A few years ago, power banks were mainly meant for charging phones. The race to be slim was resulting in thinner phones with poor battery life. Rare indeed was the person who did not walk around with their phone attached to their power bank, like a baby attached to its mum through an umbilical cord. Attitudes towards phone size have since changed (even Apple has a plus-size iPhone 14) and phone batteries have grown larger, but the power bank remains an integral part of our lives, especially for those of us on the move, as you never know when you might need to recharge and not have a  power outlet handy. 


With more gadgets around us comes the need for more power. And that means even bigger power banks are a requirement. Power banks nowadays don’t merely have to recharge a phone, but also tablets, TWS, headphones, cameras, and even notebooks. 


(Some) Power Banks Can Charge Notebooks Too


Yes, even notebooks can now be charged by power banks as many of them support charging over USB Type C ports (unlike proprietary ports in the past), just as many other devices do. 


Mind you, not every power bank can recharge a notebook. As notebooks charge at a specific speed, you need a power bank that not only has enough capacity but also can charge your notebook at the speed required. 


It is not enough, for instance, to have a 30,000mAh power bank, it should also have the ability to generate power at a rate which can charge a notebook — this is generally 45W or above. Most power banks that can charge a notebook generally say so upfront, so if you have doubts, do check. 


And of course, just as you would in the case of any power bank, you would also need to consider how fast the device itself can charge up, the number of ports it has, and so on. 


A key point to keep in mind is finding the balance between a high-capacity power bank and one that is portable and can be allowed on flights. Most flights will not allow you to carry anything more than a 20,000mAh power bank as part of hand baggage.


So if you are looking for a single power bank that has enough in its account to charge up every device you have, including your trusty hefty notebook, we suggest you consider the following five options: 


Stuffcool Super Power: A Fast Charge Expert


Price: Rs 4,999


One of the best options for anyone looking at a "charge it all" power bank. The Super Power from StuffCool has a 20,000mAh capacity and comes with two USB Type-C ports and one USB Type-A Port. Of the two Type-C ports, one can charge devices at 65W, the other at a maximum of 20W, while the USB Type-A can charge at up to 18W. 


If you plug a notebook into the fastest USB Type-C port, you can charge it at 65W speeds, and can also charge another device at a very reasonable 20W speed from the other port. 


Stuffcool has also got a 100W Type-C-to-Type-C cable in the box. The charger itself is a bit on the thick side but is well-designed and is BIS approved with five intelligent safety protocols. 


The best part? You can use that fast-charging USB Type-C port to charge the power bank itself at a fantastic 65W (provided you have a fast enough charger). 


So, not only can this charge a MacBook Pro at a brisk rate, but it can be recharged in about three hours. 


It also comes with a large on/off button with LED indicators all around it. 


Yes, it might seem expensive for its capacity, but in terms of charging speed and design, this is perhaps the best on this list. 


Mi HyperSonic Power Bank: Sleek And Speedy


Price: Rs 3,699


If you are looking for a sleek power bank, then the Mi HyperSonic Power Bank is perhaps one of the best options around. It has got the typical brushed metal finish that many Xiaomi power banks have. 


It has a capacity of 20,000mAh and comes with two USB Type-A ports and one USB Type-C port, as well as a USB Type-C-to-Type-C cable in the box. The fast charging muscle of the power bank comes from the Type-C port, which can charge notebooks at 45W and supported phones (mostly from Xiaomi, Redmi, and Poco) at 50W. 


The accompanying Type-A ports can charge devices at 22.5W if used one at a time and 15W each if used together, which is frankly pretty good for most smartphones. 


A neat touch is the presence of low-current charging which also lets you recharge smartwatches and other devices efficiently. The power bank itself can be recharged at 45W and can be charged in about four hours. 


It is not the lightest but has a sleek form factor. It comes with several safeguards, including smart 16-layer chip protection. 


Ambrane Stylo Boost: Hefty And Power-Packed


Price: Rs 4,199


Stylo Boost weighs almost a kilo and looks like one big, solid brick. Do not even think of getting it into your hand baggage in an airport. However, in other places, it can serve as a power outlet in its own right. 


That's because the Stylo Boost comes with an incredible 40,000mAh battery. There's enough here to keep all your gadgets charged for a couple of days. And it is pretty fast charging too — the power bank comes with two USB Type-A and one USB Type-C port. 


The Type-C port can charge devices at an impressive 65W speed and is the one to be used for charging your notebook. 


The USB Type-A ports also charge devices at a very respectable 20W. There is also a USB Type-C-to-Type-C cable in the box, and the Power Bank itself can be charged at 60W. 


It takes about five to six hours to charge at that speed but given its size, that's pretty decent. 


This is the power bank you should perhaps keep in your office or study table, charge it a few times a week and simply forget about power outlets. It comes with several safeguards too. 


Portronics Power 45: Effective And Pocket-Friendly 


Price: Rs 2,799


This is not only the most affordable power bank on this list but also one of the most compact. And for the price, the Power 45 delivers very good value for not too much money. 


It packs in 20,000mAh of capacity and is the only device in this list to come with four ports. 


That said, it is an odd collection of ports, with two USB Type-A, one USB Type-C, and one micro-USB ports (which can be used only to charge the charger itself). 


It is well-designed and while on the bulky side, is not too obtrusive. 


The USB Type-C port can charge your notebook at 45W, while the Type-A ports have a maximum capacity of 18W each, which is handy enough for most smartphones. You can also charge the power bank at either 15W using the micro USB port or at 45W using the Type-C port, which is again pretty good.


Rather oddly, there is only a USB Type-A-to-Type-C cable bundled with the power bank, which cannot be used to charge a notebook, so be prepared to shell out a little extra for a Type-C-to-Type-C cable if you intend to invest in this power bank. 


Anker 737 Power Bank: Staggering Speed And Smarts... And A Staggering Price Too


Price: Rs 32,999


Many eyes are going to pop at the price tag of this power bank. Yes, it is more expensive than several smartphones, but then it is one of the most powerful power banks we have ever seen. It can charge a notebook at a speed of up to 140W (if the notebook supports it). 


It comes with three ports — two USB Type-C ports (both capable of charging at 140W) and a single USB Type-A port, which is capable of charging at 18W. There is also a USB Type-C-to-Type-C cable in the package that supports 140W charging. 


There are not too many chargers that can charge a notebook as fast as this one — mind you, there are not too many notebooks that charge at that speed. What's more, the power bank itself charges at 140W speed and if you get the right charger, you can charge it totally in under an hour. 


Our favourite feature of the 737 is a smart display, which shows the percentage of battery left, the time that it would take to recharge the battery, and the speeds at which each of the three ports is charging — it's one feature every power bank should ideally have.


At 630 grams, it is not super light and yes, the 24,000mAh capacity might cause problems at some airports but if you are looking for crazy fast charging from one of the world's top brands (with a terrific reputation for safety) for your notebook and other gadgets, this is the power bank for you — as long as you don’t mind the whopping price tag.