The MacBook Pro is one of the most popular laptops on the market, and for good reason. Its lightweight design, powerful specs, and all-day battery life make it a great choice for students, professionals, and even casual users. But what happens when you’re away from an outlet and your battery runs low? That’s where power banks come in.
Power banks are small, portable devices that allow for portable charging of your devices on the go. They come in various sizes and capacities, so you can pick one that best suits your needs. But if you have a MacBook Pro or Air, keep reading, because not all power banks are created equal.
While power banks provide enough on-the-go power for mobile devices, many are insufficient for laptops.
The latest MacBook Pro needs 140W of power to fast-charge, while most power banks don’t provide this much juice. At best, most power banks will provide just enough power to keep your MacBook from shutting off for a while, although most power banks will get used up pretty quickly when used to charge a MacBook.
Luckily, there are portable battery solutions that can work. The Anker 737 power bank provides up to 140W of power delivery, which is enough to charge your laptop quickly without damaging it. It comes with a USB cable, which you can use to charge MacBooks (MacBooks released from 2016 and onward come with a USB-C charging port). It has a battery capacity of 24,000 mAh, which is pretty good.
For those with smaller laptops like the MacBook Air or 12-inch Retina Display model, a 20,000mAh capacity should be enough to charge them at least once.
Larger laptops like the 15 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will require at least 27,000mAh capacity.
As a general rule, the higher a power bank’s battery capacity, the more times it will be able to charge your mobile devices before you have to recharge the power bank.
Can I Use a Power Bank to Charge a MacBook?
Yes, you can charge your MacBook with a power bank, but not all power banks are suitable.
The Anker 737 140W power bank allows you to fast-charge your MacBook Pro with 140W of power, which is more than what most other power banks can handle. It has two USB-C ports and one USB-A port, giving you the flexibility to charge multiple devices at once.
It also has a battery capacity of 24,000mAh, which makes it a MacBook compatible power bank.
If you are buying another power bank, make sure it meets MacBook’s’ power bank requirements. An even more powerful option is the Anker PowerCore+, which can be used for slightly larger MacBooks.
Choosing the Right Power Bank for Your MacBook
If you’re looking for the right power bank for a MacBook, we’ve got you covered.
It’s a good idea to look for power banks that come with type-C charging cables. That way, you won’t have to keep looking for additional cables. Power banks that support the USB-C Power Delivery (PD) standard can support MacBook’s charging speeds with fast charging capabilities.
One of the most important things to check, however, is the mAh, or milliampere-hour, which is a measurement of a battery’s capacity. We’ll talk more about what mAh is best for MacBooks in a later section.
Power Banks Compatible With the Latest MacBook Models
We’ve already mentioned the Anker 737 140W power bank. While that is one of the best power banks for fast charging MacBooks, there are other compatible power banks you can use with a MacBook.
A good MacBook Pro power bank is the Omni Mobile 25,600. It has a 25,600 mAh battery and is designed for Apple laptops.
Understanding Power Bank Capacities
As mentioned, mAh stands for milliampere-hour. Without getting too technical, let’s just say it’s a measurement of how much power a power bank can provide over a given time. A power bank with a lower mAh capacity will die out sooner than one with a higher power bank capacity.
A 20,000mAh power bank can usually deliver at least one charge to a laptop. You can use a 20,000mAh power bank to charge smaller tablets at least 2 times.
A 27,000mAh power bank, understandably, is even better, and it may even be able to charge a MacBook twice before you need to recharge the power bank. It can provide multiple charges to a tablet or mobile phone.
What about a 10,000mAh power bank? It has a much lower battery capacity, so is it suitable for laptop charging?
Yes, a 10000mAh powerbank can charge a MacBook. The amount of charge it can provide depends on the model and battery capacity of the MacBook. It will likely not reach a full charge. At best, it’s good for keeping your laptop going for a short while until you manage to get to an outlet.
The higher the capacity of your power bank, the more potential charges you can get out of it.
At 20,000mAh, you should be able to get a full charge into most laptops. So, If you’re looking for extra longevity or if you plan on charging multiple devices at once, then a higher capacity than 20,000mAh is likely a better choice. However, this amount of capacity may not be enough to completely charge some larger laptops or those with particularly large batteries.
With all power banks, it’s important to ensure device compatibility. If it has built-in charging cables, look for a type-C USB cable for your MacBook.
The Best Power Banks for MacBooks
The Anker PowerCore+ 26,800mAh power bank is the perfect choice for MacBook users. It has a high capacity of 26,800mAh. It also has a slim, lightweight design. Plus, it comes with an 18-month warranty and friendly customer support to ensure your satisfaction. All in all, the Anker PowerCore+ is an ideal power bank for your MacBook needs.
Anker makes some of the best power banks for MacBooks. We’ve taken a look at the Anker 737, which is a solid choice as well. Anker is one of the top power bank brands for MacBook users, but you can find some good alternative MacBook compatible power banks on Amazon as well.
How to Use a Power Bank to Charge Your MacBook
Charging a MacBook with a power bank is as simple as plugging one end of a USB-C cable into your MacBook and the other end into your power bank. You can verify your MacBook’s charging status by checking the battery icon on your screen.
Tips for Maximizing Your Power Bank’s Performance
Let’s talk about optimal charging practices and power bank maintenance tips to extend the life and improve the performance of your power bank.
- To charge a single device faster, charge only one device at a time. Distributing the power will cause your devices to charge slowly.
- Charge your power bank regularly so it’s always ready to be used in times of need.
- Don’t overcharge your power bank or leave it plugged into the outlet too long, as it can ruin the power bank’s battery.
- Your power bank can get hot, so while it is being charged or charging a device, don’t cover it with a blanket or pillow. That’s an important power bank safety rule to follow.
Troubleshooting: Why Isn’t My Power Bank Charging My MacBook?
Is your power bank not charging your MacBook? Let’s try troubleshooting power bank issues.
- The cable is faulty. Try another cable.
- The power bank is dead. Try recharging your power bank.
- The power bank is turned off. Some power banks can be turned on or off.
- The cable is not plugged in correctly. Take it out and plug it in again.
- The charging ports are dirty. Clean them with compressed air.
For other MacBook charging issues, take your MacBook to an authorized Apple repair shop. If the problem lies in your MacBook, getting a new power bank won’t help.
Conclusion
MacBooks are a great choice for those looking for a powerful and reliable laptop, and power banks allow for staying charged with portable power while on the go.
With the latest MacBook Pros needing 140W of power to fast-charge, the Anker 737 power bank is an ideal MacBook charging solution to keep your device charged up.
If you’re looking for a power bank that can handle larger laptops like the 15 or 16-inch MacBook Pro models, then you’ll want one with at least 27,000mAh capacity.
Finally, a 10000 mAh capacity power bank will easily charge your smartphone and tablet once or twice respectively, but it’s not ideal for laptops.
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