Wi-fi cellphone charging utilizing Apple’s MagSafe magnetic know-how has taken cumbersome energy banks into a brand new realm of moveable charging comfort.

Not do you need to carry a snaking cable round with you to attach the ability financial institution to your cellphone—and when related the battery pack is clamped tightly to the cellphone moderately than flapping round attempting to detach its heavy self from the chain.

The one disadvantage to wi-fi charging is the pace. Most energy banks are “MagSafe suitable” (charging at 7.5W) moderately than “MagSafe licensed” (15W) or Qi2 (15W). A few exceptions are the Anker MagGo 10K Slim Energy Financial institution and Baseus Nomos Energy Financial institution, which use the Qi2 wi-fi charging know-how and is one in every of our favourite moveable 10000mAh energy banks.

Charging with a superb old style cable is a lot sooner—theoretically as much as 240W. An iPhone can’t—certainly gained’t—settle for that a lot energy however can deal with round 30W as a most. Samsung’s Tremendous Quick Charger 2.0 tech takes a few of its telephones to an unimaginable 45W for even sooner charging however Apple hasn’t reached that wi-fi pace but.

You possibly can obtain 30W charging with an iPhone but it surely requires a wired moderately than wi-fi connection. That normally means you need to carry each an influence financial institution and a cable round with you. Nevertheless, Anker’s Zolo 10K Magnetic Energy Financial institution options dual-charging modes: 7.5W wi-fi and 30W wired charging.

Alongside the MagSafe-compatible wi-fi charging pad, it options an built-in USB-C cable to offer homeowners of the iPhone 15 and 16 quick access to double-speed charging energy.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

You possibly can magnetically clamp your iPhone (from iPhone 12 onwards) onto the Zolo energy financial institution and wirelessly cost at 7.5W simply as you’d with a regular MagSafe energy financial institution.

Homeowners of the iPhone 15 or 16 can go one higher and use the Zolo’s built-in USB-C cable to show that charging energy as much as 30W. You double-click the ability financial institution’s button to start out wi-fi charging, however as quickly as you insert the USB-C cable wi-fi charging is disabled and the 30W wired cost begins. Sadly you possibly can’t get each 30W from the cable and the 7.5W from the wi-fi pad.

You can too re-charge the ower financial institution itself by way of the built-in USB-C cable, and once more which means there’s no want to hold a separate cable round with you while you’re in your travels.

Whereas homeowners of iPhones older than the 15 household won’t be capable to entry the built-in wired cost pace, they can also use the cable to enter energy into the ability financial institution itself by way of a wall charger. When these customers improve to a USB-C cellphone, that USB-C cable will grow to be accessible for each enter and output.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Another choice for homeowners of any iPhone older than the 15 or for teams with one older and one newer iPhone is the non-magnetic Anker Zolo Energy Financial institution that has each built-in 30W USB-C and Lightning cables, pictured above. Nevertheless, there’s no wi-fi choice on this energy financial institution.

Again to the USB-C-toting Magnetic Zolo Energy Financial institution, the 5.5-inch braided cable securely tucks again into the ability financial institution physique when not in use, which protects it from harm and creates a useful carrying loop.

The Anker Zolo Magnetic 10K Energy Financial institution isn’t the primary MagSafe battery pack to boast a built-in USB-C cable. The Baseus Magnetic Energy Financial institution beat it to that honor and has been our favourite magnetic battery pack since we received our palms on it. It too includes a built-in 5.5-inch cable, though a fatter rubber one moderately than Zolo’s braided. There’s some small components, which we’ll focus on under, that make the Anker a better option than the Baseus, but it surely’s a detailed run race—and Baseus has one other contender that boasts 15W Qi2 wi-fi charging.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Extra port energy

Just like the Baseus energy banks, the Zolo boasts a spare USB-C port, which you should utilize to cost the ability financial institution or join one other cable to cost a second system. That might be one other USB-C to USB-C cable or a Lightning cable for older iPhones or different Apple units, or an Apple Watch charger.

