Anker’s 20,000mAh Travel Essential Power Bank Remembers the USB-C Cable So Travelers Don’t Have To

Travelers pack light when they can, but most portable chargers still force an extra decision at the door. Did the right cord make it into the bag? Anker sidestepped that question entirely with its 20,000mAh Travel Essential model, priced at $49.99 (was $70), as the cable sits built into the unit from the start.

The design keeps everything neatly contained in one compact rectangle, which is around 6.2 inches long, 2.9 inches wide, and 1 inch thick. It weighs 15.5 ounces, which is a little heavy, but it goes neatly into a backpack side pocket or carry-on without fighting for room. A groove along the edge picks up the slack when the USB-C cable is idle. So, anytime you need to charge your phone or laptop, simply draw it to the desired length without stretching or straining.

The numbers all add up when it comes to meeting the real demands of being on the go, as the built-in cable alone can charge an iPhone 17 Pro by 58% in 30 minutes or a MacBook Air by 52% in the same amount of time. When you share the power over all ports, you get a total of 87 watts. Better yet, if you connect one device to the cable or the extra USB-C port, it can take up to 65 watts, which is more than enough to power a laptop during a work session or charge a phone quickly. Additionally, the remaining USB-A port allows you to connect older peripherals or a second phone.

One advantage is that you can charge up to three devices at the same time, which is ideal for those long layovers between flights or meetings (or just when you need to charge three gadgets). So one person maintains their laptop running, another recharges a tablet, while a third keeps their wireless earphones fully charged. You won’t have to deal with any extra splitters or adapters either. The unit’s body features a handy LED percentage display that informs you precisely how much power is remaining, so you know exactly what you have before boarding the plane.

The nicest thing is that the unit recharges quickly. A 65-watt wall charger will charge it from empty to full in about 90 minutes, which is enough time to recharge it during a brief airport layover or hotel stay and have it ready for the next leg. According to most airline guidelines, the unit can be carried as a carry-on item. At 72 watt-hours, its rating is nice and well within most typical restrictions, so there should be no problems with special declarations.