What to look for in travel power and charging gear
Four things decide whether a piece of travel tech earns space in your bag, wherever in the world you are heading.
Is it allowed in your carry-on
For anything with a battery, the airline rule comes first. Most carriers cap a carry-on power bank at 100Wh, about 27,000mAh, and it must travel in the cabin, never in the hold. We check the watt-hour rating on every pack and flag the ones you can take without special approval, so nothing gets pulled at security.
Enough output for what you carry
A phone needs little, a tablet more, and a laptop a lot. Match the output to your heaviest device: 30W tops up a phone fast, 65W suits most tablets and ultrabooks, and 100W or more covers a mainstream laptop. USB-C Power Delivery tops out at 240W under PD 3.1, so that is the ceiling on any USB-C charger or pack. Check the single-port figure, not just the combined total.
Works in every region you visit
A good travel charger is rated 100 to 240V, so it runs on any mains supply worldwide with just a plug adapter, no heavy voltage converter needed. We confirm the voltage range and note which models include international pins, so one charger and one bag of cables can replace a drawer full of bricks.
Size, weight and devices at once
Travel rewards gear that does two jobs. We weigh real grams against what a device delivers, and count the ports, so a single charger can power a laptop and a phone together, or a magnetic pack can charge your phone while it sits in your hand. Less to carry, fewer cables, one less thing to forget at the hotel.
Find your travel power in one step
Pick the line that sounds like your trip and jump straight to the right guide.
Phone only
I just need to keep my phone topped up
A slim magnetic pack that snaps to the back of an iPhone and charges while you walk, with nothing to plug in.
See the best MagSafe packs ›
Phone and laptop
I travel with a laptop
A flight-legal pack with the capacity for a working day and the output to charge a laptop, not just a phone.
See the best travel power banks ›
One charger abroad
I want one charger for all my devices overseas
A compact GaN charger rated for worldwide voltage that powers a laptop, tablet and phone from a single wall socket.
See the best GaN chargers ›
Flying soon
I need to know what I can take on the plane
The carry-on rules for the UK, EU and US, the 100Wh limit explained, and how to read the label before you pack.
Read the airline rules ›
Travel tech we have reviewed
Every guide below has been through our flight-rule, output and usable-capacity testing. Tap any one for the full verdict.
Six flight-legal picks ranked, all kept under the 100Wh carry-on ceiling, for phones, tablets and laptops on the road.
Six Qi2 magnetic packs ranked for grip, output and slimness, for travellers who only need to keep a phone alive.
The first Qi2 25W magnetic power bank we tested, judged on real magnetic charging speed rather than the box figure.
A three-port GaN charger sized for the road, tested for worldwide voltage and whether it charges a laptop and two more devices at once.
Compact USB-C travel chargers ranked, from a one-device pocket plug up to a 240W desk-and-suitcase workhorse.
The 2026 carry-on rules for the UK, EU and US, the watt-hour limits, and the details that catch travellers out at security.
Travel tech questions, answered
The questions we get asked most, before anyone packs.
Can I take a power bank on a plane?
Yes, in hand luggage, never checked, and almost always up to 100Wh, about 27,000mAh, without special approval. Larger packs may need airline sign-off or may not be allowed at all, so check the watt-hour rating printed on the case before you travel.
Do I need a voltage converter or just a plug adapter?
Almost every modern USB charger is rated 100 to 240V, so it works on any mains supply worldwide with only a plug-shape adapter. A bulky voltage converter is rarely needed for phones, tablets and laptops. Check the small print on the charger for the 100 to 240V marking to be sure.
What size power bank is best for flying?
For most trips a pack around 20,000 to 27,000mAh hits the sweet spot: enough for a long day or a couple of phone-and-tablet top-ups, while staying under the 100Wh carry-on limit. If you only carry a phone, a 5,000 to 10,000mAh magnetic pack is lighter and easier.
Will one USB-C charger work for all my devices abroad?
A multi-port GaN charger with enough output can charge a laptop, tablet and phone together from one socket, anywhere the voltage is in the 100 to 240V range. Match the single-port wattage to your laptop, then the spare ports handle the smaller devices.
How we choose what to recommend
We are a curator, not a manufacturer. We read past the marketing sticker and weigh the engineering that matters once you are on the road.
Flight-rule checked
We read the watt-hour rating on every battery and flag the 100Wh carry-on limit, so you know what is allowed in the cabin across the UK, EU and US before you buy.
Verified output and PD
We confirm single-port wattage and Power Delivery profiles, up to the 240W PD 3.1 ceiling, against named third-party testing, because shared ports and optimistic peak figures are where travel charging falls down.
Worldwide compatibility
We check the 100 to 240V voltage range and the plug standards, so a charger you buy at home keeps working wherever you land, with nothing more than a plug adapter.
Weight against utility
Every gram counts in a carry-on. We weigh real grams against what a product delivers, and favour gear that does two jobs, so your bag stays light without leaving a device flat.
Updated for 2026
Alan
