UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review

The absurdly lengthily named UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W is the sort of gadget that makes everyday life feel that little bit easier.

It’s a power bank that features three key components: a wireless charging pad, an integrated USB-C cable, and an additional USB-C port. These can be used individually or simultaneously, making it easy to juice up multiple devices at once, or even charge the power bank while bringing your phone back to life.

No matter which of these three components you’re using, the UGreen Qi2 25W power bank assures steady performance — a base requirement for any model rivaling the best wireless chargers and best power banks. For instance, the 5,000mAh Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra projected that it would take about 2 hours and 58 minutes to charge with this power bank, and I found that figure to be spot on. In addition, fast-charging worked well with the integrated cable and extra USB-C port, whether I was juicing up the Nothing Phone (4a) or recharging the power bank itself, with 30W charging available here.

Luckily, this model also supports a wide range of charging standards, including PD 3.0, Qi2 25W, QC 4.0, PPS, and more, meaning its well-equipped to serve a gigantic range of devices from a variety of brands, including Apple gear, Android phones, and a whole host of others.

Of course, this model has a 10,000mAh capacity battery, which should be fine for charging a phone and a pair of the best wireless earbuds, for instance, but you’ll still need to recharge the power bank fairly regularly. If you want a device that’s better suited to more power hungry devices, or one that can juice up your phone multiple times on a single charge, then it may be worth looking at a bulkier alternative like the Anker 737 140W.

One of the benefits of the UGreen Qi2 25W’s more modest capacity, though, is that it's incredibly compact. This model can easily slide in your pocket, and when it's magnetized to your phone, it doesn’t feel clunky or uncomfortable to hold. Its highly portable design makes it the ideal device to take when you're journeying by train or plane, or whenever you’re out and about, especially given it's just 0.6lbs / 254g in weight.

As is the case with most UGreen chargers, this model is also rammed with tech designed to prioritize safety. UGreen says the Qi2 25W has “13-layer protection,” with features like high-temperature shielding, short circuit prevention, and overcharging protection.

I never experienced any technical faults with my unit during testing, and although my charger and phone did feel a little hot after a full charge, this wasn’t to a dangerous degree — and this is understandable given the power bank’s slim build.

One final thing that impressed me with the UGreen Qi2 25W, was its build quality. This model is beautifully constructed, with a textured silicone and metallic finish, a range of attractive color options, and a “military grade” integrated cable, which UGreen claims to have survived a 10,000+ bends test. There’s also a nifty display on-board, which makes it easy to know when your power bank is close to being fully charged.

So, is the UGreen Qi2 25W worth buying? On performance alone, I’d say yes. Although there’s one more thing we have to consider: price. And this device doesn’t come cheap. It has a typical asking price of $89.99 / £79.99 / AU$99.99, which is quite a bit for a power bank with a 10,000mAh capacity and 30W wired charging capabilities.

However, it’s worth noting that an all-in-one combination of Qi2 wireless charging, an integrated cable, and a display is always going to come at a premium. There’s also an extra USB-C cable included in the box, and again, the build quality here is excellent. What’s more, you can grab this model on sale quite regularly. When writing this review, I spotted it on sale for less than $60 / £55 / AU$80, and at that price, I think this wireless charger-power bank hybrid is well worth considering.

UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review: price & specs

Should I buy the UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W?

Buy it if…

Don’t buy it if…

UGreen MagFlow Magnetic Wireless Power Bank 10000mAh Qi2 25W review: also consider

• PopSockets unveils its thinnest iPhone MagSafe grip yet
• It's 2.6mm thick
• Comes in 12 colors and is available exclusively at the Apple Store — for now

Every gadget has an origin story, but PopSocket's Low-Pro iPhone grip might be special. Unveiled today in the Apple store, it's an idea as old as the PopSockets brand, but one that waited almost a decade, until the original grip had become a smartphone industry icon, adorning the backs of hundreds of millions of phones.

PopSockets makes a wide range of grip styles, and some, like the Kick-Out & Grip, are pretty low profile, but nothing is quite like the 2.6 mm-thick Low-Pro, which PopSockets ' VP of Marketing Lisa Li calls "a labor of love."

The idea for the Low Pro traces back to the first few months of PopSockets when Founder and CEO David Barnett was already percolating ideas for an ultra-thin grip. But to understand that notion, you need to know why and how Barnett developed the PopSocket grip in the first place.

Blame it on the wired headphones

A former University of Colorado Philosophy professor, Barnett had headphones he frequently used with his iPhone, which got tangled in his pocket. As a solution, he purchased a pair of large coat buttons and glued them to the back of his iPhone 3G (I saw it, it's real). Then he wrapped the headphone cord around them.

Problem solved. That spark of ingenuity ignited a little flame of innovation: Barnett realized he could do more with his phone cable holder and envisioned an attachable and collapsible pair of grips. He even taught himself CAD and created a 3D print of a 2.1mm-thick disk. The print was a bit of a failure in that it didn't expand and was basically a stiff disc he now sometimes carried with him.

Even as Barnett started to hand out early grip prototypes to his students and they started using them as grips, Barnett couldn't shake the notion that it could be thinner. He told a friend about his idea:

"He was visibly upset, and he scolded me. I still remember that he was basically yelling at me in this coffee shop. He said, ' You would be a complete idiot to turn your attention and start developing a new product when you're sitting on something that could be a big hit here.'"

Barnet took his advice to heart, shelved the ultra-thin idea, and grew the PopSockets into a popular brand and, for some, an indispensable smartphone accessory.

Those darn skinny jeans

He also never let go of the idea, and as he talked to customers over the years, he noticed an odd trend with potential male users who said that while the product looked cool, they wouldn't use it because it would get stuck in their pockets.

"That's funny...what are they talking about? I slip it into my pocket. I just put my hand over it like this [and] I slip it into my pocket," said Barnett, who added that he'd never gotten one of his PopSocket grips stuck in his pockets.

Still, Barnett and company soon realized that there might be a market opportunity if they returned to that ultra-thin idea, a grip so low profile that it barely has any edges — and would never get stuck in a pocket.

Getting there, though, would not be easy. Stripping a few millimeters off their current thinnest design, arguably the PopSockets Kick-Out & Grip stand (6mm), would require re-engineering an OG component: the two-step expansion accordion section between the base on the button: it's the place where you slide your fingers to grip the...er...grip.

The result is a PopSocket grip that feels unlike any that's come before it. Instead of a satisfying two-step pop-up to snap into place, the Low-Pro grip has one action, and when it's open, the button sort of hovers or wiggles atop what honestly looks like a very flimsy rubber platform. It isn't even a single piece of material that's attached to the thin base that sits inside an equally thin steel ring. Like PopSocket grips before it, the ring and base are attached by a hinge. Instead of the button swinging out as a kickstand, the metal ring does that work, opening to virtually any degree.

Barnett assured me, by the way, that the $39.99 PopSocket Low-Pro is stronger than it looks.

To conduct a tensile test, the PopSockets team glued the base to a phone and then pulled on the button. It held up to 30-lbs pressure. In the real world, the magnet would give way off a MagSafe iPhone back before the Low-Pro tore in half.

They also opened and closed the Low-Pro 100,000 times without issue.

The new grip is so thin that MagSafe charges can still work through it, though charging speeds may be diminished. The magnetized face is strong enough to hold tight onto other magnetic surfaces, which means you could mount your iPhone on a metal cabinet or your metal fridge.

All about the iPhone — for now

Unlike the classic PopSockets, which are platform-agnostic and used to attach to phones and phone cases with a sticky base, the Low-Pro is designed for MagSafe and, therefore, the iPhone. In fact, the PopSockets Low-Pro grip launches exclusively on the Apple Store today with six colors, arrives in Best Buy and Target on July 12, and at all other retailers on July 29. By then, it should be available in 12 colors.

It's a relatively big swing for PopSockets to take a familiar and loved design and basically toss it out (at least for the Low-Pro) to bring in new customers who demand thinness at all costs, but Barnett has faced tough critics before, and it seems he's eventually won them over.

When Barnett shared the prototype for his very first grip with his wife, she told him, "It was the stupidest thing she'd ever seen, and that nobody was going to ever buy one," he recalled.

A decade later, he gave her a preview of the Low-Pro. "Her reaction," Barnett said, "was that it's the best invention since the credit card. She said everyone's going to buy this thing."

• Apple's WWDC on June 8 contained several big announcements
• …including CarPlay updates for video streaming while the car is 'parked'
• You can now browse favorite videos from iPhone, on your CarPlay display
• It raises concerns, when a key reason for collision is failure to look properly (at the road around you)

Apple's just wrapped a busy WWDC event. At the conference on June 8, the Cupertino giant announced an AI-overhauled Siri, a long-awaited AirPods equalizer, AI-powered Apple Photos editing, and more — see our roundup of 17 things we learned at WWDC '26 for more.

But another piece of news was delivered to developers, so it kind of went under the radar. Apple has announced an update to CarPlay coming with iOS 27, which will likely be coming to iPhone users from September (though you can download the developer beta now). As well as upgrades to navigation and "voice-based conversation apps", the update will introduce video apps.

That's right: soon, you'll theoretically be able to watch Netflix TV shows on supported car screens (which is, of course, how the creators intended you to see them), or swipe through YouTube (or even TikTok) while you're waiting at the airport — or potentially even at a traffic light. What a joy. What a world we live in.

In an Apple Developer video explaining the changes, the brand's Car Experience Engineer, Chris Whitney, stated that people will only be able to use the feature "when they aren't driving" but later gave use cases wherein a vehicle could potentially be idling, rather than parked.

We've reached out to Apple for clarity on this, but the ability to beam videos to your car's display when your vehicle is turned on (albeit in park and unable to roll, for instance), makes me very cautious. Consider that "ineffective observation" of the roads around us while driving is regularly listed by solicitors as one of the top reasons for road collision incidents in the UK, where I reside, and I hope you can see my concern.

Roads could get more dangerous

Apple forbidding the playing of videos when a vehicle is actually moving is obviously intended to stop people focusing on the big game while they're barreling down a highway. But it's not enough.

As far as I can tell initially, there'd be nothing to stop you popping on some YouTube Shorts while you're waiting for the lights to turn red (other than the fact that few people watch YouTube Shorts) or queuing at a drive-thru. What I'm saying is, it may still be easy to watch videos with CarPlay when you, as a driver, are a threat to other people.

Distracted driving is a massive threat to road users; according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in 2024, over 3,200 people were killed and 315,000 injured from distracted driving. The agency repeatedly cites mobile phone use as major source of said distractions. I accept that tapping on your CarPlay screen is a step up from fiddling with your phone, but it's not a big step up — not in terms of how safely you're driving.

Crucially, road danger exists whether or not you're in motion on said road. Anyone who's had a professional driving lesson knows that you're taught to be aware of your surroundings when you're behind the wheel. I remember being drilled on all the angles to check before pulling out onto the road; you need to give it time and attention. And you need to keep both hands on the wheel.

In conclusion, you need to give the road your time and attention, not the screen in your car. You may be obsessed with the documentary about a Lego shop stealing $200,000 in Star Wars sets, but if you're streaming it in your vehicle when you should be watching the road, you're a risk.

And, if Apple does let you stream videos when you're on the road (waiting in traffic, idling at the airport, etc), you could miss an important change in light or situation, become flustered, and then be a huge risk to others as you rush to get going without checking your mirrors for bikes.

As you can tell from those stats I cited earlier, distracted driving isn't new, and I'm not claiming that Apple has introduced it. But it is encouraging it, with features like CarPlay video playback, which feels irresponsible. CarPlay should reduce distractions and safety concerns, not introduce them.

So, as someone who's frequently on, or near, the concrete, please don't use it! Roads are dangerous enough as it is, and if people are streaming videos in their car display instead of checking their angles, it'll only get worse.

It’s fair to say that MagSafe is a much-loved part of the Apple ecosystem: ask owners of any of the best iPhones what they think of it, and you’ll likely get a unanimously positive response. The magnetic attachment system lets you wirelessly charge your iPhone, attach accessories to its back, connect it to stands and car phone holders, and a lot more.

Like all good Apple products, it’s incredibly simple to use, yet performs exceptionally well with admirable reliability. On the surface, it would seem to be a roaring success story for both Apple and its customers.

Yet despite all that, I can’t help but feel disappointed by MagSafe. Sure, it’s great at what it does, and it’s easy to understand why so many people love it, myself included. But when I think back to how it was first introduced to the world, I can’t escape the idea that it just hasn’t lived up to its potential. Far from being the revolutionary innovation it was hyped up to be, MagSafe feels so much more limited than it should be.

But with the iPhone Ultra on the horizon, perhaps this is an opportunity for Apple to throw out the old and bring in something new, giving MagSafe the refresh it sorely needs. Whether or not that comes to pass, it’s clear to me that MagSafe needs a real shot in the arm. Let me explain why.

AirPower’s ambition

MagSafe is a brilliant idea, but it wasn’t Apple’s first attempt at a boundary-pushing wireless charger. That accolade goes to AirPower.

AirPower was an experimental wireless charger that introduced the idea that you could put any Apple device capable of wireless charging — including iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods cases — onto the pad, in any order and orientation, and they’d all juice up to full.

The trouble is that AirPower required a mass of overlapping charging coils on the inside, and this created far too much heat to be able to operate safely. Embarrassingly for Apple, the company had to cancel AirPower after publicly revealing it at one of its own events — a chastening lesson on revealing products before they're ready that Apple apparently has not fully learned (cough Apple Intelligence cough).

MagSafe, then, emerged from this milieu. It was essentially brought in because AirPower failed, but MagSafe was a much less aspirational project. Yet in lessening the scope, Apple was able to create a working product that has become highly popular among the firm’s fans.

But when you know that history, MagSafe’s drawbacks become more apparent. AirPower was undoubtedly the more ambitious device and would have had much more of that “Apple magic” if the engineers had managed to pull it off.

MagSafe still has some of that magic, but being able to drop your iPhone down anywhere on your charger and have it power up would have been a far stronger embodiment of the “it just works” philosophy. Sadly, that never became a reality.

We were promised more

MagSafe’s more conservative approach compared to AirPower isn’t the only way that I feel it’s falling short. When we listen to Apple’s own words, it becomes apparent that MagSafe could — and should — be so much more.

When the MagSafe charging system was first introduced to the world in October 2020, Apple promised a “robust and ever-expanding” ecosystem of MagSafe accessories. The company claimed that it was “enabling a whole new ecosystem for MagSafe” and that “We can’t wait to see the innovative ways that others will use MagSafe.”

Yet while there is some variety, the ideas that companies have come up with haven’t been as inspiring as I’d hoped. Almost everything falls into one of three camps: cases, charging peripherals, and small magnetic accessories (such as wallets and kickstands).

Worse, I can’t say that anything has really changed since MagSafe first launched over five years ago. The world of MagSafe accessories seemed to have settled into place almost as soon as the new standard arrived, and it's never really developed since then. That’s as true for third-party devices as it is for Apple’s own efforts.

However, there’s one thing that I’m hoping will shake things up a bit: the iPhone Ultra. Apple’s foldable phone is not just a new product — it’s a whole new form factor. And not only that, it’s a device that’s designed to be carried in your pocket yet is also one that folds out to a sizeable proportion in use. It’s set to become the largest iPhone ever in terms of dimensions, and that means there could be a whole lot of surface area for MagSafe accessories.

With more room to play with, device makers could get creative with what they can snap onto the back of the phone. No longer will they be limited to the narrow width of a standard iPhone; they'll instead have the iPhone Ultra’s wider form factor in their sights. Who knows? Maybe someone will be able to dream up a MagSafe peripheral that works when the phone is both folded and unfolded.

It’s this new device that could prompt the serious overhaul that MagSafe has been crying out for.

Really, I would have wanted to see more creative solutions far earlier in MagSafe’s lifetime. After all, we’ve had years of sluggish development and timid product ideas. But with the iPhone Ultra resetting expectations, this might be a golden opportunity for MagSafe to finally come into its own.

As they say, better late than never.

Dear Nomad Goods. I'm sorry. I was wrong for making fun of and laughing at the Universal Cable for Apple Watch when you announced it early last year.

When I first saw pictures, I sent them to friends and even family members, laughing at the idea of an Apple Watch charging puck built into a USB-C charging cable.

I mean, look at it. It just looks silly.

I still think it looks weird, but after using the Universal Cable for Apple Watch for a half dozen trips, I'm sold. Let me explain.

I'd consider myself a frequent traveler, as if I'm not hopping on a plane for a quick work trip, I'm driving a few hours away for a baseball tournament. One of the last things I pack for each overnight trek is a charging setup for everyone who's tagging along.

That usually means a wall adapter, typically with two ports, along with a USB-C cable for an iPhone and an Apple Watch Charger. I have a one-gallon plastic bag I use to store everything, so it's easy to access when it's time to hit the road. Multiply that default setup for five people, and I'm sure you can imagine the giant pile of spaghetti living inside said bag. Simply, it's a mess.

Over the years, I've tried, tested, and even reviewed several travel chargers, each one designed to streamline charging on the go. Solutions like the Mophie 3-in-1 Portable Travel Charger, which folded up nicely to fit in a backpack, or Anker's latest Prime Wireless Charging Station. Both do what they advertise, but they're bulky. In Anker's defense, that charging station isn't advertised as a traveling charger — but its overall footprint and design beg to be taken on the road.

A couple of months ago, Nomad sent me the Universal Cable for Apple Watch along with its 65W Slim Adapter to test. A few days later, I went on an overnight trip and took both gadgets with me.

My initial thoughts after unboxing the cable were that it definitely looks weird, and the end with the Apple Watch charging puck is heavier than I anticipated. The braided cable is the same as the rest of Nomad's cables, which means it's built to last. I have one of Nomad's 3-meter USB-C to USB-C cables that's been run over and chewed up by our robot vacuum more times than I can count, and it still has not a single mark on it.

Depending on your setup, you can plug the end with the Apple Watch charger into your wall adapter, leaving the standard USB-C end to plug into whatever device you're charging, which makes sense if the charger is placed horizontally on a table or desk. That arrangement allows you to charge your watch while also using and charging your phone, for example.

However, hotel outlets are almost always inconveniently placed, so I've been using it the other way — with the Apple Watch puck near my iPhone —and it works perfectly for me. I don't usually place my Apple Watch Ultra 3 on the charger until I'm either getting ready in the morning or I'm going to bed, at which point my phone is sitting on the nightstand or desk anyway.

The cable can charge at up to 100W with the appropriate wall adapter, while the Apple Watch charger can fast charge compatible models. Those included the Apple Watch Ultra 1, 2, and 3, the Series 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11, and the Apple Watch SE 3.

Oh, and I'd be remiss if I didn't mention that you can also place AirPods Pro 2 or newer on the Apple Watch charger to top off the charging case. Bonus!

What I like most about the Universal Cable for Apple Watch is that it streamlines what I have to pack for myself. No longer do I need to have multiple cables, which inevitably get tangled and look like a spider's web when I take them out of my plastic baggy.

It's a single cable that can do multiple things, and for that reason, it's now a staple in my travel gear, even if it looks weird.

Right now Nomad Goods has it in stock in the 1.5-meter length – there are 0.5-meter and 3-meter sizes, but both are sold out – for $85 / £69 / AU$129, in your choice of carbide or white. Indeed, it's pricey for a charging cable, but it's not just a cable. You're paying for the additional feature of charging your Apple Watch, along with the durability that Nomad's cables offer.

• Chipolo and Secrid have partnered on a new wallet
• It can be tracked, and can find your phone in return
• The tracking is both Android and iOS compatible

As part of Sustainability Week here on TechRadar, we're on the look-out for gadgets that are both useful and kind to the planet — and the new Chipolo x Secrid Miniwallet Trackable certainly fits that description.

That's Bluetooth tracker experts Chipolo partnering with speciality wallet makers Secrid, to make something that can carry your cash and cards — and that can also be quickly found from your phone if it gets lost.

As for the sustainability credentials, the wallet is locally produced in Europe and made from "responsibly sourced materials", which includes at least 50% recycled plastic for the tracking card device and ethically sourced leather for the wallet.

The wallet is capable of holding a few notes, plus up to nine cards, which slide out from the top of the wallet via a patented system that Secrid uses in some of its other wallets. The overall size is 21 mm x 65 mm x 102 mm (0.8 in x 2.6 in x 4.0 in).

"Born from a shared belief in thoughtful design and local production, Chipolo and Secrid made this wallet to improve your everyday life," reads the marketing blurb. "The Secrid Miniwallet is precisely tuned to allow Chipolo Card to perform at its full potential."

