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Title: The best MagSafe power banks for your iPhone

Date: Wed, 05 Nov 2025 08:00:35 +0000
Link: https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessorie...

When you search for a MagSafe power bank on Amazon, among the top
recommendations are outdated banks that max out at 7.5-watt wireless
charging. Now that Qi2 and Qi2 25W technology have arrived, iPhones can
refill much faster. In our tests, older-gen batteries got a phone to 50
percent in just under two hours on average. Our pick for the best Qi2 25W
power bank did that in about a half hour. You may also be tempted by
AppleΓÇÖs iPhone Air MagSafe Battery, but we found a better (read: cheaper)
choice. We used more than a dozen batteries for this guide and continue to
try out new models so you can buy the best MagSafe power bank ΓÇö that
someone actually tested first.

The best MagSafe power banks for 2025

What to consider before buying a MagSafe power bank

Choose the right capacity. Most portable MagSafe chargers have either a 5,000
milliamp hour (mAh) or 10,000mAh capacity. Obviously, the larger capacity
batteries are physically bigger, but thanks to an iPhoneΓÇÖs magnetic
attachment points, you can still use the phone comfortably as it charges. If
youΓÇÖre worried about overall bulk, you may prefer the slimness of a
5,000mAh battery.

Just note that a 5K battery pack wonΓÇÖt deliver its entire capacity to your
phone due to energy loss from voltage conversion and heat dissipation. Over
the years, IΓÇÖve measured around a 60-percent delivery rate for wireless
banks. For example, that means an iPhone 16 with its 3,561mAh battery will
get about 85 to 90 percentage points from a 5K battery. A 10K bank will
charge that same phone fully once, with enough for a 50- to 60-percent boost
next time.

Understand MagSafe versus Qi2. All iPhones model 12 and later have MagSafe
technology, which rely on embedded magnets to align the phone with a wireless
charger and can support charging speeds of up to 15 watts. The MagSafe name
is owned by Apple ΓÇö third-party chargers canΓÇÖt freely use the term and
instead call their accessories ΓÇ£magnetic,ΓÇ¥ or apply a branded name like
AnkerΓÇÖs MagGo or UGreenΓÇÖs MagFlow. Be sure to check the product details
before buying: anything that works with AppleΓÇÖs technology will be listed
as MagSafe-compatible.

Qi2 is a standard from the Wireless Power Consortium (of which Apple is a
member) and has the same stipulations as MagSafe (15W charging and magnetic
alignment). Any company can submit their tech for this certification. iPhones
13 and later are Qi2 compatible.

The newest standard, Qi2 25W (also called Qi2.2), bumps wireless charging
speeds up to 25W. The WPC says a certified smartphone using a certified
charger can wirelessly go from dead to half full in about 30 minutes (keep in
mind that both the charger and phone need to be certified to get those
speeds) and that aligns with our testing.

Accessories, like power banks that support the new standard are starting to
hit shelves now. As for phones, GoogleΓÇÖs Pixel 10 Pro XL, AppleΓÇÖs iPhone
17, iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max all support the standard as well. iPhone 16
models (except the 16e) support the standard after an update to iOS 26.

Remember travel restrictions. You may have seen news reports of flights being
grounded because a power bank caught fire in the cabin. Currently, the TSA
allows them in your carry-on luggage as long as theyΓÇÖre rated at 100 watt-
hours or lower (about 27,000mAh for lithium ion batteries).

But some airlines have enacted further restrictions. Southwest, for example,
requires you to keep power banks out of the bag and visible while charging.
Even if your airline doesnΓÇÖt make such demands, keeping a power brick out
in the open while itΓÇÖs in use is a good idea ΓÇö itΓÇÖll keep it cooler and
youΓÇÖll be more likely to notice if it starts to overheat. Most, if not all,
MagSafe battery packs come in at under the 100-watt-hour limit, so traveling
should be easy with one.

Consider the extra features. You may not need them, but the little extra
perks of a MagSafe power bank can come in handy. Some have stands so you can
watch your phone while it refills. Some have LED displays that tell you how
much charge is left, which can be a little more precise than the lighted pips
other banks use. Some also have straps to make the bank easier to carry
around or fish out of your bag.

