Power banks are different now.

Manufacturers tend to equip power banks with screens and fast charging docks to increase the price, even though not everyone needs these features.

The EcoFlow Rapid Pro X portable power bank is priced at $270. Photo: The Verge .

Buying a power bank used to be very simple; you just needed to choose the right capacity and price. The only difficulty was whether or not a USB-A port was still necessary.

Recently, brands have been adding a lot of features to power banks, although not all of them are useful. According to The Verge , this trend is especially popular on larger models, capable of charging laptops with a 99 Wh capacity, just enough to take on an airplane.

At CES 2026, the trend of power banks with integrated cables became more prevalent, offering convenience. However, some features may not be essential for many people, making them stand out but also increasing the product's price.

Not everyone needs a separate screen and charging dock.

Author Thomas Ricker from The Verge cites the EcoFlow Rapid Pro X as an example. Priced at up to $270 , the product wasn't well-regarded because it crammed too many features into it, resulting in an expensive, bulky, heavy, and slow device.

This model features a large touchscreen display to show capacity and other parameters. However, the screen is criticized for being easily scratched and too dim for outdoor viewing. The Rapid Pro X's touchscreen interface is also not user-friendly.

EcoFlow devices have a touchscreen display and require a separate charging dock to achieve maximum performance. Photo: EcoFlow .

"Nobody needs a screen that takes 30 seconds to wake from sleep mode, displays graphics, and has blinking eyes when active, just to slowly drain the battery's reserve power," Ricker shared.

Anker also often equips its power banks with large screens. In fact, many people only need four dots to show the remaining capacity. However, it's becoming increasingly difficult to buy power banks without screens.

In the 20,000 mAh capacity segment, Anker has discontinued most models without screens. Monitoring power consumption and current flow is interesting, but not everyone needs these features.

An Anker battery pack model requires a separate charging dock to recharge at maximum power. Photo: Anker .

A common point is that both EcoFlow and Anker have several models that support fast recharging via proprietary desktop docks. According to the author from The Verge , this is a strategy to entice users to spend extra money on a charging dock, but it's only compatible with one product.

"The ultra-fast charging speed is unlikely to justify a price increase," the writer from The Verge emphasized.

According to Ricker, most average users, including many tech-savvy individuals, don't need a 140W power bank. Most laptops, except for gaming ones, only need 65W or less. Phones only require around 20W for charging when needed.

Essential features

Baseus also launched a power bank that doubles as a mobile Wi-Fi hotspot. For most basic needs, this feature is already available on the phone.

Some expensive power banks even integrate Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, connecting to smartphones for management and viewing charging parameters. According to Ricker, this feature could be useful on large charging stations for remote monitoring, but it's not really necessary for carrying a small power bank that's always in your hand.

These additional features only increase the size, weight, and manufacturing cost of power banks. They also increase the risk of malfunctions on devices that are always carried around, but only used when necessary. The recent mass recalls of power banks have already caused concern.

A phone stand is one of the useful additional features for power banks. Photo: Kuxiu .

One acceptable trend in power banks is the integration of retractable charging cables, such as the EcoFlow Rapid Pro model. According to Ricker, this feature is very convenient as users always have a cable with the correct specifications from the manufacturer readily available.

The Kuxiu S3 MagSafe also includes a built-in cable, which plugs into a hidden USB-C port and wraps around the device. This design makes it easy to replace the cable if it gets damaged or broken.

Another useful feature is the MagSafe power bank stand, which allows you to prop up your phone at your preferred angle for extended viewing or video recording sessions. Some manufacturers are adopting semi-solid battery technology to reduce overheating.

Sharge Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank charger model. Photo: Sharge .

Sharge also impressed with its Retractable 3-in-1 Power Bank. Despite its integrated power plug, relatively ordinary price and specifications, the product has a modern design, making it suitable as a fashion accessory.

Of course, there are still some power bank models that are solely for charging and don't have many unnecessary features, especially at reasonable prices. However, if you want devices with the highest capacity and power output, the choices are becoming increasingly difficult.

Source: https://znews.vn/pin-du-phong-ngay-cang-mau-me-post1619135.html