You can pre-order the wallet now in the US and the UK for $140 and £120 respectively, from either Amazon or the Chipolo website (as yet, there's no news of a launch in Australia). Your two color options are black and blue.

Cross-platform compatibility

As the wallet comes with an embedded Chipolo Card tracker, it can be located through the Chipolo app, as well as through the device tracking apps available from Apple (Find My) and Google (Find Hub).

In addition to seeing where your wallet is on a map, you can get the Miniwallet Trackable to make a sound up to 110 decibels so you can figure out exactly where it's got to. The wallet has apparently been specially designed to maximize that volume level.

You can do some reverse tracking too: there's a button on the wallet you can press that will trigger a sound on your smartphone, as long as you've got the Chipolo app installed. If you've got your cards and cash but can't find your phone, this can help.

The card tracker should last for around a year between recharges — depending on how often you lose it and have to activate its ringing sound — and recharging can be done via any Qi-compatible wireless charger.

Without having tested it out, I'm impressed by what the Miniwallet Trackable offers compared to, say, the Apple AirTags — there's no need to remember to pack in an extra tracker, and it can be easily tracked from both Android and iOS devices.

As someone who uses plenty of Apple devices and non-Apple devices day to day, cross-platform compatibility is a must really. If you'd rather just have the Chipolo Card on its own, that's yours for $38.99 or £38.99.

• Pebblebee has launched its new halo safety tracker
• As well as tracking, it doubles as a siren and flashing strobe light to draw attention
• When you purchase one, you get a free 12-month subscription to Alert Live

The personal safety device company Pebblebee has launched what it’s described as “the most important thing (we've) ever made” — the new Halo tracker.

As of today (April 7), the Halo safety tracker is available to purchase from Pebblebee’s online store and select retailers, ushering in a new era of devices for the brand. Halo is priced at $59.99/ £55.28/ AU$87.88, which is pricier than Apple’s flagship AirTag, but has more functionality.

Firstly, Halo is built on that ‘what if something goes wrong’ feeling you have when you’re in a risky situation by yourself, be that walking home late at night or travelling through an unfamiliar destination which can be registered on Apple’s Find My app or Google’s Find Hub — meaning it’s suitable for both iOS and Android users.

On top of this, Halo doesn’t require you to open an app or enter a passcode. Instead, it’s small enough to clip onto a keychain at 2.7 inches and 1 ounce in weight, meaning it’s within your reach for when you need to activate it — this is where its features shine.

At its core, Halo is a simple device with three distinct functions. When you activate it by using its pull-apart mechanism, Halo will signal a 130dB siren to attract attention from passersby in the area, emit a flashing strobe of light (which doubles as a 150-lumen flashlight), and will share your real-time location with up to five trusted contacts called your Safety Circle.

There’s also an added level of discretion. If you need to alert your Safety Circle but don’t want to draw attention to those around you, rapid presses of the button on the side of the device sends a silent alert when activated, without triggering the spectacle of the siren and flashing strobes. As for battery life, it can run up to a year before it needs its next lot of juice.

“We built Halo with specific people in mind — the college student navigating a campus at 11pm, the early-morning runner who goes before the neighborhood wakes up, the traveler dropped into an unfamiliar city, the parent who wants their teenager to have something more capable,” the company reveals. “But the more we tested it, the clearer it became: this is for anyone who has ever had that 'something is happening' thought”.

Each Halo safety device comes with a free 12-month subscription to Pebblebee’s Alert Live plan, which is required for live location sharing and the option to add more than five contacts to your Safety Circle. While it’s not a huge difference to Halo’s subscription-free features offer, the added benefits certainly add an extra layer of reassurance.

My favorite vocal microphone is the Neat King Bee II. It’s a large condenser mic, sort of similar to the ubiquitous SM7B, but since the Neat brand is seemingly no longer active, it can be had for pennies. It makes voiceovers sound incredible, but the sad part is, I rarely actually use it.

The King Bee II is an XLR microphone that needs 48V phantom power to function. This means you need an audio interface and a computer hooked up to make the most of it. That’s fine if you’re streaming games on Twitch, for example, but my content typically takes me outside, away from the desk, and that means my favorite mic sits gathering dust until the next Zoom meeting.

Thankfully, that’s changing. Shure sent me its latest gadget, the MVX2U Gen 2 (catchy name, I know), and it has unlocked a whole new world of microphones for on-the-go content creation. I have been so impressed with this little gadget, and in this article, I’ll tell you why.

What is the Shure MVX2U Gen 2?

You can think of the Shure MVX2U as a USB audio interface. The biggest difference is that it's tiny and it’s certified to work with iPhones, iPads, Android phones, and more.

The MVX2U is only slightly wider than a typical XLR plug, but it supports phantom power, along with some pretty advanced EQ and compression options. Shure even managed to squeeze in a headphone jack for real-time monitoring.

It really makes me wonder what’s going on inside my desktop audio interface. Either Shure is the master of miniaturisation, or I’ve got a sizable empty box on my desk.

The MVX2U is designed to be stuck into the end of an XLR mic, and then you can connect it to a phone, tablet, or computer with a USB-C cable. Of course, you could also use an XLR cable between the mic and the adapter, for situations when you need to get further away.

How to use it

The thing that really shocked me about this setup is how hassle-free it is. I took the adapter out of the box, plugged it into my mic and phone (in this case, the Oppo Find X9 Pro), and that was it; it just worked.

It’s a stark contrast to my typical XLR setup for PC, where I’m constantly having to adjust the gain to stop the mic from clipping or sounding too quiet on a call.

The MVX2U just figured out everything for me. It recognised that the mic needed phantom power, and turned it on, and automatically adjusted the levels so that I could whisper or scream while the volume always sat around -3 dB.

Of course, you might want more control than that, and if you do, you’ll need to install Shure’s Motiv app. This will allow you to change the input level, the amount of compression, the tone of your recordings, and more.

I have somewhat mixed feelings about the default auto-level mode. I’m amazed by how well it works, and it’s incredibly convenient, but it’s so heavily compressed that it can sound a little unnatural. You can sometimes catch it off guard, too, like if you have a few minutes of silence followed by sudden talking, when it sometimes peaks for a split second before catching up.

If you’re serious about your audio, you’ll definitely want to dive into the Motiv app settings. That said, the auto level mode has its benefits. It means you can hand this kit to someone who doesn’t know the first thing about audio and know they’ll get solid results. It’s also more than good enough for short-form content like TikToks and Reels, so if you’re more focused on speed and convenience than polish, it could be the way to go.

Why should you care?

These days, I shoot most of my content with either a smartphone or a pocketable camera like the Osmo Pocket 3. Sure, professional mirrorless bodies have their advantages, but the video quality of these devices is more than good enough for most situations. Plus, with a phone, you can edit and publish your content all from one device, not to mention the fact that it's already in your pocket.

Phones make a lot of sense for recording long-form content like podcasts, too. They’re relatively cheap, small, lightweight, and easy to use. But there’s no substitute for good audio.

I tend to use my DJI Wireless Mics when I’m shooting with a phone, purely for convenience, and they usually get the job done perfectly, but sometimes you need something with a little more fidelity - like if you’re recording a lengthy voiceover, for example.

This handy adapter is a game-changer for mobile creators, as it unlocks the ability to use pretty much any professional microphone on the market. Want a Hollywood-level shotgun microphone for your next short film? No problem. This pocket-sized interface even allows you to plumb yourself into the mixing desk at a gig or a conference – something that could be incredibly useful for videographers.

With a list price of around $120 / £140, the Shure MVX2U Gen 2 is not exactly cheap, but it has already proven its worth to me. I dare say anyone who owns a nice XLR mic and shoots with a phone will feel the same way. Hats off to Shure for rethinking what an audio interface should look like in 2026. My YouTube videos are going to sound a lot better for it.

The new Center Stage selfie camera is one of the best features of Apple’s iPhone 17 series — but why settle for 18MP snaps when 48MP selfies are possible?

That’s the question posed by Kickstarter case brand Dockcase, whose latest offering, the Selfix case, adds a touchscreen to the back of your iPhone 17 Pro for seamless, main camera-quality selfies.

The Selfix case features a Camera Control cutout which, when pressed, activates both the rear touchscreen and the iPhone camera via USB-C, giving you access to Apple’s full suite of rear camera features in a front-facing orientation: the 48MP main lens, 48MP ultra-wide lens, Night Mode, Portrait Mode — the works.

And if that’s not good enough, the Selfix case also features a microSD card slot supporting up to 2TB, making it a smart alternative to bulky (and expensive) external USB-C drives, even if you’re not a keen selfie snapper.

Dockcase sent me a sample to try for the iPhone 17 Pro, and while it’s definitely a hefty piece of kit — it effectively doubles the thickness of your iPhone — it does work exactly as described. The rear touchscreen makes it easy to frame up 48MP snaps, and you can navigate your phone as normal from behind with minimal lag (though you do have to switch on AssistiveTouch in the Accessibility settings menu, since the case is considered an adaptive accessory).

Beyond that setting, though, Dockcase doesn’t ask you to download any apps or sit through a complicated setup process, which makes the Selfix case easy enough to use straight out of the box.

As above, I definitely have reservations about the size of the case, and while it features a built-in magnetic ring around the screen for MagSafe grips and mounts, it’s not compatible with wireless charging accessories. That makes it, for me, a tough sell in practical terms, but having access to 4K/120fps ProRes video in a front-facing capacity might appeal to creators.

The Selfix case also addresses a problem that was perhaps more prevalent in the iPhone 16 Pro and older iPhones than it is in the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple’s new Center Stage camera features automatic subject framing and gives you the ability to switch between portrait and landscape orientations without physically turning your iPhone. It’s leagues ahead of previous iPhone selfie cameras, and I haven’t found myself wishing for a bigger front-facing sensor in my time with either the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air.

The selfies I’ve been able to capture with the Selfix case are more detailed than those I'd get with the standard 18MP sensor, sure, but not to the extent that I’d sacrifice the portability of my iPhone in its naked state, nor my ability to charge wirelessly.

Still, if the Selfix case calls to you, it’s available for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max in three colors: Satin White, Morganite Pink, and Onyx Black. Pricing starts at $79 (around £60 / AU$110) for early backers.

Dockcase’s Kickstarter campaign for the Selfix case has only just gone live, and like all Kickstarter projects, buyers may encounter unpredictable delays or design compromises, so exercise caution. Mind you, we have covered previous Dockcase products in the past, and my unit works as described.

If you're in the market for a more traditional iPhone case, check out our roundup of the best iPhone 17 cases.

Wireless charging has become a modern convenience. It’s easy, tidy and strangely satisfying when you feel that little magnetic pull, right? Just drop your phone on a pad and it starts charging. No fiddly cables, no worn ports, no cluttered nightstand. Some wireless chargers can even power multiple devices at once, and many are now built into furniture, cars and desks.

But although it’s convenient, it doesn’t always feel like the best option. It often takes your phone much longer to charge than just plugging it in and it can seem warmer while it’s sitting on the pad. That heat has sparked concern that wireless charging could wear out or even damage your phone’s battery over time.

We spoke to experts to find out whether your favorite bedside charging pad is really doing your battery any harm.

The myth: wireless charging 'stresses' your phone's battery

The supposed myth is that wireless charging damages your phone’s battery and the extra heat it produces makes your device degrade faster or lose capacity over time.

It’s an idea that feels easy to believe. When you charge wirelessly, your phone does often get noticeably warm, and that warmth makes the process seem harsher on the battery than a cable would be.

Add to that the fact that wireless charging can be slower and sometimes inconsistent, and it’s easy to assume something wasteful or damaging is happening when you put your phone on a charging pad.

There’s also a common belief that the electromagnetic field used to transfer power might somehow “stress” the battery or flood it with energy, as if the invisible current is somehow overloading your phone.

So could the warmth we feel during wireless charging actually be shortening battery life? Or is this just another misunderstood bit of charging folklore?

What experts say

“No, wireless charging does not ‘kill’ your phone’s battery,” says Associate Professor Ritesh Chugh, a socio-tech expert at Central Queensland University, Australia. “But it can make it run slightly warmer, which may have a small effect on long-term battery health if you’re doing it frequently.”

To understand why, it helps to know what’s happening behind the scenes. “Wireless charging works by transferring energy through electromagnetic induction,” Chugh explains. “Inside the charging pad is a coil of wire that creates an alternating magnetic field when electricity passes through it. Your phone has a similar coil inside its back. When you place the phone on the pad, the magnetic field induces an electric current in the phone’s coil, which is then converted into direct current (DC) to charge the battery.”

The key difference between wireless and wired charging is efficiency. “In wired charging, electricity flows directly through a physical connection, making it faster and more efficient,” Chugh says. “In wireless charging, the power must first be converted into a magnetic field, then back into electricity inside the phone.”

Kent Griffith, an Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at University of California, San Diego, says that while the process isn’t dangerous, we do need to remember it is less efficient.

“Wired charging is around 95% efficient, while wireless charging is typically 70-80% efficient – sometimes higher under ideal conditions,” he says. “Any time energy is lost, it’s lost as heat, and heat is what can speed up battery aging.”

However, both experts stress that modern phones and certified chargers are built to manage the heat safely.

“Wireless chargers follow standards such as Qi (pronounced “chee”), which regulate how much power can be transmitted and ensure safe alignment and communication between the charger and the device,” Chugh explains. “The phone and charger constantly ‘talk’ to each other, adjusting the current and voltage to maintain safe temperatures and avoid overcharging.”

So what's the best way to charge?

What's the ideal charging setup? “Occasional wireless charging is perfectly fine, and even daily use isn’t going to cause noticeable harm for most users,” Chugh says. “Just be aware of excess heat.”

He recommends keeping your setup cool and flat. “Avoid charging on soft or heat-retaining surfaces such as couches or beds. If your phone becomes noticeably hot, lift it off the pad for a few minutes to let it cool before resuming.”

Griffith explains that you need to think about the charger too. “Make sure the coils are properly aligned to ensure the best efficiency, and always use a wireless charger that’s compatible with your device,” he says.

Chugh adds that you need to make sure you have a Qi-certified charger. “They include important built-in safety features such as temperature monitoring, automatic shut-off, and foreign object detection.” You can find our recommendations for the top Qi2 options we've tested in our guide to the best wireless chargers.

So while wireless charging might make your phone warmer and is a little less efficient than wired charging, it isn't killing your battery. And though it could be aging it a touch faster, even experts say the real-world effect is minimal.

CES 2026 is one of the biggest events in the tech calendar, and this year it has been home to a wealth of announcements, including phones, TVs, projectors, laptops, and more.

But there were also loads of new accessories shown off, and below, we’ve highlighted five of the best accessories for smartphones that we first saw at CES 2026.

These cover everything from battery packs to chargers, controllers, and even an AI assistant. So read on – and perhaps you’ll find just the accessory you’ve been waiting for. And for stand-out devices, check out the 25 best gadgets we saw at CES 2026.

1. Loona Deskmate

The Loona Deskmate is one of the more interesting and unusual smartphone accessories that we saw at CES 2026, as this essentially turns your phone into an AI robot. Or at least, it does if you have an iPhone, as that’s all it’s compatible with.

If you do, then you can attach your phone to the Deskmate, which is essentially a MagSafe charging stand. But while your phone is attached, the Deskmate’s companion app will automatically run on it, turning your phone’s screen into an AI assistant, complete with a personality-filled face.

This assistant can set reminders, add things to your calendar, respond to voice commands, answer questions, provide suggestions, and integrate with the likes of Slack and email apps. The stand can also rotate and tilt, to make this feel more like a robot that’s watching and engaging with you.

The Loona Deskmate isn’t out yet, but a Kickstarter for it will be launching in March, and it will cost under $300 (roughly £225 / AU$450).

2. GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron

The GameSir x Hyperkin X5 Alteron is a mouthful to say, but it could be a joy to use for any mobile gamers.

This collaboration between GameSir and Hyperkin is billed as "the world's first fully modular mobile gaming controller." So it can attach to your phone, and you can change the included buttons and their layouts, with options for things like dedicated GameCube, Nintendo 64, or fighting game controls. So whatever you want to play, there’s likely to be a module to suit.

And while this is largely for phones, its arm can even extend far enough to attach it to the Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, and iPads – or you can use Bluetooth to connect it to a PC.

Sadly, pricing and availability are yet to be confirmed, but we expect it will go on sale soon.

3. Anker Nano Charger

A charger might not sound very exciting, but it becomes slightly more so when it has a screen, as this one does.

The Anker Nano Charger’s display can show over 20 different interfaces, highlighting charge level, charging power, and what mode it’s using – with the option of standard charging or a TÜV‑Certified Care Mode that can reduce battery temperatures.

Display aside this is a compact 45W charger, with prongs that can be oriented in two different positions, so it can easily fit in most outlets.

It’s designed primarily for recent iPhones and iPad Pro models though, and it sounds like some of the display features won’t work if you plug something else into it.

If you like the sound of it, you’ll be able to buy this new Anker Nano Charger on January 20 for $39.99 – though currently it’s only confirmed for the US.

4. Belkin UltraCharge Pro Power Bank

Belkin used CES to unveil a number of new accessories, including an UltraCharge Pro Power Bank, which you can magnetically attach to your phone.

This 10,000mAh battery pack offers 25W of Qi2 wireless charging power or you can charge via USB-C at 30W. It has a tiny display to show the current capacity, and there’s a built-in kickstand. But arguably the real highlight is that it has a second magnetic ring on it, so you can still attach magnetic wallets or other magnetic accessories to your phone with this attached.

It’s TSA-approved, so you shouldn’t have any issues flying with it, and it’s launching in “select markets” in February for $99.99 (around £75 / AU$150).

5. Baseus PicoGo AC22 Ultra Mini Power Bank

If your priority in power banks is simply keeping them compact, then the Baseus PicoGo AC22 Ultra Mini Power Bank could be the device for you.

Despite having a hefty 10,000mAh capacity, this is only around the size of an AirPods case, so you can easily slip it in a pocket and not feel like you’re carrying a brick around with you.

It also has a built-in cable and a display, and it can deliver 45W of charging power, so this may be small but it sure sounds mighty. The Baseus PicoGo AC22 Ultra Mini Power Bank will be going on sale in February, for $59.99 (approximately £45 / AU$90).

TechRadar has been extensively covering this year's CES. Head over to our CES 2026 live news page for the latest stories and our hands-on verdicts on everything from 8K TVs and foldable displays to new phones, laptops, smart home gadgets, and the latest in AI.

You can also ask us a question about the show in our CES 2026 live Q&A and we’ll do our best to answer it.

And don’t forget to follow us on TikTok and WhatsApp for the latest from the CES show floor!

2026 is going to be a big year for Baseus. The firm is renowned for its innovative mobile digital, smart audio and smart security products, and it's preparing to launch some of its best products yet. From stylish smart charging to high quality headphones, exceptional laptop docking stations and smart safety and security products, Baseus is bringing the very best smart technology to your everyday essentials – and it'll be unveiling lots of innovative new products at CES 2026 in January.

Get the best of both worlds: fast wireless and wired charging for any phone

Baseus is known for its speedy, stylish and safe power banks, and in January there will be a brand new addition to the family. The Baseus PicoGo AM52 Qi2.2 Slim Power Bank 10000mAh is one of the world's slimmest Qi2.2 power banks, with a slim and ergonomic build that makes it easy to hold your phone and your power bank in one hand.

There's a lot of clever technology inside that slim chassis including fast 25W Qi2.2 charging – that's as fast as many wired chargers – and super-fast 45W wired charging too. That means you can wirelessly charge the massive battery in the iPhone 17 Pro Max from flat to 32% in just 30 minutes, while the Samsung S25 charges via USB-C from zero to 63% in the same time.

Baseus's innovative triple-loop cooling system keeps the PicoGo AM52 even cooler than previous models, and it runs at least 12% cooler than other Qi2.2 power banks: where the industry standard is 118.4ºF, the Baseus PicoGo AM52 stays below 102ºF. And its aluminium alloy body combines light weight, strength and durability. It's tough on the inside but soft on the outside thanks to its silicone surface, designed to protect your devices from scratching.

Charge your phone faster with this ultra-convenient charger

The Baseus PicoGo AC22 Ultra Mini Power Bank with USB-C Cable is a pocket rocket. It's as small as an AirPods case but it packs a whopping 10,000mAh of power and delivers 45W to charge your phone at full speed.

