Best Travel Power Banks for UK Holidays (2026 Guide)
8 picks for airports, camping, family trips and laptop users with UK airline rules, real prices and a full comparison table.
Some links on this page are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy through them, at no extra cost to you. Prices correct at time of publication, always check Amazon for the latest.
- Carry-on only - power banks are never allowed in checked luggage
- Under 100Wh - allowed on all flights, no approval needed
- 100-160Wh - airline approval required (usually max 2 per person)
- Over 160Wh - not permitted on passenger aircraft
Full comparison table
| Model | Capacity | Output | Cable | Weight | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Anker Nano 10K 45W | 10,000mAh | 45W | ✓ Retractable USB-C | 232g | £49.99 | Premium everyday travel |
| Anker Zolo 10K 30W | 10,000mAh | 30W | ✓ USB-C | ~220g | ~£28 | Best overall value |
| INIU 45W Ultra Slim | 10,000mAh | 45W | No | ~180g | ~£22 | Budget, ultra-slim |
| Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K | 10,000mAh | 23W | ✓ USB-C + Lightning | ~230g | ~£35 | Mixed iPhone households |
| Anker PowerCore Slim 10K PD | 10,000mAh | 18W | No | ~190g | ~£22 | Slim, no-fuss travel |
| UGREEN Nexode 12000 100W | 12,000mAh | 100W | No | ~280g | ~£45 | Laptop top-ups |
| Anker 737 PowerCore 24K | 24,000mAh | 140W | No | 510g | ~£80 | MacBook + multi-device |
| SHARGE IceMag 2 | ~6,000mAh | 15W wireless | No | ~180g | ~£45 | iPhone MagSafe / Qi2 |
Prices approximate and change frequently. Always check Amazon before buying.
1. Anker Nano 10K 45W
Premium£49.99 on Amazon
The retractable built-in cable is genuinely brilliant - no fumbling in a dark airport lounge. The smart display shows exact percentage remaining, and 45W charges an iPhone 17 to 50% in about 27 minutes. The most polished travel power bank on this list.
Pros: Retractable USB-C cable; smart % display; 45W fast charge; charge 3 devices at once
Cons: Pricier than rivals; 10K may limit very heavy users
10,000mAh - 45W - USB-C + USB-A - 232g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
2. Anker Zolo 10K 30W
Best overall~£28 on Amazon
Over 10,000 Amazon UK reviews for good reason. The built-in USB-C cable removes the biggest travel annoyance, 30W is fast enough for any phone, and the percentage display means you always know where you stand. Compact enough for a jacket pocket. This is the one most people should buy.
Pros: Built-in USB-C cable; 30W fast charge; % battery display; Anker reliability; excellent value
Cons: Cable is short (5.4 inches) - best for stationary top-ups; no Lightning cable
10,000mAh - 30W - USB-C + USB-A - ~220g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
3. INIU 45W Ultra Slim 10K
Budget~£22 on Amazon
Over 70,000 Amazon reviews. Remarkably slim for 10,000mAh, dual USB-C ports both in and out are rare at this price, and 45W matches power banks costing twice as much. No built-in cable, but if you carry a USB-C cable anyway this is hard to beat for the money.
Pros: Extremely slim and light; 45W output; dual USB-C in and out; 3 ports total; huge review count
Cons: No built-in cable; LED indicators not a % display
10,000mAh - 45W - 2x USB-C + USB-A - ~180g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
4. Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K
iPhone families~£35 on Amazon
The only pick with both USB-C and Lightning cables built in - ideal for households with a mix of older iPhones and newer USB-C devices. Slower than the Anker options at 23W, but it covers all bases and Belkin build quality is excellent with a 2-year warranty.
