At some point you’ve probably had your phone die on you when you needed it most (it happens to the best of us). If you want to avoid the dreaded low battery warning, EDCing an external battery pack is a good idea. The problem is most batteries are designed for long trips to last you days at a time, with more juice than you'd ever need along with a ton of extra weight to carry. Luckily, there are some battery packs that check all the boxes for EDC. They're slim, lightweight, and give you just that extra boost in battery to make it to the next outlet. In this guide, we've rounded up some of the best slim batteries for EDC and travel alike.
Mophie Powerstation 2X
Mophie is a name synonymous with external battery packs, and the Powerstation 2X has just the right amount of power at 4,000 mAh to make it perfect for EDC. Despite its relatively large capacity, the 2X won't take up much space in your pockets thanks to its slim 7.7mm aluminum body. For a bit more coin, you can spring for the similarly sized Powerstation Plus Mini as an all-in-one battery and charging cable solution, too.
Anker PowerCore Slim 5000
Anker is one of the most popular brands around when it comes to quality external batteries and their Powercore Slim 5000 was made with your pockets in mind. A large 5000 mAh battery is packed in a slim design roughly the size of your average smartphone. You can also charge your devices quickly thanks to Anker’s IQ technology which adjusts the output depending on which the device that's plugged in.
Anker PowerCore 20100
The PowerCore 20100 is one of Anker's beefier offerings with a huge battery that can charge up your phone many times over. Its 20,100 mAh battery is packed in a sleek power brick with rounded edges that you can slip into a bag or carry on. You can charge two devices at once thanks to the dual-USB output. Both ports come equipped with Anker's IQ Quick Charging technology so you can power up in a pinch.
Xiaomi Mi 10000 mAh Power Bank 2
Xiaomi makes plenty of great “bang for your buck” gadgets and their Power Bank 2 is no exception. The sleek, double-anodized aluminum body not only looks good, but it's also resistant to daily wear and corrosion. Its 10,000 mAh capacity is more than enough to charge your phone or tablet multiple times so you don't have to worry about being stuck with a dead device.
AUKEY 10000 mAh Portable Charger
Aukey knows a thing or two about quality battery packs, offering a wide range of capacities. Although they offer some as high as 30,000 mAh, the smaller and slimmer 10,000 mAh option is great for EDC. Large enough so you don’t get range anxiety for your phone, but slim enough to pocket with ease. You also get a few useful features like adaptive charging through its dual USB outputs and safeguards against overeating and overcharging.
AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank
As any minimal EDCer will tell you, sometimes simple is best. The AmazonBasics Portable Power Bank is simple and affordable but just as effective, with a 16,100 mAh capacity and dual USB ports for charging two devices at once. There’s power overload protection built in and four LED lights to help you gauge how much power is left.
Flux 4,000 mAh Ultra Slim External Battery Pack
Carrying an external battery is one thing, but if you have more than one kind of device then you also need the matching cables. It can quickly turn into a lot to carry which is why the Flux Portable Charger made this list. Besides its slim 7.8mm design and 4,000 mAh capacity, it also has a micro USB and Lightning cable built-in. For a battery that works with most kinds of devices the Flux is perfect.
EasyAcc 6,000 mAh Ultra-Slim External Battery
For a battery that has a little versatility, the EasyAcc 6,000 mAh Ultra Slim has you covered. It has a high enough capacity to give your devices an extra charge or two when you need them most, and thanks to a built-in Lightning cable you don’t need to waste precious pocket space on a cable. For other kinds of devices, you also get a standard USB output. Lastly, a built-in flashlight adds even more functionality to your carry.
Native Union JUMP
Native Union understands the intersection of technology and EDC, offering plenty of minimal and easy to carry options for keeping your devices charged. One of them being the JUMP, a super compact backup battery with a built-in Lightning cable that wraps around its plastic enclosure for safekeeping. It’ll give your phone a 30% boost in a pinch and if you find yourself needing nothing more than a charging cable that won't tangle, it has you covered there too.
Travelcard
If you only want a battery pack for those rare instances when you can’t find an outlet, then the Travelcard might be for you. It’s a 1,500 mAh battery pack that’s so slim you can easily stash it in your wallet until you need it. The cherry on top is that it comes with the charging cable built into the design so as long as you choose the correct model (Android or iOS) you can be sure your bases are covered.
Do you carry a portable battery pack in your EDC? Let us know your favorite in the comments below!
For even more battery pack options, check out our guide to picking the best battery pack for your EDC.
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