensions. 44.3 × 26.8 × 23.8cm / 17.44 × 10.6 × 9.4in
WHY ANKER?
Be Ready for Anything with Anker PowerHouse Solar Generators! With any Anker PowerHouse portable power station, you can now keep your family safe and comfortable for anything. The Anker Powerhouse Solar Generator, with its high capacity and powerful output, is the perfect solution for anyone who needs reliable power on the go. This solar generator comes with a built-in AC wall outlet, AC port, AC plugs, USB-C port, and DC ports, making it easy to charge all of your electronic devices, including high-capacity power banks, small appliances, powerful laptops, and even electric cars.
GET YOUR ANKER POWERHOUSE FROM WILD OAK TRAIL!
Compared to similar products in the market, the Anker PowerHouse Solar Generator offers a lower price tag while still providing similar power output and features. It’s perfect for anyone who needs a reliable and efficient source of power for small appliances, coffee makers, electric grills, and other electronic devices.
Get your dependable portable power source now, by purchasing your Anker PowerHouse from Wild Oak Trail. The Anker PowerHouse is a fantastic solar generator that offers high capacity, efficient power transfer, and an affordable price range. Whether you’re a first-time user or a seasoned veteran, this solar generator is sure to meet your needs and exceed your expectations.
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Anker Reviews
I had a portable battery charger fail after just under a year and applied on line for a warranty claim. I uploaded the details and was contacted straight away via Anker customer service with a return label for the faulty product. They said as soon as the as the tracking said it was posted a replacement would be sent out. I received this replacement within 3 days of raising the claim. The customer service representative then followed up today to check it was all received and I was happy with the replacement. I couldn’t have asked for better service.
Date of experience : March 06, 2023
Delighted with the Service Product
Delighted with the service. My original order went missing with the courier but a quick email to Anker and they sent out a replacement immediately. They then continued to stay in touch to ensure my order arrived safely and then another week later emailed to check we were happy with the product. Would recommend highly. We bought a magsafe charger for an iPhone 14 Pro and it works a treat
Date of experience : December 28, 2022
Forget about any type of support after warranty
Recently the hinge of my headset broke and support refused to provide me with any type of assistance as warranty expired.I wanted to pay for the repair or at least buy the spare part but apparenly they do not offer after sale support for their products after warranty expired. To be avoided.
Date of experience : February 05, 2023
No sound issue fixed with a (simple) re-set
The first soundcore flare had issues with connections. Just would not pair. So I contacted Anker and WITHOUT HAVING RECEIVED THE DEFECTIVE UNIT they sent me a replacement and asked me to send the defective unit back (this was about 2 yr ago) when I got the replacement. First excellent experience.
Today, the replacement would power up and SAY it’s pairedbut no sound. Contacted a live person at Anker and he walked me through the re-setting process.
Took about 5 minutes to do this over the phone. Now I have sound again.
Excellent customer service in my opinion.
Date of experience : February 06, 2023
Warranty is worthless
I bought an Anker powerbank in the US from BestBuy; during an overseas trip the powerbank failed. Anker customer support tells me that simply taking the item outside the country of purchase voids the warranty.
Date of experience : March 22, 2023
I’m sorry to hear that you are experiencing an issue with your Anker powerbank warranty. We understand how frustrating it can be to have a warranty voided, especially when you are traveling outside the country of purchase. However, we would like to help you resolve this issue. Could you please try to contact our support again for further checking?
scam marketing and I’m thinking of…
scam marketing and I’m thinking of reporting their scam to the police.
I bought the q30s, AND NOWHERE, NOWHERE, does SOUNDCORE WARNING THAT:1. WHEN THEY ARE WIRED, THEY WORK VERY BADLY, LIKE 2 euro HEADPHONES.2. THE SAMPLE RATE IS 8000, unusable with most audio software.
to all users, you can report this fact and ask for a refund.
Date of experience : April 03, 2023
I’ll never use them again.
Ordered a pair of men’s glasses then a week later they email me saying they no longer have the stock so can they send me some Pink headphones. Given the ridiculousness of this suggestion, it must be automatically generated which I’m guessing that the original sunglasses offer was never real, just a deceitful trick to get me on the hook. Never again will I be fooled by Anker as I’ll never use them again.
