Power banks feel somewhat essential these days, with the ever-growing list of portable devices along for the ride when we’re on the go. While it’s always handy to leave the house with a full battery, sometimes it’s just nice to have that reassurance there, in that something as important as your phone, for example, doesn’t have to be out of commission after a long day.
Anker’s newest range of power banks aims to bolster the convenience of charging on the go, without additional or external cables. While its included foldable USC-C adapter is certainly suited to those compatible devices, there’s no denying that it’s one of the smaller and lighter options you can pick up today.
Design
Anker’s 5,000 mAh Nano Power Bank is one of the smaller options I’ve seen on the market thus far. While other competing brands like Belkin and Cygnett opt for smaller versions of their current slimmer, rectangular designs, Anker has chosen a smaller, almost cylindrical-like shape, which is about as wide as your phone. And at just 99.22 grams, it’s definitely for good reason.
The device itself is relatively minimal, without any fancy displays or multiple buttons. Around the front, there’s a small display of five dots, indicating current battery life. Around the left side, there’s a small round button that illuminates the front display, while the other side features a USB-C port, which can be used to charge alternate devices that are not USB-C compatible.
Up top, however, is the included and foldable USB-C adapter, that flips out and can be plugged into any USB-C compatible device right away. It’s a nice feature to have and its slimmer casing even allows it to be plugged into most phones through a case.
It’s worth noting as well that around 73% of the Nano Power Bank is also made from post-consumer recycled plastic, which is a nice touch moving forward. On the other hand, I’m a little confused as to why they made the effort to do such a thing but seemingly passed on including a standard USB-A port so that it can be used on older devices as well.
The only real gripe I had with this feature is that while it sits below a device while charging, the marketing material on Anker’s website indicates it can be used while charging your phone. While this is certainly true, it’s not necessarily the more comfortable experience, and feels a little heavy in that context, when all that’s holding it is a little USC-C adapter. That being said, it is sturdy enough to support the weight of most smaller devices like phones, as its adapter sits closer to the middle of the charger, but rarely flexes under any pressure when flat on a table.
Functionality
This mighty little thing provides up to 22.5W of power, which is generally more than enough for most smaller devices. I use an iPhone 15 Pro, and the Anker Nano Power Bank brought it from around 15% to 80% in just under an hour. While certain devices like the Samsung Galaxy 23 Ultra and Google Pixel 8/8 Pro support faster charging speeds, this is more than enough for a quick boost when you need it the most.
5,000 mAh might not seem like much these days given the rising capacity of batteries, but it’s generally enough for a single charge with most phones. Even though my iPhone 15 Pro’s battery comes in at a slightly smaller 3,274 mAh, I found that a single beefy charge only left the power bank with a single light on its display.
But given the smaller size, it thankfully supports bi-directional charging and can be plugged directly into a USB-C or source directly via its included foldable adapter, or into its USB-C port on the side. It can even support passthrough charging, meaning both your devices and the power bank are charged up and ready to go.
Verdict & Value
At A$59.95 (plus shipping via Anker’s official website) Anker’s 5,000 mAh Nano Power Bank provides some solid value for money through its lightweight, slim design and included foldable USB-C adapter. While the adapter itself comes in handy and can be used on the fly when attached to something like a phone, it feels a little flimsy when unsupported.
But at the end of the day, those 22.5W charging speeds are more than enough to get you out of a jam when out and about, with bi-directional and passthrough charging ensuring that both your power bank and compatible devices can be simultaneously charged and ready to go at any given time.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Slim and lightweight design; 22.5w charging speeds; Included foldable USB-C adapter reduces clutter; bi-directional and passthrough charging
Lowlights: The foldable USB-C adapter feels a little flimsy when hanging from the device
Manufacturer: Anker
Price: A$59.95
Available: Now
Review based on unit supplied by Anker.
