Sarah Witman is a writer focused on batteries and charging accessories. She has spent countless hours charging, discharging, and recharging batteries.

Buying a new laptop charger was once an arduous and expensive ordeal, but computers with USB-C charging have made it much easier and more affordable.

The best choice for almost any modern tablet or laptop is Nekteck’s 60W USB-C GaN Charger. This adapter is just as powerful and reliable as a replacement from your laptop’s manufacturer, and it’s smaller than almost any other we’ve seen. It’s safety-tested and certified, and it comes with its own USB-C charging cable, making it a particularly great value at its very low price.

Everything we recommend

Top pick

Best replacement USB-C laptop or tablet charger

Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger

This compact charger can power almost any USB-C laptop at top speed, and it works great for lower-powered devices, too. Despite its affordable price, it even includes a cable.

$29 from Amazon

Best for…

Best for most high-powered laptops

Nekteck 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger

This model has all the power of the charger included with a 15- or 16-inch MacBook Pro but is smaller and costs much less. The included cable is removable and replaceable, in case it gets damaged.

Buy from Amazon

May be out of stock

Best for…

Best for a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later)

Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger

With more power from one port than most models we’ve tested, this compact charger has two USB-C PD ports capable of delivering 140 W apiece or 145 W total. It’s pricey, but it comes with a long, 8-foot cable.

$77 from Best Buy

May be out of stock

Top pick

Best replacement USB-C laptop or tablet charger

Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger

This compact charger can power almost any USB-C laptop at top speed, and it works great for lower-powered devices, too. Despite its affordable price, it even includes a cable.

$29 from Amazon

Whether you need to replace your original charger or you just want to have an extra at home or the office, you should get the Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger. It will charge almost any laptop 13 inches or smaller at full speed, and it can fast-charge most lower-powered laptops, tablets, and phones, as well.

The Nekteck is smaller and lighter than just about any other laptop or tablet charger we’ve found, it has a convenient fold-up plug, and it comes with a detachable cable, which is something that usually costs $10 to $20 on its own.

This charger is cheaper than many less powerful models, and like most of Nekteck’s products, it’s certified by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF), which means an independent third party has tested it and ensured it meets performance and safety specifications.

Port 1: 60 W USB-C
Dimensions: 1.97 by 1.97 by 1.2 inches
USB-C cable: 6.5 feet, detachable

Best for…

Best for most high-powered laptops

Nekteck 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger

This model has all the power of the charger included with a 15- or 16-inch MacBook Pro but is smaller and costs much less. The included cable is removable and replaceable, in case it gets damaged.

Buy from Amazon

May be out of stock

Almost all computers that charge via USB-C have a maximum charge speed of 60 watts, but a handful can charge even faster with more power—most notably, the MacBook Air (2022 or later) reaches its peak charging speed at 67 W, the 15-inch MacBook Pro (2019) at 87 W, and both the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later) and 16-inch MacBook Pro (2019) at 96 W. For these laptops, we recommend Nekteck’s 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger.

This 100 W charger, which is notably smaller than Apple’s own charger, comes with a detachable USB-C charge cable and costs less than half the price of what a full replacement set would cost from Apple. Like our 60 W top pick, it’s independently tested and certified for safety.

Port 1: 100 W USB-C
Dimensions: 2.7 by 2.7 by 1.2 inches
USB-C cable: 6.5 feet, detachable

Best for…

Best for a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later)

Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger

With more power from one port than most models we’ve tested, this compact charger has two USB-C PD ports capable of delivering 140 W apiece or 145 W total. It’s pricey, but it comes with a long, 8-foot cable.

$77 from Best Buy

May be out of stock

If you have a laptop that requires more than 100 W (such as a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 or later), or if you’d like to fast-charge two smaller devices simultaneously, the Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger is your best bet.

Its two USB-C ports can deliver up to 140 W apiece or 145 W total, and it’s small and light (weighing just 10 ounces), given its high output.

Like our other picks, the Insignia has a handy fold-up plug, it’s USB-IF certified, and it comes with a cable. Not only is the 8-foot-long cable longer than that of the rest of the bunch, but it’s more powerful—capable of passing up to 240 W—and adds premium features like a woven-nylon sheath and an attached hook-and-loop cable tie.

