Real Experience: My Current Favorite Power Bank

There don’t seem to be that many trustworthy power bank brands to pick from. The really niche ones can be cheap, but safety is a concern — remember how xxx had units catching fire before.

I’ve bought quite a few power banks over time. With some spare time lately, I figured I’d do a quick roundup of the ones I own.

What I Bought

Over the past two years I picked up the following power banks; none of them were expensive.

1. BULL 10,000 mAh wireless power bank
   • Bought on PDD, 130CNY
   • I thought of BULL because their power strips left a strong impression. I wanted to see how their power banks compare.
2. Anker MagSafe magnetic wireless power bank (10,000 mAh)
   • Bought on JD, 113CNY; I ended up buying two over time
3. Xiaomi power bank with built-in cable (20,000 mAh)
   • 33W, Deep Space Blue
   • Bought on JD, 123CNY

I had bought other models before, but they’re too old to be worth discussing here.

Comparison Photos

Here’s a quick look at the design differences.

Anker vs Xiaomi

Anker on the left (206.5 g), Xiaomi on the right. Since the Xiaomi is 20,000 mAh, it’s larger and heavier (349 g). In actual use, it feels substantial in the hand.

BULL vs Anker

BULL on the left, Anker on the right.

Before buying I thought BULL and Anker would be similar, but in hand they’re noticeably different. The BULL is thicker with a slightly smaller footprint, while the Anker is thinner with a slightly larger footprint.

With extended use, I find thinness matters more. When the MagSafe pack is attached, you’re holding the phone one‑handed; the thinner pack simply feels more comfortable. Also, in my experience, Anker’s charging detection is a bit more responsive.

That said, the BULL power bank’s build quality is solid—no worse than Anker. I just hope BULL makes a thinner version in the future.

Wireless or Wired

After getting used to wireless, I rarely want to use a cable. Snapping the pack onto the phone is just too comfortable. Only in extreme cases—when I need to charge urgently and use the phone immediately—do I go wired.

Current Usage

These days I mainly use the Anker 10,000 and the Xiaomi 20,000. I use the Anker for wireless only, and the Xiaomi for wired—since it has a built‑in USB‑C cable, there’s no need to bring a separate one. For long days out I carry the Xiaomi; for short outings the Anker is enough.

The BULL is thicker, so it loses out to the Anker—no strong reason for me to pick BULL.

Final Thoughts

If you haven’t tried a wireless battery pack, give it a shot. Most phones support wireless charging now, and it’s very convenient in daily use.