The PicoGO AC22 delivers all-day battery life and its convenient real-time digital display enables you to see at a glance how much battery you have left. And with a built-in cable, there’s no need to carry extra accessories, while an additional USB-C port lets you charge a second device simultaneously.

You'll be able to buy yours in February 2026.

Level up your laptop with the ultimate docking station

The Baseus Spacemate RD1 Pro 15-in-1 Docking Station is the ultimate level-up for your Windows laptop, enabling you to drive a 4K, 120Hz display or twin 4K 60Hz displays, connect every conceivable kind of accessory and charge your devices with super-smart GaN power distribution.

The smart digital display gives you instant information about power and port usage, and despite its huge selection of ports it takes up hardly any space on your desk. It even includes a retractable 25W Qi2.2 charging pad for fast wireless charging of your phone and other devices.

The Spacemate DR1 Pro 15-in-1 Docking Station will be available in Q1 2026.

High-tech headphones for an intelligent listening experience

Baseus's superb XH1 noise-cancelling headphones are part of Baseus's premium Inspire Series, a collection of headphones and earbuds that deliver extremely good sound tuned by Bose. . And for 2026 they've been made even better with the addition of SoundFit OTA, which personalises the audio based on your unique hearing profile. That means you get a perfectly balanced and detailed audio experience at any volume level.

If you prefer earbuds to over-ears you'll love the Inspire XP1 earbuds. In addition to their superb sound quality they also deliver exceptional noise cancellation thanks to Ear-Fit Quiet, an upcoming feature in Q1 2026, which analyzes the shape of your ear canals and the fit of your earbuds every time you put them on, and then optimizes the active noise cancellation. XP1’s Ear-Fit Quiet delivers consistently reliable ANC across all ear sizes and its existing adaptive ANC that adjusts to the surroundings ensures optimal comfort in every environment.

Smart safety at home and on the road

In addition to powering up your devices, levelling up your laptop and delivering sensational soundtracks, Baseus can also help you every day in another key area: security and safety when you're at home and in the car.

The PrimeTrip VD1dashcam series uses smart AI technology to capture every detail with ultra-accurate location recording and AI voice control. And the Baseus X1 Pro is the world’s first smart AI dual-tracking security camera, doing the work of two cameras to keep your home secure. It raised over $800,000 from more than 2,700 backers on Kickstarter and is coming soon to Amazon and the official Baseus website.

Both devices are great examples of Baseus's core philosophy: using cutting-edge tech and innovative design to make every day better.

Baseus will be presenting its innovations in digital, smart audio and smart security at CES 2026: they'll be at Booth #30938 in the LVCC South Hall. And if you can't make it to the event, stay tuned for all the details. We can't wait to show you what Baseus has been creating.

• Clicks introduces a new BlackBerry-style Power Keyboard
• It works with any MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging phone
• Pricing for the accessory starts at $79 / £60 / AU$120

At the start of 2024, we saw the arrival of Clicks the company, and its BlackBerry-style keyboard accessories for the iPhone (and eventually for Android devices too). Now at the start of 2026, Clicks has launched a new Power Keyboard.

There are a couple of changes with the Clicks Power Keyboard. First, it slides out from behind your phone, so it's not always on show. Second, it doubles as a wireless charger that works with any handset supporting the MagSafe or Qi2 standards.

What's more, it works over Bluetooth, so you can use it separately with any device that lets you connect a wireless keyboard. You could use it with one of the best iPads or best Android tablets whenever you needed to type something, for example.

"Power Keys moves seamlessly from phone to tablet to TV to spatial computing so wherever ideas appear, typing just works," explains Clicks. You get "satisfying tactile feedback" in whatever app and on whatever device you need it.

Specs and pricing

Here are some specs: the Power Keyboard comes with a built-in 2,150 mAh, 500 mAh of which is reserved for powering the accessory (you can adjust this, if needed). By comparison, the iPhone 17 comes with a 3,692 mAh battery.

You're therefore only going to get around a 50-60% recharge for your phone with this, depending on its battery capacity, so it's not really a power bank. You can of course plug it into a plug socket and use it as a wireless charger on a desk as well.

There's support for 5W wireless charging over MagSafe or Qi2, and Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity – and you can switch between multiple devices too. It measures 119.7 mm x 76.6 mm x 15.2 mm and tips the scales at 180 grams.

Preorders are open now for a special reduced price of $79 / £60 / AU$120, with shipping in the "spring" for the US (so March, April, or May). At some point, the price will go up to $109 / £81 / AU$163, so if you're interested, get involved sooner rather than later.

• IKEA has three new chargers for your consideration
• They all support the Qi2.0 wireless charging standard
• These chargers are available for $9.99-$24.99 in the US

IKEA's love for handy home accessories and capital letters is continuing with the VÄSTMÄRKE series, a set of three wireless chargers that support the Qi2 standard – one of which has a useful secondary function hidden away.

That charger is the simply named VÄSTMÄRKE wireless charger (via Notebookcheck), yours for a reasonable $9.99 (we're still waiting on international pricing and availability). It comes in one color, bright red, and looks very much like a donut.

It supports the Qi2.0 standard and can charge at rates up to 15W. It's able to attach magnetically too, so it'll function with the Apple MagSafe and Google Pixelsnap standards, and the integrated USB cable can be stored neatly inside the charger itself.

That double function is the charger's ability to act as a PopSocket-style holder for your phone: when it is attached magnetically to a handset, you can open it up a little to give you an easier way of gripping your device with one hand.

Stands and bowls

Next up we've got the VÄSTMÄRKE wireless charging stand, yours for $24.99, and thanks to IKEA's no-nonsense naming strategy, you can probably gather what you get with this – it's like the first charger, but put in a desktop stand made of cork.

It supports Qi2.0 15W charging and magnetic connectivity, so you can snap on your phone horizontally or vertically, and even use it as a nightstand for your phone or as a way of watching videos or making video calls without actually holding your handset.

Last but not least there's the VÄSTMÄRKE wireless charger with lighting – a wireless charger with an integrated light. This can be yours for $24.99, and again covers the wireless Qi2.0 15W charging standard as the other products.

With this, when you put your handset down to charge, you get some subtle, warm mood lighting around it as well – plus a small bowl where you can drop in keys, rings, or anything else that you need to keep within easy reach.

• Leaked code from iOS 26 has revealed two upcoming Apple products
• That includes the AirTag 2 with a range of new features and upgrades
• The HomePod mini could also be in line for some changes

Apple’s AirTag 2 tracker has been rumored for what feels like a lifetime, with various whispered features leaking out left, right and center. Now, we have a fresh report that claims to be based on internal iOS 26 code, and it paints a detailed picture of what Apple could be planning for its device.

The leak comes from Macworld, which claims to have accessed an internal build of iOS 26 that has not yet been released to the public. In this build, Macworld says it’s found evidence that Apple is working on a “modest but highly anticipated” update to the AirTag.

That will apparently involve a new feature called Improved Moving. The idea behind this is that it will aid users in finding the exact location of their AirTag even when it is on the go, potentially fixing a limitation of the current AirTag.

Another new feature is dedicated to improving accurate tracking in crowded locations. Currently, AirTag relies on Bluetooth signals sent by other Apple devices to triangulate its position, but if there are too many people in a given location, Bluetooth channels can get congested and less reliable. Apple’s update aims to fix that, although we don’t know exactly how.

New features and improvements

Aside from new features, Macworld’s report also claimed that some existing AirTag features will be updated and improved. That includes enhancements to Precision Finding that could make it easier to quickly locate your AirTag. Macworld points out that although this might arrive as a software update, past rumors have suggested that Apple is working on new AirTag hardware with an Ultra Wideband chip, which could also enable this feature.

Elsewhere, Macworld touched on an improved pairing process and detailed battery level reporting coming to the AirTag in the future. We don’t have any more details on those features just yet, though.

And the AirTag wasn’t the only Apple product revealed in the leaked code – the HomePod mini also got a mention in Macworld’s report. According to the news outlet, the smart speaker will finally get new internal hardware as part of a HomePod mini 2 revamp, including an S10 chip from the Apple Watch Series 11, which should bring “faster performance and better wireless reliability.” However, Macworld’s report adds that “Based on what’s in the code, this upcoming model seems to be little more than a spec bump,” with Apple Intelligence support unlikely.

Although Macworld didn’t mention a release date for the HomePod mini 2, the site believes the AirTag will touch down in the first half of 2026, as its software features are “targeted for iOS 26.” Since iOS 27 will be revealed in the summer, it’s likely that these features will be launched before then. If that proves to be correct, we might not have to wait long to see a slate of improvements to two popular Apple devices.

• Bailey Hikawa introduces a new accessible iPhone grip and stand
• Its arrival marks Apple's 40th year in accessibility
• The grip and stand is designed for people with hand disabilities

What a difference a grip makes.

Differences are what make us human, but mass-produced products don't always recognize or accommodate them. Adaptive and accessible technology is usually what makes the difference for those with disabilities.

Turns out that Apple's been on the accessibility path for 40 years, starting with its first attempt at text-to-speech, MacInTalk in 1985. Apple has continued that quest with built-in features like iOS 17's Personal Voice, which I tried out last year, and this year's Magnifier for Mac on macOS Tahoe, and Braille Access. But it also works with third-party partners to create adaptive accessories that improve or even make use possible.

One example is the new Bailey Hikawa line of adaptive, MagSafe-ready, Grip and Stand iPhone accessories, which arrive today (November 20) in the Apple Store in the United States. It's a limited-edition lineup that was designed with input from disabled iPhone users.

The Hikawa Phone Grip & Stand is a thick, pliable silicone grip that accommodates those who have difficulty gripping or holding the relatively thin iPhone.

It's also a stand for those who don't have or have the use of their hands. According to the Cleveland Clinic, two out of every 1,000 babies are born with congenital hand differences each year.

Because it's MagSafe-ready, it should snap onto any MagSafe-ready iPhone and hold securely while also being easy to remove. It's designed to stand up the phone in portrait or landscape mode.

The Limited Edition Bailey Hikawa grips ($69.95) arrive in fluorescent green (officially "Chartreuse") and what could best be described as marble (officially "Crater"). The latter includes recycled materials. Both of these are exclusive to the Apple Store in the United States, but Bailey Hikawa is offering the Chartreuse style on its own site.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Bailey Hikawa has a history of creating unusual, almost organic-looking, 3D ergonomic iPhone cases that are often rightly described as "sculpture." This, though, is the designer's first mag Safe accessory.

• Belkin has recalled three of its charging devices
• The batteries in them are at risk of overheating
• You can get a full refund for the cost of the items

Belkin is recalling tens of thousands of power banks and charging stands sold across the last five years, due to concerns about overheating batteries. These batteries could cause burns and fires, and affected devices should be returned immediately.

The formal recall (via Android Authority) applies to the Belkin Auto-Tracking Stand Pro (model number MMA008) and two versions of the Belkin BoostCharge USB-C PD Power Bank 20K (model numbers BPB002 and PB0003)

"A manufacturing defect may cause the products' lithium-ion cell components to overheat, which could pose a fire hazard to consumers," explains Belkin. "No other Belkin wireless chargers or any other Belkin products are affected by this recall."

If you have one of these devices, you should stop using it immediately (even if it seems to be fine), disconnect it from the power supply and any other products, and then fill out a claim form. It's important that you do not put the device in any waste or recycling bins.

Are you affected? How to check

To see if you have one of the recalled devices, look for the model number MMA008, BPB002, or PB0003 on the back or side of the device. You then need to find your serial number and/or proof of purchase to fill out the claim form.

Belkin says it will be giving affected users a choice of a full refund or store credit for the full price of the device, plus 20% extra credit on the Belkin online store – as long as you have valid proof of purchase or a serial number to offer.

As per the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the recall affects around 83,500 devices sold in the US and around 2,385 sold in Canada. The devices would've been sold between August 2020 and August 2025.

It's not clear how many units are affected outside of the US and Canada, but the CPSC says there has been one report of a fire in the US, and 15 reports internationally, leading to two minor burn injuries and property damage.

• Nomad has launched the Tracking Card Pro to keep your wallet safe
• The device is disguised as a credit card, complete with fake chip
• It’s an upgrade over the existing Nomad Tracking Card

Nomad is known for its high-end accessories made for the best iPhones and other Apple devices, but its latest effort is a bit different to its usual fare of Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases – it’s a clever item tracker that might go totally unnoticed should the worst happen and your wallet gets stolen.

The $39 / £39 / $69 Nomad Tracking Card Pro works like one of Apple’s AirTag trackers. It connects to Apple’s Find My app, and can be tracked that way, which lets you see it on a map and play a sound to quickly locate it. Unfortunately, it lacks the AirTag’s Precision Finding feature, since it doesn't have one of Apple’s Ultra Wideband chips.

The Tracking Card Pro has a clever trick up its sleeve, though: its appearance. It doesn’t look like an AirTag at all – instead, it’s disguised as a credit card, complete with dummy metal chip. The idea is that a thief might not realize it’s a tracking device and thus leave it in place in your wallet, giving you longer to track it down and alert the police.

Another welcome bonus is the fact that you can charge the Tracking Card Pro using a Qi, Qi2 or MagSafe wireless charger. And since it’s magnetic, it’ll snap to the perfect charging alignment, and can even be powered up on vertical chargers.

New and improved

Nomad already sells a similar device called the Tracking Card ($29 / £29 / $59). However, the difference here is that the Pro edition features much longer battery life (16 months versus the regular Tracking Card’s five months) and a design that more closely mimics a credit card, giving it an edge in terms of camouflage.

Those aren’t the only differences. At 2.5mm, the Tracking Card Pro is a little thicker than the 1.7mm Tracking Card, probably to account for the beefier battery. And, of course, there’s that fake chip, which isn’t present on the Tracking Card.

I’ve used a range of item trackers in the past, including AirTags and a Pebblebee Card. However, both of those devices lack the dummy chip that Nomad’s card boasts – if I were to choose a tracking card again, I’d be sorely tempted to opt for Nomad’s device thanks to that ingenious disguise.

Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank review

I rely on a power bank daily, and only the most powerful options can keep up with the demands of laptop charging or topping up portable gaming devices.

While there are plenty of great options in our guide to the best power banks, most don’t have built-in cables, so you need to carry some extras when on the go.

And that’s where the Lenovo Go slots in, with up to 65W output and a built-in cable that hides away in the power bank itself, so it's ready to go whenever needed.

Aside from the cable, it also has both a USB-C and a USB-A port and can charge three devices at once.

The Lenovo Go features a typical 20,000mAh, 74Wh (though the unit itself says 77Wh) capacity, which makes it ready to take on flights without permission, and capable of topping up a laptop at least once or keeping your phone charged for days. It’s also enough to give the 50Wh battery in the Steam Deck a full charge.

At 170 × 72 × 23 mm (6.69 × 2.83 × 0.91 inches), it’s reasonably compact, and the 390 grams (0.86 lb) weight is fairly typical considering the capacity. The design is slim enough to slip into a bag (including briefcase-style laptop bags) without adding bulk.

The built-in USB-C cable is 44 cm (17.3 in) long and wraps around a recess in the power bank for storage. While secure and easy to deploy, it’s very slightly fiddly to put back into place neatly once you are finished charging.

The USB-C end is slightly bulky, so it may not fit in some USB-C ports with tight access, such as phones with thicker cases.

The power bank uses a simple four-LED system to display remaining capacity in 25% steps, which works fine but isn’t quite as nice as a digital readout. The plastic shell feels solid in hand and is quite tough, and despite rattling around in my bag for a few weeks, it shows no signs of undue wear.

The Lenovo power bank does face stiff competition from similar-spec power banks, such as the often slightly cheaper Anker 20,000mAh 87W power bank. The Lenovo is slightly slimmer (but longer) and lighter, but to give comparative value for money, it needs to be picked up when on sale.

The Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank outputs USB PD3.0 spec voltages on the USB-C cable and USB-C port – 5V 3A, 9V 3A, 15V 3A and 20V 3.25A. This means it will happily fast charge most phones, laptops and other devices like handheld gaming machines at up to 65W. The USB-A port supports the QC3.0 protocol, with 5V, 9V, 12V or variable from 3.6V to 12V, at up to 18W.

Notably, it doesn’t support PPS (Programmable Power Supply), so it won’t do 45W Samsung Super Fast charging like the Iniu P50 can.

The Lenovo power bank also doesn’t output 12V on the USB-C ports, which isn’t a problem for most users, but it’s still worth mentioning. There aren’t many devices that exclusively need 12V USB-C charging, but, for example, a 12V option is needed to get the fastest charging on DJI Mini drone batteries.

So while the Lenovo doesn’t have the latest protocol support, for normal use it’s still more than capable of fast charging any of your devices.

Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank: Price & specs

You can buy the Lenovo power bank directly from Lenovo or various other marketplaces and retailers.

List price is $140.99 / £84 / AU$138, but it's often sold for much less during sale events, so it's well worth waiting for a discount if you don't need it right away.

The power bank has a standard 1-year warranty, and we are a little disappointed that Lenovo didn’t offer at least 2 years.

Lenovo Go USB-C laptop power bank: Test results

Many power banks make bold claims, but in real-world testing they don't live up to the hype. So to weed out the duds, I do comprehensive testing to verify charge voltages, confirm protocol support and log capacity tests.

Overall, the Lenovo power bank gives solid results considering it is slimmer and lighter than many similar-spec options and has a built-in cable.

For 65W laptop charging, the Lenovo Go outputs 61.5Wh of the rated 74Wh available, giving a typical 83.1% efficiency rating. Lenovo also rates the power bank at just 48Wh when outputting 65W (20V 3.25A), so the real-world test results of 61.5Wh are much better.

I will note, though, that after it hits about 45% capacity remaining, it does renegotiate to a slower charge rate to protect the battery cells. This is fairly typical, and when testing it on a laptop that is being used the lower average power draw does not trigger this mode.

At an average 30W output when running a laptop, efficiency is slightly better, at 84.4%.

For phone charging at 20W, the Lenovo power bank hit an excellent 88.2% efficiency, and if charging slowly at 10W, it can output 92% of the rated capacity.

The power bank is rated for 74Wh by Lenovo online, but the actual power bank notes 77Wh. This is a slight over-provisioning of capacity by Lenovo, which is a good thing, and for the efficiency calculations above I used the 74Wh rating.

When pushed hard with a sustained maximum output until empty (such as when charging a laptop), the Lenovo power bank reached a warm but not problematic 42°C (108°F), while phone charging only saw it reach 28°C (82°F). While it’s generally best to charge a laptop on a desk, the Lenovo power bank stays cool enough that I would have no problem using it in a bag.

The power bank can charge at up to 100W via the built-in cable or USB-C port and takes about 1.5 hours to top back up.

Should I buy the Lenovo Go power bank?

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Also consider

The Lenovo Go laptop power bank is a great option for everyday laptop and phone charging, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different. For even more recommendations, check out our guide to the best power banks. Or, if you are planning a holiday soon, get a full rundown on the airline rules when traveling with power banks.

How I test power banks

I get hands-on with every power bank I test and conduct extensive evaluations in both lab and real-world scenarios. Using tools like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I measure charge voltage, check protocol support, and log capacity tests.

Each power bank is also tested with everyday devices, including phones, tablets and laptops, and is connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand everyday use.

All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings. It’s worth noting that many power bank reviews don’t do this sort of testing, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.

Want to know more? Read about how we test.

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad is a conveniently designed tabletop charger capable of charging an iPhone, Apple Watch, and compatible earbud cases. It has a list price of $99.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.95 on the Anker website and is available for purchase at Amazon too. I was provided the Stone Black model of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad, available here in the UK, the US, and Australia. Those over the pond in the US get an additional color choice of Shell White, too.

The design of the MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad is simple but attractive. All visible materials look good-quality, and there are some attractive little details like the metalized finish on the foldable stand of the iPhone charger. The top surface and sides of the charging station have a soft matt finish that didn’t appear to scratch easily, which proved advantageous as my very long (and very pink) nails can prove problematic for some matt finishes.

The Apple Watch and iPhone charging modules fold down to the 0.53 inch / 14mm deep base pad, but while the former sits below surface level, the iPhone charging pad sits at least 0.2 inches / 5mm above, which raised questions regarding how it would fair if packed into a drawer or bag.

The Apple Watch charger was easy to push up from underneath; however, the iPhone charging module proved more tricky to raise to a standing position. Again, I needed to push from underneath the base, but it proved awkward as the hinges of the iPhone charger’s arm were quite stiff, making it hard to extend and position it to the angle I wanted. The rigidity of the hinges meant they were sturdy enough to maintain the position while the phone was in situ though, so that’s a silver lining at least.