Port 1: 140 W USB-C
Port 2: 140 W USB-C
Dimensions: 3.3 by 2.8 by 1.3 inches
USB-C cable: 8 feet, detachable

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The research

Why you should trust us

I’ve been a science journalist for more than seven years, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to satellite remote sensing. Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on power banks for phones and tablets, portable laptop chargers with USB-C ports and/or AC outlets, USB-C cables and adapters, and more. I spent nine hours researching and 26 hours testing USB-C laptop and tablet chargers for this guide alone.

The current iteration of this guide builds on extensive research and testing conducted by Nick Guy, who has covered power accessories since 2011 and reviewed them for Wirecutter for over six years.

Who this is for

This guide covers chargers for laptops that get power via a USB-C connection, specifically those that use USB Power Delivery (USB PD), a technology that lets USB-C transmit the high power required to charge a laptop. Most modern laptops—from super-slim ultrabooks to heavy-duty laptops designed for gaming, video editing, or working with lots of data—charge using USB-C.

With USB-C now nearly ubiquitous across phones, tablets, laptops, and more, you no longer have to rely on your device’s manufacturer to be the only source of a safe charger. Every computer comes with a charger, but you might still need or want another, whether to avoid carrying it to and from work or because you need to replace a broken one.

Charger speeds of popular notebook computers and tablets

Larger laptops and tablets often need more powerful chargers to fill up their batteries at top speeds.

Some tablets that charge via USB-C come with underpowered chargers, so our picks will allow you to charge them much faster. For example, the 20 W charger that comes with the largest iPad Pro will charge its battery to 18% after 30 minutes and 35% in an hour, while a 30 W or faster charger provides a 33% charge in half an hour and 65% in one hour.

If you only want to charge a phone

• The Best USB Phone ChargerNo matter what kinds of USB-powered devices you own, we have picks to power them at their fastest charging speeds.

How we picked and tested

We pored over the USB charging catalogs from a wide range of reputable brands to find the best competitors. From there, we whittled down the list based on the following criteria:

• USB-C ports with 30 W or higher output: Most laptops need at least 45 W to charge, and many can charge even faster with 60 W or more. While we mainly focused on high-powered chargers for this guide, we tested some 30 W chargers as well, since they’re often smaller and cheaper, and can still charge the MacBook Air and some Chromebooks at their highest speeds.
• USB-A ports with 12 W or QuickCharge 3.0 output (if applicable): Many USB-C chargers also include a USB-A port for legacy devices. USB-A charging maxes out at 12 W (5 volts, 2.4 amps) for Apple devices and many Android phones, while some of the latter can charge faster with Qualcomm’s QuickCharge 3.0 standard. We considered only chargers capable of this maximum output level.
• Power-to-dollar value: We considered the price of the charger relative to the total power it can deliver across its ports, ruling out models that were more expensive but didn’t offer a higher power output or extra features.
• USB-IF certification: Although we didn’t require it, certification by the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) helps bolster the credentials of a charger, signaling that it’s well made and safe, and that the company behind it has invested in its own reputation. Given two identical chargers, we’d choose the one with the certification.

To find the top options in each category, we put the finalists through a number of tests.

• USB-C ports: We used Total Phase’s USB Power Delivery Analyzer and its Data Center Software to measure and record the power rates the chargers made available to connected devices, the actual power output observed when connected, how those compared with the advertised figure, and whether there were any errors in how the charger and device talked to each other.
• USB-A ports: We tested how much power each USB-A port can provide. To do this, we plugged in a variable power load and an ammeter, which allowed us to finely control the power flow. We started with the power load set to 0 amps, then turned it up until it matched the promised amperage, ensuring the voltage stayed within 4.75 volts to 5.25 volts.
• Combined power output: After assessing each port, we tested the combined output when all of them were in use by devices that take a lot of power.
• USB-C cable testing: For the chargers that came with a USB-C cable, we used Total Phase’s Advanced Cable Tester to make sure the cable was safe and worked as labeled. Nonstandard cables have been known to cause problems, including sometimes destroying the devices they’re meant to charge. We won’t recommend a charger that comes with a cable that fails our tests.

