Busting Portable Charger Myths: How the Affordable $20 Anker Power Bank Outperforms Others

How the Affordable $20 Anker Power Bank Overcomes Common Issues with Portable Chargers | Insights

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What’s the deal?

Right now, you can get the Anker Nano 22.5W Power Bank for 13% off as an Amazon limited-time deal. Even though this power bank was already an affordable option sitting at $30, now it comes at a discount – plus a coupon for an extra $8 off. The power bank is sure to impress with its compact form factor and impressive charging capabilities.

Not too long ago, Anker unveiled its latest additions to its Anker Nano line , including the Nano 22.5W Power Bank , and I’ve had the fortune of testing it over the past months.

To Android users and new (or incoming) iPhone users who are looking to add a USB-C charger to their daily carry, I’m happy to say that this one from Anker is quite impressive.

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ZDNET RECOMMENDS Anker 22W USB-C Portable Charger This portable charger combines efficiency and portability in a sleek form factor. View at Amazon

See, I have quibbles with many portable chargers. Those include forgetting a wire, not knowing where to hold the charger while it’s charging my phone, and feeling like it takes forever to increase the battery percentage at all. This charger addresses all of the issues and more.

Lipstick-sized charger

The power bank puts the portable in a portable charger, fitting right in the palm of your hand and comfortably into your pocket without weighing it down.

For a size comparison, I sat it next to my go-to lipstick. As you can see, they are very comparable in size.

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The charger also features a foldable USB-C port, increasing its compactness even further.

To use the charger, all you have to do is flip the USB-C port up and let it hang from your phone as you continue with your phone activities, eliminating the struggle of figuring out where to place your power bank.

With such a small form factor, you would think its charging power would be compromised. However, that was far from my experience.

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Impressive charging power for its size

The 22.5W Power Bank packs 5,000mAh capacity, which is enough to charge an iPhone 15 Pro to 68%, according to Anker. In my experience, it charged my Samsung Z Flip 4 from zero to 30% in half an hour.

Also: My everyday Anker power bank has a genius feature that makes it irreplaceable

Although it might not seem like a tremendous boost, remember that this portable charger is meant to get you out of a pinch. If your phone died on you while you were out, getting a quarter of your battery back in under 30 minutes would be a lifesaver.

Charging the power bank is hassle-free

Charging the charger is a breeze because it features bi-directional charging, allowing you to plug it into a USB-C power brick to charge it, forgoing any pesky wires.

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

If you do want to charge the portable charger with a wire, you have that option because it has a USB-C port on the side. If you choose this alternative, you can charge your phone at the same time with the power bank because of its pass-through charging abilities.

Sabrina Ortiz/ZDNET

The charger comes in five colors: blue, black, white, green, and pink, matching every iPhone 15 color besides the yellow, which the white could be paired with instead.

ZDNET’s buying advice

If you are searching for a new portable charger for your new iPhone or just because you are due for an upgrade, the Anker Nano 22.5W Power Bank is a good choice because it won’t break the bank and will get the job done. The fun color options, effectiveness, size, and low price point even make it a good choice for gifting.

When will this deal expire?

Deals are subject to sell-out or expire at any time, though ZDNET remains committed to finding, sharing, and updating the best product deals for you to score the best savings. Our team of experts regularly checks in on the deals we share to ensure they are still live and obtainable. We’re sorry if you’ve missed out on this deal, but don’t fret – we’re constantly finding new chances to save and sharing them with you at ZDNET.com.