Date of experience : December 06, 2022
BEWARE!
Their business model is to resell equipment that has already failed with a three-month warranty, because they have already collected data that the equipment will last only 5-6 months and offer only an apology in return for your money. W
Date of experience : March 06, 2023
Their product overheated and broke my…
Their product overheated and broke my phone. Contacted them and they said to mail it to them so they can “investigate” and will pay for damages if at fault. OF COURSE. They weren’t at fault… although I went to professionals and did my own investigation before mailing off the product (and paid to ship it to Hong Kong!!) and they were most definitely at fault because it was their product that overheated. DONT BUY FROM ANKER!
Date of experience : February 19, 2023
Anker engages in deceptive bait and…
Anker engages in deceptive bait and switch tactics.Their checkout system increases and adds fees after it shows you the contents of the cart. Their customer service is slow and ill-equipped to handle customer requests, focusing more on ticket processing metrics. This is the kind of online retail operation that makes you feel icky and ripped off. It’s sad, because Anker used to have a reputation for quality products sold on Amazon. Apparently, they took the dark path with their own retail though.
Date of experience : August 03, 2022
Anker. Quality Products, Amazing Customer Support.
Anker.Recent purchases, very high quality products. An issue raised by myself, responded to in a timely and professional manner. Customer Support yes six stars.Only let down, Anker used Evri as the package delivery courier. The worst courier service in the world in Evri Sense Evri Time 95% rating.I would personally be happy to pay towards delivery, if they used a professional company e.g. DPD, DHL etc
Date of experience : September 02, 2022
Anker Power Bank
An Anker Power Bank, 325 Portable Charger (PowerCore Essential 20K) 20000mAh that is under 2 years old has cracked on the side. It looks like it is due to battery expansion as the side is bulged. This is a known issue on various forums.
18 month warranty. Customer service was not helpful.
Generally their products look good but it will make me think twice about buying this brand again.
Date of experience : October 12, 2022
Anker 337 Power Bank
Can’t fault Anker products or their brilliant customer service! This piece of kit is excellent. just what you need when travelling around. especially when your iPhone consumes huge amounts of battery just by being on. This power bank has three USB outputs and a double charging function if required. It does weigh a bit more than my previous power bank but has twice the capacity so only expected.In summary, a great purchase and thanks to Lois for resolving a problem I created on the first order.
Date of experience : July 04, 2022
Buy via their Amazon store, Great products
Buy via their Amazon store, any issues are quickly resolved then (proof of purchase etc).this IS Ankers chosen wasy to sell anyway.-had a minor problem with the buds; the usual fault finding emails exchange, then Anker just sent me a replacement pair. Great.Excellent, as has all many other Anker chargers, torch and cables I’ve purchased.
Date of experience : November 01, 2022
No delivery and awful service
Two weeks in and. No delivery, customer service want me to wait another ten days, but they can’t even track the package or speak to the courier. Haven’t had customer service as arrogant of consumer rights as this for a long time. It’s obviously operated from China … and they just don’t care.
Date of experience : December 01, 2022
No warranty with Anker products.
No warranty with product. I purchased anker soundcore earbuds from Amazon, had an issue within the warranty period so I contacted Anker support. They made me send proof or purchase and a photo etc, I did all that and they agreed to send a replacement. They never sent the replacement and they stopped replying to my emails. Disgraceful customer service.
Date of experience : October 27, 2022
Generally a very good charging and power company
Bought and used Anker gear for a long time. 2x power banks, a few cables, charging port, an ergonomic mouse and an extension lead.
Generally speaking, I never had any issues, until the extension cord. I would still highly recommend their power banks, cables and chargers.
Just not the extension lead, because it caused quite bad wireless interference and knocked out a VPN on a work laptop.
If you put that experience to one side, still a good company, you can mostly trust in regards to their charging and power equipment.
