This page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) Best for long-haul travel
The Anker 737 PowerCore 24K (model A1289) is the 140W power bank I reach for when I’m flying long-haul with a laptop, a phone and a tablet that all need topping up. In this Anker 737 review, I cover charging performance, airline compliance, rubric scoring and who should actually buy it. It runs two USB-C ports at 140W on PD 3.1, holds 86.4Wh inside the 100Wh airline carry-on rule, and recharges in roughly an hour. It scores 6.8/10 on the SGK rubric: top of the class on charging speed, mid-tier on carry rating thanks to a 630g brick form factor that trades pocketability for raw capability.
Tested across multiple long-haul flights and a working week of mixed-device charging.
See how we test power banks. This Anker 737 review focuses on real-world use: long-haul travel, laptop charging under load, and whether the 140W spec holds up outside controlled conditions.
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 24,000mAh |
| Max output | 140W |
| Weight | 632g |
| Recharge time | ~1.5 hours |
| Ports | 2x USB-C, 1x USB-A |
| Built-in cable | No |
Source: https://www.anker.com/products/a1289
Design and build
The first thing that stands out in any Anker 737 review is the form factor: this is a deliberate trade of pocket-friendliness for raw output. The 737 looks and feels like a small brick. At 630g and 155.7 × 54.6 × 49.5mm, it sits in a backpack pocket rather than a jacket. The smart digital display on the side reports total input, total output, battery cycle and battery health, which is useful when you’re trying to work out whether a cable is throttling or the bank itself is the bottleneck. Build quality is what you expect from Anker’s premium line: dense casing, tight ports, no flex or rattle. It’s an honest design. The 737 doesn’t hide what it is. It’s a high-output workhorse bank you carry on purpose.
Charging performance
The 737 has two USB-C ports, both rated 140W with PD 3.1, and a third USB-A port at 18W. Combined output caps at 140W, so charging two laptops at once isn’t on the menu. On paper, 86.4Wh at the typical 15% transfer loss leaves around 73.4Wh of usable energy. That’s a calculated estimate, not a stopwatch test, but it’s the realistic figure to plan around.
How fast does the Anker 737 charge?
A long Delhi layover is what convinced me the 737 earns its weight. 11 hours with a tablet, a phone and a pair of noise-cancelling earbuds, and the bank ran a video call, a film, and three phone top-ups without dipping below 30%. The 86.4Wh figure puts it well inside the 100Wh threshold most carriers apply for unapproved batteries, so it’s typically within carry-on limits, but always check your airline before you fly. For the broader airline-by-airline picture, can you take a power bank on a plane? covers it in detail.
To pull a real 140W you need a 5A EPR-rated USB-C cable. Most travel cables are rated to 60W or 100W and will silently negotiate down. Paired with a matched 140W wall charger, the 737 itself recharges in 1 to 1.5 hours. The smart display makes the shortfall obvious if something in the chain cannot keep up: the input reading will tell you before the recharge time does.
| Device | Battery (approx) | Full charges |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone 16 | 13Wh | ~5.6 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | 19Wh | ~3.9 |
| iPad Pro 11-inch | 31Wh | ~2.4 |
Calculated estimates based on manufacturer specs and typical USB-C transfer losses. Real-world charge counts vary with cable quality, ambient temperature, and device condition.
We tested the Anker 737 across multiple long-haul flights and a five-day working week of mixed-device charging. See how we test power banks for our full methodology.
How the Anker 737 compares to the Anker Prime 26K 300W
The Prime 26K 300W is Anker’s official successor and the bank you should weigh against the 737 if you’re buying today. The headline differences are output and capacity: the Prime pushes 300W combined across three USB-C ports, has a slightly larger 96Wh battery, and sits at flagship pricing. The 737, now mid-cycle in its lifespan, sits at premium pricing and gives you 140W single-port performance with a known service record. For a single laptop and a phone, the 737 is more than enough. If you’re routinely powering two laptops or a laptop plus a portable monitor, the Prime is the upgrade that matters. Read the Anker Prime 26K review for the full comparison.
Anker 737 Review Specifications
| Capacity | 24,000mAh / 86.4Wh |
| Max single-port output | 140W (PD 3.1) |
| Max combined output | 140W |
| USB-C port 1 | 140W (PD 3.1) |
| USB-C port 2 | 140W (PD 3.1) |
| USB-A port | 18W |
| Input / recharge | 140W |
| Recharge time | 1 to 1.5 hours |
| Weight | 630g |
| Dimensions | 155.7 x 54.6 x 49.5mm |
| Built-in cable | No |
| Display | Smart Digital Display |
| Charging protocols | PD 3.1 |
| Warranty | 24 months |
Source: https://www.anker.com/products/a1289
Anker 737 review score: why we rated it 6.8/10
The SGK Expert Score weighs four categories: Charging Speed, Carry Rating, Value for Money and Cable Design. Here’s how the 737 lands in each.
Charging Speed (30%). Two USB-C ports rated 140W with PD 3.1 is the realistic top of the class for a single bank. A MacBook Pro 16-inch hits its full input rate, and the recharge time of 1 to 1.5 hours puts it ahead of most bricks at this capacity. Charging Speed is where the 737 earns most of its score.