Top pick: Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger

Top pick

Best replacement USB-C laptop or tablet charger

Nekteck 60W USB-C GaN Charger

This compact charger can power almost any USB-C laptop at top speed, and it works great for lower-powered devices, too. Despite its affordable price, it even includes a cable.

$29 from Amazon

Nekteck’s 60W USB-C GaN Charger is the best charger you can buy if you need a replacement for almost any modern laptop with a 13-inch (or smaller) screen that charges via USB-C. It’s also a great option for the iPad Pro.

It will charge your device fast, it’s small, and it’s safe, since it’s one of the few chargers (especially at its price) to be certified by the USB-IF. It’s also quite affordable—a fraction of what you’d pay Apple for a replacement—even though it includes a 6.5-foot, 60 W USB-C cable in the box.

It delivers the power it promises. The Nekteck offers enough power for almost any 13-inch laptop, including the more power-hungry 13-inch MacBook Pro.

USB-C charging is standardized into different power levels, and the most common ones used with computers and tablets are 45 W (15 volts, 3 amps) and 60 W (20 volts, 3 amps). This charger supports the former but will automatically switch to 15 W, 27 W, and 36 W rates as needed to fast-charge phones and other devices.

When plugged into a 13-inch MacBook Pro, it properly charged at 60 W with 20.4 volts. It passed the Total Phase tests, as expected.

Nekteck’s 60 W USB-C GaN Charger (right) is notably smaller than the Apple 61W USB-C Power Adapter (left), just as fast, and much less expensive. Photo: Michael Hession

It’s a bargain compared to first-party chargers. The 60W USB-C GaN Charger has often been on sale, sometimes for well under $20. Even at its historical high price of $29 (as of this writing), it still costs only a third of what Apple charges for its comparable charger and cable.

It’s such a strong value that we don’t think you should buy a lower-powered charger even if your device requires only 45 W; those slower chargers aren’t any cheaper, and the 60 W option will potentially be more useful in the future.

It comes with a great cable. It may even be worth it to buy the charger if you simply need a new cable—it comes with a great one, and the price isn’t much higher than buying one separately. USB-C charging cables have come down in price alongside USB-C chargers themselves, but good ones still normally cost $10 to $15.

The one caveat here is that the included cable supports only 60 W charging, so don’t expect to get full speed if you use it with more powerful chargers.

It’s USB-IF certified for peace of mind. Nekteck is one of the few companies with USB-IF certification across its entire product line. That means an independent lab has verified that it meets an industry-standard set of criteria for safety and performance.

Since we test all of our recommendations ourselves, we don’t rely exclusively on USB-IF certification to make a pick. But that stamp of approval on the company’s designs and adherence to USB-C standards gives the Nekteck charger another advantage over the competition.

It’s tiny and lightweight. The Nekteck charger is one of the smallest USB laptop chargers we’ve tested at this power level. Measuring 1.97 by 1.97 by 1.2 inches, it has a volume that’s about half that of Apple’s 61W USB-C Power Adapter, and it’s small enough to throw in a computer bag or a jacket pocket. Folding prongs make it that much more compact.

It comes with a solid warranty and reliable support. Nekteck’s standard warranty period is 12 months, which is plenty of time to use your charger and ensure it’s working properly. We’ve found the customer support to be helpful, both in terms of response speed and addressing our concerns.

Flaws but not dealbreakers

If you want a charger that comes in an Apple-y white or adds a pop of color to your work setup, you might be disappointed that this model comes only in black.

Even more power: Nekteck 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger

Best for…

Best for most high-powered laptops

Nekteck 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger

This model has all the power of the charger included with a 15- or 16-inch MacBook Pro but is smaller and costs much less. The included cable is removable and replaceable, in case it gets damaged.

Buy from Amazon

May be out of stock

Nekteck’s 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger provides enough power to fast-charge a 2022 or newer MacBook Air, a 2021 or newer 14-inch MacBook Pro, or a 2019 15- or 16-inch MacBook Pro, and it costs less than half the price of Apple’s 96W USB-C Power Adapter. It’s smaller, too.

You can find even smaller high-power-draw chargers, but they’re a lot more expensive than this particularly affordable model. We think it provides a great balance of price, size, and power.