What about the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery?

When Apple introduced the iPhone Air, it announced the new $99 iPhone Air
MagSafe Battery in the same breath. ItΓÇÖs now the sole Apple-branded MagSafe
power bank ΓÇö but it only works with the iPhone Air. ItΓÇÖs a pretty
divisive battery. In his review of the new phone, EngadgetΓÇÖs Sam Rutherford
appreciated that the accessory keeps with the sleekness of the iPhone Air
design and liked that it can also charge the new AirPods 3 wirelessly. But
Valentina Palladino called out its dismal price-to-capacity ratio.

AnkerΓÇÖs Nano MagGo Slim is probably a better bet for all but the most
devoted iPhone user. It has the same minimalist look and pocketable thinness
as AppleΓÇÖs proprietary battery, but itΓÇÖll attach to other phones in
addition to the Air. Plus itΓÇÖs $35 cheaper.

Other MagSafe batteries we tested Mophie Powerstation Slim 5K

The Mophie Powerstation Slim 5K, too, has a super slim design that nearly
disappears into the back of the phone as it charges. It makes excellent use
of its 5K capacity, delivering a 90 percent refill to an iPhone 15. But
itΓÇÖs a little more expensive than the our top slim pick, AnkerΓÇÖs Nano
MagGo Slim, and the squared off design makes it feel bulkier than it actually
is. Neither of those make it a bad choice; the MagSafe battery playing field
is just terribly competitive right now.

Belkin BoostCharge Pro 10K

BelkinΓÇÖs BoostCharge Pro is Qi2-certified and was only a touch slower than
other models in terms of charging speeds, boosting an iPhone 15 from 5
percent to full in about two and a half hours. The feel is premium and the
stand is sturdy, but it got quite hot during charging, took overly long to
refill itself and is pricer and a bit bulkier than similar models.

Baseus Picogo 5K

The Picogo 5K from Baseus is teensy but still packs a stand and a 5,000mAh
capacity. ItΓÇÖs Qi2-certified and delivered a 43 percent bump to our tester
iPhone 15 in 42 minutes, ultimately charging it to 91 percent. The slim slab
of the Anker Nano battery is sleeker. But that one doesnΓÇÖt have a stand ΓÇö
so if you want to prop up your phone while it charges, go for this one.

MagSafe power banks FAQs What does MagSafe do?

MagSafe is AppleΓÇÖs own technology that supports up to 25W wireless charging
speeds and incorporates embedded magnets to align the phone with chargers and
other accessories.

Which iPhones support MagSafe?

iPhones 12 and later support 15W MagSafe technology, though only iPhones 13
and later can reach the 15W charging speed with third-party Qi2 accessories.
The iPhone 12 maxes out at 7.5W with non-Apple accessories.

The new iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max support up to 25W charging speeds
with Qi2 25W-certified chargers. iPhone 16, 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max should also
support those speeds after an update to iOS 26. The iPhone Air supports
MagSafe charging at a max speed of 20W.

Can you use MagSafe batteries with a case?

In most cases (heh), yes. The wireless charge can travel across a distance of
a few millimeters. If the case is more than 5mm thick or contains metal
components, the wireless charge can be blocked. Many iPhone cases are
marketed as MagSafe-compatible, which means the case itself has complimentary
magnets inside and should not interfere with charging accessories. We tested
a MagSafe power bank on an iPhone 15 with and without a MagSafe case and got
the same charging speeds and amounts in both tests.

How much power do MagSafe batteries provide?

That depends on the power bank. If it is Qi2-certified, it can provide up to
15 watts of wireless power. Qi2 25W-enabled chargers can deliver up to 25
watts to a compatible handset. Non-Qi2 batteries typically deliver around 7.5
watts.

The amount of charge delivered depends on the capacity. Most MagSafe portable
chargers are rated at 5,000mAh or 10,000mAh. The former can get a standard
iPhone 15 from five percent to around 90 percent. The latter can fill the
phone completely with enough left over for another half charge.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at
https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessorie...
120015338.html?src=rss

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