I Take This Portable Charger Everywhere I Travel and It's 33% Off Right Now
In my opinion, this charger is a worthwhile buy even at its full retail price of $48. But right now you can get every color for a solid discount of about 33% off. The cheapest option is dark gray, which is on sale for $32, while all other colors -- lavender, white, mint green and pale blue -- are all available for $34.
Here's why I've stuck with this little charger for so long
Have you seen people walk around with a loop of cable hanging from their pocket to their phone? I've been there and hooked that loop on too many chairs and table corners. Never again. The ring of magnets in the Anker 622 MagGo aligns with the MagSafe magnets in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, latching securely and charging without wires. (The notable exception is the iPhone 16E, which does not offer MagSafe but does charge wirelessly using Qi technology. The Anker 622 MagGo will charge the iPhone 16E but won't latch to it magnetically.)
It's also compact -- a little backpack feeding power to the phone while you're holding it or have it stashed in a pocket, even a jeans pocket if your fit isn't too tight.
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Those features alone would have convinced me but the Anker 622 also includes a fold-out back flap that props up my iPhone and can also hold the phone in its wide orientation for StandBy mode. With a power adapter such as the Anker Nano Pro (not included) and a charging cable, I've taught long classes with the phone angled to help me keep track of the time without checking my watch.
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Essential Anker 622 MagGo specs
Here's what you need to know.
Battery capacity: 5,000 milliamp hours
5,000 milliamp hours Voltage: 1.55 volts
1.55 volts Output: 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time.
7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time. Input: The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device.
The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device. Size: 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch
4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch Weight: 5 ounces
5 ounces Included: Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable
Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable Warranty: 24 months
MagSafe-compatible charging
I've owned several battery chargers and each one has some sort of compromise. They're bulky. They require a cable. They charge wirelessly but don't include a magnet to keep the phone in place so it's hard to maintain that connection. There's always something.
The Anker 622 is half an inch thick and snaps onto the back of my iPhone using the MagSafe-aligned magnets. I don't have to turn it on to start charging -- power flows as soon as the connection is made.
Now, this isn't the highest-capacity (5,000 mAh) or fastest portable charger. That's fine. What I usually need is a way to eke out a few more hours of battery life on my iPhone. I can typically get a full top-off of my iPhone 15 Pro.
The Anker 622 MagGo is smaller than an iPhone 15 Pro.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
Making a stand
The other appealing feature of the Anker 622 MagGo for me is its built-in stand. Honestly, it doesn't look like it should work well: It's a fabric-covered set of plastic pieces that lie flush against the case, folds in two places and attaches to the back of the unit with a magnetic strip when extended. Yet I've had no problems with the stability of my iPhone 15 Pro or even the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max size.
The stand on the Anker 622 MagGo slides down and adheres with a magnetic strip.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
This also lets me use standby mode by turning the iPhone to landscape orientation (the magnets are strong enough to hold the phone in place) when it's on a table or desk.
Flip the iPhone horizontally to take advantage of StandBy mode while charging.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
Smart port placement matters
The charger gets its juice from a single USB-C port, which is positioned on the edge of the case, not the bottom. That means you can replenish it while the stand is open -- many chargers' ports are stuck on the bottom.
Having the USB-C port on the side keeps it accessible even when in its stand configuration.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
That USB-C port also acts as a charger for other devices when you plug in a cable, such as when your Apple Watch needs a boost.
Charge other devices, such as an Apple Watch, from the Anker 622's USB-C port.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
How the Anker 622 MagGo compares to similar power banks
Before getting the Anker 622 MagGo, I carried an Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which doubles the battery capacity, includes a USB-A port and charges wirelessly but without magnets to hold the phone in place. That meant if I didn't use a cable, the phone and charger needed to be stable and level; too often I'd find the iPhone slid off its wireless perch and not charged. It's also larger and heavier. I still use it, but it's the power bank that goes into my carry-on suitcase as a backup charger.
The Anker 622 MagGo is much smaller and lighter than my old reliable Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which is now a solid backup.
Jeff Carlson/CNET
Since I've owned this Anker 622 MagGo, the company has released a few updated models. The $60 Anker 633 packs 10,000 mAh into a thicker brick, includes a USB-A port in addition to USB-C and has a metal kickstand for resting the phone upright.
You can also consider getting the chunkier Anker MagGo Power Bank that delivers 10,000 mAh and follows the same idea of compact magnetic charging and a convenient kickstand. Its main appeals are faster 15-watt magnetic charging and Qi2 compatibility, plus a small display on the side that reports the battery capacity and an estimate of the remaining battery in hours.
(Note that some Anker power banks were part of a recent recall. Be sure to claim your free replacement or gift card if you own one of the affected devices sold between 2016 and 2022.)
For more smart buys, check out this amazing multitool and a portable TV that can go anywhere.
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