Long-haul travel drains devices fast, and most aircraft seats give you nothing reliable to plug into. This guide covers three power banks that keep your phone, tablet, and even a laptop topped up across an entire long flight. Check the watt-hour figure printed on the bank before you fly; airlines set their own limits.
Top picks
1. Anker Power Bank 25000mAh Travel Essential (165W Triple USB-C) - Best Overall
SPP Score: 9.4 / 10 - 25000mAh with 165W across three USB-C outputs and built-in retractable cables. Our all-round pick.
Capability 9.8/10 - Versatility 8.5/10 - Build 9.4/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 9.8/10
Fit for this guide: A long-haul bag wants one pack for laptop, phone and tablet, and 25000mAh spans three USB-C outputs.
Every pick here is scored out of 10: four marks rate the product and are the same in every guide, and the fifth rates its fit for this guide - how we test and score.
Hands-on We own this one and it is the bank we take on long flights: two built-in retractable USB-C cables plus a third USB-C port cover a phone, a tablet and a laptop at once, and it has held up to daily use and travel without wear.
With a 25000mAh capacity, this Anker is sized to recharge most phones several times over a long flight. It'll keep a tablet or laptop going too. Anker's listing gives it 165W across three USB-C ports, so a laptop can take a fast charge while a tablet and a phone top up beside it rather than waiting their turn. The built-in retractable cables mean there's less to pack and less to lose down a seat gap, and a 25000mAh pack still fits in a carry-on. Anker is a well-established name in portable charging, and this is a genuine in-seat charging hub for a traveller carrying several devices.
Pros
- ✓ 25000mAh capacity recharges most phones multiple times and tops up a laptop on a single trip
- ✓ 165W across three USB-C ports, per Anker's listing, charges a laptop, tablet and phone at the same time
- ✓ Built-in retractable cables cut down on what you have to carry and untangle
Cons
- ✗ Larger and heavier than a slim 10000mAh travel pack
- ✗ At 25000mAh it is a high-capacity battery, so confirm your airline's watt-hour rules before you fly
Who it's for: Long-haul travellers who carry a laptop plus phone and tablet and want one pack that charges them all quickly.
Who it's not for: Light packers who only carry a phone and want the smallest possible bank.
2. Anker Power Bank 20000mAh 87W (Built-in Cable) - Best Budget
SPP Score: 9.0 / 10 - 20000mAh with an 87W built-in USB-C cable and laptop-capable output. Our value pick.
Capability 9.8/10 - Versatility 8.0/10 - Build 8.9/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 8.9/10
Fit for this guide: Laptop-capable 87W and a built-in USB-C cable cover a flight from a 20000mAh pack.
The 20000mAh capacity gives you the multi-charge headroom that long flights demand, and an 87W maximum output is enough to charge many laptops as well as phones and tablets. The built-in USB-C cable means one fewer thing to remember, and there's a second USB-C port plus a USB-A port for charging more than one device at a time. It's the pick for travellers who want laptop-capable wattage and integrated-cable convenience without stepping up to a larger pack.
Pros
- ✓ Full 20000mAh capacity for multiple device charges per trip
- ✓ 87W maximum output can charge many laptops as well as phones and tablets
- ✓ Built-in USB-C cable plus extra USB-C and USB-A ports for charging several devices
Cons
- ✗ 87W is the ceiling for everything plugged in at once, so three devices share it
- ✗ The cable is built in, so a frayed lead is not something you can swap out
Who it's for: Budget-minded flyers who want laptop-capable charging and a built-in cable in one pack.
Who it's not for: Travellers who need the very highest charge speeds or the smallest, lightest bank.
3. Anker Prime Power Bank 20100mAh 220W - Best Premium
SPP Score: 8.7 / 10 - 20100mAh with 220W total output, 140W single-port and a live display. Our pick for maximum capability.
Capability 9.8/10 - Versatility 8.0/10 - Build 8.9/10 - Value 8.9/10 - Fit 8.0/10
Fit for this guide: 220W total and app control go beyond one flight's charging, though at 72Wh it sits under the limit most airlines set.
The Prime is the flagship pick, pairing a 20100mAh cell - which Anker lists at about 72Wh, worth checking against your own airline's limit - with 220W of total output. Anker rates either USB-C port at up to 140W alone, matching the adapter Apple lists for a 16-inch MacBook Pro, and the front display shows exactly what's flowing in and out. It's built for the traveller whose seat becomes an office: laptop, tablet and phone can all draw fast charge from one brick, and the companion app mirrors the readout even when the pack's tucked in the seat pocket.
Pros
- ✓ 220W total output fast-charges laptops as well as phones and tablets
- ✓ Anker rates each USB-C port to 140W alone - full speed for big laptops
- ✓ Display and companion app show real-time input and output
Cons
- ✗ A 20100mAh cell holds well under the 25000mAh winner's, so a laptop-and-tablet day leaves less in reserve
- ✗ The third output is USB-A, so anything on it charges far slower than the USB-C ports
Who it's for: Multi-device travellers who want the fastest in-seat charging and a live readout of what the pack is doing.
Who it's not for: Phone-only travellers - a 220W pack is overkill for a single handset.
Quick verdict
For most long-haul travellers, the Anker Power Bank 25000mAh Travel Essential (165W Triple USB-C) hits the sweet spot of high capacity, three fast USB-C ports, and built-in cables. If you want laptop-capable charging with an integrated cable in a more affordable pack, the Anker Power Bank 20000mAh 87W (Built-in Cable) is the smart middle ground. Travellers who want the fastest in-seat charging with a live display should look at the premium Anker Prime Power Bank 20100mAh 220W.
How we chose
A long flight sets its own test: real capacity in mAh for multiple recharges, output wattage and port count for charge speed and running several devices at once, and whether the pack fits comfortably within the spare-battery rules airlines apply to cabin baggage. We also weighed portability and how well each pick suits travellers heading on long-haul routes. Every link goes to Amazon, where you can double-check the watt-hour figure against your airline's cabin rules before you fly.
FAQ
Q: Can I take a power bank on a plane in my hand luggage? A: Spare lithium batteries and power banks must travel in your cabin baggage, never in checked luggage. Check the watt-hour figure printed on the bank before you fly, and see our power bank rules for UK flights explainer for the CAA's 100Wh limit and the two-bank cabin rule that took effect in 2026.
Q: What capacity power bank do I need for a long flight? A: A 20000mAh pack will recharge most phones several times over a long-haul journey, while a larger 25000mAh pack makes sense if you're charging tablets or a laptop too. For everyday non-flight use, see our 20000mAh power bank guide. If a short hop only needs the phone topped up once, a cheaper 10000mAh pack from our budget power bank guide will do the job.
Q: Can a power bank charge a laptop on a flight? A: Only higher-wattage banks with enough output, such as the 87W and 220W models here, can charge most laptops; lower-output packs are better suited to phones and tablets. For a guide focused on charging a laptop specifically, see our best power bank for laptops picks.
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