Great power banks to keep your gadgets charged on the move

No one wants their phone dying midway through a journey, leaving them without access to their boarding cards, entertainment and the phone numbers that let people know where you are. Power packs are the answer, so you recharge on the go when you don't have access to a mains plug, but there's an array available at different price points and to meet different requirements. Their capacity is measured in mAh (milliamp hours) and ranges from about 5,000 to 25,000. Here's what each can do.

5,000-10,000mAh Suitable for light users who need to recharge a smartphone one to three times before needing to recharge the power bank itself. They are compact, lightweight and very portable, making them ideal for commuting and day trips.

15,000-20,000mAh The best choice for people who use multiple devices, such as smartphones, wireless earbuds, smartwatches, tablets, or portable gaming devices. An excellent choice for most travellers.

25,000mAh Intended for heavy users and extended trips. They can charge smartphones several times, recharge tablets multiple times and support power-hungry devices such as laptops. This capacity is useful for camping and outdoor events.

Anker is the market leader when it comes to power packs (which is why there are three in this guide) and explains mAh more fully on its website.

Anker Prime Power Bank, £179.99, 26,000mAh Anker's fastest-charging power pack. Can fast-charge two MacBook Pros and an iPhone at the same time via two USB-C and one USB-A port. Note: it weighs 600g (about the same as a pint of milk) and measures 16 x 6 x 4cm. For heavy users.

Hellee power bank, £27.99, 27,000mAh An all-in-one portable charger with four built-in cables and two USB-A ports that wins on convenience and price. Compatible with Apple, Samsung Galaxy and Google Pixel. 225g, 12 x 7 x 2cm. Also available in a 10,000mAh version for £16.99.

Anker Nano Power Bank, £49.99, 10,000mAh A great everyday option that has a built-in retractable 70cm USB-C cable as well as USB-C and USB-A ports. The shot of colour is also refreshing – mint green and black are also available. 232g, 8 x 5 x 4cm

Belkin BoostCharge laptop power bank, £74.99, 20,000mAh A good mid-range option with two USB-C and one USB-A ports. There is a newer version available, but it's twice the price because it's 27,000mAh. The digital display tells you the charge of the connected device. 384g, 13 x 8 x 2.5cm

Anker MagGo power bank, £89.99, 10,000mAh Wireless magnetic charger with its own built-in stand that also has a USB-C port. MagSafe compatible, making it perfect for Apple devices. The digital display is dual purpose, telling you both the charge status of the connected device and the power status of the bank itself. A key reason to buy this is that you can recharge a device at the same time as recharging the power bank. Also available in black, mint green and pink. 250g, 11 x 7 x 2cm

Ridge power bank, £69, 10,000mAh Ridge was started in 2013 by a Californian father and son who believed they could come up with better designs for everyday items. And you won't find a better-looking power bank in this list. It has two integrated USB-C cables, a USB-C port and a kickstand, is MagSafe compatible, and has an LED display on the top. Also comes in black, olive, a transliucent purple and a funky neon print. 209g, 10.5 x 7 x 1.6cm

Juice Lite power bank, £19.99, 10000mAh Continuing the theme that power banks don't have to be boring black boxes, this light, thin model has pass-through charge enabled – meaning you can charge the power bank and a device at the same time. Great for daily use, it has two USB-A ports and one USB-C. 193g, 14 x 7 x 1cm

iWALK LinkPod portable charger, £27, 5,500mAh The beauty of this pocket rocket is that you don't need a charging cable – the bank just plugs straight into a device's USB-C port. The capacity will only give you one smartphone charge, but this is a great choice to keep in the bottom of your bag for emergencies. Also available in white and four ice cream colours. 100g, 8 x 5 x 3cm

Duracell magnetic power bank, £24.99, 5,000mAh A MagSafe compatible wireless charger with USB-C fast charging and a built-in kickstand. It looks sleek and is lightweight, has a USB-C port and has pass-through charging. 140g, 11 x 7 x 1.5cm

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