Best Portable Power Banks for Travel: Anker vs. Ugreen

Traveling with a dead smartphone is frustrating. If you have a long flight ahead, you need a high-capacity portable charger. Anker and Ugreen both make powerful, TSA-approved battery bricks that will keep your electronics running from takeoff to landing.

The TSA Limit: What You Need to Know

Before buying a travel power bank, you need to understand the rules. The Transportation Security Administration has strict guidelines for flying with portable batteries. You cannot put lithium-ion power banks in checked luggage. They must stay in your carry-on bag.

Furthermore, the battery capacity cannot exceed 100 watt-hours (Wh). For standard 3.7-volt lithium-ion batteries, 100Wh equals roughly 27,000 milliamp-hours (mAh). Both Anker and Ugreen design their flagship travel chargers to sit right below this limit. This allows you to carry the maximum legal amount of backup power on your flight without causing trouble at the security checkpoint.

Anker's Top Contenders

Anker has dominated the portable charging market for a decade. Their high-end travel options offer massive capacity and advanced digital displays.

Anker Prime 27,650mAh Power Bank (250W)

This model is the ultimate flight companion. It packs exactly 99.54Wh of power, meaning it perfectly clears the TSA threshold. You can charge an iPhone 15 Pro Max about five times or fully charge a 13-inch M3 MacBook Air. It features two USB-C ports and one USB-A port. With a massive total output of 250W, you can fast-charge a laptop and a phone simultaneously. The built-in OLED screen shows real-time battery health and exact charging speeds. It usually retails around $179.

Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)

If you want to save a little money but still need serious power, the Anker 737 is a great choice. It holds 24,000mAh and offers up to 140W of output. This is enough speed to fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro. It weighs about 1.4 pounds and costs around $149, though you can often find it on sale for $99 on Amazon. Like the Prime series, it also includes a digital screen that displays input and output wattage.

Ugreen's Heavy Hitters

Ugreen has recently emerged as a fierce competitor to Anker. They focus on delivering high wattage and premium build quality at a slightly lower price point.

Ugreen Nexode 145W Power Bank (25,000mAh)

This is Ugreen’s direct answer to the high-end Anker models. It holds 25,000mAh, giving you enough juice to charge a Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra up to 4.5 times. The main USB-C port outputs 100W, while the second USB-C port adds another 45W. This allows you to charge a laptop and a tablet at the same time. While it lacks the fancy full-color screen of the Anker models, it features a clean digital LED display to show the remaining battery percentage. At a regular price of $129, it offers excellent value.

Ugreen 100W Power Bank (20,000mAh)

If a 1.5-pound battery feels too heavy for your carry-on backpack, consider this lighter alternative. At 20,000mAh, it easily passes TSA regulations and weighs just under a pound. It still outputs 100W from a single USB-C port, which is plenty for an iPad Air or a standard Dell laptop. You can pick this model up for roughly $79.

Head-to-Head Comparison

When choosing between Anker and Ugreen for your next flight, consider these specific differences:

  • Charging Speed: Both brands offer incredibly fast charging. Anker takes the lead with the Prime 250W output, allowing you to blast power into three devices at once. However, Ugreen’s 145W total output is more than enough for the average traveler trying to keep a MacBook and an iPhone alive.
  • Smart Displays: Anker wins the screen category entirely. The Anker Prime and Anker 737 feature full OLED screens that show the exact wattage going in and out of every port. Ugreen relies on basic digital readouts that only show the total battery percentage remaining.
  • Build Quality and Portability: High-capacity bricks are heavy. The Anker Prime weighs 1.46 pounds, while the Ugreen 145W weighs 1.1 pounds. Both brands use premium fire-resistant materials. Anker tends to use a thicker, blockier design. Ugreen uses a flatter, more streamlined shape that slips easily into tight laptop bag sleeves.

Which One Should You Pack?

Choose Anker if you want the absolute maximum legal capacity for a flight and love having detailed data about your charging speeds. The Anker Prime 27,650mAh is the best option for power users who travel with multiple large devices.

Choose Ugreen if you want to save money but still need to charge a laptop on an airplane. The Ugreen Nexode 145W gives you almost the exact same charging performance as Anker for about $50 less.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put a 20,000mAh power bank in my checked luggage? No. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires all spare lithium-ion batteries and power banks to be stored in your carry-on baggage. If you leave a power bank in your checked suitcase, airline baggage handlers will remove it.

How many times can a 25,000mAh power bank charge a phone? A 25,000mAh battery can typically charge a standard smartphone, like an iPhone 15 or a Google Pixel 8, between five and six times before the power bank needs to be recharged.

Does TSA actually check the capacity of portable chargers? Yes. TSA agents can check the printed text on your power bank to verify it is under the 100Wh limit. Always ensure the manufacturer’s text on the bottom of your battery is legible. If the capacity is rubbed off or unreadable, security agents have the right to confiscate the battery.