Anker 737 Power Bank Review
Anker 737. Still the 140W benchmark?
Three years on, still one of the fastest flight-safe power banks you can buy. Heavy, ageing in places, and still an easy recommendation.
The bottom line
The Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) built its reputation on one number: 140W. Few banks under the 100Wh flight limit deliver it from a single USB-C port, and fewer still accept it back in for a 1 to 1.5 hour self-recharge. The case against it: 630g, an 18W USB-A port, and Anker’s own Prime line above it. For 140W laptop charging from a bag, it remains an easy recommendation. Our score: 7.0 out of 10.
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Key takeaways
140W
From one port. PD 3.1 with 28V/5A support still puts the 737 in the top tier of sub-100Wh banks in 2026.
1.5h
Self-recharge. 1 to 1.5 hours with a 140W wall charger, per Anker. Most rivals need 2 hours or more.
86.4Wh
Flight safe. Comfortably under the 100Wh carry-on threshold, so it flies with you. Hand luggage only.
630g
The trade-off. This is a bag bank, not a pocket bank.
Display
It earns its keep. Live wattage in and out, battery health, cycle count.
5A
Cable matters. You need a 5A e-marked USB-C cable to see the full 140W. A standard 60W cable silently caps it.
Quick specs
| Capacity | 24,000mAh / 86.4Wh |
| Max output | 140W (USB-C, PD 3.1) |
| Ports | 2x USB-C (140W), 1x USB-A (18W) |
| Recharge | 140W input, 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Weight | 630g |
| Size | 155.7 x 54.6 x 49.5mm |
| Display | Smart digital display |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Our verdicts combine hands-on testing by the SGK team with trusted independent lab data and the manufacturer’s published specifications. Hard figures on this page are drawn from Anker’s official A1289 product page and Anker support documentation. See how we test and score.
First impressions
The 737 makes no attempt to hide what it is: a dense, glossy black brick with a screen. Pick it up and the 630g registers immediately. That heft bought something rare when it launched, and mostly still does: laptop-class charging that clears airport security without a second glance.
The screen is what wins people over. Most banks give you four LEDs and a guess. The 737 shows exactly how many watts are flowing in and out, the battery’s health percentage and its cycle count. If your laptop is charging slowly, the display tells you why before you’ve opened a settings menu.
Design and build
The chunky-brick format is a deliberate trade. Anker packed 24,000mAh and a 140W-capable board into a shape that stands upright on a desk, survives being thrown into a rucksack, and sheds heat through a solid shell rather than a slim one.
Two things to know before you buy. First, the display: left switched on permanently, the bank can drain roughly 15 percent in 24 hours just powering the screen, a behaviour Anker documents in its own product FAQ. Treat the display as a check-in tool rather than a permanent dashboard and standby drain is a non-issue. Second, the USB-A port sits at 18W, which in 2026 makes it strictly a phone-and-earbuds port. Everything serious happens over USB-C.
Charging performance
The headline: Anker rates both USB-C ports at 140W using Power Delivery 3.1, which steps up to 28V at 5A. That 28V step is the whole trick. Older PD 3.0 banks top out at 20V/5A, which is 100W. PD 3.1’s extended power range is what lets a bank this size feed a 16-inch laptop at full tilt.
“My phone charger is tiny and does the job. Why would I carry something this big and this powerful?”
Alan’s answer: because this isn’t a phone charger, it’s a laptop’s wall plug in your bag. 140W refills a MacBook while you keep working, not just a phone overnight, and the 24,000mAh holds enough for a full laptop charge plus a couple of phone top-ups. If a phone is all you ever carry, it’s more bank than you need, and a lighter one will make you happier. If a laptop travels with you, this one replaces the charger and the hunt for a free socket.
Here’s the bit the spec sheet doesn’t spell out: you only get 140W if every link in the chain speaks EPR. That means a PD 3.1 device, and critically a 5A e-marked USB-C cable. Plug in a standard 60W cable and the 737 quietly caps itself, and the display shows you the lower number. It’s the most common reason owners think their unit is faulty. It usually isn’t. The cable is.
One more honest number: the 140W is a combined budget across ports, not 140W per port at the same time. Charge a laptop and a phone together and the bank splits its output. For a single-device push, it’s as fast as flight-safe banks get.
Pass-through charging
The 737 charges itself while charging your devices, so it can sit on a desk as a small overnight charging hub. Pass-through shares the same power budget, so expect slower device charging while the bank fills itself.
Recharging the Anker 737
Feed it from a 140W wall charger and Anker rates the self-recharge at 1 to 1.5 hours, which remains one of the fastest figures in the category. From a more common 65W charger you’re looking at roughly double that. Still respectable for 24,000mAh.
Portability and travel
Let’s be honest about the 630g. That’s two modern smartphones strapped together. In a laptop bag you won’t notice it. In a jacket pocket you will. If your real use case is topping up a phone on a commute, the 737 is the wrong tool, and our Anker Nano 10K review covers the right one.
Darleene: the big bank only earns its place in my bag when a laptop or an iPad is coming too. For a phone alone I’d resent carrying it. That’s the honest test for anything this size.
