A power bank with Qi charging lets you top up a phone by laying it on the pack rather than hunting for a cable. The catch is that wireless charging is slower and less efficient than plugging in, so the useful question is whether the rest of the pack — real measured capacity, output power, weight — justifies carrying it. These four came out of a field of 28, scored 70 per cent on performance, 20 per cent on features and 10 per cent on weight, with UK prices checked on 2 August 2026.
The Short Version
- Top recommendation — 4smarts Rugged TitanPack UltiMag. A measured 16,384 mAh with a solar panel, but 528 grams.
- Best value — Varta Wireless Power Bank 10000. A measured 10,064 mAh, two USB-A ports and USB-C.
- Best for Apple Watch — Anker MagGo A1657, £69.99. A measured 11,000 mAh at 244 grams with a 30 W output.
- Best MagSafe option — Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K, £89.99. MagSafe magnets, 27 W per port and a proper display.
Top Recommendation: 4smarts Rugged TitanPack UltiMag
The Rugged TitanPack UltiMag has a large solar panel on its upper surface which supplies the pack with power from sunlight — at least in theory, because in full sun it barely charges even after several hours. Treat the panel as an emergency measure rather than a feature you will use.
Measured capacity is 16,384 mAh, and a full charge over the cable takes a hefty 5 hours 14 minutes. Power comes out through two USB-A ports or the USB-C port, and their maximum output of 20 watts is not enough for laptops, though the pack does support Quick Charge and USB Power Delivery. It can be charged and discharged at the same time. The weight is a serious 528 grams — very high — although the housing does have a carrying handle. It is not sold on Amazon UK, so the links below run a live search. Search on Amazon UK or search on Amazon US
Best Value: Varta Wireless Power Bank 10000
With a measured capacity of 10,064 mAh the Varta does not deliver an excessive amount of power and cannot recharge a larger tablet more than once. At 248 grams it is at least genuinely portable, and phones get a little more than one full charge out of it.
Laptops are not served by the 18-watt output despite USB Power Delivery. Devices connect through the two USB-A ports or USB-C, or you charge compatible devices wirelessly on the surface of the pack — practical when no cable is to hand. The Varta takes a relatively long time to recharge itself, around four hours, though charging and discharging work in parallel. The charge indicator is four simple LEDs. Amazon UK lists several Varta wireless banks but none matching this model's reference and capacity combination, so no price is quoted. Search on Amazon UK or search on Amazon US
Best for Apple Watch: Anker MagGo A1657
This one shines through its equipment and its handy form factor. At 244 grams it is a lightweight among power banks and correspondingly small. The strong feature set includes two USB-C outputs with a maximum output of 30 watts and USB Power Delivery, and peripherals can also be charged wirelessly by induction. A small LC display shows charge level and delivered power.
For Apple fans the absence of MagSafe may disappoint, and there are no USB-A ports either. The maker quotes a nominal 10 Ah; measured capacity came out at around 11 Ah. That is not a lot, but it is enough for phones and smaller peripherals such as smartwatches or earbuds. A full recharge takes a little over two hours, which is acceptable, and it can keep supplying other devices while it charges. It was £69.99 on Amazon UK on 2 August 2026. Check the price on Amazon UK or search on Amazon US
Best MagSafe Option: Anker MagGo Power Bank 10K
The MagGo 10K rated satisfactory overall. Measured capacity is 9,393 mAh — too little for larger tablets and laptops, but enough to recharge a phone on the move. Its own charging time of under three hours is very good.
The equipment stands out: maximum output per port is a solid 27 watts and the pack supports USB Power Delivery for quick transfer. The disappointment is that it has only a single interface, one USB-C port. It adds a practical induction charging function including MagSafe, so it holds magnetically to compatible iPhones, and when you are charging a phone inductively the pack itself can be topped up over USB at the same time. Size and weight score well, since the modest capacity keeps it pleasantly light and compact, and the integrated LC display is a useful feature because it shows more detailed information than simple LEDs. It was £89.99 on Amazon UK on 2 August 2026. Check the price on Amazon UK or search on Amazon US
What Qi Charging Actually Is
If a power bank has a Qi charging function it can charge other devices inductively, without a cable. Qi is the widespread standard for inductive charging, and phones that support wireless charging are specified for it, so they will charge on any of the packs here.
Charging power on power banks typically sits between 5 and 15 watts. To get the best of it, the device being charged has to be placed precisely on the marked area where the charging coils sit — many manufacturers label that point clearly. Only when the device is correctly positioned can the wireless transfer work efficiently, which is what gives faster and more stable charging. For iOS devices there is sometimes MagSafe support, where magnets pull the device into the right position to guarantee maximum charging power and efficiency. That is the practical difference between the two Anker packs here: one has the magnets, one does not.
What to Look For
Weight, if it lives in a bag. The more capacity and power a pack has, the heavier it gets. Around 300 grams is still easy to carry; models of 500 grams and more start to feel bulky — which is exactly the 4smarts pack's problem at 528 grams.
Capacity, measured rather than claimed. Capacity is quoted in milliamp-hours. Aim for at least 10,000 mAh, which recharges a phone about one and a half times and saves you charging the pack itself every day. If you want reserves, or you intend to charge larger tablets or a laptop, look for at least 20,000 mAh. Note how often the measured figure differs from the label: the Anker 10K measured 9,393 mAh, while the A1657 measured about 11,000 against a nominal 10,000.
Output power. None of these will run a laptop: 18 watts on the Varta, 20 on the 4smarts, 27 on the MagGo 10K and 30 on the A1657. USB Power Delivery support matters more than the headline wattage for charging a modern phone quickly.
Simultaneous charge and discharge. All four can power a device while being topped up themselves, which is more useful than it sounds when there is one socket in a hotel room.
The display. Four LEDs tell you roughly how full a pack is. The LC displays on the two Anker packs show the actual charge level and the power being delivered, which makes it far easier to judge whether you have enough left.
How the Scores Work
Performance — 70 per cent. A power bank has one job: keeping another device running as long as possible. Manufacturer figures are not taken on trust; the actual milliamp-hours and the real output current are measured, along with the additional runtime given to a standard phone, the pack's own charging time, and self-discharge after 14 days.
Features — 20 per cent. Whether the charge level can be read from an LED indicator, how many USB outputs there are, whether the pack can be charged and discharged at once, and whether a light or a case is included.
Weight — 10 per cent. Power banks have to be mobile, since their whole point is keeping you going on a train, a plane or a holiday. Without this category a pack the size of a car battery could top the table, which would not be much use to anyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which wireless power bank is best overall? The 4smarts Rugged TitanPack UltiMag on capacity and features, with a measured 16,384 mAh — as long as you can live with 528 grams and a solar panel that barely works.
How much capacity do I need? At least 10,000 mAh for about one and a half phone charges. For tablets, laptops or several days away, look for 20,000 mAh or more, and expect the weight to rise with it.
Will any of these charge a laptop? No. Outputs here run from 18 to 30 watts, which is enough for phones and small peripherals but not for a laptop.
Why is my phone charging slowly on the pad? Almost always positioning. The coils sit in one marked spot; if the phone is not lined up with it, transfer is inefficient. MagSafe packs solve this by pulling the phone into place magnetically.
Do solar power banks work? Barely. The 4smarts panel charged almost nothing after several hours in full sun. Treat solar as an emergency trickle, not a charging method.
Can I use it while it charges? Yes — all four here support charging and discharging at the same time.
Every pound figure above was read from the retailer's own listing on 2 August 2026 and is recorded in this page's verification evidence. Two of these packs are not sold on Amazon UK in the exact specification tested, so they carry search links rather than prices.
