Pros & Cons
-
- Dual USB-A ports.
- USB-C to charge MacBook and other compatible devices.
- Fast charging for input and output.
-
- No pass-through charging.
Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD Specs
| Added Battery Life | 9 hours, 17 (Wi-Fi video streaming) minutes |
| Capacity | 16800 |
| Dimensions | 6.5 by 3.1 by 0.9 inches |
| Fast Charging | Power Delivery 2.0 |
| Pass-Through Charging | |
| Voltage | 5V/3A |
| Weight | 1.3 |
| Wireless Charging |
With USB-C becoming a more prevalent standard for charging laptops, many battery manufacturers are adding the port to portable power banks. The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 ($119.99), for instance, has a USB-C port for charging your MacBook or other other compatible laptop, along with two USB-A ports to power up your phone and tablet. It's a solid, reliable backup battery, though the iMuto Portable Charger X6 Pro earns our Editors' Choice for delivering a bit more power at a lower price.
Design and Features
The PowerCore+ 26800 ($69.99 at Best Buy) is a smooth, black aluminum slab with curved edges. It measures 6.5 by 3.1 by 0.9 inches (HWD) and weighs 1.3 pounds. It's a little less bulky than the iMuto X6 Pro (6.7 by 3.4 by 1.2 inches, 1.5 pounds) and the Mophie Powerstation AC (7.5 by 4.5 by 1.1 inches, 1.7 pounds), but it still won't fit in your pocket. Pretty much any battery with a capacity above 10,000mAh will need to be carried in a bag.
All of the ports can be found on the top edge, adjacent to a circular power/status button with a set of white LEDs to show charging status. The 30W USB-C port is compatible with the Power Delivery 2.0 standard, which allows for faster charging for both input and output. It did a fine job of charging a MacBook and a Samsung Galaxy Note 8 at variable outputs of 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 15V/2A, and 20V/1.25A. For input, the battery supports fast charging with the included 30W USB-C adapter.
The USB-A ports output at a standard 5V/2.4A. Technically it's 5V/3A, but the vast majority of devices are only capable of 5V/2.4A.
Pass-through charging is not supported, meaning you can't charge other devices while the PowerCore+ is being charged. You can, however, charge devices connected to all three of the PowerCore's ports simultaneously.
Performance and Conclusions
With its 26,800mAh of battery capacity, the PowerCore+ kept a MacBook running for 9 hours, 17 minutes when streaming video over Wi-Fi at maximum screen brightness. That's enough power to get you through a full day of work, if not quite as much as the 30,000mAh iMuto X6 Pro (11 hours, 43 minutes). It's longer than you get with the 22,000mAh Mophie Powerstation AC (7 hours, 15 minutes), though that battery has an AC port you can use to charge non USB-C laptops.
The Anker PowerCore+ 26800 PD has just about everything you need to keep multiple devices running when there isn't a power outlet in sight. But it doesn't bring more to the table than the iMuto Portable Charger X6 Pro, which offers a bit more battery capacity at a lower price, making it our Editors' Choice for large batteries. If you don't need quite so much power, the 10,000mAh Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro is our Editors' Choice for smaller batteries, but it doesn't have a USB-C (output) port.