As expected due to the large surface area, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad gets dusty easily. For the most part, this is easily remedied by a quick wipe thanks to the smooth surface, but the, presumably silicone, ring of the AirPods charging area tends to get a little attached to its fibery friends. Anker states this charger is “easily portable”, and whilst this may be true in terms of the slab-like design, its 12oz / 340g weight makes it too heavy to be as travel-friendly as some of the best wireless chargers.

I appreciated that the format of the charging station meant every charger was easily accessible and I could see each of my devices. The only downside to this is that it takes up a lot of surface space and, while I prefer this format to that of other well-performing chargers, such as the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set, at 9 x 3.37 inches / 229 x 86mm, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad wouldn’t prove convenient if there’s limited free space on your desk or nightstand.

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad took just thirty-five minutes to charge a 3,095mAh iPhone 13 Pro to fifty percent, and a full charge took an hour and fifty-eight minutes, which is a fairly average speed compared to the other 3-in-1 MagSafe chargers I’ve tested.

That makes the iPhone charging speed almost twenty minutes faster than the Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe, and twenty minutes slower than the fastest wireless charger I’ve tested to date, the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand – but that wasn’t surprising, seeing as I’ve yet to find another wireless charger that comes close to matching this speed.

Where the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad proved above-average was with the speed of its Apple Certified Quick Apple Watch Charger. I did a double-take when it’d finished charging my series 9 Apple Watch, as it took just 55 minutes to revive it fully. This impressive speed makes it the fastest Apple Watch charger I’ve tested to date, with an eight-minute difference knocking the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad off the top spot.

Overall, I found the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad to be a convenient and attractive charging station. I was happy with the charging speeds, and the outer materials appeared good quality.

Anker and I will have to agree to disagree on it being “easily portable”, and the hinges and folding of the iPhone module could be improved, but aside from this, it made a nice addition to my desktop. If you’re still considering your options, why not take a look at our selection of the best wireless chargers to see if there are any formats you’ve yet to consider?

Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review: Price & specs

Should I buy the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad?

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Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Pad review: Also consider

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable: review

The Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable (don’t worry, I’ll shorten it from here on out), is exactly what it sounds like. It's a small-sized portable charger with a built-in cable for on-the-go charging, and boasts a 10,000mAh capacity and 45W maximum power output.

The real draw of the Anker 10K 45W is its convenience. Firstly, that integrated charging wire is a massive plus. Simply pull it out, and it auto locks to the length that suits you best. To unwind, all you’ve got to do is pull and release – easy as you like. In addition, this model is pretty compact, meaning it can easily slot into a pocket or small bag.

Is its charging performance as efficient as its build? Well, it would be hard to answer that question with a one-word answer. First of all, there are some restrictions worth noting. A 45W maximum power output means that it can’t charge more demanding devices, like laptops, at peak levels – something that a lot of the best power banks are capable of. Its 10,000mAh capacity isn’t the largest either, though it will be plenty to charge most phones and a pair of wireless earbuds a couple of times.

Anyway, I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – which has a 4,700mAh battery capacity – and fast charging was activated, enabling my device to go from 0-100% in around 80 minutes. That’s as fast as I’d expect, so no complaints there.

After a while, though, I wanted to recharge the portable charger, and performance could’ve been a bit better. After about 10 minutes, I realized it was only charging at 19W. This is because the model throttles charging input to keep temperature in check. Still, I got a full charge after approximately two hours, which is still fairly decent.

And let’s go back to that temperature control note. Sure, the charger can get a little warm, especially if you’re also making use of its additional USB-A and USB-C ports and edging towards maximum power use. But it never felt overly hot. You can also check the battery temperature and health of the model using its inbuilt display.

The display itself is behind a translucent exterior, and can also update you on the power output from the integrated cable and additional ports – pretty handy. It's not the brightest display I’ve ever used, but it’s certainly a nice-to-have.

Something I really like about this model is its well-designed cord, which you can adjust to fit onto a backpack or a belt loop, for instance. The exterior itself also has an attractive metallic, glossy finish, as well as a textured surface, which enhances grip. It can be yours in a range of colors too, specifically: Aurora White; Phantom Black, which is the variant I tested; or Sprout Green.

For the power and build quality on offer, I’d also say that this model is priced pretty well. It has a list price of $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95. We’ve tested cheaper rivals – like the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack – but that model has a considerably lower wattage.

Combine that with the integrated table and the fact that this model is regularly on sale already, and I’d say the Anker 10K 45W is a strong value pick worth checking out. If you need to charge a laptop or power hungry phone like the the OnePlus 13, for example, something mightier will suit you better. Otherwise, I’m generally a fan of what Anker has to offer here.

Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable review: price & specs

Should I buy the Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable?

Buy it if...

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Anker Nano Power Bank 10K 45W Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable review: also consider

In case you’ve somehow missed it, the iPhone 17 Pro has arrived, touting an impressive new camera array and functionalities that show Apple means business when it comes to professional-grade photography and videography.

I don’t fall into either of those categories, but I am a content creator; in addition to my writing, I’m a frequent contributor to TechRadar’s TikTok and YouTube channels. That involves an awful lot of content capture, often showing my hands-on experience trying tech – sounds fun, right? Well, instead, picture me holding my phone in my teeth while using my hands to operate a coffee machine and praying I don’t end up with a third-degree burn and a smashed phone.

There are ample tripods and phone mounts on the market, and I’ve tried a fair few; while image stabilization on iPhones is pretty good, these can really help the overall quality of your content by reducing interference, allowing you to step away from the viewfinder and even charge your phone during power-hungry creative sessions.

Specifically, my new favorite is KraftGeek’s new JustTap Magnetic Phone Tripod, which the brand sent to me along with the PowerShutter Power Bank Stand to try out, and I’m in love with these affordable, easy-to-use MagSafe accessories.

MagSafe and sound

Available in black and white, the tripod itself is lightweight at 15.8oz / 0.45kg and compact at 13 inches / 33cm long, and it’s super easy to use. Simply tap the base on the ground and the legs will spring forth; from there, it’s just a case of raising the telescopic ten-section aluminium rod to your desired height (up to 66-inches / 167cm) and, hey presto, you’ve got a tripod ready to go.

At the top sits the MagSafe phone holder, which can be tilted on a 180-degree axis and holds the phone in both vertical and horizontal orientations. It’s pretty damn solid too; I can afford to whack the tripod and wobble it around a fair amount before the phone inevitably falls off, but I wouldn’t recommend being too rough with it, regardless.

Embedded in one of the legs is a holder for the magnetic Bluetooth remote, which has a 32ft / 10m range and charges via. USB-C. That, of course, makes it easier to take great shots of yourself or capture action as it happens, but it pales in comparison to my favorite part of this bundle: the PowerShutter Power Bank Stand.

Instead of a remote control, this accessory features a tactile shutter button, but it also delivers 10W magnetic fast charging and is equipped with a 5000mAh battery. Shaped like the grip on a traditional camera, it snaps onto your phone to deliver charging, and has a second magnetic ring on the other side that allows you to attach it to another accessory; in my case, the tripod, but you could also opt for a MagSafe light.

I thought it to be a little gimmicky at first, but it’s actually become one of my most-used accessories. Not only is it great for stabilizing your shots and giving a bit more grip for one-handed photography, it’s also multi-functional; I use mine as a tabletop stand for watching media or scrolling one-handed.

Get creative

The tripod isn’t perfect - these kinds of pop-out, low-clearance stabilizing legs don’t offer much central support balance, so it’s prone to wobbling slightly, and especially so when the wind picks up. Plus, you can’t adjust the leg heights to work on less even surfaces, but these gadgets are not exactly rugged if you want to use them on the road, anyway.

Its durability is a little questionable, too; the telescopic main stem seems well-made enough in my month of semi-frequent use, but over time, I’ve seen these degrade in more budget-friendly devices.

Still, at $42.99 / £38 for the tripod and $36.99 / £25 for the shutter powerbank, I’m really impressed with these handy accessories, so don’t be surprised if you catch them in the reflection of my product review snaps!

• A range of Anker power banks have been recalled as fire hazards
• Numerous fires and injuries have been reported
• The total number of affected devices could amount to almost half a million

Earlier this year, Anker issued a recall for a host of its best power banks, revealing that they contained flaws that potentially made them a fire risk. Now, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (USCPSC) has revealed the scale of the recall.

We didn’t previously know how many power banks were affected by this issue, but the USCPSC’s website now explains that about 481,000 units could be at risk. That means there could be a large number of people potentially in possession of dangerous power banks.

And this isn’t just speculation. Anker has apparently received 33 reports of fire or explosions related to the recalled power banks, resulting in four minor burn injuries and one instance of “substantial property damage.” If you have one of these power banks, you should dispose of it as soon as you can.

Impacted devices have the model numbers A1647, A1652, A1257, A1681 and A1689 (you can see their full names below). You can check if your power bank is affected by verifying its serial number on Anker’s website. Anker will then provide you with information on how to return or dispose of the power bank.

• Anker Zolo Model A1681 (20K, 30-watt, with built-in USB-C and Lightning cables)
• Anker Zolo Model A1689 (20K, 30-watt, with built-in USB-C cable)
• Anker MagGo Model A1652 (7.5-watt, 10,000mAh)
• Anker Power Bank Model A1257 (10K, 22.5-watt)
• Anker Power Bank Model A1647 (22.5-watt, 20,000mAh, with built-in USB-C cable)

Additionally, the USCPSC says that you must not throw your device in the trash, place it in a curbside recycling box, or take it to a recycling point in a retail store due to the risk of fire.

Instead, you should contact your nearest municipal household hazardous waste collection center to see if they will accept the recalled power bank. If not, your municipality should be able to offer further information.

How to check

The good news is that you won’t be left high and dry without a power bank. According to the USCPSC, if you are affected you can contact Anker for a full cash refund. Alternatively, you might instead receive an Anker gift card.

In order to receive one of these options, you’ll need to first check your power bank is one of those affected (see model numbers above). You'll then need submit your proof of purchase using Anker's product recall submission form, including a photo of your recalled power bank.

This image must show the power bank’s model number and serial number, should also include your name and the date the photograph was taken, and you must also write the word ‘Recalled’ in permanent marker on the power bank itself.

Once all that’s done, you should be able to rid yourself of the affected device. If you think your power bank is at risk, aim to have it returned or disposed of as soon as possible.

You might also like

• Anker just recalled 5 more power banks – here’s which ones and how to get a free replacement
• The best power banks 2025: we've reviewed the best batteries from Anker, Otterbox, and the top brands on Amazon
• Best portable power station of 2025: My top-rated power supplies for camping, home backup, and enjoying summer on the road

Iniu P50-E1 power bank review

I rely on a power bank daily, and while there are plenty of compact models available, very few can keep up with the high-speed charging modern phones and portable gaming devices demand.

And that’s where the Iniu P50-E1 comes in. At 83 x 52 x 26mm (3.27 × 2.05 × 1.02 in), it’s very compact, and the 160-gram (0.353 lb) weight won't bog you down. It has a 10,000mAh capacity (36Wh) – enough for one or two phone charges (depending on the phone), or it can give a 50Wh Steam Deck an extra 55% or so charge.

The P50 stands out from other compact power banks thanks to the 45W output that supports PPS (Programmable Power Supply, the standard used by many phones for rapid charging) from 5V to 11V and up to 4.8A. It’s aimed at those who want super-fast phone charging, and it can hit the speedy 45W charge rates that models like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra support. It can also quick-charge handheld gaming machines, though not at the full 65W some can handle.

That said, because the P50 has a maximum output of 15V, some devices that need higher voltages won’t charge at full speed. For example, the P50 only reaches around 27W on the Pixel 10 Pro XL, versus the possible 39W on a charger that supports higher PPS voltages.

But perhaps most importantly, does the P50 actually do what it says on the box? Many power banks make bold claims, but in real-world testing they don't live up to the hype. I do comprehensive testing to verify charge voltages, confirm protocol support and log capacity tests.

For high-speed phone charging, the P50 outputs 32Wh of the 36Wh available. This means 13.5% is lost during conversion, which is a better-than-average result. I will note, however, that while it will happily run full pelt for more than enough time to max out a phone's charge rate, on a laptop, it slows from 45W down to 30W after 10 minutes to help avoid overheating the power bank. Charging at the max output until empty gives 29Wh, which is also a better-than-average result.

A close comparison is the excellent 10,000mAh 4Smarts power bank. The latter measures 77 x 56 x 26 mm (3.03 × 2.20 × 1.02 in), weighs 200g (0.441 lb), and also has a 45W output. It produces 27Wh at max wattage and 30Wh at 20W – not quite as good as the P50. Compared to the Iniu, the 4Smarts also gets warmer under load, lacks a USB-A port, and ultimately costs more, making the P50 a clear winner on value and features.

The P50 comes with a short cable integrated into a lanyard. It’s actually quite a neat solution – robust yet easy to remove. I spent considerable time swirling the P50 by the lanyard on a finger, and it didn't go flying off, so I rate it as fidget-worthy.

The unit also has a basic digital capacity display, which is fairly accurate and makes it easy to see how much power remains at a glance. It also has a little lightning bolt to show when the power bank is fast charging. You don’t get any other indicators, though, like charge current or power.

The soft-touch plastic feels nice in the hand, but it is easy to scratch – especially the glossy section over the screen. In comparison, I have an Iniu B6 that has been rattling around in my bag for over 2 years now that uses the same construction. It has plenty of little marks, but it’s only cosmetic and the construction is very strong. So I am confident the P50 will also hold up long term.

Overall, the Iniu P50-E1 is a very compact, lightweight power bank that offers very fast phone charging and can top up many laptops in a pinch.

Iniu P50-E1: Price & specs

You can buy the P50 directly from Iniu, Amazon, or various other marketplaces like eBay, though it isn't typically found in brick-and-mortar stores.

List price is $32.99 / £32.99 / AU$56.46, but it's often sold at much less during sale events, so it's well worth waiting for a discount if you don't need it right away.

The power bank has a class-leading 3-year warranty, giving extra peace of mind if you do happen to run into an issue.

Iniu P50-E1: Test results

The P50-E1 gives excellent results for such a compact power bank. Iniu has matched the cells well to the output and used an efficient voltage converter, so overall the power bank gives above-average results.

One thing to note: if you are using multiple ports at once, they are limited to a max of 7.5W each and 15W total. This means if you want to quickly top up a device, make sure it’s the only one plugged into the P50.

The included short USB-C lanyard cable is e-marked for 5A (USB 2.0 data speeds) so it can happily handle the P50-E1’s full 45W output. Keep in mind that if using another cable, make sure it is 5A-rated, as a typical 3A cable won’t always allow you to unlock the P50’s full potential.

When pushed hard with a sustained maximum output until empty (when charging a laptop), the P50 reached a warm but not problematic 45°C (113°F), while phone charging only saw it reach 33°C (91°F).

My advice: feel free to charge your phone with the P50 tucked in a bag, but give it some open air when charging a laptop to help with heat.

Should I buy the Iniu P50-E1?

Buy it if…

Don't buy it if…

Also consider

The Iniu P50 is a great fast-charging 10,000 mAh (36Wh) power bank, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different. For even more recommendations, check out our guide to the best power banks. Or, if you are planning a holiday soon, get a full rundown on the airline rules when traveling with power banks.

How I test power banks

I get hands-on with every power bank I test and conduct extensive evaluations in both lab and real-world scenarios. Using tools like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I measure charge voltage, check protocol support, and log capacity tests.

Each power bank is also tested with everyday devices, including phones, tablets, and laptops, and is connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand everyday use.

All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings. It’s worth noting that many power bank reviews don’t do this sort of testing, so they should be taken with a grain of salt.

Want to know more? Read about how we test.

Power banks are the unsung heroes of modern travel and quietly keep our phones alive through airport purgatory, train delays or sketchy hotel outlets. But they’re also potentially quite dangerous if you treat them badly or buy the cheapest knockoff you can find online.

The airline industry knows this better than anyone (remember when Galaxy Note 7s kept catching fire?), and it’s no surprise that the rules keep getting tighter. It’s not just the skies – your power bank can cause havoc in a hot car or even at home if you ignore basic safety.

To help you holiday with some peace of mind and to cut through the boring technical jargon, I’ve put together this guide that breaks down exactly what you need to know for safe travels with your power bank – whether you’re flying to Shanghai, riding the Eurostar or taking the Greyhound to nowhere in particular.

Read on as I explain the rules, the science and the common-sense steps that will stop your portable battery from turning your holiday into a headline. I’ve also included a detailed FAQ that answers all the questions you didn’t know to ask.

Or, if you just want to upgrade before your next trip, check out our guide to the best power banks.

Power bank basics

Skip down to the airline rules and tips for safe travels if you already know your power bank terminology, or read on for a quick recap on power bank basics.

At its simplest, a power bank is a rechargeable battery, usually lithium-ion, inside a protective case with electronics that manage safe charging. The quality of those electronics and the materials used make the difference between a device that lasts for years and one that fails after a few trips. Power banks can range from tiny to huge and charge phones, laptops or even jump start a car.

Capacity is often advertised in milliamp-hours (mAh), but airlines and transport regulators use watt-hours (Wh) to measure capacity. The Wh rating is usually printed on the back of the power bank, but if not, the conversion is straightforward: Wh = (mAh ÷ 1000) × voltage.

Most modern power banks run at 3.7 volts, so a 10,000 mAh model works out to about 37 Wh. Don’t feel like doing the math? Try our Wh calculator below.

For travel, remember that 100 Wh (27,000 mAh) is the common limit before special airline approval is needed, and anything over 160 Wh (43,000 mAh) is generally not permitted.

The design and build quality are important, so avoid any mystery brands on Amazon, even if the totally not-fake reviews look good. You can’t go wrong with any of the options in our best power banks buyer's guide, or a model from brands like Anker, Iniu, CukTech, Ugreen and Baseus. Many even publish their own guides, such as this informative read from Anker.

We are also starting to see some manufacturers releasing power banks with LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) batteries. These use a more thermally stable battery chemistry, but are slightly bulkier than models that use other typical lithium-ion types.

That said, even the best brands can sometimes have issues, so make sure to look out for any power bank recalls.

If you have an old power bank where the casing is cracked, swollen, getting hot or runs flat very quickly, it’s best to replace it before traveling. Read more about what to do with an old power bank in our disposal guide below.

Power bank don’ts

• Avoid exposing your power bank to extreme heat or cold (like leaving it in a car), as this can shorten its lifespan or damage it.
• Don’t buy a dodgy or unknown brand power bank.
• Don’t use a power bank that’s cracked or starting to swell.
• Avoid using a power bank inside a bag as it can overheat.

How to travel safely with your power bank

Power banks are treated the same way by most airlines because the rules come from safety bodies like IATA (International Air Transport Association) and the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). The good news is that the important points are pretty straightforward.

These are the baseline rules, but for anything more complex, contact your airline well before you fly for any specific requirements they may have.

Special situations

What about different battery types, medical exemptions or other modes of travel? Don’t worry, I have you covered.

Other battery types

The same airline rules for capacity limits, approvals and carry-on requirements also apply to other rechargeable lithium batteries. This includes battery packs for cordless tools, camera gear, drones and, of course, high-capacity power banks between 101 and 160 Wh. If you are traveling with any of these larger batteries, you must contact your airline before the trip and get explicit approval in writing.

Mobility and medical devices

Batteries used in mobility aids like electric wheelchairs or scooters, or in certain medical devices, are handled under separate rules. They often have higher capacity allowances if the battery is essential for health or mobility, but you’ll still need to declare them in advance and follow the airline’s packing and handling instructions. If you fall under this category, contact your airline well ahead of your flight and confirm the requirements.

Different modes of transport

Trains, buses and ferries generally allow high-capacity power banks and other lithium batteries, but some operators have their own limits. International services may apply airline-style rules, so check before you travel. Even without formal restrictions, store batteries securely and follow the same basic safety practices you would for air travel.

A checklist for traveling with power banks safely

• Check the capacity: Look for the watt-hour rating (or calculate it) and confirm it’s within airline limits.
• Inspect for damage: Do not travel with a power bank that’s cracked, swollen, leaking or overheating.
• Get approval if needed: Contact your airline in advance for any power bank between 101 Wh and 160 Wh and carry written proof of approval.
• Verify airline rules: Check your airline’s policy in case there are extra requirements or restrictions for your flight.
• Pack it properly: Keep power banks in your carry-on in a place that’s protected yet easy to access.

