In today’s world, especially in a bustling place like New York, most people can’t imagine being without their phones. They’re not just for social media or texting; they serve as credit cards, MetroCards, and, depending on your job, they’re the keys to your office.
Living in a city that never sleeps, running out of battery is simply not an option. That’s why, for the New York Post’s Made It Here Awards focusing on the best power banks, I rigorously tested eight different models. My goal was straightforward: identify which power bank could keep a New Yorker’s phone functional from the blurry-eyed first interaction in the morning to the last frantic dash for the subway at night.
I evaluated each bank across five key areas: charging speed, real capacity, portability, heat management, and overall value. From my analysis, one battery excelled and did so at impressive speed.
The Anker MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro attaches magnetically to the back of your iPhone, charging it wirelessly at 25W. It’s designed with an internal fan to regulate temperature, and has a neat kickstand to prop your phone up.
Pros:
- Supports 25W wireless and 45W wired charging
- Integrated fan for efficient charging
- Kickstand that extends from 0 to 80 degrees
- Displays battery status, health, and temperature
- Recharges itself quickly at 45W
Cons:
- Thickness of 17.8 millimeters
- No built-in cable provided
- Fan noise may be noticeable up close
- Price is on the higher side
With a solid 10,000mAh capacity, the MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro offers Qi2.2 wireless charging up to 25W and a powerful USB-C port that provides 45W for charging or recharging. It uses a compact fan with two modes – Cool and Silent – to keep operational heat in check, while a multifaceted screen displays battery levels, health, and temperature.
For a power bank to truly be useful in New York, it needs to excel at three critical functions: charge quickly during short subway rides, power your device throughout the day, and not generate excessive heat in your pocket.
Setup process:
Setting it up couldn’t be easier. There are no apps, no Bluetooth connections to worry about, or accounts to create. Just snap it onto your phone, and it starts charging right away. You can easily switch screens and modes with a side button. However, it’s worth noting that the Anker is designed for iPhone 13 through 17 models, excluding the iPhone 16e, which lacks MagSafe. If your phone doesn’t support MagSafe, you’ll need a compatible case to use it effectively.
Design:
This power bank isn’t exactly pocket-friendly for everyone; its dimensions make it better suited for a jacket pocket or a bag rather than slim jeans. The adjustable kickstand is, for me, a notable feature worth the extra cost—offering a reliable way to position your screen for viewing. Plus, the multi-screen display goes beyond just showing percentage levels, giving insight into battery health, which is usually lacking in other models.
Charging Speed:
When it comes to speed, this bank is impressive, delivering the fastest magnetic wireless charging available at 25W. I found it could take my iPhone Air from 0 to 50% in about 30 minutes. A standard 15W charger often takes around 45 minutes for the same percentage. If you use a USB-C cable, it ramps up to an even more robust 45W, making it suitable for larger devices like iPads or laptops. Moreover, it recharges itself just as swiftly.
Battery Duration:
Despite the nominal capacity of 10,000mAh, you won’t actually get quite that much directly to your phone since some energy inevitably dissipates during transfer. In my tests, it managed to fully charge my iPhone Air twice. Given New York’s hectic pace, that represents a full day’s worth of activities like swiping OMNY, checking directions, and social media scrolling, plus a little extra for emergencies later in the day. Using this power bank exclusively, I experienced two full days of phone life before needing to plug it back in.
Heat Management:
Heat can be a major issue with many fast chargers since it can slow down or even halt the charging process. Anker’s innovative solution includes a fan that keeps temperatures in check. While it can be a bit noisy, especially when in use, the Silent Mode option mitigates this at the cost of slightly increased charging time.
Comparison with other products:
During my testing, I compared the MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro against the Ugreen MagFlow Pro, the other 25W magnetic bank, along with three slim 5,000mAh models. While the Ugreen lasted slightly longer, it lacked a kickstand and was slower to recharge; it also cost more. The slimmer options, while more portable, offered less charging capacity.
Pricing:
The MagGo Power Bank 2 Pro retails for $109.99. It may be pricier compared to others, like the lower-priced Belkin, but it brings unique features including that fast charging, active cooling, and a kickstand.
Value assessment:
Would we be singing its praises if it weren’t worth it? If your phone serves as your navigational tool and transportation ticket home, especially in a city like New York, this power bank earns its price tag by getting you from 0 to 50% in roughly 30 minutes and powering through two full charges. The drawbacks are mainly its bulk and the lack of a built-in cable. If you want something more compact, there are lighter options available, but for most users, this is the power bank you want.
Testing insight:
Over eight weeks, I rigorously tested a range of power banks, emphasizing their performance in real-world scenarios relevant to an urban lifestyle. The overarching question remained—what keeps a New Yorker’s phone functional from dawn to dusk?
Testing parameters:
- Charging speed: I assessed how far power banks could stretch their capabilities during quick subway rides and how effectively they recharge themselves.
- Real-world capacity: I considered how much usable power reached the phone despite the stated capacity on the packaging.
- Portability: I analyzed how easily these power banks could fit into daily life, especially pockets.
- Heat: I checked whether devices overheated during use, impacting performance.
- Value: I compared performance against their pricing, evaluating whether the cost is justified.