The Nekteck 100W PD 3.0 GaN Wall Charger (right) is far smaller than Apple’s 96W USB-C Power Adapter (left), and much less expensive, too. Photo: Michael Hession

It has a remarkably svelte design. The square power brick is quite compact: Apple’s charger is 3.2 inches square and just over an inch thick, while Nekteck’s is 2.75 inches square and about 1.2 inches thick.

Both the Apple and Nekteck chargers have fold-out prongs, but the prongs on Nekteck’s charger can’t be removed and replaced with a longer cord as they can on an Apple charger. Like our top and runner-up picks, it comes only in black, but it has a sleek look on the whole.

It’s certified safe and accurate. Like the company’s 60 W charger, the 100 W Nekteck charger is USB-IF certified, meaning an independent lab has verified that it meets a set of criteria for safety and performance.

It has a long cable and warranty. This Nekteck charger includes a 6-foot detachable USB-C cable, adding to the value of the package. And if anything happens to the charger itself, Nekteck provides a 12-month warranty.

The most power: Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger

Best for…

Best for a 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021 or later)

Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger

With more power from one port than most models we’ve tested, this compact charger has two USB-C PD ports capable of delivering 140 W apiece or 145 W total. It’s pricey, but it comes with a long, 8-foot cable.

$77 from Best Buy

May be out of stock

Few laptops need more than 100 W to charge at top speed, but if you have one that does—like a 16-inch MacBook Pro from 2021 or later, or Dell’s XPS 15 or 17—the Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger is unparalleled.

It costs about $10 more than Apple’s version at the time of this writing, but it’s just as powerful and compact as that charger, and it has two things the Apple model doesn’t: a second USB-C port and a luxuriously long cable.

It has two powerful ports. Insignia’s charger can pump out up to 145 W total from its two USB-C ports, or up to 140 W from either port. Even if you don’t need the full 140 W for a single device, it’s nice to have some extra power to split between two devices—say, to fast-charge a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro simultaneously.

It’s small, lightweight, and sleek-looking. Like Apple’s 140W USB-C Power Adapter, Insignia’s version weighs just 10 ounces, or about as much as a standard volleyball. It’s squarish in shape, measuring 3.3 by 2.8 by 1.3 inches, and has a convenient fold-up plug.

Like our other picks, it comes in only one color—white—but its rounded edges give it a streamlined, sophisticated look.

The Insignia 140W Dual Port USB-C Compact Wall Charger (front) is smaller and lighter than Apple’s 140 W charger, and it adds a second USB-C port. Photo: Michael Hession

It’s pricey, but still a good value for what you get. Costing $110 at the time of this writing, the Insignia charger is the most expensive of our picks (by a lot), but it’s also the most powerful of the bunch, and the only one with multiple charging ports.

It comes with a standout cable. At 8 feet, the removable cable that comes with the Insignia charger is longer than those included with our other picks, and since it’s capable of passing up to 240 W, you can use it with even more powerful devices (few such devices currently exist, but it’s still a nice feature to future-proof your purchase).

The cable is covered in an extra-rugged fabric sheath, and an attached hook-and-loop cable tie helps keep it neatly coiled in your bag.

It’s been cleared by an independent third party. Like all of our picks, this cable is USB-IF certified, ensuring that it meets performance and safety specifications.

It’s backed by a solid warranty and reliable support. This charger-and-cable combo has a one-year warranty, giving you ample time to confirm it’s working properly. Insignia is Best Buy’s in-house electronics brand, and we’ve found the customer support to be helpful and responsive.

Other USB-C laptop chargers worth considering

If you have a high-powered laptop and frequently travel internationally: Get the HyperJuice 140W PD 3.1 USB-C GaN Charger. It has a 30 W USB-A port, a 100 W USB-C port, and a 140 W USB-C port (the maximum output when multiple ports are in use is 140 W). It’s more expensive than any of our picks, and it’s not USB-IF certified. But it’s lightweight, comes with a cable, has a foldable plug, and includes three international plug adapters.

If you want lots of power and ports in a portable package and you don’t need a cable: Get the Anker 747 Charger (GaNPrime 150W). It has three USB-C ports and one USB-A port with a total maximum output of 150 W. It’s small and light, has a foldable plug, and comes with an unusual accessory—a silicone stabilizer that suctions onto the wall outlet to keep the charger from getting bumped or pulled out. It’s on the pricier side, doesn’t come with a cable, and isn’t USB-IF certified, but if it suits your needs even with those trade-offs, it’s still a great charger.

