How we researched this guide
We compared the leading USB-C PD laptop power banks, checked Anker and Baseus maker pages and independent reviews, and reviewed owner reports from Notebookcheck and TheTestedHub. We did not test any product hands-on; maker claims are reported as maker claims, and owner reports are paraphrased with a link to the source.
This is a consumer-electronics topic, not a vehicle battery-charger topic: the products here charge laptops over USB-C, not vehicle batteries. Only the Anker 737 carries a verified Amazon ASIN in this guide.
The 30-second answer
The charger that does this job properly is the Anker 737 PowerCore 24K: 24,000 mAh, 140 W out of a single USB-C port, and a display that shows live wattage. The slim alternative is the Baseus Blade at 100 W and 20,000 mAh. The rule is simple: your laptop needs 45 to 100 W over USB-C PD, and a phone power bank at 15 to 30 W will not charge it properly.
Top pick
Anker 737 PowerCore 24K
140 W USB-C PD 3.1 output that genuinely charges a MacBook Pro, 24,000 mAh, and a live wattage display. Best if you travel with a power-hungry laptop.
| Power bank | Capacity | Max laptop output | Ports | Flight safe |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker 737 PowerCore 24K | 24,000 mAh (86.4 Wh) | 140 W USB-C PD 3.1 | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A | Yes, under 100 Wh |
| Baseus Blade 100W | 20,000 mAh (74 Wh) | 100 W USB-C PD | 2x USB-C, 2x USB-A | Yes, under 100 Wh |
| Anker Prime 27,650 mAh | 27,650 mAh | 250 W total | Multiple USB-C | Yes, under 100 Wh |
How to choose a portable battery charger for a laptop
Match the wattage to your laptop, not to your phone
Laptops typically need 45 to 100 W to charge properly, and a 16-inch MacBook Pro can use the full 140 W the Anker 737 delivers. A phone power bank at 15 or 30 W may show a charging icon on a laptop and still lose charge while you work. Check your laptop’s own charger wattage first: if it shipped with a 65 W brick, a 65 W or better power bank is the floor, and 100 W gives you headroom.
USB-C PD is the only port that matters
A laptop charges over USB-C Power Delivery, PD 3.1 on the newest banks. USB-A ports on these banks top out around 18 to 30 W and are for phones and earbuds. Count the USB-C ports, not the total ports, and check the single-port maximum rather than the combined maximum, which is shared across ports.
Capacity is flight time, not just milliamp-hours
A 24,000 mAh bank at 86.4 Wh holds roughly one full charge for a 14-inch MacBook Pro, less for a 16-inch model, and conversion losses take about 10 to 15 percent. Banks under 100 Wh are allowed in aircraft cabins; anything over 100 Wh needs airline approval and cannot go in checked luggage. The Anker 737 at 86.4 Wh and the Baseus Blade at 74 Wh both clear the cabin limit.
Recharge speed decides whether it is useful twice a day
The Anker 737 recharges itself at up to 140 W and can go from empty to full in about 70 minutes on a 100 W or better wall charger, or under an hour at 140 W in independent testing. A bank that takes four hours to refill is a one-charge-a-day device. If you travel, budget for a 100 W wall charger too, because a 30 W brick stretches the same refill to roughly four hours.
Detailed reviews
Anker 737 PowerCore 24K: the top pick for real laptop charging
The Anker 737, model A1289, is the power bank this guide recommends. It holds 24,000 mAh (86.4 Wh), delivers up to 140 W from its main USB-C port under PD 3.1, offers a second USB-C port at up to 100 W, and adds an 18 W USB-A port. A smart digital display shows remaining charge and live input and output wattage, which is the feature owners end up using every day. Independent testing found it sustained 140 W output with steady voltages, delivered about 85 percent of rated capacity at 140 W and 89 percent at 100 W, and charged a MacBook Pro 14 from 5 percent to 80 percent on a single flight.
The trade-off is weight and size: about 630 g and roughly 6.1 by 2.2 by 1.95 inches, which is a real weight decision in a daypack. It has no wireless charging pad, no solar panel, and no integrated torch. It supports pass-through charging, but it cannot charge itself and a device at the same time over the same path in every configuration, and it has no UPS mode. Buy it if you travel with a USB-C laptop and want one battery to run everything; skip it if you only need emergency phone top-ups, where a 10,000 mAh bank does the job for a third of the weight.