Date of experience : October 11, 2021
Tatty refurb replacements
Bought 2 cameras and a Homebase in June 2021. Both cameras failed within a week of each other in Feb 2022. Followed troubleshooting advice still no joy. Contact eufy, they told me they would replace them. Failed to divulge that they are refurbished replacements, I believe that they deliberately mislead me. When they arrived the casings of the cameras are visibly heavily damaged. Scrapping right down to the metal. Look like they have been kicked around on the floor. And I am expected to put this tatty mess on my house!! Contacted them still awaiting a reply but no hopeful. AVOID ! pick a different brand!
Date of experience : March 11, 2022
Low quality products and zero support
Bought the Anker Soundcore noise cancelling earbuds.
They worked for about 10hours use then developed the widely documented fault of losing sound in the left earbud.
I raised a case with Anker support who were totally unhelpful refused to repair or replace the item as I was in France when I raised the issue and not the UK where I purchased them. Absolutely appalling support service and shoddy unreliable products.
There are better brands available, that are superior quality and with better support when needed.
I would never buy an Anker product again.
Date of experience : July 09, 2022
RAVPower vs Anker: Which Is The Better Portable Power Bank?
Portable power is a necessity for most campers and hikers. But when it comes to RAVPower vs Anker, which is better for you?
The Outdoor Authority may receive commissions for links included in articles to affiliate partners. Each of our recommendations is proudly backed by research and testing.
Like most of you reading this, I love camping and hiking because it offers me a much-needed break from the responsibilities of every day life.
There’s something extremely cathartic about gathering wood, starting a fire, and watching my stress billow away with the smoke as the sun sets over the horizon.
But as much as I like to surround myself with nature to simplify my life, I’m still a 30-something guy living in the 21st century.
I need my tech!
Between my smartphone and Bluetooth speaker, I have definite power needs while I’m trying to unplug from society.
That’s why no outdoor excursion is complete without a fully charged power bank.
If you’re reading this article, it’s probably because you’re looking for the power bank that best suits your needs.
And your research has probably led you to two popular brands:
What are the differences between the two manufacturers and which one is better?
We break it down in The Outdoor Authority’s RAVPower vs Anker comparison.
Tips for Choosing the Right Power Bank
At first glance it seems easy enough:
Choose the model with the biggest numbers for the lowest price.
But what do all those numbers mean?
And should you care about anything other than the numbers?
Let’s answer those questions, but let’s do it in reverse.
7 things to look for when power bank shopping
Allow me to list out the 7 things you should look for when shopping for a new power bank:
- Capacity
- Max current
- Charging speed
- Included accessories and cables
- Dimensions and weight
- Cost
- Warranty
Those 7 factors fall into 3 categories:
- Pretty straightforward: 5, 6, and 7
- Make sense but maybe you didn’t consider: 3 and 4
- May be foreign if you aren’t into tech: 1 and 2
(Why am I still doing things in reverse?)
Let’s knock out the easy ones here. These are the things you should look for.
Warranty // Longer is better.
Cost // Lower is better.
Dimensions and weight // Smaller is (usually) better.
Included accessories and cables // Consider both what you’ll be charging with your power bank and how you’ll be re-charging your power bank.
And now, the numbers stuff.
What do all those numbers mean?
Tech stuff always has numbers associated with it, also known as technical specifications.
You use these specs to compare various models (along with factors 4-7 above) to dial in exactly what you need for the price you’re willing to pay.
For power banks, there are 3 technical specifications we care about.
And for the sake of consistency, let’s keep going backwards!
Charging speed // The rate at which the power bank recharges. Many power banks have a turbo charge feature where they fill, say, 50% of the way super fast and then charge the final 50% more slowly.
Max current // Current is measured in amperes, abbreviated as amps (A), and with power banks you’ll usually see 2 different outputs: 1A and 2.1A. Most phones charge on the lower 1A current whereas most tablets, laptops, and other larger devices charge using the 2.1A current. If you want to be able to charge those larger devices, make sure your power bank has a max output of at least 2.1A. Please note you can still charge a phone with a 2.1A power bank, it’ll just throttle down to the phone’s 1A current.
