Best Power Banks with Pass-Through Charging

The external battery of the little-known brand Intenso is a simple budget solution for everyday use: for example, when your smartphone runs out of battery during a trip or the electricity is cut off at home for a short time. Its main feature is its ultra-compact dimensions - 102x65x23 mm, as well as a weight of just over 200 g. The power bank fits easily in your hand and even in a jacket pocket and does not take up much space in a small women's bag. Of course, with such dimensions, you should not count on a large capacity. The nominal capacity is 10,000 mAh, but more than 30% is spent on the charging process itself, so in the end about 6,300 mAh remains. This is enough to charge a smartphone one and a half or even a couple of times or fully charge a tablet once (if enough).

The power bank is convenient to use not only due to its compactness, but also due to the built-in USB C cable. To prevent damage, it is hidden inside the case, but is ready to charge various devices at any time. Again, due to the small size of the device, the cable is quite short, which is not very convenient in some situations: for example, if you decide to play a mobile game while charging your smartphone.

In addition to the built-in cable, the portable battery is also equipped with USB A and USB C ports. The first is designed for charging third-party gadgets, the second is for the power bank itself. Thus, you can simultaneously charge two devices, and pass-through charging allows you to charge the battery itself at the same time. The output power is small - 15 W, but, nevertheless, this is enough so that the charging process does not last too long.

There are no complaints about the design either: the case is made of plastic, there are classic black and white colors to choose from, the manufacturer gave preference to a minimalist style. There is nothing superfluous here - only a small logo, a single control button and indicators that signal the battery charge level.

The BASEUS brand powerbank battery is notable for its informative display. It displays data on the current charge level of the lithium-polymer battery in percent. The case is made of plastic and has dimensions of 153x69x17 mm, which does not exclude carrying in wide pockets and almost any handbag. The model weighs about 250 grams, which is the norm for solutions with 10 thousand mAh.

BASEUS Bipow 15W 10000 is equipped with four ports. One microUSB connector serves to power the power bank itself. Type C is ready to work both as an input and as an output. There are 2 classic USB ports for charging mobile devices. If necessary, three gadgets can be powered at once, plus a pass-through charging function is declared, so the lack of sockets “at hand” will definitely not be a problem.

The maximum input and output power of the charger is indicated in the name itself and is shown on the case - 15 W (5V/3A). This can be considered a standard indicator today. The disadvantages of the sub-bank include increased energy conversion costs. Thus, from the declared 10,000 mAh, 5800 mAh will actually be given, which is about 10% inferior to the capabilities of the main competitors.

Overall, BASEUS Bipow 15W 10000 is a good choice at the junction of the entry-level and mid-price segments, capable of “serving” a full set of user gadgets, including smart watches or Bluetooth headphones.

The 2025 debutant in the Belkin line is a portable battery with 10 thousand mAh. It is stated that the model will charge the iPhone 15 Pro almost twice or 1.5 times - the Samsung Galaxy S24.

One of the key benefits of the Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with USB-C Cable is the built-in Type C cable, so you don't have to carry extra wires.

The model provides another bidirectional USB C port. Both available interfaces support Power Delivery 3.0 fast charging technology, which will provide input and output power of 20 W. In practice, this means that the same iPhone 15 Pro will charge from 0 to 50% in just 26 minutes. When connecting two devices at once, the power characteristics drop and will total 15 W. By the way, in Pass-through mode, the connected smartphone or other gadget will also be able to receive 15 W.

The disadvantages of the model include a short built-in cable (length 5.7 cm), which is partly due to the overall compactness (99x64x23 mm). In the main scenario (paired with a smartphone), this will not be a problem, but when connecting two devices at the same time, inconveniences may arise.

Belkin BoostCharge Power Bank 10K with USB-C Cable is a solid power bank with up-to-date interfaces.

In the Energy line of the Varta brand, the 10,000 mAh model occupies an intermediate position, because the manufacturer offers solutions of both smaller (from 5,000) and larger (up to 20 thousand mAh) capacity. The lithium-polymer battery of the power bank, taking into account various losses for conversion, will give gadgets 6,300 mAh. This is enough for one full charge cycle of almost any smartphone.

The top panel of the Varta Power Bank Energy 10000 is white, and the rest of the surfaces are gray. The plastic case is complemented by textured inserts and simple controls - one button + four charge level indicators.

On one of the edges of the power bank case there are four connectors: two standard output USB A, input microUSB (a cable is offered for it in the delivery set) and universal USB type C. If necessary, the model is capable of charging three gadgets at once, and also supports pass-through mode: when connected to the network, both the Powerbank battery itself and the "consumers" are charged. Low-current power supply is also possible, which means compatibility with smart watches and fitness bracelets.

The accessory does not support fast charging protocols, so the maximum power characteristics are limited to the standard 15 W (with a current of no more than 3 A).

Varta Power Bank Energy 10000 is a power bank without anything extra, but with a reasonable price tag.

One of the main features of the Ugreen brand power bank is the presence of a platform for wireless charging. It is declared to have a power of up to 15 W, which is a decent indicator for power supply "over the air". Ugreen PB206 is also equipped with a magnetic MagSafe mount, which provides a strong fixation of mobile gadgets, and in the case of iPhone and AirPods, also optimal parameters of the charging process.

The model is complemented by a stand for a smartphone, which will allow, for example, to free your hands when watching videos or reading the news.

The power bank has two ports - an output USB A and a universal Type C. Both have adaptive support for popular fast charging protocols, including Quick Charge 3.0 and Power Delivery 3.0. With one device connected, 22.5 W can be delivered via USB A, and 20 W via Type C, reducing the duration of the power cycle. If necessary, three devices can be charged simultaneously - two with a wire and one in the wireless zone, but then the total power will not exceed 15 W.

It will take about 3.5 hours to refill the power bank's capacity (10,000 mAh). Plus, pass-through charging is available to simultaneously charge mobile devices.

The disadvantages of the model include the high price, but if you need a very functional Powerbank battery, then the extra charge for the Ugreen PB206 seems justified.