Baseus Blade 100W: the slim alternative
The Baseus Blade is the slim pick: 20,000 mAh (74 Wh), up to 100 W out of either USB-C port, two USB-C and two USB-A ports, and a chassis only 0.7 inches thick that slips into a laptop sleeve. Its 100 W maximum is shared across ports, so connecting several devices does not give you 100 W each. Independent coverage notes the advertised 100 W is only reached with certain laptops; a Surface Laptop 4 in one review maxed out at 60 W. It recharges itself at up to 65 W, taking about an hour and a half from empty. It is the better pick if thin matters more than maximum watts, and the worse pick if your laptop actually draws over 100 W.
Anker Prime 27,650 mAh: the desktop-remote option
The Anker Prime 27,650 mAh bank is the capacity step up, with 250 W total output for a desktop-remote setup where one bank charges a laptop, a tablet, and a phone at once. It costs more and weighs more than the 737, and for most travellers the 737’s 140 W single-port output is already enough. Consider it only if you regularly charge three hungry devices simultaneously from one bank.
What will not charge your laptop
Three things look like laptop chargers and are not. A standard 15 W wireless pad cannot charge a laptop battery; laptops need 45 to 100 W and standard Qi pads supply about 15 W. A vehicle battery charger or maintainer, such as the NOCO GENIUS range, charges a 6 V or 12 V vehicle battery, not a laptop. And a jump starter with an AC outlet charges a laptop through its wired outlet, not wirelessly, which is a different product doing a different job. Do not buy any of those three for this purpose.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop shows charging but loses charge | Bank output below laptop draw | Use a 100 W or better bank and the laptop’s own USB-C port |
| Bank charges slowly | Low-wattage wall charger | Recharge the bank with a 100 W or better charger |
| Only one port works at full speed | Combined output is shared | Charge the laptop alone on the main USB-C port |
| Bank refused at the airport | Over 100 Wh or in checked luggage | Keep banks under 100 Wh in cabin luggage |
| Laptop will not charge at all | Laptop needs a barrel charger | Some laptops do not charge over USB-C; check the manual |
Who should not buy a laptop power bank
If your laptop does not charge over USB-C, do not buy one. Some laptops only charge through a barrel connector, and no USB-C bank will help them.
If you only charge a phone, do not buy a 140 W bank. A 10,000 mAh phone bank is lighter, cheaper, and does that job better.
If you need all-day laptop power off-grid, one bank is not enough. A 24,000 mAh bank gives roughly one laptop charge; plan for a wall charger or a second bank.
Final verdict
Buy the Anker 737 if you want the strongest single-port laptop charging in a flight-safe bank. Buy the Baseus Blade if you want the same idea in a slim sleeve-friendly shape at 100 W. Either way, check your laptop’s charger wattage first, and do not expect a phone power bank to do a laptop’s job.
FAQ
What wattage power bank do I need for a laptop?
Most laptops need 45 to 100 W over USB-C PD. A 16-inch MacBook Pro can use 140 W. Check your laptop’s own charger wattage and match or exceed it.
Can a power bank charge a MacBook Pro?
Yes, if it delivers enough watts over USB-C PD. The Anker 737 at 140 W charged a MacBook Pro 14 from 5 percent to 80 percent on one flight in independent testing.
Is 24,000 mAh enough for a laptop?
Roughly one full charge for a 14-inch laptop, less for a 16-inch model, after conversion losses of about 10 to 15 percent. It is a top-up and one-charge device, not an all-day supply.
Can I take a laptop power bank on a plane?
Yes, if it is under 100 Wh and carried in cabin luggage. The Anker 737 is 86.4 Wh and the Baseus Blade is 74 Wh, so both clear the limit.
Why will my phone power bank not charge my laptop?
It delivers too few watts. Phone banks typically output 15 to 30 W, while laptops need 45 to 100 W, so the laptop drains faster than the bank can feed it.
What is USB-C PD 3.1?
The Power Delivery 3.1 standard, which allows up to 140 W over USB-C. It is what lets a power bank charge a power-hungry laptop at full speed.
How fast does the Anker 737 recharge itself?
About 70 minutes from empty on a 100 W wall charger, and under an hour at 140 W. A 30 W charger stretches the same refill to roughly four hours.
Can a wireless charger charge a laptop?
Not a standard one. Standard Qi pads supply about 15 W, far below the 45 to 100 W a laptop needs. Laptops charge over wired USB-C PD.
Sources
- Anker — 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)
- TheTestedHub — Anker 737 Power Bank (24K) Review (2026)
- Freakin Review — Anker 737 Power Bank Review
- Notebookcheck — Baseus Blade 100 W power bank
- AppleInsider — Baseus Blade Laptop Power Bank Review
By Leo, Founder, WinchInsider
Leo covers towing, recovery and workshop gear for WinchInsider, working from maker specifications, manuals and owner reports.