Capacity // This is the most oft-cited number when you read about batteries and power banks. Measured in milli Ampere-hours (mAh), capacity is the amount of energy a battery stores. A higher mAh rating means the battery can store more energy.
How many charges will I get out of a power bank?
While it seems logical to say that a 15000mAh battery will fully charge a 3000mAh cell phone 5 times, that’s actually incorrect! You also need to factor in the voltage in/out of the battery and the inherent inefficiency of the battery, which is generally at least 10%. (This means about 10% of the energy stored in the battery is lost to the internal components and isn’t transferred to your device.) Read here for full details on calculating the number of charge cycles from a given battery.
As the note above explains, calculating the number of charge cycles in a power bank isn’t totally straightforward, but at a high level you can say more mAh equals more stored energy.
RAVPower vs Anker: The Comparison
Comparing RAVPower vs Anker at the “brand name” level doesn’t really mean comparing technical specifications.
For both brands you’ll find smaller.sized models with very low capacity and huge models intended to give you days of recharges to most of your devices. You’ll also find plenty of models in the middle.
Instead, this comparison really comes down to one major factor.
RAVPower is the more affordable brand
All things equal, meaning the same basic power bank with the same technical specifications, RAVPower’s version is usually cheaper.
Let’s compare a few similar RAVPower vs Anker power banks.
And for those more visually inclined, have a look at our super precise chart of RAVPower vs Anker costs:
At almost every size power bank, the RAVPower version will be less expensive.
That begs a very obvious question:
If RAVPower is cheaper, why would you ever want to buy an Anker power bank?
From my perspective, here’s the single best reason to go with Anker over RAVPower.
Anker power banks recharge almost twice as quickly
Anker power banks, specifically those with PowerCore II technology. charge much more quickly than similar RAVPower models. Consider the following 20000 mAh models, which store enough energy to charge and iPhone 7 six times, a Galaxy S8 four times, or an iPad Air 2 nearly two times:
That’s a significant improvement in recharge performance.
Check out this image from the Anker website.
Quick Charge technology allows the device (in this case the power bank) to rapidly charge up to 80% capacity before trickling the rest of the way to 100%.
A comment about the image above: It’s a little misleading in one key way. The 35 minute time elapsed metric is for a 3000mAh cell phone and not a 20000 mAh power bank. However, the Anker 20000 mAh Quick Charge 3.0 power bank will charge to 80% capacity in just 60 minutes. You’ll get 80% of the way to a full charge incredibly quickly and 100% of the way there not long thereafter.
Now, if you’re a well-organized individual who plans properly and charges their power pack ahead of time, the RAVPower’s longer recharge time will be fine.
But if you’re disorganized (like me) or will be recharging on the road from coffee shops, rest stops, or other locations (also like me), then Anker’s Rapid recharging might be best for you.
Note: You may need a Quick Charge charger to take advantage of this Anker benefit. Here’s a wall mount version and here’s a car charger version.
Also important to remember is that technology is advancing all the time and RAVPower and similar brands may unleash Quick Charge power banks too. While comparison shopping for any power bank, check to see if it offers Quick Charge 3.0 technology.
Wait, don’t forget about the warranty!
There’s another key difference between RAVPower and Anker, and it gives RAVPower another point.
Both manufacturers offer a 12 month warranty on their products, but RAVPower offers an additional 18 months for registering your product. And it’s totally free.
Click here to view RAVPower’s free extended warranty page.
RAVPower vs Anker: The Bottom Line
Over 1,000 words later, it’s time to summarize.
Which power bank manufacturer is better?
As always, it comes down to your specific situation. To recap, here are the differences:
- RAVPower products generally are more affordable for the same technical specs.
- RAVPower offers a free 18 months additional warranty for registering your device.
- Anker power banks have better components and recharge almost twice as quickly.
The Best Lightning Cable for iPhone and iPad
Following our latest round of testing, we’ve added recommendations for short, right-angle, and cloth-covered Lightning cables, as well as new sections on sustainability and other good Lightning cables.