Frequently asked questions

Below are some answers to the most common questions about traveling safely with power banks.

Power bank disposal

You can’t just throw batteries into the bin, and old or damaged power banks can cause fires in landfill and garbage trucks. Fortunately, getting rid of an old or damaged power bank isn’t as tricky as you’d think if you follow a few basic steps.

• Recycle through an e-waste or battery recycling program.
• Carefully check it for any signs of damage or malfunction.
• Tell recycling staff if it’s swollen, leaking or has overheated.

• Don’t put a power bank in household rubbish or standard curbside recycling.
• Do not charge or use a damaged or malfunctioning power bank.
• If a power bank starts to smoke or catches fire, call emergency services.

Power bank and battery recycling schemes

Airline power bank policies

The info below is current as of August 2025, but remember that airlines can update their rules at any time. So if in doubt, always confirm the details before you fly, as they may have changed since you booked.

I've included links to the battery policy for most major (and plenty of not-so-major) airlines, but it’s worth noting some make you dig through submenus to find the section on batteries.

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Aukey Spark Mini 20000: review

The Aukey Spark Mini 20000 has simple yet elegant looks, with its soft edges helping to make it more sleek. Aside from grey and silver, there’s also a pink colorway if you want something a little more vibrant.

However, the materials don’t look especially premium, and it’s not as solid as some of the best power banks, with considerable flexing in the front panel, which can even trigger the power button if pressed too hard.

Thankfully, the bottom section is much sturdier, as well as looking more refined thanks to its matte finish and slightly soft texture. This is also the thickest and heaviest part of the unit, but thanks to its overall compactness, the Spark Mini 20000 is quite portable – although carrying it in your pocket might prove a little too onerous.

There’s no real interface, aside from a power button and five small LED dots: four to indicate remaining charge and one to indicate that charging is active. This is quite useful, as it allows you to check whether your device is actually charging with a mere glance.

The Spark Mini 20000 features just two charging ports: one USB-C and one USB-A, the latter of which serves as an output as well as an input for charging the bank itself. This limited selection is a little disappointing, as there are many other 20K power banks with three or four ports to choose from.

At least simultaneous charging is supported, and each port provides enough power for fast charging. The USB-C port supports the PD standard, providing 20W of power for charging the best iPhones and other smartphones quickly, while the USB-A port provides 22.5W of power. A USB-C-to-C cable is included in the box, but it’s quite short, so you’ll need your device close to the bank when charging.

The Spark Mini 20000 managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a from empty to full in about two hours, which isn’t a spectacular performance, but is still within the bounds of what you would expect given its power delivery. However, charging the bank itself from empty to full took over five and a half hours, which is pretty slow going, even for a power bank of this capacity.

About average for a power bank with this size, the Spark Mini 20000 costs $35.99 / £26.37 (about AU$55). However, there are power banks with similar prices that offer more features, such as the INIU Carry P51L-E1 Power Bank 22.5W 20000mAh.

This bank has the same 20,000mAh capacity, but includes an integrated USB-C cable in addition to two ports. It also features a digital display and a flashlight, but still manages to be about the same size as the Spark Mini 20000.

Aukey Spark Mini 20000 review: price & specs

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Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 165W: review

The Ugreen Nexode Power Bank has 165W of power and a 20000mAh, as well as a few features aimed at improving convenience.

In line with the range in which this power bank sits, the Nexode has a dark grey finish with black accents, making it slightly more interesting to look at than other power banks. The smooth matte finish also adds a hint of elegance, giving the impression that this is a premium product.

However, this belies the actual build quality of the Nexode. Despite its heaviness, some of the panels can flex slightly; they aren’t as solid as those you’ll find on many Anker power banks, for instance, which are some of the best power banks around in terms of construction.

Still, the Nexode should suffice for travel purposes. What’s more of an issue when traveling is just how bulky it is. It might have a relatively short length but it’s quite thick, and personally I would’ve preferred the compromise to be the other way around, as a thinner bank is easier to tuck away into a bag.

However, I did appreciate the rubber feet on the back panel. I haven’t noticed their absence on other power banks before, but seeing them here has made me realize how useful they are for protecting the bank and supporting surfaces from scratches. They also prevent the bank from sliding around.

The Nexode also has a large display, although unfortunately the readout is considerably smaller than the space appears to allow for. It’s also quite dim, which, combined with the reflective screen, can make it even hard to see.

The information it does provide, though, is quite useful. As well as the battery life percentage, there’s also estimated charging times for connected devices or the bank itself, as well as an indicator showing which connections are currently active and their wattage. Pressing the power button takes you to a second screen, where you can view the voltage and amperage of each connection, too.

Perhaps the standout feature of the Nexode, though, is the retractable USB-C cable. This is easy to use, although it does have a tendency to twist around, which can make it awkward to put back in. It’s also quite thin and doesn’t feel particularly hardy, but Ugreen does claim it can endure over 25,000 retractions and over 10,000 bends.

In addition to this cable, you also get two USB ports: one Type-A and one Type-C. Like the retractable cable, the latter port is both an input and an output, while the former is output only. Both USB-C interfaces are capable of receiving and delivering 100W each, although if both are used at the same time, the port will drop to 65W. The USB-A port delivers 33W maximum.

The Nexode also supports three-way charging, but in such cases the two USB ports drop to 10W, while the retractable cable retains its 100W capability. There’s also a trickle charging mode for charging smaller devices with more sensitive batteries, such as wireless earbuds and smartwatches, activated by holding the power button for five seconds.

Using the retractable USB-C cable, I managed to charge my Lenovo ThinkPad T14s Gen 4, which has a 57Wh battery, from 5% to 90% in under 90 minutes, before the Nexode depleted completely. This is quite fast, but it’s a shame it ran out before making it to 100%, and means you can’t even get one full charge out of it. Charging the bank itself from empty to full took about one hour and 40 minutes, which again is a respectable time.

The Nexode is expensive for a power bank, even one with this much power, retailing for $99.99 / £79.99 (about AU$150). The Anker Laptop Power Bank is about the same price, but has a greater capacity and two integrated cables. It’s also slightly thinner and better made than the Nexode.

We have seen it around for less than its original price, though, and if you can catch it in a sale, the Nexode might still prove a solid pick for charging your large devices.

Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 165W review: price & specs

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Ugreen Nexode Power Bank 20000mAh 165W review: Also consider

• INIU Pocket Rocket P5 is super small
• It has 10,000mAh and multiple ports
• It comes in macaron colors but not flavors, for obvious reasons

If you like your power banks small, full of energy, and the color of your favorite macarons, INIU might have you covered.

The company, best known for constantly innovating power cell stacking to create increasingly smaller and lighter power banks, introduced this week what it claims is "the World's smallest 10,000mAh, 45W fast-charging" power bank.

The Pocket Rocket P50 (don't look at us, we didn't name it) is indeed small. Measuring 3.3 x 2.0 x 1.0 inches, the P50 weighs just 5.6 oz. Similarly configured 10,000mAh power banks on Amazon tend to weigh a few ounces more and are slightly larger.

They also generally cost a little more. The Pocket Rocket 50 lists for $32.99 (£38.99) on Amazon.

INIU achieved the P50's pleasingly small size by using its trademark TinyCell Pro technology, which the company says uses "efficient cell arrangement and space-saving thermal layers." It also come equipped with a small monochrome display that offers real-time charge status.

The P50 includes multiple charging ports, including a USB-A port and two USB-C ports. The attached lanyard doubles as a USB-C-to-USB-C charge cable that you can use to charge devices connected to the 45W power bank and to recharge the P50.

Available in a collection of macron-style colors that include pink, green, purple, and blue, the Pocket Rocket P50 can deliver a 45W charge and supports Samsung Fast Charging 2.0 for a speedy top-off.

INIU claims the P50 can charge a smartphone from 0% to 73% in just 25 minutes. Naturally, this is a claim we'll want to verify in lab testing.

The P50, according to the company, is capable of recharging multiple devices at once, and, on a single charge, can fully charge an iPhone 16 twice as well as an iPad mini or a Samsung Galaxy S24 one and a half times. INIU also claims the Pocket Rocket P50 is approved for carry-on use.

It's certainly small enough to fit anywhere, and with those tasty colors, it might attract more than a few wistful stares at the airport.

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• Skechers has a new range of sneakers to help parents keep track of their child
• The Find My Skechers shoes have a hidden slot for an Apple AirTag
• It lets you locate your kid using Apple’s Find My app

Many parents want to keep track of their children’s whereabouts, particularly if they’re visiting an unfamiliar location, but that’s not always an easy thing to do. Now a new range of sneakers from Skechers offers a novel solution: each pair contains a hidden compartment designed to house an Apple AirTag tracker.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen AirTags hidden in a set of footwear, but the difference here is that the Find My Skechers line is designed specifically for kids. Each pair comes with a small cutout in the heel made to store an AirTag – to access it, you just lift the insole and the webbed liner underneath it. This reveals a screw-shut AirTag holder that conceals the tracker, and Skechers says your child won’t feel it while wearing the shoes.

Once the AirTag is in place, you can track its location using Apple’s Find My app. The idea is that the hidden compartment will protect the AirTag without interfering with its wireless capabilities.

The Find My Skechers sneakers are available in a range of sizes and designs. They’re also machine washable, although we’d recommend removing the AirTag before you toss these shoes in with your laundry.

Better protection

Knowing your child’s location is obviously an important concern for a lot of parents, and there are devices that let you clip an AirTag or other tracker to your child before they leave the house. But there’s always the possibility that these products could be damaged or tampered with by the child.

Skechers’ new sneakers could avoid that by burying the AirTag inside the shoe itself, making it tougher for the child to get to and offering better protection from the elements. They also lack any branding that would hint that there’s an AirTag inside them, enabling the wearer to blend in and avoid the gaze of people who might target them based on the AirTag connection.

But the question remains over whether Find My Skechers are a good idea. From a quick survey of TechRadar writers who are raising kids of their own, the point was made that toddlers and young children are likely to grow out of these shoes quickly. At $52 to $58 a pop, that’s a cost that quickly adds up when you need to buy new ones every six months.

As well as that, kids at the older end of the target market might have phones of their own anyway, which can be used to track their location. That means there are question marks over how necessary Skechers sneakers are, at least for some parents.

Find My Skechers start at $52 per pair, and are available for both toddlers and young children. We’ll have to see how effective they are, but they're likely to turn parents’ heads one way or another.

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As TechRadar’s Phones Editor, my desk is inundated with accessories from all manner of case makers. I’ve got colorful cases from Casetify, leather cases from Nomad, and sustainable cases from Moft. I’ve got MagSafe wallets, portable chargers, and at least one accessory for every phone in our best phones guide. But until recently, I’d never in my life received a phone case made of human skin.

Okay, the appropriately named Skincase isn’t actually made from human skin (that would be a little too Se7en), but it is clad in a synthetic material that’s designed to look, feel, and react to the elements like our birthday suits – which, quite frankly, is just as gross as the real thing.

This product is the brainchild of UK mobile network O2, researcher Marc Teyssier, and The British Skin Foundation, who have joined forces to raise awareness about the dangers of excessive sun exposure as temperatures soar in summer-hit regions across the globe.

In essence, the Skincase burns when exposed to UV rays, mirroring the damaging effects of the sun on our bodies. To make the case, Teyssier combined 3D printing techniques with flexible filament and silicone, and the surface is pigmented with specialised composites that react to UV light. This combination creates a lifelike simulation of sun exposure, making the effects of ultraviolet radiation shockingly obvious. Check it out in the video below:

O2's involvement in the collaboration comes as it commits to remaining the only major UK network to offer inclusive EU roaming to all holidaymakers as standard, and it says the Skincase has been created to highlight the significant disconnect between awareness and behaviour when it comes to sun protection.

The network notes that over half (56%) of Brits check their phones three times or more during peak sun hours (11am – 3pm), yet only one in five (20%) reapply sunscreen with the same frequency. More alarmingly, almost one in 10 (9%) do not wear sunscreen at all during these crucial hours when UV levels are at their strongest. I suspect the figures are equally damning for US citizens.

To be clear: you can’t actually buy the Skincase. It’s a limited-run product that’s intended to be a conversation starter – a visceral reminder that we should take as much notice of our skin as we do our phones – rather than something you can purchase and use.

That said, I do now have one on my desk, so if you want it, you’re welcome to it – though I will be reporting you to the police.

For other health-related gadgetry, check out our roundup of three high-tech home health gadgets that will boost your wellbeing – from home sauna hacks to ambient lights.

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Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Power Bank with Qi2: Two-minute review

The 15W Belkin BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Power Bank with Qi2 (10K) has a long name, but writing out its title might be the only challenging part of using it. Easily pairing with my iPhone 15, it instantly felt like a high-end accessory, snapping onto the back with a satisfying click and staying firmly in place.

I’ve been testing the white model (it also comes in black in the US and Australia, and many other colors in the UK) for the past few weeks and I really like the smooth, slightly soft finish and sleek minimalist design. It magnetically latches securely onto any Qi2-compliant phone or MagSafe iPhone without leaving any scratches. When holding the phone in awkward or unusual positions, I did find it can slide a little (or if you give it a deliberate push), but in my day-to-day use it's stuck very firmly in place.

My favorite thing about the power bank is how easy it makes it to use your phone while charging it. It makes charging-and-using your phone more convenient and comfortable than using a wired cord, making it ideal for content creators or anyone needing a quick power boost on the go. Its compact, lightweight design means your phone remains easy to hold and use, even for smaller hands. Plus, since it sits comfortably under the camera bump on iPhones (and most other phones), you can take photos or shoot video as you normally would.

I also appreciated its built-in kickstand and the versatility it provided. It's sturdy enough that I never felt like I had to worry about its stability (even when using larger, heavier phones like the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL) and I liked that it stays hidden away until you need it. It was especially handy for propping up my phone in both portrait and landscape orientations when watching video, which also makes it a great bedside wireless charger – effectively transforming iPhones into smart display thanks to Apple's StandBy mode.

As the name of the power bank suggests, its standout feature is the Qi2 MagSafe charging. Since most Apple phones since the iPhone 12 offer MagSafe (or Qi2) charging, it's widely compatible with Apple devices. Conversely, built-in magnets are much rarer on Android devices (even flagship models), so this power bank is decidedly one that's best suited to iPhone owners. Although the power bank can technically function as a regular wireless charger without the phone needing its own magnets, its ability to attach magnetically is a big part of why the premium price tag ($99.99 / £79.99 / AU$129.95) is justified.

When charging wirelessly, the power bank has two speeds. It uses 7.5W charging when used as a standalone power bank, but that output is upped to 15W when it’s plugged in to mains power and you're, for example, using it as a charging stand.

While fast charging speeds are all the craze these days, with many flagship devices offering up 125W speeds with a wired connection, in practice I found the 15W wireless charging plenty fast. When your phone is idle during charging, you can expect about a 10% battery gain in the first five minutes. While charging slows as it progresses, I was able to fully charge my iPhone 15 from about 20% to full in just over an hour. Though keep in mind that, even when plugged in, the Belkin does slow to 7.5W if it's charging two devices simultaneously (one wireless, one wired).

When plugged into a wall outlet you can use it in passthrough mode, and it delivers the full 15W wireless charging speed more consistently, and recharges both the phone and itself.

In real-world use, I found the 10,000mAh capacity incredibly useful with my iPhone 15 (which has a roughly 3,349 mAh battery), as it could provide just under three full recharges. This will obviously vary depending on your phone, but iPhones often have smaller battery capacities than the best Android handsets, with even the monster iPhone 16 Pro Max sporting a battery capacity of around 4,685mAh.

For comparison, a 5,000mAh capacity is about the expected size for even mid-range Android phones. For devices of that capacity or more, this power bank would only provide two or fewer recharges, meaning you'd need to be more careful about keeping it charged to ensure it's ready when you need it.

Luckily, it's easy to see the bank's current battery level. A button on the side activates four LEDs, clearly showing the remaining battery level (25%, 50%, 75%, or 100%). Recharging the Belkin from empty using a 20W wall charger typically takes about 2.5 to 3 hours. The unit does get warm during prolonged wireless charging, especially if using your phone at the same time, but it was never uncomfortably hot.

While it won't offer multiple full recharges for larger, power-hungry devices, its true value lies in its effortless 15W magnetic charging convenience – making it a great pick if you own an iPhone 12 or newer and value the ability to continue using your device on the go even when it's low on battery.

However, if you need a large-capacity power bank for several full charges, or are looking for a more budget-friendly option without magnetic or wireless charging, other devices might be a better fit.

This particular family of Belkin power banks is also available in 5,000mAh and 8,000mAh variants, costing $59.99 / £49.99 / AU$99.95 and $79.99 / £69.99 / AU$109.95 respectively.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Power Bank with Qi2 review: Capacity and output testing capacity

For capacity and output testing, I handed off the Belkin BoostCharge to my colleague, who put it through some deeper benchmarks. Wireless charging efficiency depends on the device being charged, but generally it was excellent. For wired phone charging, we were able to get 30Wh (out of 37Wh), which is around 81% – a reasonable but not standout efficiency.

The power bank is rated for 20W output at 9V (used when charging devices like phones) and could supply this, but not for sustained periods. In testing, it could only maintain 20W (9V 2A) wired charging for 15Wh (about 50% of its capacity) before dropping to a slower 5V/10W output.

Charging the power bank took 32Wh, which is less than the 37Wh rated capacity. This suggests Belkin has opted for a conservative approach to cell management, not making the full rated capacity available to the user. While this doesn't change that it charges phones and other devices just fine, it’s still a slightly underwhelming result considering the premium price.

Belkin BoostCharge Magnetic Power Bank with Qi2 review: price & specs

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Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable review

The Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable is a model that feels almost too good to be true. For a very modest price you get a highly compact, foldable and hi-tech phone charger and a USB-C cable thrown in for good measure – at a very modest price. But the truth is, it really isn’t too good to be true. Anker has, simply put, delivered yet another great wall charger that’s ideal for on-the-go use.

It’s fair to say that ‘Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable’ is quite the title… so let’s just stick with Anker Nano 45W from here on out, if that’s OK with you? Ah, great – then let’s power on. The Anker Nano 45W is a single-port wall charger that has plenty of power for most handsets. Some models, like the OnePlus 13 phone, for instance, support 80W charging, but 45W will be plenty for most Samsung phones and iPhones.

Typically, when I’m reviewing the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers, I juice up my trusty Samsung Galaxy S24 FE – which has a 4,700mAh battery capacity – from 0% to 100%. And when testing the Anker Nano 45W, that was no different. I’m pleased to report that the charger got my phone back to full health in around 80 minutes – exactly what I’d hope to see from a charger with this level of power.

Of course, if you’re going to charge up a more power-hungry device like one of the best MacBooks, for example, that 45W isn’t gonna be enough for you, and I’d instead seek out a mightier model like the five-star UGreen Uno Charger 100W. Also, there’s only one port, so it will be a one-at-a-time situation if you’re also looking to juice up a pair of the best wireless earbuds or best headphones.

Regardless, as a single-port charger, you’re getting great performance from the Anker Nano 45W. But this model’s merits go well beyond performance alone.

This charger has fantastic build quality and an intelligent hi-tech design. There’s GaN technology, meaning Anker’s been able to fit a lot of power into a tiny shell – this is a smaller-than-pocket-sized charger that’s also super easy to slip into your pocket thanks to foldable prongs. You’re also getting Anker’s ActiveShield 3.0 tech for smart heat monitoring. The charger will occasionally feel warm, but never so much so that it’s of any concern.

On top of that, its glossy surface and textured outer casing is highly appealing, with the gray-black color hammering home that classy, premium feel. I do still wish that Anker added a few other color options though, as we saw with the great Anker Nano USB-C Wall Charger 30W.

At $34.99 / £24.99 (about AU$50), this is already a great value-for-money option, just based off of its power-to-size ratio and luxury build. But things get even better. There’s a 6ft USB-C cable included in the box, which makes this charger an absolute steal. Yes, you could technically get a 45W charger for even less than this, but given the sheer quality on offer, this is a top-value option.

And really, that sums up the Anker Nano 45W. It’s great value for money, beautifully sized and powerful enough to charge most phones in a jiffy. Sure, you could get even more power, ports and such from rivals. But if one port is all you need, it really doesn’t get much better than this.

Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable review: price & specs

Should I buy the Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable?

