The best MagSafe battery packs ride piggyback on your iPhone, making it easy to recharge on the go. (Rick Broida/Yahoo)
Everyone needs a power boost from time to time, and I'm not talking about that afternoon espresso shot. If your phone's battery can't last the day, the flight, the train ride, etc., it's a good idea to keep a spare close at hand. Many such mobile chargers, also known as power banks or portable battery packs, require a cord, but anyone packing an iPhone 12 or later can take advantage of Apple's MagSafe technology and just snap one to the back. (Three cheers for magnets!) If you've shopped for these at all, you've discovered there are hundreds of options out there. Below, I've highlighted what I consider the best MagSafe packs. (Spoiler alert: I'm partial to those that can do a little more than just charge your phone.)
As a tech expert I'm also partial to the newer Qi2 (pronounced "Chee two") spec for these products, which supports, among other things, faster charging (up to 15 watts) and intelligent power management to help prevent overheating. The latter may be an important consideration, as incidents involving power-bank fires seem to be on the rise. The flipside is that Qi2-certified batteries tend to cost a bit more.
And one quick order of magnet business: Do you keep your phone in a case? (You should, of course.) If so, that case needs to be MagSafe-compatible so the charger will snap onto it and still be able to magically deliver the power to your phone. If you're not sure, look for the telltale "magnifying glass" design on the inside or outside of the case. See the photo in the FAQ section, below. (Pro tip: This kind of case will also allow iPhone 16e owners to leverage MagSafe, because the phone itself doesn't support it.)
By the way, if you're new to MagSafe, we have a tutorial on how to use it. And if you're ready to look beyond batteries, check out our roundup of the best MagSafe accessories for your iPhone.
Update, Aug. 8, 2025: We checked all product prices and availability. A few products were removed due to being discontinued or out of stock, including our previous number-one pick for best MagSafe battery pack. We have a new selection there and several other new additions to the list.
A previous version of this roundup included two battery packs that we tested and liked — but both have since disappeared from Amazon, either discontinued or permanently out of stock.
Aoguerbe Magnetic Power Bank: A solid budget pick with a 10,000-mAh battery, digital display and sub-$30 price tag. We found a suitable replacement in the Azmuth product, above.
Eazpower Magsafe 5-in-1 Portable Charger: I was pretty sweet on this one; it included support for wireless AirPods/Apple Watch charging, plus built-in cables and a kickstand — all for a pretty reasonable price.
Capacity: The capacity of a MagSafe battery pack — measured in millampere-hours (or mAh) — is perhaps the single most important consideration. The higher the number, the more juice the battery has, meaning more charges for your phones. But, that also means a thicker, heavier power bank. As you'll note above, the typical capacities these days are 5,000 or 10,000 mAh.
Number of ports: A battery pack will usually have at least one USB-C port for recharging its own battery, but you can also use that port to charge a device other than your iPhone. A few add a USB Type-A port into the mix for compatibility with older devices.
Qi2 certification: A battery pack that's Qi2-certified has been tested and approved by the Wireless Power Consortium (WPC) to meet specific standards for safety, performance, and interoperability. As noted in the introduction, that means faster and more efficient charging and less risk of overheating.
Warranty: Batteries don't last forever, so having a battery pack with a longer warranty can be beneficial. Some include up to 24 months of warranty coverage, while others cover you for only 6 months. You’ll want to read through the warranty to understand what’s covered and what isn’t covered.
These wireless charging pads are handy little gadgets that use magnets instead of cords or lightning cables to connect to your iPhone. Just how much power do these portable power banks pack compared to other wireless chargers? Three of the four products listed here have 10,000-mAh batteries, which should be good for at least two complete iPhone recharges. (For reference, the iPhone 14 Plus incorporates a 4,325-mAh battery.)
The case that you keep your smartphone in must be MagSafe-compatible so the charger will snap onto it and still be able to magically deliver the wireless charging power. Look for the telltale "magnifying glass" design on the inside or outside of a MagSafe case to make sure it's compatible with the power bank.
Good news: If you love your existing case but it doesn't support MagSafe, there's an inexpensive upgrade kit you can buy.
One more thing to note: All four candidates for best MagSafe charging pack come with a USB-C cable, but to actually recharge any of them, you'll also need a USB-C AC adapter, which is not included. If you already have a fast charging power bank that can produce at least 5V/3A, go ahead and use it. Otherwise, here's a dual-port USB AC adapter 2-pack for just $24 (because you can always use a spare).
No. Apple designed MagSafe chargers to prevent overcharging. Once it’s fully charged, the battery pack will adjust to a maintenance mode instead of a constant charge mode.
In most cases, yes! Some can even charge AirPods that have wireless charging cases. At a minimum, any power bank that has a USB-C port can be used to charge just about any device (provided you have the right cable): Android phones, headphones, portable speakers and so on. What's more, MagSafe is primarily an Apple term, but the core technology behind it — Qi wireless charging — is compatible with some phones from Google, LG and Samsung, to name a few.
They're both based on magnets, but MagSafe for MacBooks is just for power: It's a magnetic connector that snaps onto the laptop for charging purposes. MagSafe for iPhone can be used for charging as well (natch, given this entire story), but also for things like grips, wallets, car mounts and more.
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