There was a time not too way back when shopping for an influence financial institution was as straightforward as selecting the most affordable transportable battery that would cost your cellphone and rapidly slip into your pocket, purse, or backpack. The toughest half was deciding whether or not it was time to ditch USB-A ports.
Not too long ago, nevertheless, manufacturers have been slathering on options, a lot of that are superfluous, in an try and each stand out from the commodified pack and justify greater worth factors. It’s particularly prevalent amongst the larger energy banks that may additionally cost laptops, those who butt proper as much as the “airline pleasant” 99Wh (round 27,650mAh) measurement restrict.
At CES 2026, we’re seeing a pattern in direction of energy banks with built-in cables, which may be very handy. However an identical pattern to slap giant, energy-sapping shows onto these transportable batteries is simply foolish. And that’s simply the beginning of the atrocities witnessed in latest months.
The ability financial institution that pushed issues over the sting for me is the $270 EcoFlow Rapid Pro X Power Bank 27k that I acquired for overview. Right here’s my overview: it’s dangerous. Do. Not. Purchase. As an influence financial institution, it tries too laborious to do an excessive amount of, making it too costly, too large, too sluggish, and too heavy.
The snap-on ornamental faceplates are ridiculous and the proprietary magnetic modules for its Apple Watch charger and retractable USB-C cable are too straightforward to misplace.
The large show EcoFlow makes use of scratches simply and is just too dim to simply learn outdoor. The complicated UX on the Fast Professional X mannequin is particularly offensive in its touch-sensitive clumsiness. No person wants a show that takes 30 seconds to get up from sleep and performs swirly graphics and blinking eyeballs when awake, slowly sapping the ability financial institution’s vitality reserves. The truth that it has a screensaver tells me that the product staff utterly misplaced the plot.
Anker’s additionally responsible of putting large displays onto its power banks. Most individuals don’t want something greater than 4 dots to point out the remaining capability, nevertheless it’s turning into more and more troublesome to purchase an influence financial institution with out a colourful LCD show. Within the 20,000mAh vary, Anker doesn’t even record a display-less mannequin anymore. I, like many Verge readers, like to see the truly wattage pumping out and in of these ports — however the overwhelming majority of individuals haven’t any want for that.
Anker, like EcoFlow, additionally presents power banks with proprietary pogo-pin connectors, Each firms use these connectors to lure homeowners into shopping for costly desk chargers that don’t work with the rest. These extra-fast charging speeds are unlikely to justify the premium expense for most individuals.
Most individuals, even tech savvy Verge readers, don’t even want an influence financial institution that may output 140W of energy supply over USB-C. Nearly all of non-gaming laptops require 65W or much less. And the first computing machine for most individuals — the cellphone — solely requires about 20W.
We actually don’t want energy banks with built-in hotspots when that’s already constructed into our Android and iOS telephones. Baseus made one anyway.
Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity have gotten a standard characteristic in some flagship energy banks. I’m all for remotely monitoring large energy stations used to energy off-grid properties and campers, however not a conveyable energy financial institution that’s charging the cellphone in your hand or is plugged into a close-by wall jack.
We additionally don’t want built-in flashlights. Why random Amazon brand, why?
All these additional “options” simply add weight, measurement, and value to energy banks. In addition they improve the chance that one thing will go fallacious on a tool that’s meant to at all times be with you and simply work while you want it. And energy banks don’t want any extra help justifying a recall.
One energy financial institution pattern I can get behind is built-in cables just like the retractable model discovered on EcoFlow’s Rapid Pro Power Bank 27k (notice the shortage of “X” within the title). All the time having a correctly specced cable that matches the machine’s max enter and output is tremendous handy. I like that Kuxiu’s S3 MagSafe power bank, for instance, neatly wraps the cable across the chassis to plug right into a hidden USB-C jack. That method the cable might be changed if it frays or breaks.
I’m additionally a fan of including kickstands to MagSafe energy banks that prop telephones up at your most well-liked angle for prolonged viewing or recording. Extra importantly, a number of firms at the moment are adopting semi-solid state chemistry that makes their energy banks much less inclined to thermal runaway, which was an business plague in 2025. They value extra to purchase, however they’re cheaper to personal over their prolonged lifetimes.
I can’t assist however benefit from the look of Sharge’s Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank, although its built-in wall outlet and underwhelming specs for a battery pack of this measurement and worth utterly undercuts my complete argument. I’m a sucker for Braun design, forgive me!
There are nonetheless primary energy banks out there that cost telephones and even laptops with out an excessive amount of characteristic creep and tried upsell. If all you need is to cost your cellphone then there’s Anker’s trusty $26 PowerCore 10k or, if you happen to’re feeling fancy, Nitecore’s $65 NB10000 Gen 3 Ultra-Slim USB-C Power Bank. If you happen to additionally need to cost laptops you then would possibly think about INIU’s delightfully named Cougar P64-E1 Power Bank Fastest 140W 25000mAh for $90, and even Belkin’s extra succesful $150 UltraCharge Pro Laptop Power Bank 27K coming in March.
The quickest and strongest energy banks with plenty of gee-whiz options will usually generate headlines for pushing the envelope of what’s attainable. However the “greatest” energy financial institution may not be greatest for you, when primary affordability is all you actually need.
