Power banks that come with a 10000mAh capacity are maybe the most popular. This is because they provide enough power to charge an average smartphone at least 2-3 times, which is more than enough for most people. If you’re not looking to charge more power-intensive devices such as laptops, gaming consoles, or CPAP machines, or if you’re not looking to rely on portable charges for days at a time, then a 10000mAh power bank is just what you need.
What we looked for when creating the list
In this article, we curated some of the best 10000mAh power bank models which we believe are well worth taking into consideration. Here are the key attributes we looked after for including a portable charger in this list, besides their 10000mAh capacity:
- Fast charging. Charging technology has evolved a lot in the last few years, which means power banks can charge your devices faster but also get themselves recharged in a shorter amount of time.
- USB type C. We considered adding mainly power banks that come with USB type C charging ports because this is the new charging standard that is slowly but surely replacing the USB type-A ports. If you’re getting a new power bank today, it does not really make sense for it to have only USB type-A ports.
- Weight. Since these aren’t devices with a huge capacity, then portability is key. They should be light and nimble, in order to easily be carried around in pockets, bags, or backpacks.
Why should you trust this review?
First of all, we have personally used and tested the devices. All of the power banks on the list went through our hands. We analyzed them closely and looked for aspects that the manufacturers don’t mention.
In the end, power banks and how they work are what we do most of the day. We test all the most popular models and publish our conclusions on this site so that other people can take a more educated guess when buying one of these devices.
Here are our top picks
1. Zendure PD SuperMini 10000mAh
- Capacity: 10000mAh
- Ports: 1 USB Type A, 1 USB Type C
- Charging technology: PD, ZEN+2.0
- Weight: 6.3 oz / 180 g
- Recharging time: 3 hours
- List Price: $67 (actual price might vary)
- mAh/$ ratio: 149.25
Or buy on GeekBuying.com or on Zendure.com
Unboxing video
The Zendure SuperMini 10000mAh is arguably one of the most stylish power banks out there. It’s the bigger brother of Zendure SuperMini 5000mAh and both of them are part of a larger and very successful family of power banks. The entire series is built with above-average quality and attention to detail. Zendure is targeting the premium sector with them.
First off, the Zendure SuperMini 10000mAh power bank features two ports, USB-A and USB-C. The Type C USB port supports Power Delivery at 18W, sufficient for USB-C compatible devices. Meanwhile, the USB Type A port comes with ZEN+2.0, which is the company’s fast charging technology, equivalent to QC 3.0. That means it will provide QC 3.0 compatible devices with the quickest charge possible.
You can even use this device’s x-charge mode to power up less energy-intensive gadgets, like a smartwatch. Additionally, it only takes three hours to fully charge the power bank as long as you use an 18W PD adapter.
Super compact and lightweight, the device has a robust metal casing that can survive extensive drops that would otherwise render it unusable. The overall aspect reminds us of airline design from the 50s.
One downside is the fact that the metal casing is prone to developing scratches with time. For more details, you can see our update after 1 year of using this power bank.
Review after one year
- Supports PD and ZEN+2.0 charging technologies
- It can recharge in just 3 hours
- Comes with x-charge mode for low-power devices
- Metal casing provides a durable build
- Quite expensive compared to other power banks
2. Crave Plus 10000mAh
- Capacity: 10000mAh
- Ports: 1 USB Type A, 1 USB Type C, 1 Micro USB
- Charging technology: QC 3.0
- Weight: 9 oz / 255 g
- Recharging time: 8 hours
- List Price: $41.75 (actual price might vary)
- mAh/$ ratio: 239.52
Check price on CraveDirect.com
Or buy on Amazon.com or on Ebay.com
Unboxing video
Next up, we have the Crave Plus 10000mAh power bank. Overall, it offers three ports: USB Type A, USB Type C, and micro USB. You can connect your devices to both the USB Type A and bi-directional USB Type C ports, which provide a quick charge. However, this device doesn’t support power delivery compared to the Crave Plus Pro 20000mAh model. While that can be a drawback, this power bank’s USB Type-A port comes with Quick Charge 3.0.