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Anker Nano Charger 45W with USB-C Cable review: also consider

• Someone put an AirTag in a pair of sneakers and donated them to a charity
• The shoes ended up traveling 800km across Europe
• This experiment shows just what can happen to your donated clothes

When you donate clothes to a charity, do you actually know where they end up? In most cases you don’t, but one TikTok user decided to find out by fitting a pair of sneakers with an Apple AirTag tracker and seeing where they went – and the result was pretty surprising.

The experiment was carried out by Moe.Ha on TikTok. They slipped an AirTag into a pair of donated sneakers, then placed them into a Red Cross collection bin in Munich, Germany.

Across the span of five days, the footwear left Germany and crossed through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, before eventually arriving in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 800km from their starting location. Once there, they wound up on a shelf in a second-hand store.

Moe.Ha decided to follow the donated sneakers to Bosnia and Herzegovina and managed to locate the store, where the shoes were found sitting on a shelf, waiting to be bought for about 10 euros. According to an employee in the store, the items were brought in by their boss, who lives in Germany.

How did this happen?

You might wonder how a pair of donated shoes ended up so far from their original location – after all, wouldn’t it make more sense to send them to a goodwill store in the local area to be sold there?

The reality, however, is more complicated. According to the German Red Cross’s website (via translation), there are two different routes donated clothes can take. One option is the “recycler model,” which results in the entire contents of a donation collection being sold to a recycling company.

The other model is the “clothing depot model,” where clothes are sorted by the Red Cross and suitable items are distributed to depots and thrift stores, with excess pieces being sold to a recycler. This route appears to be the process that Moe.Ha’s sneakers underwent. Whichever route is taken, though, the proceeds go towards the Red Cross’s work.

An experiment like this shows the value in attaching a tracker like an AirTag to an important item, just in case you lose it. Even though the shoes traveled 800km across Europe, Moe.Ha was still able to follow them using Apple’s Find My app.

Hopefully any items you lose won’t go quite so far, but if you’ve got an item tracker attached to them, you might be able to hunt them down regardless.

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• Apple’s AirTag 2 tracker has long been rumored to launch around the middle of this year
• But a new report claims it's been delayed until September
• When it launches the tracker could also come with low-battery alerts

Apple’s AirTag is one of the best item-trackers around, and the second-generation AirTag 2 has been rumored to be dropping any day now. But, while a new leak hints that the device is almost ready, it looks like it might be delayed by a few months.

This information seems to have been unearthed by 9to5Mac and “reliable” sources cited by the outlet. We don’t have a way to independently verify what they've said, so take this with a pinch of salt.

First, 9to5Mac says that “we are able to confirm that Apple has already set up compatibility with the 2nd-gen AirTag on iOS 18.6”.

Based on the release dates of iOS 17.6 and iOS 16.6, it’s likely that the iOS 18.6 update will land in mid-July, which lines up nicely with past rumors that the AirTag 2 would drop around the middle of the year.

But before you get your hopes up, 9to5Mac also claims its sources have told it that the AirTag 2 has now been delayed, with Apple "now aiming at a fall release". That could mean we won’t see the device until September, which is when the iPhone 17 range will be announced.

Plenty of new features

For a few months now, various leaks and rumors have pushed the idea that the AirTag 2 is due to launch right about now. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, for example, claimed that Apple was aiming for a release “around the middle” of 2025, and just a few weeks ago he stated that the device was “nearly ready.” Leaker Kosutami, meanwhile, said the AirTag 2 should arrive in May or June this year.

With June almost over, 9to5Mac’s claim that the release window has been pushed back remains a distinct possibility. That said, there’s still plenty of time for the AirTag 2 to arrive “around the middle” of the year (such as in July or even August), so it’s not a done deal yet.

According to the rumor mill, AirTag 2 will come with better connectivity that could triple the Precision Finding range. It will also supposedly be more tamper-resistant, while 9to5Mac says its source believes the AirTag 2 will have “alerts for both low and very low battery levels.” The website also says it has a “hunch” that Apple could switch to a rechargeable battery in the tracker.

If you’ve been thinking about getting some new AirTags, we would have previously suggested you wait until the new version launches. But with the AirTag 2 apparently delayed a few months, now might be a good time to peruse some of the best AirTag deals if you’re in need of a reliable item tracker.

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Wireless chargers make a super convenient accessory for any Apple gadget fans who want to keep their desktop looking tidy, especially when charging multiple devices at the same time. However, you may find that the same wireless charger that’s keeping your surfaces clutter-free quickly becomes an eyesore all of its own. Let me explain.

Two key considerations when shopping for a wireless charger tend to be charging speeds, naturally, and aesthetics, because it’s something we’ll likely be looking at every day. However, not long into my stint testing almost thirty of them, I learned that it doesn’t matter how much you may like the design of a wireless charger if the finish means it’ll look filthy fast and, worse still, if the materials are difficult to clean.

If you’re looking for a wireless charging station, for example, then it’s pretty likely it’ll be spending its life on your nightstand or your desk, so it’ll inevitably pick up dust day-to-day. That in itself isn’t a revelation, of course, but it turns out that some silicone areas can hold onto dust longer than Taylor Swift holds onto a grudge.

Now, I’m not entirely against silicone; it certainly has its uses, particularly when used over Qi and Qi2 charging pads to help keep devices in place as they charge. However, the way it’s used and the finish it has make all the difference when it comes to keeping a wireless charger dust-free.

For example, non-slip rings, like those pictured above, prove a nightmare for dusting, as lint loves to cling to the rougher finish and raised edges. Whereas the super-soft surfaces of the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad didn’t pose a problem – though the pesky ridges on the silicone straps were another matter.

Even some of the best wireless chargers, like the Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand, can make things a little trickier than they need to be by sticking a silicone area in the middle of an otherwise wipeable surface. Instead, I much prefer when a design includes a recess to help keep wireless earbuds in place as they charge. The ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock) is a prime example of this.

Another example of a satisfyingly silicon-free wireless charger is the UGreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station. Unfortunately, though, the surface of the Qi2 charging pad falls victim to my second-biggest bugbear – fingerprints.

I wish I could give you a straightforward answer on what material to avoid if smudges and fingerprints are going to get on your nerves, but I’m yet to find a definitive answer. You may assume that any matte black plastic is bound to show up fingerprints; some types certainly do, to the point that they never fully wipe clean again, but some eternally appear free of ever having been handled.

The easiest solution, if these imperfections are the sort of things that could prove bothersome to you, is to opt for a charging station that can be easily packed away when not in use. The design of the aforementioned 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station is ideal here, as it can be folded down into a neat little cube very easily.

Alternatively, if you’ve got an Apple Watch to charge too, the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set folds down flat, and proved really useful as both a desktop and a travel charger. Otherwise, keep an eye on my guide to the best wireless chargers, as I always take durability and ease of cleaning into account when evaluating potential additions.

• Apple is about to launch the AirTag 2 tracker, according to a new report
• It probably won’t appear at today’s WWDC 2025 show, though
• We can expect a few new features, but not a design update

Apple’s big WWDC event is set to kick off later today (check out our WWDC 2025 live blog for all the latest rumors), which means you might be wondering if Apple is likely to launch any new hardware. Well, one reputable source has shut down that idea, but that doesn’t mean we won’t get new Apple devices any time soon – in fact, the new AirTag 2 update could be just around the corner.

That idea comes from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, who has a strong track record for Apple leaks and rumors. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says that the AirTag 2 is “nearly ready, having been prepared for launch over the past several months,” suggesting we won’t have long to wait until we see it.

Unfortunately, that doesn’t seem to include the possibility of the AirTag 2 launching at WWDC. In the newsletter’s Q&A section, Gurman posted the question “Will Apple announce any new hardware at WWDC?” His answer is that “Apple has no hardware that’s ready to be released,” adding that “it doesn’t make much sense” to release a new AirTag at WWDC.

That’s because Apple’s event is usually reserved for software updates (like iOS 26 and macOS 26) and new hardware categories, such as the Vision Pro. Given that the AirTag fits neither of those descriptions, it seems like an unlikely inclusion at WWDC. Still, with Gurman confident that it is nearing completion, we hopefully won’t have too long to wait until it’s out of the gate.

AirTag 2 features

With Apple’s AirTag 2 seemingly almost here, it’s worth recapping its rumored features. Right now, the AirTag can be used to keep track of your important devices, with Apple’s Find My app used to track each AirTag from your iPhone.

According to the rumor mill, there are three main changes coming to AirTag 2. The first is the inclusion of Apple’s Ultra Wideband chip, which allows for three times the tracking range compared to the existing AirTag.

As well as that, we could see integration with the Vision Pro, plus a more tamper-proof speaker. This last feature could help prevent AirTags being used for stalking – if its speaker can be tampered with and disabled, it’s easier for stalkers to hide an AirTag and use it to follow someone. With a tamper-proof design, that’s made much more difficult.

The one thing we don’t expect for the AirTag 2 is a new look and feel, as Apple is expected to stick with the small circular design that it’s used ever since the first AirTag arrived. Still, with a few new features and an upcoming release date, this could still be a worthwhile upgrade if you’ve been thinking of investing in an AirTag or two.

You might also like

• Apple WWDC 2025: dates, timings, and everything we're expecting from the big software show
• New leak hints at Apple AirTag 2 release window – here’s what to expect
• AirTag 2 upgrade could bring significant improvements to Apple’s trackers

When it comes to selecting the best wireless chargers, you'll have your work cut out. There's a mass of chargers put there, from cheap and cheerful units, to high-end power banks with all manner of features. So to help you pick a top-quality wireless charger from a potential dud, I've gone and tested a whole range of them.

I've uses rigorous testing and made use of the chargers you'll find below in real-world situations, so you can be assured that these units have been put through their paces, rather than just relying on specs alone.

I've put more than thirty wireless chargers to the test so far, going from multi-device chargers to palm-sized charging pads, and form those I've selected what I consider to be the best you can buy, all based on a variety of requirements; from travel unitis to those best for Apple devices and fast charging the best phones. As such, to ensure you get a quality charger, I've focused on areas such as build quality, efficiency, and value.

So read on for the best wireless chargers you can buy based on my thorough testing and experience.

My top wireless charger pick for most people

3 ways this wireless charger beats the others I tested

✅ It offers easy and convenient charging: This wireless charger's lightweight and small diameter make it the perfect choice for those "my phone is glued to my hand" days. In addition to being easy to handle, its compact size makes it an ideal charger when you're packing for a trip.

✅ It comes with reinforcements: One element that sets this charging pad above other wireless chargers is the protective reinforcements of the braiding that covers the cable and the flexible sleeve that provides reinforcement where the cable meets the pad, which is a common stress point.

✅ It's very affordable: I've tested a lot of chargers with a premium price tag, but if you don't need a multi-device charger, and convenience and reliable charging are your priority, then you needn't break the bank, as the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger offers this at a satisfyingly low cost.

My top 3 wireless charger picks for other needs

• Jump to more detail on these, and more picks for other uses

Why you can trust my judgement

I’m a staff writer at TechRadar focusing on product reviews, so it’s literally my day job to while away the hours testing and examining products, comparing them to the competition to see whether they’re as good as advertised.

Whether it comes to DIY, cleaning my car, or charging my devices, I’m always determined to find products that’ll prove to be the most efficient, durable, and cost-effective. I also enjoy making life easier for others wherever possible, meaning I’m happy to perform testing, scrutinize finer details, and delve into the specs, so you don’t have to.

I’ve spent over 50 hours testing the charging speeds of these wireless chargers, and countless more incorporating each of them into my everyday life to assess how convenient, durable, and easy to maintain they were, creating a new testing system to help me build this easy guide.

Before I joined TechRadar, I spent many years working in roles that involved extensive product testing and thorough technical evaluation to ensure materials and constructions remained stable and reliable throughout a product’s lifespan. As a result, I’ve been known to get a little too in-depth in my evaluations at times, but I’m confident I’ve found the sweet spot between sharing everything you need to know and boring you to tears.

I know as well as anyone the disappointment when purchasing a product that looked great on paper, only to find it doesn't live up to expectations, so I’m here to save others from the same fate with my experience testing the best wireless chargers here.

The 5 things I test in wireless chargers

Charging speeds

Kicking things off with the most obvious testing procedure on the list, each wireless charger is tasked with fully recharging an iPhone 13 Pro, which has a battery capacity of 2,600mAh, as well as a Xiaomi 14, which has a battery capacity of 4,610mAh. I use a MagSafe-compatible case when charging the Xiaomi on any MagSafe-specific chargers to ensure alignment and efficient charging, but I charge without it when testing standard Qi chargers.

If I'm reviewing a charger with an Apple Watch charging module, I monitor the time it takes to fully recharge my Apple Watch Series 9. I make sure to follow the manufacturer's instructions when conducting each test, and use the same devices each time to ensure the testing data is as comparable between chargers as possible.

Stability & configuration

One crucial aspect I scrutinize in every wireless charger is how reliable its hold on my device is. If you’re anything like me and have a habit of playing Russian roulette by not organizing a protective case for your new phone in time, or never quite getting around to backing up the 16,000-plus photos in your library, a secure charging base is crucial. You need to feel that a light brush or wobbling the table isn’t going to send your phone plummeting to its doom.

That being said, it can also prove inconvenient if the magnetic hold is so strong that it takes substantial effort to rotate or remove a phone from a charger, so I’m always looking for that sweet spot in between.

Configuration is another key consideration, as it’s important to find a charger design that’s most compatible with your needs. You may be certain you want a 3-in-1 charger, for instance. But would you rather something light, foldable, and compact to use in different spaces, or something sturdy with adjustable viewing angles and visibility of all your devices at once? I test to see whether the design of these devices actually works for its intended purpose, or whether things are too tight or hard to reach.

A prime example of a charger that’s neither travel nor viewing-friendly is the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Watch Wireless Charging Set (HaloLock), due to the fixed angle of the phone charging module and the out-of-the-way positioning of the Apple Watch charger. However, it’d make a good solution for those who want a multi-device desktop charger that doesn’t take up a lot of space.

Cable & adapter

Not the most exciting of elements, I grant you, but some manufacturers can be a little cheap when it comes to including charging cables that are actually long enough to reach a power outlet even if one isn’t right nearby, and the inclusion of a power adapter varies between products.

This in itself isn’t always the end of the world – many of us have spare adapters lying around – but it pays to scrutinize some of the finer print when purchasing a high-speed wireless charger, because these may require adapters with a higher output than you have available in order to reach their advertised charging speeds. If you plug them into your old iPhone adapter from years ago, you’ll wonder why things are going so slowly. I always take this into account when making my judgments.

Build quality & materials

It doesn’t matter how cheap a wireless charger is: if the hinges are too loose to maintain the desired angle, or integrated cables lack reinforcement, it’s a poor investment. I might find cheap-feeling materials to be more forgivable for the right price, but there can’t be rough edges or gaps in the construction.

Although practicality and performance are the key components of a great wireless charger, it’s beneficial to factor in the aesthetics too, especially if you’ll be taking it out with you regularly, or if it needs to be incorporated into your carefully curated desk setup. This is why I’ll throw up a flag if it looks like a charger is constructed from cheap materials. And I’ll happily point out if the charger comes in a range of colors, because why settle for black if you can have pink? …Just me?

Here at TechRadar, we believe it’s important to celebrate, challenge, and highlight more sustainable tech choices, especially during our Sustainability Week, where we share news, insights, tips, and tricks on subjects like recycling, buying pre-loved devices, and improving the life expectancy of your tech.

In this guide, I’ve shown appreciation when a brand opts to include sustainable approaches in the manufacturing process, whether that’s reducing the carbon footprint, using fully recyclable packaging, or incorporating recycled materials into products in a mindful way.

Durability & cleaning

Another reason I incorporate wireless chargers into my real-world routine when I test them is to see how well the build quality and finish stand the test of time. Compact and foldable wireless chargers are regularly transferred between my home, the office, and on journeys or vacations to see how they fare when being thrown into different bags and used on different surfaces.

I look out for signs of fingerprints, scratching, and scuffing along the way. This can range from materials that remain close to perfect no matter what I threw at them, to ones that were permanently marked the moment my nails made contact.

How convenient they are to clean became a recurring niggle for me with certain chargers, too. Naturally, anything that is situated out in the open is going to collect dust, and for some chargers it’s a simple case of giving them a quick dust. But based on my testing I’m now forever wary of silicone-style materials, as they have real trouble letting go of their dust-particle friends and can’t just be quickly cleaned.

The 7 wireless chargers I recommend, and why

The best wireless charger for most people

The low-down

The ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger would make a good choice for anyone who wants to charge their phone wirelessly without sacrificing surface space. It’s also a convenient choice for those who don’t want to take a break from screen time when their phone battery starts to run low, as the charging module of the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger measures around 2 inches / 59mm across, so it was satisfyingly easy to pick up my phone to reply to messages without having to take my phone off charge, as long as your phone is Qi2 or MagSafe.

The list price of the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger is around $32 / £26 on the ESR website (AU$34.99 on Amazon in Australia), but this seems to change occasionally. I’ve seen ESR offer discounts fairly regularly, with the price reduced to $24.99 / £21.24 / AU$24.99 at the time of writing, and the price generally tends to be lower at Amazon, especially when there’s a limited-time deal on.

I chose the ESR Qi2 Mini Wireless Charger as the best charging pad in part because it’s lightweight, compact, and easy to hold, but mostly due to the impressively durable power cord – something not often seen at this price point.

The specifics

The best car wireless charger

The low-down

The ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) is a must-have accessory for iPhone users who would benefit from a battery top-up on their travels. It has a list price of around $40 / £33.99 on the ESR website (AU$49.99 on Amazon Australia), but it looks to be available for a discounted cost regularly. And the same is true at Amazon, with the price dropping to just $20 / £22 / AU$35 on occasion, making it an absolute steal.

While it proved a bit of a dust and fingerprint magnet, I was really impressed with the reliable hold provided by the Halolock charging pad and how easy it was to adjust the viewing angle. Taking this reassuringly stable design and the choice of sturdy fixtures into account, awarding the ESR Qi2 Magnetic Wireless Car Charger (Halolock) the title of best wireless car charger felt like a no-brainer, especially considering the satisfyingly low price.

The specifics

The best Apple 3-in-1 wireless charger

The low-down

This charger definitely stands out on a crowded desktop with its quirky but convenient tree-like configuration, with high magnetic pads for the iPhone and Apple Watch, and a flat pad on the base for something like AirPods. While it may take up more space than technically necessary, the wide base of this Anker 3-in-1 charging station means it’s reassuringly stable, and the layout of the charging modules makes it easy to place devices and collect them up again.

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Stand has a list price of $110.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.95 on the Anker website, and can also be purchased at Amazon. The cost looks to have gone up on the Anker US website since I originally reviewed the 3-in-1 Stand; however, at the time of writing, there’s a $31 coupon available, bringing the cost down to a reasonable $80. It’s also worth keeping an eye out for deals at Amazon, too, as the price occasionally drops in the US, the UK and Australia.

It didn’t take long for this 3-in-1 stand to prove itself worthy of a place in this buying guide when I first started testing it, especially when it proved one of the fastest iPhone chargers I’ve tested to date. Its spot was cemented by the fact that it’s still going strong and proving just as efficient six months later.

The specifics

The best travel wireless charger

The low-down

The Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station 3-in-1 Foldable Pad instantly caught my attention with its quirky design and proved to be an efficient little charger. It’s the ideal choice for anyone who wants a convenient 3-in-1 charger that can be packed up in a matter of seconds, whether you’re taking it to the office every day or want a space-saving charger to take on vacation.

This travel-friendly charger is available from Anker and Amazon at a list price of $89.99 / £89.99 / AU$199.99, but discounts are offered from both retailers at times; for example, the price has been reduced to $71.99 / £74.99 / AU$139.98 as I write this. I chose this novel little charger for its good charging speed and super compact format, but if you’ve got a little more luggage space to spare, and prefer an adjustable stand, then I’d recommend taking a look at the ESR Qi2 3-in-1 Travel Wireless Charging Set instead.

The specifics

The best 2-in-1 Apple charger

The low-down

The Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe is a convenient and versatile charger for iPhone and Apple Watch owners that helpfully doubles as a wireless earbud case charger too.

This 2-in-1 charging dock is available in a choice of two neutral colors at a list price of $119.99 / £109.99 / AU$199.95 from Belkin, but is also available to purchase at Apple and Amazon.

During my time testing and writing this guide, Belkin released an updated Qi2-certified version of this charger, called the BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with Qi2. It looks physically identical to the MagSafe model, but the main advantages of this update are that the Qi2 tech makes it a more versatile charger, and it performed better when tested, charging the iPhone 13 Pro faster than the previous model by 17 minutes.

