Travel tech
Chargers, power banks and flight rules for people who travel with devices. We cover the best travel gadgets worth packing, credit the source for every number, and skip the filler so you can get through the gate with the right kit.
Alisdair, network engineer, 9 years
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Two pages before everything else
Best Power Bank for Travel 2026
Six flight-legal picks sorted by the job you need doing, from a quick phone top-up to running a laptop all day.
See the six picks › The rulesCan You Take a Power Bank on a Plane?
The 2026 airline rules for 25 carriers, checked against each carrier’s own policy page. Carry-on only, never checked.
Check the rules ›Four answers in thirty seconds
What size power bank can I fly with?
Up to 100Wh in hand luggage on most airlines, about 27,000mAh. Some allow 160Wh with approval. Use our mAh to Wh calculator to check yours.
Do I need a travel charger?
If you travel across regions, a multi-plug GaN charger covers the UK, EU and US in one block, with enough wattage for a laptop and a phone at the same time.
How do I convert mAh to Wh?
Multiply the mAh by 3.7, then divide by 1,000. So 20,000mAh is about 74Wh, comfortably under the 100Wh airline limit.
Will my USB-C charger work abroad?
If it says 100 to 240V on the label, it handles any mains voltage. You only need a plug adapter for the wall shape, not a voltage converter.
Reviews, roundups and guides, newest first
Best Power Bank for Travel 2026: 6 Flight-Legal Picks
Six power banks for travel in 2026, all under the 100Wh airline carry-on limit, grouped by job from phone-only top-ups to laptop-capable.
Read the roundup ›
UGREEN MagFlow Review: First Qi2 25W Magnetic Power Bank
A 10,000mAh Qi2 power bank with 25W wireless charging, a built-in USB-C cable, and a 17-magnet hold. Airline-safe at 36Wh.
Read the review ›
UGREEN Nexode 65W Travel Charger Review: Three Plugs for Global Travel
A 65W GaN charger with three interchangeable plug heads for the UK, EU and US. Three USB ports in one compact block.
Read the review ›
Best GaN Charger 2026
Six GaN chargers from 30W to 200W, picked for the job: laptop charging, travel, multi-device and everyday carry.
Read the roundup ›
Can You Take a Power Bank on a Plane? Quick 2026 Rules
Yes, in your hand luggage and never in the hold. The 2026 power bank rules for 25 airlines, checked against each carrier’s own policy page.
Read the guide ›
Anker 87W Power Bank Review (A1383): Can It Run a Laptop?
A 20,000mAh bank with a built-in USB-C cable that fast-charges a laptop at a steady 65W, with airline-safe capacity for travel days.
Read the review ›
Anker A1695 Review: 25,000mAh 165W Power Bank
Anker’s 25,000mAh bank squeezes 165W output, a retractable cable, a built-in display and 90Wh into one airline-safe unit.
Read the review ›
Anker 737 Power Bank Review: 24,000mAh 140W
Anker’s 737 offers 140W output and 86Wh capacity. Independent testing shows what the spec sheet leaves out.
Read the review ›What to look for in travel tech
The right travel gadgets come down to four things: enough power, the right plugs, flight compliance and weight you are willing to carry. Get those four right and the rest follows.
Charging speed and capacity
A 20W output tops up a phone quickly. A laptop needs 60W or more from USB-C. Capacity is how much; output is how fast. Check both before you buy.
Multi-region chargers
A GaN charger with interchangeable plug heads covers the UK, EU and US in one block. If it says 100 to 240V, it handles any mains voltage anywhere.
Airline watt-hour limits
Airlines measure batteries in watt-hours. The cabin limit is 100Wh without approval, about 27,000mAh. Power banks go in carry-on, never checked luggage.
The carry penalty
A 10,000mAh bank sits around 200g, pocketable. A 25,000mAh laptop bank is closer to 500g. Decide what you are willing to carry before you decide on capacity.
Three things most travelers get wrong
- Buying on mAh alone. Output wattage decides what your bank can charge. A 20,000mAh bank with 10W output will trickle-charge a laptop all day without keeping up.