A growing number of Apple devices are equipped with USB-C or wireless charging capabilities, but many—including iPhones, Airpods, Magic Keyboards, and more—still use the company’s proprietary Lightning port. The trouble is, Apple’s Lightning cables are notoriously flimsy, and they cost more than many third-party cables—even those that Apple has certified will perform just as well as its own cables. If you’re unhappy with the cable that came with your Apple device, or if you just want a backup, we’ve tested dozens of Lightning cables to find the best options for a variety of needs.
The best Lightning cable for USB-C ports: Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable (10 feet)
The best Lightning cable for USB-C ports
This lengthy cable is MFi-certified, sturdily built, and comfortable to grip, and it has a lifetime warranty. Plus, with the right wall charger, it can fully charge most iPhones in about an hour.
Buying Options
Other available lengths: 3 feet, 6 feet
Who should get this: Someone who wants a long, durable cable to charge their iPhone and other Lightning-powered devices as fast as is physically possible.
Why it’s great: First and foremost, the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is great because it supports the fastest possible charging speeds. When paired with a USB-C port putting out at least 18 watts of power—like those in many of our favorite laptops, power banks, and wall chargers—the PowerLine II can charge an iPhone up to three times as fast as a USB-A–to–Lightning cable. With a sufficiently powerful wall charger, it can bring the battery of an iPhone 8 or newer from completely dead up to 50% in 30 minutes, whereas Apple’s standard cable and charger can get it to just 17% in the same time period (as we found in tests we ran with an iPhone XR). Batteries charge at an inconstant rate, but this figure roughly translates to a full phone charge in an hour, in contrast to three hours.
This cable is MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed that it will perform optimally (in terms of charging and data-transfer capabilities) with its Lightning-powered devices. Lightning cables that lack this certification—such as the kind you might buy at a gas station—aren’t necessarily much cheaper, and with those, you run the risk of experiencing slower charging or even damaging your devices.
The rubber sheath encasing the PowerLine II is smooth yet grippy, and it’s quite durable, holding up after more than a year of daily wear and tear in our testing. The cable’s housings—the parts that connect the metal plugs to the body of the cable—are the sturdiest and most comfortable to grip of any we’ve tested. Made of a single piece of matte-textured rubber, the housings provide ample room for you to grasp the plug firmly while you’re plugging and unplugging, which is the best way to avoid fraying and breakage. When we plugged both ends of each cable into a variety of devices, we observed minimal wiggling; that stability ensures a solid connection for charging and data transfer.
A nonessential, but no less valuable, component of this cable is the hook-and-loop tie it comes with. The tie is convenient and easy to use, ensuring that the cable won’t come uncoiled inside your bag or become a tangled mess under your desk.
Unlike most Lightning cables, this one is a luxurious 10 feet long. If you frequently charge your phone far away from an outlet—for instance, while lying in bed, lounging on the couch, or killing time by your gate at the airport—the extra length is a game changer.
If you prefer a shorter cable, the 3-foot version of this cable is slim and compact, and it can coil up small to fit in a or purse. Likewise, the 6-foot version is well suited for carrying in a backpack or briefcase, or for staying put in a desktop or bedside charging setup.
All three versions are available in black or white (the 6-foot version also comes in a dark green), and they’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty. Also, at this writing, the 3-foot and 6-foot cables cost less than their Apple counterparts (Apple doesn’t make a 10-foot Lightning cable).
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Our one complaint is that the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable isn’t quite as slim as some others we tested, including Apple’s Lightning cables. But since it’s still one of the most compact options, and it outdid the competition in every other way, we’re okay with a little extra bulk.
Also consider: Nomad USB-C to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (10 feet)
If you want a bulletproof exterior
This fast-charging Lightning cable is long enough to reach across most couches, and its sheath and housings are strong enough to (maybe, probably) survive an apocalypse.
Buying Options
Other available lengths: 5 feet
Who should get this: Someone who wants a cable that is as long as any we’ve tested, can charge Lightning-powered devices at top speed, and is even more ruggedly built than the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable.
Why it’s great: Like our favorite Lightning cable for USB-C ports, the Nomad USB-C to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (10 feet) can charge iPhones, Airpods, and other Lightning-powered devices as fast as possible when paired with an 18 W USB-C wall charger. It’s MFi-certified, and at a whopping 10 feet long, it can reach all the way across most couches.
