No charger, no problem: The best ways to charge your phone away from an outlet

Even if you forget your charger, you can keep your phone powered with just a USB cable.

You've likely had your phone run out of battery before the day was over. Maybe you're on a trip and relying heavily on your phone for photos and navigation. Or maybe your device is just old, and its battery life isn't what it used to be. Perhaps you tend to doomscroll or watch too many short-form videos to pass the time.

Whatever the reason, we're not here to judge. But the next time this happens, you should be aware of ways to charge your phone when you're out and don't have ready access to a charger or an outlet. Beyond phones with removable batteries making a return , a power bank is your best option for extending your device's power. But don't worry; they aren't a pain to carry like they once were.

We're way past those chunky and heavy power banks from previous years. You have plenty of options now that are smaller and lighter, which you can take with you even if you only carry smaller bags or wear men's jeans that actually have pockets. Sure, there are still hefty power banks, but they have huge capacities and are typically meant for larger devices like laptops . If you only need an emergency power source for your phone, a 5,000mAh to 10,000mAh power bank is totally fine.

If your phone has magnetic wireless charging (an iPhone with MagSafe or any phone with Qi2 support), Anker offers a couple of great options. For instance, the Anker MagGo Power Bank with 10,000mAh capacity is our best power bank model for 2026 . Upon testing, it was able to charge an iPhone 15 from almost dead to half full in about 45 minutes, then it had enough power left to get the battery up to 70 percent during a subsequent charge.

The LCD display indicates how much power is left and how long before it runs out. Plus, it has a kickstand you can unfold when you want to use your phone in landscape while charging. For devices that don't support Qi2, it has a USB-C port for wired charging. Its combination of size, features and capacity make it a great overall option.

In case a general-purpose power bank isn't right for you, a smaller or bigger model might be a better fit. If you're looking for something ultra-portable, consider the Anker Nano , which has a 5,000mAh capacity. This comes with a built-in USB-C connector for attaching right to your phone. As our Best Of entry noted, it looks more like a lipstick case than a block of battery. It was able to charge an empty Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra up to 65 percent in an hour for us.

Anker also has a card-like version of the Nano that's slimmer and lighter than the MagGo. This packs a 5,000mAh capacity, is Qi2-compatible and has a USB-C port for wired charging. Other options at Anker include a Nano 10K power bank with a retractable USB-C cable, and another called the Fusion that comes with a built-in USB-C cable and a foldable two-prong plug.