If you want a charger with three USB-C ports and a super low profile: Get the Belkin Boost Charge 3 Port USB-C Wall Charger with PPS 67W (WCC002dqWH). It weighs just 3.4 ounces, has a foldable plug, and only juts out about an inch when plugged into a wall outlet. Each of its three USB-C ports has a maximum output of 67 W, or a combined output of 65 W when all three ports are in use. However, it lacks USB-A ports and isn’t USB-IF certified.

If you want a super-light charger with two USB-C ports, and you can live with less power than our picks provide: Get the Belkin BoostCharge 45W Dual USB-C Wall Charger. It weighs just 3.2 ounces, has a foldable plug, and each of its two USB-C ports has a maximum output of 45 W (or a combined output of 45 W when both ports are in use). However, it lacks USB-A ports and isn’t USB-IF certified.

Whether you’re a glued-to-your-screen smartphone owner who can never make it through a day on a full charge, or you just need an occasional battery boost, USB power banks are a panacea for low-battery anxiety.

After putting in hundreds of hours of research and testing, we’ve found that the Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K is the best power bank to charge a phone, tablet, or another small, handheld device.

It’s an all-around great portable charger that can offer you peace of mind whenever wall outlets are out of reach.

Everything we recommend

Top pick

The best power bank for phones, tablets, and more

Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K

This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.

$47 from Amazon

$47 from Walmart

Best for…

Best for a small boost of power

TravelCard Plus

This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.

$39 from TravelCard

Budget pick

Plenty of power, but no built-in cables

Scosche GoBat 10K

This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.

$30 from Amazon

$30 from Walmart

What we look for

• Powerful outputWe searched for power banks with enough wattage to ensure the fastest possible charging and recharging speeds.
• 8 ounces or lessWe sought out power banks weighing 8 ounces (half a pound) or less, making them easy to carry around in a wallet, pocket, or bag.
• High capacity ratingWe preferred power banks rated for at least 2,000 mAh and up to 10,000 mAh capacity, which tells you roughly how much battery life they hold.
• One-year warrantyWe chose power banks with a warranty of at least one year, giving you plenty of time to use it and ensure it’s not a dud.

How we picked

Top pick

The best power bank for phones, tablets, and more

Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K

This power bank is small and light, and its rounded edges make it easy to slip into a pocket. It comes in only one color, but it has two built-in cables and enough capacity to charge most smartphones up to three times.

$47 from Amazon

$47 from Walmart

The Belkin BoostCharge Plus 10K weighs about half a pound, and its rounded edges make it easy to hold or slip into a pocket.

Its USB-C Power Delivery (PD) port can charge most handheld devices and recharge itself at top speed (with the right USB-C cable and wall charger), and it can pass power to another device while being recharged from a wall outlet.

It only comes in one color, but it has enough capacity to fully charge most smartphones up to three times, as well as built-in USB-C and Lightning cables that are easy to slide in and out of their holsters.

Key specs

• Rated capacity: 10,000 mAh (36 Wh)
• Weight: 8.4 ounces
• Tested input: 19 watts (USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable)
• Tested output: 18 watts (USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C cable, or built-in Lightning cable)

Best for…

Best for a small boost of power

TravelCard Plus

This power bank is one of the smallest and lightest we’ve tested. It has a powerful USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C and Lightning cables, and a 3,000 mAh rated capacity. But it recharges slower than our other picks.

$39 from TravelCard

The TravelCard Plus has less than a third of the Belkin’s capacity, but it’s much lighter and slimmer.

Its USB-C PD port, built-in USB-C cable, and built-in Lightning cable can fast-charge most smartphones or other handheld devices (though it recharges more slowly than our other picks).

It’s just as sleek-looking and sturdy as our top pick, and it comes in a wider variety of colors.

Key specs

• Rated capacity: 3,000 mAh (15 Wh)
• Weight: 2.7 ounces
• Tested input: 7 watts (USB-C PD port or built-in USB-C cable)
• Tested output: 15 watts (built-in USB-C cable) or 10 watts (built-in Lightning cable)

Budget pick

Plenty of power, but no built-in cables

Scosche GoBat 10K

This power bank has a USB-C PD port to charge devices at top speed, as well as a USB-A port for older devices. It’s not as slim as we’d like, but it’s lightweight and can charge most phones three times.