In our opinion a fabric casing typically isn’t worth splurging on, but this Nomad cable has the most ruggedly built sheath of any cable we’ve seen. It’s made of a thick, double-braided Kevlar material that seems less prone to wear or snag than the more common nylon. The rubber cable tie that comes with this Nomad cable is also more robust than any we’ve seen, with thick ridges that keep it fastened shut so your cable stays securely coiled.
The cable’s plastic housings are sturdy, with little ridges along the collar for added flexibility. And like Anker’s PowerLine II cables, this Nomad cable has metal connectors that fit snugly in most Lightning and USB-C ports.
Although Nomad’s five-year warranty doesn’t match Anker’s lifetime warranty, this cable’s coverage is still much longer than that of most cables we’ve tested. (Regardless, as in most “lifetime” warranties, Anker is referring to the lifetime of the cable, not a human lifetime.)
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Because this Nomad cable is longer and more substantial than other cables we’ve tested, it’s less compact for stowing in a or a purse. But if you plan to mostly keep this cable in one place, or if you have room to spare in your bag, it shouldn’t be too bothersome. While we think it’s a slick-looking cable, the tactical-gear look isn’t for everyone, and the cable comes in only one color (black). It also costs more than any other Lightning cable we’ve tested. However, it’s a worthwhile investment if you want a cable with unsurpassed charging speeds, length, and durability.
Also consider: Anker USB-C to 90 Degree Lightning Cable (6 feet)
If you want a right-angle plug
This fast-charging Lightning cable has a streamlined design, easy-to-grip housings, and a lifetime warranty. Plus, an included hook-and-loop cable tie keeps it neatly coiled.
Buying Options
At the time of publishing, the price was 13.
Other available lengths: 3 feet
Who should get this: Someone who wants a Lightning cable with a 90-degree plug to minimize strain on the cable housing as it props up an iPhone—for movie watching or video chats, say—or simply to give the plug-to-port intersection a more streamlined look.
Why it’s great: Like our favorite Lightning cable for USB-C ports, this cable is MFi-certified, and with the right charger it supports up to 18 W of power to charge your Lightning-powered devices at top speed. It’s available in either black or white, and it comes with a handy hook-and-loop cable tie to keep your cable loosely coiled in a bag or drawer. Its housings are roomy, designed with pleasantly round edges, and made of plastic textured with subtle ridges that make them easy to grip while you’re plugging or unplugging. The body of the cable, in turn, is encased in a slim, flexible rubber sheath. And unlike other 90-degree cables we tested, this one is backed by a lifetime warranty.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This cable isn’t quite as long as some of our picks, but we didn’t test any cables with a 90-degree plug that were more than 6 feet in length.
Also consider: Anker PowerLine III USB-C to Lightning Cable (1 foot)
If you want a shorter cable
This fast-charging Lightning cable is just a foot in length, and its extra-grippy housings make it a breeze to plug and unplug. It comes with a hook-and-loop cable tie for tidy storage, and it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
Buying Options
At the time of publishing, the price was 17.
Other available lengths: 3 feet, 6 feet
Who should get this: Someone who wants a short cable to connect two small devices (one with a USB-C port, the other with a Lightning port) that are less than a foot apart.
Why it’s great: This cable is MFi-certified, so it’ll work just as well as any Apple-branded cable, and Anker backs it with a lifetime warranty. With a sufficiently powerful charger, it can charge a Lightning-powered device at top speed, supporting up to 18 W of power. The sheath protecting its innards is slim and flexible, and its housings have rounded edges and shallow ridges that give it an extra-grippy texture. This cable is sturdily built, and though a tie isn’t much of a boon with a cable of this length, it comes with the same hook-and-loop cable tie we prize on our other picks, so you can store it in a neat loop. It’s available in black and white.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: This cable is longer than we’d ideally like for this category, but very few Lightning cables that meet our other criteria are less than a foot long (if you don’t need maximum charging speeds, we also have a 4-inch Lightning cable pick for USB-A ports).