It’s already on sale at Amazon UK, and will be available for purchase on the Belkin site shortly, but won’t launch in the US until a little later. So for now, I’m keeping the previous model in the guide, since it’s the most widely available – but I’ll update in the future when the new model has settled in.

I chose the Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe for its steadfast design, convenient configuration, and satisfyingly speedy Apple Watch charging performance.

The specifics

The best 2-in-1 charger for earbuds

The low-down

The UGreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station is a compact charging solution comprising an easy-to-position Qi2 phone charging module and a Qi charging module for compatible earbud cases that’s quick and easy to fold down and tidy away.

It has a list price of $49.99 / £39.99 / AU$69.99 and can be purchased from UGreen and Amazon. As I write this, UGreen and Amazon US are offering the UGreen 2-in-1 Qi2 Magnetic Foldable Fast Charging Station for $43, it's down to AU$41.98 on Amazon Australia and there’s a limited-time deal knocking a generous 25% off at Amazon UK, so I’d recommend shopping around before you purchase.

I chose this particular 2-in-1 charger because its configuration and three charging outputs make it a versatile choice, plus it charged up our iPhone 13 Pro in good time for the price.

The specifics

The best wireless charger power bank

The low-down

If you’re looking for a fully wireless solution with plenty of charging power to keep your phone topped up on the go, then you’ll like the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim). It’s slim for a 10,000mAh battery, and offers up to 15W wireless charging power, or 30W when charging via USB-C.

It’s listed for $74.99 / £69.99 / AU$139.95 on the Anker website, where the occasional promotional deal or discount is applied, such as the £14 / AU$30 coupon that’s on offer as I write this. The Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim) can be found at Amazon, too, and has been subject to a limited-time deal every now and then, bringing the cost down as low as $62.99 in the US at times, and £55.99 / AU$98 frequently at Amazon UK and Australia.

Aside from the satisfyingly slim profile, I picked this power bank for its quick iPhone charging, quality build, and versatility, as the Qi2 charging tech meant I could easily charge my Motorola Moto Buds+ on the go, too.

The specifics

Comparison charts for our chargers

In the graph below, you can click the names of the devices we used to test the charging times to turn them on or off in the results, so you can see just the charging results for the iPhone, if you prefer.

All the chargers I tested for this guide

What I learned about buying wireless chargers from my testing

Not all chargers are made equal
It’s easy to assume that one 15W wireless charger will provide the same results as another, but I quickly learned that speed and performance can vary vastly, even between models from well-known manufacturers. This difference can be down to a number of factors, such as the charging technology used and the overall build quality of the charger. Different chargers can have different power requirements too, something that can catch people out when an adapter doesn’t come included, especially if the wattage required is hidden in the small print.

Most Android users are missing out on efficient wireless charging
Though most chargers in this guide are capable of refueling a wireless chargeable Android, many big-name manufacturers are yet to fully embrace Qi2 technology at the time of writing. The good news is that Qi2-certified chargers are backward compatible, so I could test Android phones still rocking the original Qi tech, but because Qi2 chargers charge Qi devices at a reduced output, the resulting charging speeds were slow.

Some material finishes will never stay clean long-term
It didn’t take me long to realize that some chargers require a lot more upkeep than others to keep them looking presentable. Regardless of cost, some material finishes are just far less forgiving than others when it comes to showing fingerprints, with some proving almost impossible to fully clean.

Dust also proved a regular frustration, especially because many chargers come in dark colors, with materials proving to be irresistible to dust. This isn’t too much of a pain in many cases; however, some charger designs with silicone elements or raised edges around charging modules make efficient dusting a surprisingly time-consuming process.

Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack: review

The Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack is a power bank designed for charging Galaxy and other small devices.

It has quite a sleek design with an organic-looking finish, emphasized by the beige colorway of my unit, which is mottled for a pebble-like appearance. It also feels quite solid, although there is some flexing to the panels, so it isn’t the most rugged power bank around.

However, it’s pleasingly thin and light, and combined with the rounded edges at one end, this makes the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack relatively easy to carry around. However, it’s quite long, even for a wireless power bank, and many of the best power banks with similar power and capacity specs are smaller than this.

What also mars its seamless design is the hump of the wireless charging pad, although its soft material offers extra cushioning and grip for your device, and seems quite resistant to tears and scratches.

There’s no real interface to speak of on the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack. It features a single power button and five LED dots: one indicating charging activity and the other four representing battery life. These are placed at the end of the unit, next to the USB ports, and are large and bright enough to be seen clearly.

The wireless charging feature is capable of outputting 7.5W of power. It also features two USB-C ports, both of which serve as inputs and outputs. These offer Super Fast Charging, providing 25W of output power each when charging a single device.

Three-way charging is also supported when using both ports and the wireless pad, although the power output drops to 7.5W for all outputs in such cases. It’s also a shame that while charging, the battery life indicators don’t remain lit, so you can’t tell how much battery the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack has left without pressing the power button first, which is somewhat inconvenient.

It managed to wirelessly charge a Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus, which has a 4,755mAh battery, from empty to full in about three and a half hours, which is quite a good performance. In the process, the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack lost all but one of its LED dots, indicating that it had between 5-20% left in reserve.

This is somewhat disappointing, since it means you’ll only get one full wireless charge out of it. What’s more, charging the bank itself from empty to full took over three hours, which isn’t particularly fast; other 10K power banks are faster at charging themselves than this.

The Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack is reasonably priced considering its wireless charging capability and the inclusion of two USB-C ports for additional charging. However, there are other wireless chargers out there with smaller form factors that perform just as well, such as the Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K), which even includes a handy flip stand for propping up your phone.

Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack review: price & specs

Should I buy the Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack Battery Pack?

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Samsung 25W 10,000mAh Wireless Battery Pack review: Also consider

Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank: review

The Anker 20K 87W power bank has a large capacity and power output, as well as an inbuilt USB-C cable for ease of use. It’s a sleek-looking brick, although it’s quite big. Thankfully, it’s not too thick or too heavy, both of which help to make it more portable than it otherwise would be.

It features a small screen that displays the battery life as a percentage, which is bright and clear, making it easy to glance at. There’s also a relatively large power button next to it, which is very accessible owing to its size.

True to many of Anker’s products, it feels solidly constructed, equal in durability to the best power banks. This extends to the inbuilt USB-C cable, which Anker claims has 11lbs of pulling resistance, and is rated for over 10,000 bends and 5,000 twists during its lifetime.

It folds away neatly, sitting flush with the side panel, and it also feels secure in this housing, so I wasn’t concerned it would come loose or expose the jack to damage. What’s more, the cable is still easy to unsheathe when needed.

However, it isn’t that long, which, given the overall size of the bank itself, can make it a little awkward to use. It also has to be twisted around when connecting to devices in a way that feels unnatural, since the cable is flat rather than cylindrical.

In addition to this integrated cable, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank also features a USB-C port, which is capable of input and output (as is the cable), and a USB-A port, which is output only.

The Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank provides 87W of power in total, with a maximum of 65W for single-port charging, which is more than enough to charge large devices, including many modern laptops. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, in about two hours, which is respectable.

In the process, it lost 30% of its battery life, which means you should be able to get at least three charges out of it, which is acceptable, although some other 20,000mAh banks I’ve tested previously appear to retain slightly more in the tank than this.

Still, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank is reasonably priced considering its high power output, build quality, and integrated cable. However, it might not represent great value unless you intend on charging very power-hunger devices; even many modern laptops don’t need 65W to charge quickly. But, if you do, the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank is a very solid portable and convenient option.

Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank: price & specs

Should I buy the Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank?

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Anker 20,000mAh 87W Power Bank review: Also consider

INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank: review

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is a power bank with a large capacity and reasonable power output, capable of fast charging small and medium-sized devices. It cuts a rather inauspicious figure, although it’s sleek enough to stand out from the crowd – especially if you opt for one of the vibrant colorways. Meanwhile, its rounded edges improve ergonomics and portability.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank features a screen for the battery percentage readout and nothing more, which is a shame since its large size would be able to contain more information besides, so it seems like a missed opportunity in this regard. The battery readout is also relatively small, although the digits are at least clear and bright, which makes them easy to read when glancing over from an angle.

It also feels reassuringly solid in the hand, with hardly any flex to the panels. The matte soft-touch material also feels quite premium, while the compact form factor places it alongside the best power banks for portability, given its aforementioned large capacity.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank comes with some handy additional features: there’s a flashlight, which is easily toggled by double-tapping the power button, and an integrated USB-C cable that doubles as a carrying loop.

The latter feels quite durable, despite its thin size. However, the jack is prone to wobbling around while housed in its slot, which had me a little concerned that it might come loose, but it seemed to hold securely during my time with it.

This integrated cable can be used as an output or an input, as can the additional USB-C port. The USB-A port, however, is output only. The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank has a maximum output of 22.5W, which is enough for fast-charging smartphones and other small devices, while three-way simultaneous charging is also possible.

When it comes to single charging, the INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just over 90 minutes, which is a credible performance. In the process, the battery dipped by 27%, meaning you should be able to get 3-4 charges out of it.

The INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is a fair price considering its high capacity and additional features. It’s also very portable, which is a real boon for travelers. However, the equally capable Anker Zolo is about the same price, and also features an inbuilt cable – although it doesn’t have an integrated flashlight or a digital display.

It perhaps has the slight edge in terms of build quality, though, and offers slightly more power at 30W. But all things considered, the INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank is perhaps the more rounded choice in this sector.

INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank review: price & specs

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INIU P51L-E1 Power Bank review: Also consider

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack: review

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a power bank perfectly designed for charging smartphones, tablets, and other small devices, thanks to its multiple ports, 45W of power, and a large 20,000mAh capacity.

It certainly looks stylish for a power bank, with its pebble-like finish adding an element of organic chic. The rather prominent seam between the two panels is a little jarring, though, and detracts from the overall smoothness of the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

It’s also quite large, even for a power bank with this kind of capacity. Some of the best power banks with similar or even higher capacities are smaller than this. Build quality is good – there’s some flexing to the panels, but not to the extent that I’d be concerned.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has three charging ports, all of which are USB-C, which is somewhat unusual for a power bank, as many incorporate other connector types. This may deter users who’d want more versatility and concessions made for older devices in the form of a USB-A port or two, for instance.

However, given the increasing ubiquity of USB-C, I’m quite happy with this configuration. All ports are positioned on one end, which may be a little restrictive for some; a more even distribution around the entire unit may have improved flexibility, but this isn’t a major issue.

Despite its large size, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack has no digital display: all you get are four LED dots to indicate the battery life of the bank itself. These are quite small and placed next to the ports, which obscures them from view somewhat.

What’s more, the LEDs don’t activate at all when charging devices, either to indicate charging or remaining battery life (you’ll have to press the power button every time to reveal the latter). This lack of interface is particularly disappointing on a premium power bank such as the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack.

At least it has super fast charging, and can charge three devices simultaneously. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in about two hours, which is a decent performance.

After charging, all four of the bank’s LEDs remained lit, indicating that at the very least, the battery didn’t deplete by more than 30%, which is impressive and means you should get about 3-4 charges out of it.

The Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is one of the more expensive power banks with this spec, although we have seen it on sale for considerably less. The JUOVI J2621, for instance, is cheaper, but has the same power and capacity, and even has four ports instead of three, two of which are USB-A. It’s similarly hefty, though, which might deter ultra-light travelers.

Ultimately, if you want plenty of USB-C ports in a stylish package, the Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack is a solid choice – but perhaps wait for a sale to maximize its value.

Samsung 45W 20000mAh Battery Pack review: price & specs

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Cuktech 20 Power Bank: review

The Cuktech 20 Power Bank has a high power output and large capacity, designed for charging laptops and similar devices while traveling. As you would expect from a battery of this ilk, it’s quite a handful. It’s thick across its depth, although thankfully it’s not as wide, nor is it as heavy as I was expecting.

This makes the Cuktech 20 Power Bank reasonably portable all things considered, although it’s slightly more cumbersome than some rivals with similar specs.

Thankfully, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is still airline safe despite its size, since it falls below the TSA’s 100Wh limit. It’s also useful that this is clearly labelled on the side, so if an agent is ever doubtful, you can at least show them.

Cuktech has tried to inject some interest into its appearance as well, with its two-tone design and translucent front panel, and I did appreciate the linear texture on the sides, which aids grip and feels premium to the touch. However, this is still a rather austere looking brick, albeit one that’s perhaps a bit more sleek than some of the best power banks.

One of the standout features of the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is the screen, which displays various information, such as the battery life and estimated charging time, as well as the wattage, voltage, and amperage for each port in real time. There’s also a handy indicator to tell you whether a port is delivering or receiving power.

Although this information is certainly useful, it’s a shame the display area is quite small. It’s also a shame that given its size, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank only has three ports, as other power banks of this ilk can squeeze in one or two more. Still, at least two of them are USB-C, and both are input and output capable.

The first USB-C port has an output of 140W, whereas the second tops out at 60W. The USB-A port, meanwhile, has a maximum power output of 30W. Despite this, the maximum output doesn’t quite add up to 230W, but 210W – which is still plenty of power for a brick this size.

Charging via all three ports simultaneously is also supported, while an additional trickle charging mode is available for charging low current devices, such as earbuds and smartwatches, which can be activated by double pressing the power button.

It took just under two hours for the Cuktech 20 Power Bank to charge an HP Chromebook Plus, which has a 58Wh battery, from empty to full via the most powerful USB-C port, which is a solid performance. The estimated time given by the bank was accurate for the most part too, closely matching that of the Chromebook’s, although figures went awry at the tail-end of the charge.

The Cuktech 20 Power Bank lost 82% of its charge in the process, which unfortunately means you’ll likely only get one laptop charge out of it, but this is expected given the capacity – and if it did have more juice in the tank, it would likely exceed flight limits. Charging the bank itself took two hours from empty to full in, which is another impressive performance.

When charging the bank itself, it’s a shame that the screen goes off, although fortunately this can be changed in the settings. Also, there’s a handy LED strip running vertically below it that repeatedly fills up to indicate charging, which also looks stylish – for what that’s worth.

I should mention, however, that my first attempt to charge the Cuktech 20 Power Bank failed. After 30 minutes or so, I noticed it wasn’t receiving any charge, despite my cable being attached correctly. I’m not sure if this was because the bank was expecting to deliver an output rather than receive an input, but a simple re-plug fixed the issue. I can also report that I only experienced this once during my testing, so I can only presume this was a one-time glitch.

If you’re looking for another large yet flight-ready power bank, the Anker Laptop Power Bank is a great alternative. It’s slightly cheaper than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank, but it has more convenient features, such as two built-in USB-C cables, one of which can be looped to create a carrying handle. It has less total power than the Cuktech 20 Power Bank (165W), but this is still plenty for many people’s needs.

But if you do need over 200W of total power, in a reasonably portable and flight-ready package, the Cuktech 20 Power Bank is a solid pick for charging laptops and the like on the go.

Cuktech 20 Power Bank review: price & specs

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RUGD Power Brick: review

The RUGD Power Brick is a power bank designed for outdoor excursions, thanks to its durable design and useful features. Although its form prioritizes function, it’s not without some interesting and even stylish aspects, and the orange colorway of my test unit certainly made it striking – and hard to lose.

As you would expect, it’s very-well built, too. All panels are solid with virtually no flex to them, while the shock-proof silicone outer rim feels tough.

Despite its ruggedness, though, the RUGD Power Brick is pleasingly small and relatively light, even for one of the best power banks, which makes it ideal for carrying around. It’s just about thin enough to fit in a pocket, although its square shape might make it a little too wide for some.

There’s no interface to speak of, apart from four LED lights to indicate its battery life. It’s a shame, however, that they’re virtually invisible when viewed from an angle, which is inconvenient when you merely want to glance at its status.

However, convenience is restored thanks to some handy features, such as the integrated hook on the outer rim, to which you can attach the included carabiner. There’s also a giant flashlight that takes up the entire back panel, and provides plenty of luminescence.

Activating the flashlight is a little laborious, as it requires holding the button for too long, rather than a simple double-tap. What’s more useful, though, is the ability to make the light even brighter by tapping the power button once on, and make it flash with a further tap for an SOS signal.

The RUGD Power Brick features one USB-A port and one USB-C, both hidden under a flap on the outer rim. This flap can be a little awkward to pull out, but it at least offers sufficient protection for the ports. However, the string that attaches the flap to the body doesn’t feel particularly strong, making me doubt its ability to withstand repeated or more vigorous tugs.

What’s more, there’s only one flap for both ports, leaving one port exposed while using the other, which is something of an oversight given the RUGD Power Brick’s commitment to providing the utmost protection.

Both ports provide 18W of power, although only the USB-C port has input capability for charging the bank itself. Simultaneous charging is also supported. It comes with a charging cable, although I would’ve welcomed a C-to-C connection rather than C-to-A.

The RUGD Power Brick managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a, which has a 4,385mAh battery, from empty to full in just under two hours via the USB-C port. That's not a particularly impressive performance when other banks are capable of charging it in about 90 minutes.

This RUGD Power Brick lost one of the four LED dots in the process, meaning you should get about two or three full charges from it, which aligns with its 10,050mAh capacity. Charging the RUGD Power Brick itself from empty to full took two and a half hours, which is acceptable given that aforementioned capacity.

For those that don’t require an all-proof design, the RUGD Power Brick doesn’t exactly represent good value, considering its lack of ports and middling capacity for the price. But if you’re someone who frequently battles the elements, the RUGD Power Brick should make for a practical and hardy companion for keeping your smaller devices topped up.

RUGD Power Brick review: price & specs

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• After launching iPhone cases in 2024, Beats is now ushering in cables
• It's a further expansion into mobile accessories with a focus on affordability and fun colors
• Beats is making three cable types in two sizes and four colors

Beats has already had a packed 2025 with the much-anticipated release of the Powerbeats Pro 2, but for the tech brand’s second act it’s striking a slightly different tone. No, it’s not a follow-up to the return of the iconic Pill speaker or a new shade of Solo Buds; instead, it’s a new mobile accessory and one that I couldn’t be more excited about.

Alongside the iPhone 16 lineup in September of 2024, Beats introduced its iPhone case – a sleek, ergonomic plastic one that had a microfiber lining to protect the hardware, support for MagSafe, and maybe most importantly, a sapphire layer for Camera Control.

And now Beats is making cables. No, not for audio but for charging devices and even accomplishing data transfers. Best of all, like the Solo Buds, these are platform agnostic and look to use the same high-end braided materials of the Apple-made ones, but with fresh, vibrant, and plain fun shades.

Beats Cables will come in three models for this launch: USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, and USB-C to Lightning. You can pick between a shorter 20cm size or a longer 1.5m one, and Beats is offering four colors: Bolt Black, Surge Stone, Nitro Navy, and Rapid Red.

The best part, though, might be the price. In either size for just one cable, it’s $18.99 / £18.99 / AU$28.95, or Beats is selling two 1.5m cable packs for $34.99 / £34.99 / AU$54.95. That price just includes the cable, or two, with Beats being quick to note that no power adapter is included. In the new advertisement spot, and in shared images, Beats Cables are shown being plugged into Apple 20-Watt bricks, so for now, Beats isn’t entering the power market.

Though, I wouldn’t be shocked to see this mobile accessory division of Beats expanded again. First we got cases, now cables and I wouldn’t mind the return of a MagSafe battery pack in some fun colors.

As far as the specs are concerned, Beats Cables are designed to plug and play with both Apple-made devices and Android ones. The USB-C to USB-C cable are designed for charging at up to 60-watts, provided the power source and device it's plugged into support this. These cables also support USB 2.0 data transfer speeds. You can use these for syncing, charging, and CarPlay with an iPhone, or even for Android Auto with an Android device.

USB-A to USB-C does work with both Apple and non-Apple devices, but the spec is a bit lower for charging at up to 15-watts. Data transfer speeds are the same up to USB 2.0. You can also use either USB-A to USB-C or USB-C to USB-C cables to power other Beats devices like the Pill or to recharge headphones.

Beats USB-C to Lightning cables support fast charging with select Apple devices – think the iPhone, iPad, or even AirPods. You can also data sync or use these for CarPlay.

All of these boast a braided, colorful design with color-matched ends and Beats says these are reinforced to prevent fraying and go through thousands of hours in testing to ensure durability. While it isn’t specified if recycled materials are used in the cable itself, the packaging is made from 100% plant-based material.