You would cost the ability financial institution by way of that spare port on the identical time you might be charging an iPhone utilizing the built-in USB-C cable.That method, you might be undoubtedly well-equipped for a very long time away from a wall charger.

In reality you possibly can cost as much as three units on the identical time with the Zolo. Both the USB-C cable or the spare USB-C port can ship 30W of wired energy. Word that whereas utilizing multiple charging level on the identical time the ability financial institution is decreased to 15W whole output.

That port or the built-in USB-C cable can enter recharge the ability financial institution at 20W—a little bit sooner than the 18W enter on the unique Baseus however not as speedy as on the Baseus Nomos (30W enter).

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Greatest performer in our battery assessments

The Anker Zolo has an enormous battery capability of 37Wh or 10000mAh. It simply beats 5000mAh battery packs, all the opposite 10K energy banks now we have examined, and out-performed even our earlier favourite, the Baseus Magnetic Energy Financial institution that matches it on wired and wi-fi charging pace.

The Baseus Energy Financial institution recharged our take a look at iPhone 15 Professional to 187% and the Anker MagGo 10K Slim to 188%. The Zolo reached 191% so takes its place on the high of the podium. The Baseus Nomos appears to be like wonderful with its 15W wi-fi, 45W wired and 30W enter but it surely underperformed within the efficiency assessments, scoring a good however nonetheless decrease 166%.

These outcomes are shut and different components might have gained or misplaced a couple of proportion factors. Word too that we examined the Zolo with a 16 Professional moderately than a 15 Professional. We might name it a draw, however the Zolo nonetheless will get the bragging rights.

Our testing course of concerned working an iPhone all the way down to 2% after which utilizing the ability financial institution to take the cellphone again to 100%. Then we run the cellphone down once more till the ability financial institution runs out of juice to maintain the cellphone charged.

Anker

Measurement and design

Measuring 4.15 x 2.7 x 0.8 the Anker Zolo is fractionally smaller than the Baseus (4.3-x-2.7-x-0.8 inches) however not considerably. At 8.5oz it’s heavier than the 7.5W 7.3oz Baseus and 15W 8.1oz Baseus.

All three are a little bit bigger than many 10K energy banks, and positively neither is as skinny because the Anker MagGo 10K Slim, which after all lacks the built-in 30W wired choice.

The built-in USB-C cable on the Zolo has a right-angled connector for a neater under-phone match.

A function that differentiates the Anker from the unique Baseus is the Zolo’s built-in kick stand on the again that works in each portrait and panorama orientations. The Nomos does embrace a kickstand.

The Zolo energy financial institution is offered in 4 colours: black, blue, pink or white. You’ll find the unique Baseus in three colours: white, black, or peppermint blue.

Anker Zolo vs the remainder

Anker’s Zolo Magnetic Energy Financial institution is blessed with an built-in USB-C cable so beats most wi-fi energy banks on charging pace—until these battery pack homeowners are carrying round a spare charging cable. For a full comparability learn our roundup of the finest MagSafe and magnetic energy banks for iPhone.

Its closest rival could be very shut certainly. The Zolo prices just some bucks greater than the Baseus Magnetic Energy Financial institution, so on value, charging energy and measurement the 2 magnetic energy banks with built-in USB-C cables are finely matched. Possibly it would come all the way down to a alternative between pink or peppermint blue, or that in-built kickstand on the Anker.

The newer Baseus Nomos Energy Financial institution beats each on enter and output charging speeds however underperformed in our precise battery assessments.

Dominik Tomaszewski / Foundry

Worth

The Anker Zolo Magnetic Energy Financial institution is priced at $49.99 or €49,99. Sadly for Brits, it’s not but accessible within the U.Ok.

Do you have to purchase the Anker Zolo Magnetic Energy Financial institution?

With its built-in USB-C cable, the Anker Zolo Magnetic Energy Financial institution is designed for the iPhone 15 and 16 households and presents handy wi-fi charging plus a lot sooner 30W wired charging with the very best recharge we’ve measured to this point in our magnetic energy financial institution testing.