In one look
Expert rating
Benefits
- Large battery capacity
- 140W charging power (PD 3.1)
- Compact format
- Dedicated application
Our verdict
There are smaller, high-capacity laptop power banks available, but the Anker Prime 27650mAh is a respectable blend of power and portability and is particularly well-suited to the 16-inch MacBook Pro which can take advantage of its 140 charge W and its larger battery capacity.
Best Prices Today: Anker Prime 27 650mAh Power Bank (250W)
$179.99
The Anker Prime 27650 mAh (250W) Power Bank is one of the most powerful laptop power banks you can pair with your MacBook. It has multiple battery capacities in a portable package.
In particular, it’s a great fit for the 16-inch MacBook Pro, which has a battery rated at about the same watt-hours (99.6 Wh) as this power bank (99.56 Wh) and can be charged quickly at 140W.
Connect Apple’s USB-C to MagSafe 3 cable to the power brick, and you can use one of the two 140W PD 3.1 ports to quickly charge the 16-inch Pro. Although the power bank comes with a perfectly acceptable 140W USB-C to USB-C cable, Apple only allows fast charging using its proprietary charging cable.
Power Bank Technical Specifications
- Battery capacity: 99.56 Wh
- Fastest Power Output: 140W
- Total output power: 250W
- Power input: 170W
- USB ports: 2x USB-C (140W PD 3.1); 1x USB-A (PD 3.0 65W)
- Dimensions: 6.4 x 2.3 x 2 inches (16.2 x 5.7 x 5 cm)
- Weight: 23.25 ounces (659 g)
Performance
Anker claims you can quickly charge this high-end MacBook Pro up to 50% in half an hour using this power bank and Apple’s charging cable.
Theoretically, you should get almost a full charge in a 16-inch MacBook Pro, but it’s not that simple. Anker claims the Prime 27650mAh can charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to around 70%.
We charged a 14-inch MacBook Pro M2 Pro (69.6 Wh battery capacity) to 100%, leaving 18% power remaining in the power bank, but when we returned to charge it a second time, there wasn’t much juice left to spare. Anker claims that this power bank can power a 13-inch MacBook Air (58.2 Wh) one and a quarter times.
Check out our list of MacBook battery capacities for more details on Apple’s entire laptop line.
While it’s particularly good at battery capacity for charging laptops, the Anker Prime 27650mAh power bank can charge other devices at the same time, such as one or two iPhones, your AirPods, or your Apple Watch.
You may want a power bank that can charge an iPhone multiple times, such as during a camping trip or a long-haul flight with family. And this power bank has enough power to share. If you’re looking for a smaller iPhone power bank, check out our roundup of the best MagSafe power banks.
An iPhone 14 could be charged four and a half times if it used the full capacity of the power bank’s battery.
In our testing, we fully charged an iPhone 15 Pro in about 1 hour 40 minutes, leaving 85% power in the power bank.
There are three USB ports at the top of the power bank. Each of the two USB-C ports can be used to power 140W. Although it has a maximum total power of 250W, you cannot quickly charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros at the same time: when using both USB ports -C at the same time, one runs at 140W and the other at 100W, which is still powerful enough to quickly charge one laptop and charge another simultaneously.
When using all three ports at the same time, one USB-C will have a potential of 140W, the other USB-C can charge at up to 92W and the USB-A port will operate at 18W, which is enough for Fast charge an iPhone if you still have a USB-A charging cable, sure, but note that you can’t fast charge an iPhone with a USB-A connection.
Eventually, of course, the external battery itself will run out of power. You can recharge the power bank itself in less than 40 minutes using both USB-C ports simultaneously.
Available separately, the $69.99 Anker 100W Charging Base allows for convenient wireless charging.
This accessory also has two USB-C ports (one at 100 W, the other at 30 W) and a 22.5 W USB-A port.
Laptop Power Bank Portability
The Anker prime 27650mAh power bank is a little taller than the iPhone is long, but obviously much wider and deeper.
As compact as it is, from a portability perspective, this power bank is too big and heavy to keep in your pocket. At 23.25 oz (659 g), you probably wouldn’t want it weighing down your backpack and purse all the time either.
But if you’re going to be away from a wall power outlet for a long time, it’s not too heavy to take along on your travels.
Foundry
Foundry
Foundry
More than just a battery
This is a sophisticated power bank with a few tricks of its own, unlike more basic batteries.
The most obvious is the color digital display on the front of the power bank which shows the remaining battery capacity, as well as power input and output information.
In addition to this charging data, the power bank can be controlled by the Anker app, which gives real-time charging statistics (remaining charge time and input and output power indicators) and can be optimized to help extend the battery life of current devices. loaded as well as his own.
You can even use the app’s Find Device feature to activate an audible alert from the power bank when you need to locate it.
The power bank comes with a soft travel bag and a short 0.6m USB-C cable.
Security
Anker is an accessories manufacturer you can trust. Batteries can be volatile and you don’t want to risk your device or even your home with a cheaper no-name brand.
From a safety perspective, Anker says its ActiveShield 2.0 technology monitors the temperature of the power bank to ensure safe charging. Power Delivery 3.1 is included for efficient and secure device charging.
At 99.56 Wh, it falls within the TSA, CAA and EASA airline limits for carry-on luggage.
Price
Available in two colors, a standard Space Gray and Champagne Gold, the Anker 250W 27650mAh Power Bank is priced at $179.99 / £179.99 / CA$249.99 / AU$299.95. Check out our real-time price comparison for the best prices in your area.
Anker offers cheaper external laptop batteries. At $129.99, there’s a 20,000 mAh Anker Prime Power Bank model that offers a not-too-small battery and the same number of USB ports, plus a total power output of 200W (up from 250W), but a third cheaper and noticeably smaller and 4.5 oz (130 g). lighter.
This smaller model doesn’t have the app but might be suitable for 13- and 14-inch MacBook owners. For the 16-inch MacBook Pro, the fast 140W (PD 3.1) 27,650mAh power bank makes more sense.
For $20 more, you can buy the Ugreen 48,000 mAh Portable Charger Power Bank which offers even more power but is a larger and much heavier accessory. It also has a digital display and five USB ports.
Should I buy the Anker Prime 27650mAh power bank?
The Anker 250W 27650mAh Power Bank is a compact yet high capacity laptop charging power bank that will give a not too far away 16-inch MacBook Pro a full charge at high speed, a full charge for a MacBook Pro 14 inches and above. a charge and a quarter for a 13-inch Air. Alternatively, it could charge an iPhone four times.
Due to its size and weight, it is not intended for the pocket but could easily fit into a small bag when traveling.
There are smaller, high-capacity laptop power banks available, but this one is a respectable blend of power and portability and is particularly well suited to 16-inch MacBook Pro owners who can take advantage of its 140W charging and its full battery capacity.
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