$30 from Amazon

$30 from Walmart

If money is tight, and you can live without the convenience of built-in cables, go for the Scosche GoBat 10K.

It’s on a par with the Belkin in terms of its power, capacity, build quality, and ease of use.

It has a fast-charging USB-C PD port (input and output) and a USB-A port (output only), and unlike our other picks it comes with a USB-C charging cable.

While it has a slightly chunky shape, which makes it a bit cumbersome to stow in small spaces, it weighs less than half a pound. Plus, as of this writing, it costs a few bucks less than our other picks.

Key specs

• Rated capacity: 10,000 mAh (36 Wh)
• Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Tested input: 25 watts (USB-C PD port)
• Tested output: 20 watts (USB-C PD port) or 17 watts (USB-A port)

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The research

Why you should trust us

I’m a writer at Wirecutter focused on charging and powering. I’ve been a science journalist for over a decade, covering a wide variety of topics from particle physics to meteorology. Since joining Wirecutter in 2017, I’ve reported on EV chargers, surge protectors, wireless power banks, and more.

For this guide:

• I spent hundreds of hours researching and testing dozens of USB power banks.
• I reviewed guidance from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) on compliance standards for USB charging.
• I interviewed Isidor Buchmann, CEO of Cadex Electronics, for background on how batteries work and how to extend their lifespans.
• Like all Wirecutter journalists, I review and test products with complete editorial independence. I’m never made aware of any business implications of my editorial recommendations. Read more about our editorial standards.

Who this is for

Most people can find use for a USB power bank (also called an external battery pack, backup battery, or portable charger) to keep phones and other devices charged while on the go. Rather than tracking down a wall outlet, owning a USB power bank allows you to enjoy a conveniently portable (albeit limited) power supply.

The question is, which one best fits into your habits? Some might need only a small battery to give their phone a boost at the end of the day, while those who travel a lot may be looking to power multiple devices over the course of several days.

A wallet-sized power bank is great to keep on hand for those unexpected (yet critical) moments when your phone is dying and no outlets are nearby. But if you want something for weekend trips or a regular commute, the picks in this guide offer one or more full charges for most smartphones but can still fit easily in laptop bags, totes, purses, or even large pockets.

These power banks are robust yet portable, allowing you to charge small devices such as wireless headphones, computer mice, keyboards, vaporizers, digital cameras, and more. They are also helpful if you need a bit of backup power during a power outage or other emergency.

Strategically placing a few of these around the house isn’t a bad idea, either. You can keep one in your foyer to grab as you’re running out the door, or one near the couch for when you’re curled up cozily under a blanket and really, really don’t want to get up to plug in your phone.

For laptops and other large devices that charge via USB-C or AC, we have separate guides for power banks with much higher capacity ratings than the chargers we recommend here. For Qi-compatible devices, we also have a separate guide to the best wireless portable chargers and power banks.

Who should get this: Someone who wants a long, durable cable to charge pre-2023 iPhones, AirPods, and other Lightning-powered devices as fast as is physically possible.

Why it’s great: First and foremost, the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is great because it supports the fastest possible charging speeds. When paired with a USB-C port putting out at least 18 watts of power — like those in many of our favorite laptops, power banks, and wall chargers — the PowerLine II can charge most iPhones up to three times as fast as a USB-A–to–Lightning cable.

With a sufficiently powerful wall charger, it can bring the battery of a compatible iPhone from completely dead up to 50% in 30 minutes, whereas Apple’s standard cable and charger can get it to just 17% in the same time period (as we found in tests we ran with an iPhone XR). Batteries charge at an inconstant rate, but this figure roughly translates to a full phone charge in an hour, in contrast to three hours.

This cable is MFi-certified, which means Apple has confirmed that it will perform optimally (in terms of charging and data-transfer capabilities) with its Lightning-powered devices. Lightning cables that lack this certification — such as the kind you might buy at a gas station — aren’t necessarily much cheaper, and with those, you run the risk of experiencing slower charging or even damaging your devices.