Additionally, you can recharge the Crave Plus 10000mAh power bank via the USB-C input/output port or the micro USB port. Both have the same charging speeds, so it will take around four hours to recharge the device. It has enough power to charge the iPhone XS Max 2.2 times, Google Pixel 3 2.2 times, and Samsung S10e 2.3 times.
The exterior shell is made of aluminum, making it very rigid and durable. It’s also very slim and not too heavy, allowing you to carry it around easily.
- The USB-A port supports QC 3.0
- Very slim and durable
- Built with high-quality materials
- Power Delivery is not supported
Is a 10000mAh power bank enough?
When it comes to power bank capacity, 10000mAh is arguably the most popular choice people make. But is it enough for the needs of the average person?
Overall, yes. A 10000mAh should be able to supply enough juice to cover the power needs of the average person. It’s a great option if you’re looking to top off your smartphone from time to time as you go about your day. This is why it’s an ideal choice to have with you at the office, school, or during your commute.
The pros of 10000mAh power banks
- They are light and easy to carry around. You won’t notice them in your backpack or purse for example.
- Most of them can easily fit in pockets
- They are quite cheap too. The average price is somewhere between $20 and $30
- Compared to power banks with higher capacities, they’re usually faster to charge. Depending on the charging technology they have, you can expect to take between 1 and 3 hours to charge
- They’re the perfect companion for daily use
The cons of 10000mAh power banks
- They cannot charge your smartphone more than 3 or 4 times on average. If your phone has a high capacity, you’d be lucky to get even 2 full charges out of your power bank
- You cannot rely on them for more than 1-2 days of use. If you’re going on a longer trip, especially outdoors, then you’d need a higher-capacity portable charger
- They usually cannot charge devices such as laptops or gaming consoles as they don’t have enough power output. But even if they did have enough output, the small capacity would not extend the life of a power-intensive device by too much time.
How long does it take a 10000mAh power bank to charge?
The average charging time for a 10000mAh power bank is somewhere around 3 hours. For example, the Samsung 10000mAh power bank takes 3.5 hours to charge. But depending on the charging technology, this time can vary.
10000mAh power banks with older technology that only have a Micro USB for their input, can take as much as 5 to 6h to charge. On the other hand, if the power bank is using a fast charging technology, it might take less than 1h to charge, but this will come at an extra price.
How many times can a 10000mAh power bank charge your phone?
In order to calculate just how many times you can charge your phone using a 10000mAh power bank, you should first know the fact that not 100% of the power bank capacity will end up in your phone. In fact, the reality is that only about 70%-80% of the power bank capacity will be able to be used for charging your phone. We have explained the whole process in detail here. You can also use our mAh calculator to get a better idea.
For reference here’s what you can expect based on your phones battery capacity:
- 1500mAh phone capacity: 4-5 times
- 2000mAh phone capacity: 2-3.5 times
- 2500mAh phone capacity: 2-3 times
- 3000mAh phone capacity: 2-2.5 times
- 3500mAh phone capacity: 1.5-2 times
- 4000mah phone capacity: 1-1.5 times
Which power bank is better 10000mAh or 20000mAh?
If you’re planning to use the power bank to charge one smartphone anywhere between 1 to 3 times/day, then a 10000mAh power bank should be enough for your needs. However, if you want to charge more than one smartphone on a daily basis, or if you want to depend on a power bank for 3-4 days at a time, then you should go for a 20000mAh portable charger.
If you’re planning to use the power bank to charge one smartphone anywhere between 1 to 3 times/day, then a 10000mAh power bank should be enough for your needs. However, if you want to charge more than one smartphone on a daily basis, or if you want to depend on a power bank for 3-4 days at a time, then you should go for a 20000mAh portable charger.
Wrap-up
Getting a 10000mAh power bank should be more than enough if you’re planning to charge up your phone whenever it runs out of power throughout your day. You can expect to get at least 1-2 full charges from such a power bank which is more than convenient. If this is not enough for your needs, you might want to try getting a larger capacity power bank, with 20000mAh being a popular choice.