Carry Rating (25%). 630g and a 155.7 × 54.6 × 49.5mm footprint is the trade-off you accept for the output. The 86.4Wh capacity is well inside airline carry-on rules, which matters more than grams shaved when you’re flying. Carry Rating is decent rather than great.
Value for Money (25%). With the Anker Prime 26K 300W now occupying the flagship slot, the 737 sits at premium pricing rather than flagship pricing. For someone who needs 140W and not 300W, that’s a strong value position. Buyers who only need 60W or 100W can get away with a smaller, cheaper bank.
Cable Design (20%). No built-in cable. To hit 140W you need a 5A EPR-rated USB-C cable, and most travel cables are rated to 60W or 100W. The bank itself is excellent, but the cable dependency is a known friction point and pulls the score back here.
That 6.8/10 is where this Anker 737 review lands: excellent for its intended use case, not a universal recommendation.
The Anker 737 review score of 6.8/10 reflects a bank that gets the things that matter right: 140W charging inside the 100Wh airline carry-on limit, fast self-recharge, and a known service record. It scores well on charging speed and airline compliance, and concedes on weight and form factor. If you want a slim, pocketable bank or only need 60W to 100W, look elsewhere.
Alternatives
If this Anker 737 review has ruled it out for your use case, these three alternatives are worth a look.
- Anker Prime 26K 300W is the official successor with 300W combined output and a 96Wh battery, the right pick if you charge two devices at high wattage simultaneously.
- INIU B64 140W power bank sits right at the 100Wh airline limit and matches the 737’s 140W ceiling, useful if you want every available watt-hour on board.
- Baseus Blade 140W brings a flat, sleeve-friendly form factor that the boxy 737 deliberately doesn’t compete in.
How does the Anker 737 140w compare?
96Wh Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K) Best for long-haul travel
What you need to get the full 140W out of your Anker 737
The first time I used the 737 on a long trip, I plugged it into the 65W GaN charger I had relied on for two years without a problem. It had never let me down. I checked the display an hour later and it was showing 65W input. Not 140W. The bank took the best part of three hours to recharge when it should have done it in one. That is the lesson everybody learns eventually: you reach for the old dependable charger, you are in a hurry, and then you spend the day watching a slow input number on a screen that is capable of so much more.
The 737 will accept whatever your kit can deliver. But it is built for 140W, and to actually reach that you need two things matched to it: a wall charger with a PD 3.1 port rated to 140W, and a cable rated to carry it. Most standard travel cables cap at 60W or 100W, and so do most travel chargers. Neither is the 737’s fault. Both are easy to fix.
If you’re not seeing the charging speed you expected, the culprit is often the USB-C cable. Use a cable rated for higher power to avoid silent speed caps.
UGREEN Nexode 200W GaN Charger (4-Port)
UGREEN 240W USB-C to USB-C Cable
Anker 737 Review FAQs
-
Can I take the Anker 737 on a plane?
Yes, in carry-on luggage. The 737’s 86.4Wh capacity sits well under the 100Wh threshold that most carriers apply for unapproved batteries. Power banks must travel in carry-on, never checked luggage. It’s typically within carry-on limits. Always check your airline before you fly because policies can change.
-
How long does the Anker 737 take to recharge?
Around 1 to 1.5 hours from empty when paired with a matched 140W USB-C wall charger and a 5A EPR-rated cable. With a lower-wattage charger, expect closer to three hours. Anker confirms the 1 to 1.5 hour figure on its support pages, and it holds up in real-world use too.
-
Why does my Anker 737 battery drain when I’m not using it?
The most common cause is leaving the smart digital display permanently on. Anker’s own support documentation notes that the bank can lose around 15% of its charge in 24 hours with the screen active. Press the side button to turn the display off when you’re not actively reading it.
-
What cable do I need to get the full 140W from the Anker 737?
A USB-C to USB-C cable rated 5A EPR (Extended Power Range), specifically certified for 140W or higher. Most cables sold for laptops are rated to 60W or 100W and will silently negotiate the 737 down. If you can’t see the 5A or 140W rating on the cable spec sheet, assume it isn’t.
-
Is the Anker 737 still worth buying with the Anker Prime series available?
Yes, if you only need 140W single-port output and not 300W combined. The 737 has a known service record, recharges in around an hour, and now sits at premium rather than flagship pricing. If you routinely run two laptops or a laptop plus a portable monitor, the Prime 26K 300W is the better fit.
[…] Read our Anker 737 full review → […]
[…] you are also looking at the 737, read our Anker 737 review to see how it compares in day to day […]
[…] → ADD INTERNAL LINK BLOCK: Read our full Anker 737 review → https://smartgadgetkit.com/anker-737-power-bank-review/ […]
[…] Anker 737 (89Wh) – our best overall pick for travel and laptop charging. Read the full Anker 737 review: https://smartgadgetkit.com/anker-737-power-bank-review/ […]
[…] Read our full Anker 737 review: https://smartgadgetkit.com/anker-737-power-bank-review/ […]
[…] Read our full Anker 737 review. […]
[…] 140W PD 3.1 output handles laptops and multiple devices properly. A real-time OLED display, solid build quality, and 86.4Wh capacity that sits under the airline carry-on threshold. The most capable all-round travel power bank in this guide. Check latest price Read full review […]
[…] built-in cables. The right move if you regularly charge two devices at full laptop speed. Read our Anker 737 Power Bank review for more on the upper end of the Anker laptop-bank […]