I’m back traveling the globe and staying connected has always been crucial to my travel life. While I can use power plug converters to plug in locally with Apple’s supplied charging products, I’m finding that the size and weight of those Apple power adapters are too burdensome for the travel plu converters. Moreover, hotels often lack conveniently placed outlets. Most importantly, the need for quick charge capabilities to get up and go just isn’t there.
But thankfully, after much research, I’ve discovered a series of products by Anker that meet my needs. And no, I’m not being paid for this, unlike many influencers and bloggers. I’m writing this as a public service for those who need to travel with the right gear.
This detailed guide explores Anker’s array of chargers and power banks tailored for travelers in the USA, EU, and UK. It highlights the unique features of each product and its suitability for its specific region, from multi-port, high-capacity chargers to sleek, compact power banks that fit in your pocket or purse. The guide provides insights into how each device caters to different travel scenarios and charging needs, ensuring that travelers stay connected and powered up, regardless of destination.
For travelers juggling different gadgets across continents, Anker provides a versatile and reliable range of chargers and power banks. This post breaks down Anker’s offerings, focusing on region-specific products for the USA, EU, and UK and detailing the features of their power banks and chargers. I also like their USB-C cables as Apple replacements. Although Apple has reluctantly standardized on USB-C, these cables keep me connected and well-charged and are better priced to boot.
Two must-haves are:
– Anker Nano Power Bank (10,000mAh): Compact yet potent, great for on-the-go charging. It’s powerful enough to charge my iPad in a pinch and give it a needed boost, but its biggest strength is how it can fully charge my iPhone or Google Pixel 7.
– Anker Nano Power Bank with Foldable USB-C Connector (5,000mAh): Ultra-portable, ideal for quick top-ups. This tucks nicely into my jeans or jacket pocket when I don’t want to carry anything big and bulky. It has enough juice to get my iPhone back over 75 percent, and while not a full charge, it’s enough to carry me until I can plug in somewhere.
For the USA, the power banks and specific chargers keep me on the move. Let’s start with what has to be state of the art in power bricks:
– Anker Prime Power Bank (27,650mAh): A powerhouse for long journeys, capable of charging multiple devices multiple times. It’s also airline-safe, coming in just under the limits globally.
– Anker Prime Power Bank (20,000mAh): High capacity and 200W output, perfect for powering larger devices. Like its big brother, this is a lifesaver when there’s no power to be found.
I have to admit that these two monster power bricks are impressive. A bit different in size and weight, they are great for long-haul flights, sitting outside when there’s no power, or at a coffee shop where all the outlets are taken. The companion base station also works as a charging station with USB-A and USB-C connectors, including one high-speed charging port.
– 150W USB C Charger, Anker 747 Charger (GaNPrime): A robust, 4-port charger perfect for a variety of devices, from phones to laptops. When I’m at home, I can have all three primary Apple devices connected, such as my iPhone 15, one or both of my iPads (Mini 6 and 12.9” Pro), or my new MacBook Pro M3 and ready to go, or working with them and keeping them fully charged. What’s great is this replaces my Apple charger perfectly for the MacBook Pros and Airs and is smaller and lighter. Unfortunately, when you plug this into an EU or UK power adapter, it simply weighs too much, which is why buying the smaller, regionally specific adapters works better.
– Anker USB C 715 75W: Ideal for the American traveler, this charger balances power and portability and is suitable for laptops and tablets. It’s tiny and has a short cable, so it easily fits in the front of my jeans, outer coat, or jacket pockets.
– Anker 47W USB C Charger (Nano 3): A two-port, foldable charger, perfect for travelers needing fast, efficient charging. The folding feature makes this ideal, and like other smaller Anker chargers, it fits in my jean’s pocket.
– Anker Prime 100W USB C Charger: A 3-port charger blending high power with a compact design. It’s ideal and has enough power to keep everything from the iPhone up to the MacBook Pro M3 juiced up and on the go.
EU-specific chargers are easily found on many country-specific Amazon store sites. As I was going to be in Madrid, I ordered them shipped to my hotel in advance, and they were waiting for me.
– Anker 67W USB-C Charger (EU): A traveler’s delight in Europe, with a foldable design for easy packing. This makes the charger outer jacket or coat-friendly, even with two USB-C cables connected. Perfect for powering up all my devices, it’s ideal with the iPad and iPhone for rapid charging.
– Anker Nano 3 USB C GAN 511 Charger 30W (EU): Lightweight yet powerful, designed for the efficient traveler. It’s tiny and can power and charge iPads, iPhones, and Androids without losing time. The 30W capability makes it ideal for the only charger in your pocket when you’re out and about.
– Anker USB C Charger, Anker 737 Charger (GaNPrime 120W): A high-power, compact charger for tech-savvy travelers. This is my workhorse replacement for the 747 I use in the USA. While not as power-packed, it’s small enough to carry and keeps the MacBook, iPad, and iPhone fully charged wherever I am.
You can buy UK-specific chargers from Amazon UK. For me, the folding design comes in handy, especially in hotels and at airports. The lower profile is a huge plus, given the size of UK power pins compared to shorter USA pins.
– 100W USB C Plug, Anker Prime GaN 3-Port Fast PPS Charger: Ideal for UK trips, offering three ports for simultaneous charging of multiple devices. Like the 737 I bought for Europe, this is designed to replace the 96W Apple power adapter.
– Nano USB C Plug, 30W High-Speed Charger: Compact with foldable plug, offering PIQ 3.0 and PPS fast charging. What’s great about this is the very low-profile design.
– USB C Plug, Anker GaN Wall Charger, 67W 3-Port Charger: A compact and foldable option, suitable for the UK’s power outlets.
Each region’s chargers are designed with travel in mind, balancing power output, portability, and compatibility with local power outlets. The power banks, irrespective of their capacity, offer versatility and convenience, making them ideal for travel. However, their varying sizes mean that some are better suited for longer trips or those carrying multiple devices, while others are perfect for day trips or lighter use.
Wrapping Up
Anker’s comprehensive range of chargers and power banks ensures that you have the right tool for the job no matter where your travels take you. From the power-packed 27,650mAh power bank in the USA to the sleek and efficient 67W USB-C folding charger in the EU and the versatile 100W plug in the UK, Anker has covered your charging needs. These products address the specific power needs of different regions and cater to various types of travelers, from the tech-heavy to the minimalists.
Are there alternatives? Sure, and if you’re a once-in-while occasional traveler, you can likely get by with a converter plug or two, but I’ve found that grounding issues and size sometimes get in the way. But as someone who needs to be working when traveling, having all the right power adapters, chargers, and power banks removes the risk of not “staying connected.”