- Packing a power bank in checked luggage. Airlines ban lithium batteries in the hold. If security catches it, the bag gets pulled and you may miss your flight.
- Assuming a charger needs a voltage converter. Any modern USB-C charger rated 100 to 240V works on any mains supply. You only need a plug adapter for the wall shape.
Tell us how you travel, we point you to the answer
I need to keep my phone charged on the move
Flight-legal power banks ranked by the job, from a quick top-up to a full day away from a socket.
Best power bank for travel › Laptop chargingI need a charger that works in any country
GaN chargers from 30W to 200W, including multi-plug models that cover the UK, EU and US.
Best GaN charger › Flying soonI want to know what I can take on the plane
The 2026 cabin rules for 25 airlines and how to convert mAh to watt-hours.
Power banks on a plane › Quick checkI need to check if my battery is flight-legal
Enter the mAh from the label and see instantly whether your power bank clears the 100Wh airline limit.
mAh to Wh calculator ›Travel tech we have reviewed, compared
The key numbers side by side. Every figure is cross-checked against independent testing in each review.
Capacities are manufacturer rated; usable output is lower after conversion losses. Watt-hour figures are what airlines use for the 100Wh cabin limit. Every figure cross-checked against named third-party testing in each review.
Best travel gadgets: your questions, answered
The things travelers ask us most about charging on the go, explained in plain English.
What gadgets should I pack for a long flight?
A power bank under 100Wh for your phone, a compact GaN charger for the lounge and layovers, and a decent USB-C cable. That covers most travelers. If you carry a laptop, match the power bank to its wattage or it will trickle-charge and not keep up.
Can I take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in your carry-on, never in checked luggage, and it must be 100Wh or under, about 27,000mAh. Most everyday banks qualify. The IATA dangerous goods rules set the global baseline, though individual airlines may add their own limits. Check the details in our full guide before you fly.
How do I convert mAh to watt-hours?
Multiply the mAh by 3.7, then divide by 1,000. So 20,000mAh is about 74Wh, comfortably under the 100Wh cabin limit. Our mAh to Wh calculator does the maths for you and flags whether your bank is flight-legal.
Do I need a travel adapter or a voltage converter?
If your charger says 100 to 240V on the label, it already handles every mains voltage worldwide. You only need a plug adapter to fit the wall outlet shape. A bulky voltage converter is for old devices with fixed-voltage transformers, not modern USB-C chargers.
What is a GaN charger and why does it matter for travel?
GaN (gallium nitride) is a semiconductor material that runs cooler and wastes less energy than silicon. A GaN charger delivers the same wattage as a standard charger in roughly half the size, which saves weight and bag space when you travel.
What wattage charger do I need for a laptop?
Check the charger your laptop shipped with. Most thin laptops are happy at 65W via USB-C. Larger workstation-class laptops want 100W or more. A charger below the required wattage will charge slowly or not at all under load.
Can a power bank charge a laptop?
Yes, if it has a USB-C port rated 60W or more and enough capacity, ideally 20,000mAh and up. A small 20W bank will only trickle a laptop and may not keep up under load. Check the output wattage, not only the capacity.
How do you test travel tech at SmartGadgetKit?
Our verdicts combine hands-on testing by the SGK team with trusted independent lab data, scored against one published rubric. The full method is on our how-we-test page.
How we choose what to recommend
We start with the specs
Manufacturer data and the real listing, checked for the exact model, capacity, watt-hours and plug compatibility.
We cross-check the labs
Independent measurements from named sources. Every number we quote is attributed to who measured it.
We weigh the travel angle
Weight, airline compliance and multi-region plug support. A gadget that wins on spec but cannot fly is no good to a traveler.
Every figure in our reviews is attributed to its source, and we flag anything not yet independently verified. That is how an independent site earns trust without owning every product.
Beyond travel tech
Evidence first, marketing last
We do not run a battery lab, and we will never pretend we did. Every figure in our reviews is attributed to its source, and we flag anything not yet independently verified.
Written by AlisdairNetwork engineer, 9 years
Everyday perspective: DarleeneNurse, professional sceptic
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