The rubber sheath encasing the PowerLine II is smooth yet grippy, and it’s quite durable, holding up after more than a year of daily wear and tear in our testing. When we plugged both ends of each cable into a variety of devices, we observed minimal wiggling; that stability ensures a solid connection for charging and data transfer.

The cable’s housings — the parts that connect the metal plugs to the body of the cable — are the sturdiest and most comfortable to grip of any we’ve tested. Made of a single piece of matte-textured rubber, the housings provide ample room for you to grasp the plug firmly while you’re plugging and unplugging, which is the best way to avoid fraying and breakage.

A nonessential, but no less valuable, component of this cable is the hook-and-loop tie it comes with. The tie is convenient and easy to use, ensuring that the cable won’t come uncoiled inside your bag or become a tangled mess under your desk.

Unlike most Lightning cables, this one is a luxurious 10 feet long. If you frequently charge your phone far away from an outlet — for instance, while lying in bed, lounging on the couch, or killing time by your gate at the airport — the extra length is a game changer.

If you prefer a shorter cable, the 3-foot version of this cable is slim and compact, and it can coil up small to fit in a pocket or purse. Likewise, the 6-foot version is well suited for carrying in a backpack or briefcase, or for staying put in a desktop or bedside charging setup.

All three versions are available in black or white, and they’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty. Also, as of this writing, the 3-foot and 6-foot cables cost less than their Apple counterparts — and Apple doesn’t make a 10-foot Lightning cable.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Our one complaint is that the Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable isn’t quite as slim as some others we tested, including Apple’s Lightning cables. But since it’s still one of the most compact options, and it outdid the competition in every other way, we’re okay with a little extra bulk.

The best Lightning cable for USB-A ports: Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet)

Top pick

The best Lightning cable for USB-A ports

Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet)

This cable charges more slowly than our pick for USB-C ports. But similar to that cable, it’s MFi-certified, sturdily built, comfortable to grip, backed by a lifetime warranty, and long enough to reach from a wall outlet to a nightstand, couch, or desk.

$17 from Amazon

$16 from Walmart

Other available lengths: 1 foot, 3 feet, 6 feet

Who should get this: Someone who primarily uses wall chargers, power banks, and other devices with USB-A ports — and who can live without getting the fastest possible charge — but still wants an otherwise great cable.

Why it’s great: The Anker PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable (10 feet) is the best USB-A–to–Lightning cable we’ve found. It’s MFi-certified, so (as with our other pick) Apple has confirmed that it can reach top charging speeds (when paired with a charger that can crank out up to 12 W of power) and full USB 2.0 data-transfer rates (up to 480 Mbps) with any of the company’s Lightning-powered devices.

This cable is available in a variety of lengths, making it convenient for a variety of needs. The 1-foot version and the 3-foot version are small and compact enough to pack up and take with you.

The 6-foot version is a good length to reach from a wall outlet to a desk, bedside table, or kitchen countertop without adding unnecessary clutter. And our favorite of the bunch, the 10-foot version, adds even more length to accommodate hard-to-reach outlets.

Like its fast-charging fraternal twin, the PowerLine II USB-A to Lightning Cable has a smooth yet grippy exterior, and it comes with a hook-and-loop cable tie to keep it securely coiled and organized. Its housings have a curvaceous shape and a pleasantly soft, matte texture, both of which make them comfortable to hold while you’re plugging and unplugging. The metal connectors slide easily into corresponding ports, and they maintain a solid connection once inserted.

All four length configurations of this cable are available in black and white. They’re backed by Anker’s lifetime warranty, and they even cost a few bucks less than their USB-C–to–Lightning brethren, as of this writing.

Flaws but not dealbreakers: Most notably, you don’t get the fastest possible charge with this cable; a USB-C–to–Lightning cable can charge most iPhones up to three times as fast. But if you don’t already have a wall charger or power bank with fast-charging USB-C ports at home, or if you just want to have a USB-A–to–Lightning cable on hand to use in a pinch, this one is your best bet.

Also note that when we ran this cable through the Total Phase Advanced Cable Tester, it reported a signal-integrity error (one of three types of errors the tester is designed to detect). However, such errors cropped up with many cables we tested with this device, especially those longer than 3 feet (power and data have to travel farther in a longer cable, which can slightly degrade the signal) and the impact on charging or data-transfer speeds is likely to be too minor for most people to notice.