Quick answers
- Weight630g
- Dimensions155.7 x 54.6 x 49.5mm
- Watt-hours86.4Wh, flight-safe (under the 100Wh carry-on limit)
- Phone chargesAbout 4 full charges, roughly 3 for a Max-size phone
- Laptop chargingMost of one 16-inch laptop charge, or a full 13-inch charge with room to spare
Want it for your exact device? Try the mAh to Wh calculator, or see our best laptop power banks roundup.
Flying with the Anker 737
At 86.4Wh it sits comfortably under the 100Wh threshold that UK CAA, EU and US rules apply to carry-on power banks. You don’t need airline approval. It must travel in your hand luggage, never checked baggage. Rules shift and some airlines add their own limits, so check before you fly: our power banks on planes guide keeps the current rules in one place.
Full specifications
| Model | Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K), A1289 |
| Capacity | 24,000mAh / 86.4Wh |
| USB-C port 1 | 140W max, PD 3.1 (5V/9V/15V/20V at up to 5A, 28V/5A) |
| USB-C port 2 | 140W max, PD 3.1 |
| USB-A port | 18W max |
| Max combined output | 140W |
| Input (recharge) | 140W via USB-C, 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Pass-through | Yes |
| Display | Smart digital display: wattage in/out, battery health, cycles |
| Weight | 630g |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 54.6 x 49.5mm |
| Built-in cable | No |
| Airline status | 86.4Wh, under the 100Wh carry-on threshold |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Sources: Anker A1289 official specifications (linked above); Amazon UK listing for regional confirmation.
Safety and certifications
The 737 carries the CE and UKCA conformity markings required for the UK and EU markets, and Anker backs it with a 24-month warranty registered directly with the brand. Anker’s safety record across its power bank range is one of the strongest reasons the 737 stays recommendable as it ages.
Why we scored it 7.0
Charging Speed (8.5) carries the score. 140W out and 140W in remains a rare pairing under 100Wh, and PD 3.1 support keeps it relevant for current laptops. Carry Rating (6.5) and Value for Money (6.5) pull it back: 630g is a commitment, and with the Prime line above it and aggressive rivals beside it, the 737’s value case now leans on the discounting it regularly sees. Port & Cable Design (7) reflects two proper USB-C ports and a useful display, set against a dated USB-A port and the unavoidable 5A cable requirement. A holistic 7.0: recommended, with eyes open.
Pros
- Genuine 140W output and input, still top-tier for a flight-safe bank
- Self-recharge in 1 to 1.5 hours
- The display turns guesswork into numbers
- Two high-wattage USB-C ports
- 24-month warranty
Cons
- 630g and bulky for everyday carry
- USB-A stuck at 18W
- Needs a 5A e-marked cable for full speed
- Superseded by Anker’s Prime line at the top of the range
Verdict
Buy the Anker 737 if
- You charge a USB-C laptop away from the mains
- You fly with your gear and want a flight-safe 86.4Wh bank
- You want the fastest self-recharge in the category from a brand with a long safety record
Skip it if
- You mainly top up a phone (a 10K bank is half the weight)
- You want the newest platform (Anker’s Prime 26K is the successor)
- Slimness matters more than raw wattage
How the Anker 737 power bank compares
| Anker 737 | INIU B64 140W | UGREEN 145W | Baseus Blade 140W | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 24,000mAh / 86.4Wh | 27,000mAh / 99.9Wh | 25,000mAh / 90Wh | 24,000mAh / 88.8Wh |
| Max output | 140W | 140W | 145W | 140W |
| Form factor | Chunky brick + display | Brick | Brick | Ultra-slim blade |
| Flight safe | Yes | Yes, at the limit | Yes | Yes |
The INIU pushes capacity right up to the 100Wh line, the UGREEN nudges peak output, and the Baseus trades the brick for a laptop-sleeve slab. None of them matches the 737’s recharge speed or its display.
The step-up: Anker Prime 26K
Anker’s Prime 26K 300W is the 737’s true successor: more capacity, dramatically more combined output, a newer platform. It’s also a different class of purchase. If your budget stretches and you want the current flagship, that’s the direction of travel. The 737 is the value play in the same family.
Alternatives worth a look
Anker 87W Power Bank (A1383)
Slightly lower peak wattage, similar capacity class, often the smarter buy for 65W-class laptops.
Read our review
Anker A1695 (25K, built-in cables)
The newer travel-first option with built-in USB-C cables and similar capacity.
Read our reviewFrequently asked questions
Can I take the Anker 737 on a plane?
How long does the Anker 737 take to recharge?
What cable do I need to get 140W?
How much does the Anker 737 weigh?
How many watt-hours is the Anker 737?
How many phone charges does it give?
Why is my 737 losing charge overnight?
Will it charge a MacBook Pro at full speed?
The long-service tool
The Anker 737 has aged the way good tools age: the numbers that made it special are still uncommon, and the compromises are still the same ones. If 140W in a bag is the job, it remains one of the safest recommendations we can make. To see how it stacks up across the whole category, start with our best power banks roundup.
Written by Alan, everyday-tested with Darleene
Alan handles the specs, the protocols and the travel-day testing. Darleene is the non-geek gut-check on whether a bit of kit is worth the weight and the money. Read how we test and score.