The best Lightning cable for USB-A ports: Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet)
The best Lightning cable for USB-A ports
This cable charges more slowly than our pick for USB-C ports. But similar to that cable, it’s MFi-certified, sturdily built, comfortable to grip, backed by a lifetime warranty, and long enough to reach from a wall outlet to a nightstand, couch, or desk.
Buying Options
At the time of publishing, the price was 16.
Other available lengths: 1 foot, 3 feet, 6 feet
Who should get this: Someone who doesn’t have access to wall chargers, power banks, or other devices with USB-C ports, and who can live without getting the fastest possible charge but still wants an otherwise great cable.
Why it’s great: The Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is the best USB-A–to–Lightning cable we’ve found. It’s MFi-certified, so Apple has confirmed that it can reach top charging speeds (when paired with a charger that can crank out up to 12 W of power) and full USB 2.0 data-transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) with any of the company’s Lightning-powered devices.
This cable is available in a variety of lengths, making it convenient for a variety of needs. The 1-foot version and the 3-foot version are small and compact enough to pack up and take with you. The 6-foot version is a good length to reach from a wall outlet to a desk, bedside table, or kitchen countertop without adding unnecessary clutter. And our favorite of the bunch, the 10-foot version, adds even more length to accommodate hard-to-reach outlets.
Like its fast-charging USB-C twin, the PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable has a smooth yet grippy exterior, and it comes with a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep it securely coiled and organized. Its housings have a curvaceous shape and a pleasantly soft, matte texture, both of which make them comfortable to hold while you’re plugging and unplugging. The metal connectors slide easily into corresponding ports, and they maintain a solid connection once inserted.
All four length configurations of this cable are available in black and white, and the 6-foot version also comes in red and blue. They’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty, and they even cost a few bucks less than their USB-C–to–Lightning brethren.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Most notably, you don’t get the fastest possible charge with this cable; a USB-C–to–Lightning cable can charge an iPhone up to three times as fast. But if you don’t already have a wall charger or power bank with fast-charging USB-C ports at home, or if you just want to have a USB-A–to–Lightning cable on hand to use in a pinch, this one is your best bet. Note that when we ran this cable through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester, it reported a signal-integrity error (one of three types of errors the tester is designed to detect). However, such errors cropped up with many cables we tested with this device, especially those longer than 3 feet—power and data have to travel farther in a longer cable, which can slightly degrade the signal—and the impact on charging or data-transfer speeds is likely to be too minor for most people to notice.
Also consider: Nomad USB-A to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (10 feet)
If you want a bulletproof exterior
This Lightning cable charges more slowly than its twin made for USB-C ports, but it’s just as long (10 feet), and its Kevlar sheath, hard-plastic housings, and overall build quality are equally tough.
Buying Options
At the time of publishing, the price was 50.
Other available lengths: 5 feet
Who should get this: Someone who wants a cable that’s as long as any we’ve tested and is even more ruggedly built than the Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable.
Why it’s great: Like our favorite Lightning cable for USB-A ports, the Nomad USB-A to Lightning Cable with Kevlar (10 feet) is MFi-certified, and at 10 feet long it can reach across a couch, a king-size bed, or even a small room. Its exterior is made of the same thick, double-braided Kevlar as that of the other Nomad cable we recommend, and it has an identical rubber cable tie to keep your cable securely coiled. Its plastic housings are sturdy and flexible, and its metal connectors fit snugly in most Lightning and USB-A ports. And although its five-year warranty is shorter than Anker’s lifetime warranty, that coverage is still much longer than what we’ve seen for most cables we’ve tested.
Flaws but not dealbreakers: Like all Lightning cables for USB-A ports, this one can’t give you the fastest possible charge. In line with the other Nomad cables we recommend, its thick sheath makes it tougher to pack in a or purse, it comes only in black, it has a love-it-or-hate-it aesthetic, and it costs more than most cables we’ve tested. But depending on your preferences, its 10-foot length and added durability may outweigh those drawbacks. Also, the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester detected a DC-resistance error with this cable, but that happens with many cables we’ve tested, and most people are unlikely to notice the slight loss in power that the error indicates.