Pros: Built-in USB-C + Lightning; charges 2 devices at once; premium build; 2-year warranty
Cons: 23W slower than rivals; LED dots not % display; pricier than comparable Anker
10,000mAh - 23W - USB-C + USB-A - ~230g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
5. Anker PowerCore Slim 10K PD
Slim~£22 on Amazon
The slimmest Anker option here - sits flat in a bag without a lump. USB-C PD handles phone and tablet fast charging. No built-in cable or fancy display, but if you want reliable Anker quality at the budget end, this delivers.
Pros: Very slim profile; USB-C PD fast charge; proven Anker reliability; lightweight
Cons: No built-in cable; basic LED indicators; 18W lower than newer rivals
10,000mAh - 18W - USB-C + USB-A - ~190g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
6. UGREEN Nexode 12000 100W
100W USB-C~£45 on Amazon
100W USB-C means it can genuinely charge a MacBook Air, not just trickle it. The 12,000mAh is enough for a meaningful laptop top-up plus 3-4 full phone charges. Lighter than you would expect for the wattage. If you carry a laptop but only need occasional top-ups, this beats the Anker 737 on portability.
Pros: 100W USB-C PD; laptop-capable; % display; compact for the spec
Cons: 12K limits how much laptop charge you get; no built-in cable
12,000mAh - 100W - 2x USB-C + USB-A - ~280g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
7. Anker 737 PowerCore 24K
Laptop~£80 on Amazon
The pick for regular work travel. 140W handles a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and 24,000mAh gives a full laptop charge plus several phone charges. The real-time wattage display is genuinely useful at airport gates. Heavy and expensive, but nothing at this price matches it for raw output power.
Pros: 140W output; charges most USB-C laptops fully; excellent display; 24K for multi-device trips
Cons: Heavy at 510g; overkill if you only charge phones
24,000mAh - 140W - 2x USB-C + USB-A - 510g - Flight safe
Check price on Amazon
8. SHARGE IceMag 2
MagSafe / Qi2~£45 on Amazon
Snaps magnetically to the back of an iPhone - no cable at all. Active cooling stops it throttling the way most wireless banks do. The built-in kickstand is handy on trains and flights. iPhone-only and wireless is inherently slower than wired, but for cable-hating iPhone users it is genuinely convenient.
Pros: Qi2 / MagSafe snap-on; active cooling; built-in kickstand; zero cable friction
Cons: Wireless charging is slower than wired; iPhone only; adds bulk while attached
~6,000mAh - 15W wireless - USB-C - ~180g - Flight safe
Check price on AmazonHow to choose the right power bank
By capacity
- 10,000mAh - day trips, airports, single device
- 12-20,000mAh - multi-day trips, 2-3 devices
- 24,000mAh+ - laptop users, families sharing one bank
By charging speed
- 18-20W - phone fast charging, good for most
- 45W - faster phones + basic laptop top-ups
- 100W+ - proper laptop charging
Built-in cable or not?
- Built-in = one less thing to forget; worth paying for
- No cable = cheaper and slimmer; fine if you always carry one
Cold weather tip
- Lithium batteries lose 10-20% capacity in the cold
- Size up for February half term, skiing or winter camping
FAQs
Can I take a power bank in checked luggage?
No - airlines require all power banks in hand luggage only. No exceptions.
What size is safe for flights?
Anything under 100Wh is fine on all flights without approval. That is about 27,000mAh at 3.7V - all 8 picks above qualify.
Why does my 10,000mAh bank not charge my phone 2.5 times?
Conversion losses are real - expect roughly 65-70% usable capacity. A 10K bank delivers around 6,500-7,000mAh to your device.
Can a 10K power bank charge a laptop?
Only partially. You need 100W output like the UGREEN Nexode, and even then a 10K gives you 30-50% on most laptops. For full charges go to 20-25K.
Do power banks lose charge in a drawer?
Yes - about 2-5% per month. Top it up the day before you travel, not a month before.
Related guides
PCRPrices shown are approximate and were correct at time of writing (February 2026). Always check Amazon for the current price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.