TechRadar will be putting these cables through some tests in short order, and if it’s anything like the Beats cases for the iPhone 16 lineup, I have a feeling these will be a hit. Especially for those who have ever wished Apple’s USB-C to USB-C cables were a bit more affordable or came in some fun colors – this is the solution.

Beats will begin selling its USB-C to USB-C, USB-A to USB-C, and USB-C to Lighting cables in Bolt Black, Surge Stone, Nitro Navy, and Rapid Red in 1.5m or 20cm sizes direct from Apple – and likely on Amazon – right now, and will arrive in Apple Stores on April 17, 2025.

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• The latest AirTag alternative from Chipolo comes in color
• It's a small, circular tracker that works with Apple or Google's Find My network
• It has a built-in keyring hole for easy attachment, a speaker, and an easily replaceable battery

Sure, Apple’s AirTag might be the top dog in the world of iPhone item trackers, thanks to an exclusive feature or two. But what if I told you there is another item tracker that is just as compact, has a built-in key ring for easy attachment, and comes in several vibrant colors?

Sold, right? Well, the Chipolo Pop is precisely that and is simply the colorful AirTag that I’ve always wanted. I bet a few of you've wanted that as well. Chipolo, with several other models, is not a brand-new entrant into item trackers either.

Further, the Chipolo Pop supports Apple’s FindMy standard, so it will fast-pair with an iPhone and live within the FindMy app, but it’s also fully compatible with Android and Google’s network. If you’re already sold, it’s up for order now at $29 / £30 from Chipolo for one or $89 / £90 for four of them. And if you prefer Amazon, it's also up for order there.

Six colors to choose from

Just like an AirTag or even the MotoTag – a Motorola-made item tracker that looks like Apple’s – the Chipolo Pop is a circular item tracker just 38.8 millimeters in diameter. It’s about the size of an AirTag nut and levels up the experience in two key ways.

First, it comes in six colors: blue, yellow, red, green, black, and white. Second, it has a built-in key ring hole so that you can easily attach it to a set of keys, a bag, or really anything else. Chipolo ships it with a color-matched key ring as well.

It’s also powered by a commonly found battery, the CR2032 – just like the AirTag. Chipolo says the Pop should last for up to a year of use. With the IP55 resistance, it can also handle a bit of water and dust. That’s handy for an item tracker that could get left outdoors.

Maybe the single biggest advantage of the Chipolo Pop is that it integrates with Apple’s or Google’s FindMy device networks. This means that the tracker's location will ping off thousands of these devices to help give an accurate location. Apple’s network is made up of iPhones, iPads, and Macs.

That also means that after you get the Chipolo Pop and are ready to set the item tracker up, you’ll need to hold it next to your Android phone or iPhone and follow the splash screen that appears on the device. During this, it will also link with your Google or Apple account.

You can also stretch the mileage of the Pop and get more features with the Chipolo app for Android or iOS – here, you can set a custom alert and even have it ring your device if you click the button on the Pop in. That’s a trick even Apple’s AirTag can’t do. On Android, you can also set up alerts to notify you if you leave the Pop behind.

While we haven’t tested it yet, there is a speaker integrated within the Pop – so you can ping it and hear your selected chime – and Chipolo promises it offers a “seriously loud ring.”

So, for those with an iPhone, minus the AirTag’s Precision Finding, the Chipolo Pop is basically the colorful AirTag I’ve always wanted. It nearly checks off all the boxes, doesn’t raise the price, and stretches the value further.

Case in point, if I get a Chipolo Pop, I don’t need to buy an additional accessory to attach it to my keys or a backpack. That isn’t the case with an AirTag.

If you’re eager to add the Chipolo Pop to your keys, backpack, or other items, you can order it right now from Chipolo’s online store or on Amazon.

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Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review

Right, strap in everyone, this one’s a real mouthful… the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a single port, USB-C charger that will get the vast majority of modern handsets fighting fit in no time.

Of course, this isn’t going to be the best at juicing up one of the latest MacBooks or Chromebooks, for instance, due to its 25W output. But that’s OK. After all, this model is really for those that just want to charge their phone or wireless headphones on the go, say. And that, reader, is a purpose this model serves well.

I tried charging up my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE and it reached 100%, starting from 0% in just under 80 minutes – the kind of speed I’d hope to see from the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Of course, this model won’t be able to unlock peak performance on a phone like the Honor Magic 7, which can manage 100W wired charging, but most iPhones and Samsung handsets will be able to fast charge with this Belkin plug.

It’s also worth noting that this charger never got too hot when bringing my phone back to life. That’s thanks to its use of PPS technology, which ensures dynamic power delivery. It's also worth noting that this model only supports 20W charging for iPhone, though you may find that’s plenty for a rapid rejuvenation of power.

Beyond performance, this charger is a bit of a mixed bag, though. Build quality is solid and there’s a nice textured finish to the outer casing, but I still didn’t love this charger’s design. In honesty, it’s a little bit bulky for a 25W charger, especially compared to models like the Anker Nano USB-C 30W or UGreen Nexode Mini 30W.

Also, its prongs slide down, but they’re not fully foldable – something I always like, as it enables me to simply slot the charger into my pocket when out and about, without the fear of being poked in the side.

Pair that with the lack of USB-C cable in the box – at least for the UK variant I tested – and the $19.99 / £17.99 / AU$29.95 feels reasonable rather than cheap. Especially when the models I mentioned above are priced very similarly, but are more compact, attractive and powerful. And, all in all, I can’t help but feel there are better value options available for the money. So, even though the Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS is a steady performer, it can’t quite top the best of the best single-port alternatives.

Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS review: Price & specs

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Belkin BoostCharge 25W Wall Charger with PPS: Also consider

VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank: review

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is a basic power bank with a high capacity and versatile port selection, catering to various charging needs on the go.

It adopts a functional aesthetic, but looks smart enough. The large, shiny screen adds some interest, as does the linear texture of its bottom half, which also provides some useful traction when holding it in the hand.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank is quite thick and long, although considering its large capacity, this is to be expected; it still isn’t much bigger than many of the best power banks with the same battery size. It’s reasonably heavy, though, so combined with its dimensions, this isn’t a battery you can easily pocket.

It feels quite solid overall, although the screen doesn’t feel the most durable or premium; and despite its large area, the actual display itself is quite small and sparse, severely underutilizing its allotted space: only the battery percentage is displayed, with no other interface features beyond this, apart from a small green symbol to signify charging, which is helpful.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has four ports, divided into two USB-A outputs, one USB-C combined input and output, and one micro USB input. Three-way simultaneous charging is also possible. Given that the USB-C port outputs the most power (20W compared to 18W for each USB-A port), it’s a shame that the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank only comes with a USB-A-to-C cable, rather than C-to-C.

It took just over 90 minutes for the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank to charge the 4,385mAh battery in my Google Pixel 7a completely via the USB-C port, which is a decent performance. The bank lost about a quarter of its battery life in the process, which should mean you’ll get about 3-4 charges from it, which again is commendable.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank has a claimed charging time of eight hours from empty to full, thanks to the 18W input capability. Based on my tests, this figure appears to hold true.

The VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank represents good value considering its relatively low price compared to other power banks of this size. However, there are some that perhaps represent better value, such as the JUOVI J2621, which is only slightly more expensive, and despite having the same capacity, it has over double the power.

It also features two USB-C ports, but on the downside, it’s bulkier than the VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank. But considering neither is practical for pocket carry, this is somewhat of a moot point, and ultimately means that the JUOVI may be a better alternative in this case.

VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank review: price & specs

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VRURC 20000mAh 20W Power Bank review: Also consider

UGreen Nexode RG 65W review

If the joy of getting back up to 100% charge isn’t enough for you, then you simply have to check out the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. This cheerful charging robot will get your laptop, phone or tablet back to fighting fit with a smile, thanks to its LED display and accompanying emoticons.

And this charger will get not one, not two, but three devices back to 100% in no time. That’s because it has three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. You can get up to 65W in single-port mode, 45W and up to 20W (using USB-C Port 2) in duo mode and 45W plus 7.5W in the remaining slots when tri-port charging.

In terms of actual performance, this model does very nicely too. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE alongside the Soundcore Space One Pro and Bose SoundLink Flex Gen 2 speaker. Despite using all three ports, the UGreen Nexode RG 65W ensured my phone – which has a 4,700mAh battery – hit full charge from 0% in just under 80 minutes. That’s the sort of speeds you’d expect to see from some of the best Android phone chargers and best iPhone chargers. Smart temperature monitoring also ensured that this lil’ robot never got too hot either.

This model will display one of three emojis depending on charging status. Closed eyes on standby, smiling when fast charging and a blank expression when trickle charging or achieving a full charge. These are all pretty fun, but not quite as emotive as the faces you get on the UGreen Uno 100W. That said, this more chibi 65W model still has a load more character than most charging plugs.

The charger’s general build quality is strong. It’s pretty weighty, though thanks to GaN technology, you still get a highly compact model. The prongs aren’t foldable – something I typically like from a wall charger – but there are some feet that you can slot the charger into when it's out of use. That’s not only a neat design quirk, but a practical addition if you want to slide the charger into your pocket without getting poked by its prongs.

Given its solid power output and charming display, I’d argue that this model is very well priced too. It has a list price of $49.99 / £34.99 (about AU$80) but can regularly be found on sale for less than $40 / £30. Given the Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W is typically $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$89.95 and has no display, that’s an excellent price.

It’s worth noting that the price may vary depending on which color option you get, though. I tested the standard Black variant, but if you want to spice things up, you can grab this model in either Cyan or Purple – the latter is adorned in a small purple bow.

All in all, this is another great, charismatic charger from UGreen that I can recommend to anyone. It may not include a USB-C cable in the box and the emojis aren’t as captivating as the 100W model’s, but the triple port configuration, power output and LED display make it well worth its already modest list price.

UGreen Nexode RG 65W review: Price & specs

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UGreen Nexode RG 65W review: also consider

Baseus Blade Pro power bank review

While an excellent power bank for many reasons, the Baseus Blade Pro really stands out for its skinny form factor, combined with a large 20,000mAh (74Wh) capacity and beefy 100W (20V, 5A) output. There are very few such power banks that can slot into a laptop sleeve, yet still offer fast charging, making this my favorite option when traveling light.

I also think the Blade Pro is a great option for phone charging if you need to do multiple top-ups, and the slim form works well in a backpack too. That said, at 13.4 x 13.4 x 2.0 cm (5.3 x 5.3 x 0.8 inches), it's definitely too large to fit in most pockets comfortably. The exception to this is bulky winter wear, and I have used it to power a heated jacket in icy weather when traveling.

The Blade Pro has two USB-C ports that can each output 100W, though if both are used at the same time, they're limited to 65W and 35W respectively. The two USB-A ports can do 30W (12V, 2.5A) or 27W at 9V, 3A. While charging three devices is totally fine, plugging in four means all ports are limited to just 5V output, which results in much slower charging, and won't charge most laptops.

Charging the Blade Pro via either USB-C port happens at up to 60W and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach full capacity. With a 65W or higher charger, the power bank also supports pass-through charging, so you can charge the power bank and another device at the same time. This means you can plug the power bank between your laptop and its USB-C charger, and charge both at once without needing to swap any cables once it is done.

You also get a low-current charge mode for smaller accessories like headphones (which stops the power bank from turning off when charging devices that only need a little bit of power), along with a fantastic display that shows the voltage, current and remaining runtime while charging.

At 440g (15.5 ounces) the Blade Pro is quite lightweight for the size, but the flat shape means it's slightly larger in total volume than the smallest power banks with comparable capacity. In my opinion, this is more than offset by the slim design, which makes it feel much less bulky.

I conduct comprehensive testing of power banks to make sure they can meet the manufacturer's claims, as many don't actually do what they say they will. Overall, the Blade Pro gives excellent results that earn it a place in our best power banks guide.

The 20,000mAh (74Wh) capacity is enough to bring typical laptops back to a full charge (or at least hit 70% for those with large batteries), or charge a phone three to four times over, depending on the model.

In testing, when outputting the full 100W for a sustained period of time, the Blade will slow down the charge rate to make sure its cells stay healthy long term. In our real-world testing with a high-power 100W laptop (which typically averages slightly under 100W), this protection feature didn’t kick in.

That said, with sustained high output, the Blade Pro does generate some waste heat (which is totally normal), so you'll get the best performance if it's not left in a bag when charging a laptop. If you’re just charging a phone though, it stays very cool and can be tucked away.

The only other things I can fault the Blade Pro for are that it tends to pick up scratches easily, and after months of pulling it in and out of my bag, it has lost one of the little rubber feet.

If buying the Blade Pro, keep in mind that it is often sold for as little as half the list price when on sale, and is generally much cheaper than the prices listed below.

Also watch out for the older (non-Pro) Blade model, as they look very similar. The older Blade is a great power bank (and a good buy if discounted), and it has the same features and outputs as the Pro, but be aware it’s larger overall and uses an older cell chemistry.

All in all, no matter which model you go for, the Blade Pro is ideal for slipping into a bag to charge a laptop and other devices.

Baseus Blade Pro: Price & specs

Baseus Blade Pro: Test results

If all these numbers don't mean much to you, I have included scores out of 5 for each test result so you can see how it fared at a glance.

At phone-charging rates (20W / 9V / 2.22A), the Blade Pro delivers an outstanding 91.55% of its rated capacity. At 20V and typical laptop charging rates, performance is even better, hitting 93% of the rated capacity.

During testing under a sustained 100W (20V, 5A) load, the Blade Pro will usually renegotiate the output at 65W (20V, 3.25A) once the remaining capacity drops to somewhere between 50% and 30%, mainly to manage heat. At these higher sustained loads, efficiency takes a noticeable hit, and around 54.7Wh (76%) of the rated 74Wh ends up being usable.

This might seem like a concern, but it isn't a problem for normal use. But if you do need a power bank that can output the full 100W for the entire capacity, then consider a model like the Anker 737 or the ZMI No.20 – both of which can sustain their full output.

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The Baseus Blade Pro is one of the best slim yet high output power banks available, but below are a few other options if you are looking for something different.

How I test power banks

I get hands-on with every power bank I can, and perform extensive testing in both the lab and real-world scenarios. Using equipment like the ChargerLab POWER-Z KM003C, I check charge voltage, protocol support, and log capacity tests.

Each power bank is also tested with real devices, including phones, tablets, laptops, and more, as well as connected to a programmable load tester for multiple charge cycles. I carry a selection daily in both pockets and bags to assess their durability and ability to withstand rough, everyday use.

All measurements and weights are personally verified, ensuring accuracy beyond the manufacturer’s listings.

Want to know more? Read about how we test.

Anker 335 Charger 67W vs Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W: price & specs

Anker 335 Charger 67W vs Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W: performance

As you may expect there isn’t really a lot of difference between these two chargers in terms of performance levels. They have the same maximum power output – 67W and each have three separate ports for charging up your devices simultaneously.

Even when making use of all three ports, both chargers were able to charge my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE’s 4,700mAh capacity battery to 100% from 0% in less than 80 minutes. That’s exactly the speeds I’d hope to get from the best iPhone chargers and best Android phone chargers.

Neither will be able to charge the most power hungry devices at their full potential, especially in tri-port mode – you’ll be better served by a high capacity alternative like the UGreen Nexode Pro 160W 4-Port charger if you’re after a top performer. But there may well be enough to go round your phone, a pair of the best wireless earbuds and best headphones, for instance.

But even if both perform at a good level, there are some key differences worth noting. Firstly, you get up to 25W from Port 1 and 20W from the remaining slots with the Belkin charger. Meanwhile, Anker takes a more unorthodox approach by allowing up to 42W to flow to Port 1 and just 12W to the remaining slots. Of course, if you want a bit more power for a modern handset like the Samsung Galaxy 25 Ultra and you’re OK with sacrificing some juice in the secondary and tertiary ports, Anker’s strategy may be preferable, but if your devices have similar demands, Belkin may be better for you.

Another key differentiator here is the inclusion of a USB-A port on the Anker 335 Charger 67W, which isn’t quite as efficient as the exclusively USB-C configuration used for its Belkin rival. The USB-A port is only capable of 22.5W charging in single-port mode, although you can access the full 67W from either of the USB-C slots. Meanwhile, you can access 67W single-port charging from all of the Belkin model’s slots – but that lack of USB-A compatibility may be a blow if you’re running low on USB-C to USB-C cables.

This category is a close one, but if I had to pick a winner, I’d actually edge the Anker 335 Charger 67W. I think the extra juice Port 1 provides in tri-port mode is worth the power sacrifice you make in the remaining ports. In addition, the versatility of a USB-A port being included is nothing to sniff at. Again, the more even power flow from the Belkin BoostCharge may suit others better, but I’m leaning towards Anker on this one.

Anker 335 Charger 67W vs Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W: design

Perhaps the most striking difference between these Anker and Belkin chargers is their appearance. The Anker 335 is, in my view, still quite chunky, even if it’s not as huge as, say, an official Apple MacBook charger. It comes in Black and stretches out some distance, meaning it's not particularly convenient for use in tight spaces.

Meanwhile, the Belkin BoostCharge is the polar opposite. This white model is considerably smaller and far better suited for wall sockets that are close to a bed frame or desk, for instance. That’s accentuated by the way that its ports are positioned under the charger, rather than on its outward-facing side.

But before we write Anker off in this category, I have to give the charger its flowers. It has foldable prongs, even in the UK, which makes it comfortable to pocket and ultra-compact when you want to throw it in your bag. The same can’t be said of the Belkin BoostCharge, which skips on foldable prongs in the UK. Sure, it’s still super small, but that’s a feature I always like to see from modern chargers.

On top of that, I’d suggest the Anker 335 charger is a little more interesting to look at. It has a nice finish on the charger’s outer shell and a glossy look on the side containing its ports. The Belkin BoostCharge appears to be a little more plasticky, although it's still fairly clean looking and will seem more discrete in your wall socket.

And overall, I’d argue the Belkin BoostCharge does have a superior design. It’s more diminutive and I love the down-hanging USB-C ports for when I’m in a tight squeeze. Sure, the lack of foldable prongs on the UK model is a shame, but the Anker model’s chunkiness is a little uneasy on the eye, and means it sticks out a little much – not the most convenient if you’re on the go.

Anker 335 Charger 67W vs Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W: value

But when it comes to value I’m left with quite the conundrum. I think the Belkin BoostCharge has a more practical design and in particular, I’m impressed by its ultra-compact size. But the Anker charger does have a relatively unique approach to power distribution, which is especially useful if you want to charge a single power-hungry device – such as the Google Pixel 9 Pro – alongside two less demanding ones.

So, let’s turn our attention instead to the key ingredient – pricing. I’ll start off by acknowledging that yes, both of these models can often be found on sale via Amazon in the US and UK – that makes both of these options strong in the value category as far as I’m concerned. That’s because neither of these wall chargers are particularly expensive in the first place.

The Anker 335 charger comes in at $35.99 / £36.99 (about AU$55), while the Belkin BoostCharge is typically priced at $44.99 / £39.99 / AU$89.95. But the Anker model’s advantage is only furthered by the fact that it comes with a USB-C cable in the box. That’s something you’ll have to pay extra for if you go with the Belkin BoostCharge.

On top of that, the technology that each charger harnesses is pretty similar. The 335 model uses Anker’s proprietary PowerIQ 3.0 standard to monitor power for an optimal, efficient charge. It also takes advantage of ActiveShield to keep track of temperature levels. Meanwhile, the Belkin alternative goes with PPS, which adjusts power automatically to fit the needs of connected devices. The BoostCharge also has a six-point safety system, designed to prevent overheating and short circuiting.

Both of these models offer good bang for your buck, but if I had to tip one to win in the value category, it would be the Anker 335 Charger 67W. Adding a USB-C cable into the mix is the real difference maker – not to mention it typically carries a slightly lower price tag.

Anker 335 Charger 67W vs Belkin BoostCharge 3-Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W: verdict

And so, we have cometh to the conclusion of this legendary battle. In the end, it’s pretty tight for me. Yes, the Anker charger won two of the three categories – it’s awesome value for money and offers astute performance. But the Belkin’s more even power spread could suit you more – not to mention its more discreet build is a big plus for on-the-go use.

Despite that, there can only be one winner and I’m going with the Anker 335 Charger 67W. It comes with a USB-C cable, supplies a USB-A port for those who want it and uses foldable prongs in both its UK and US variant – that’s pretty impressive for a model that costs less than $40 / £40. Shoutout to Belkin, though, the BoostCharge 3-Port charger is a great alternative and its ability to slot into tighter spaces shouldn’t be overlooked.

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