Hands-on with Anker's PowerCore 20,100mAh power bank

By Brent Zaniewski
last updated

The Anker PowerCore 20100, an external battery charger for the iPhone 6s or earlier, is the latest upgrade from the 16000 predecessor, featuring fast charging technology on both of its USB outputs. That means both ports have an output of 2.4A, providing a total of 4.8A overall. Included with the power bank is a 23.5-inch microUSB cable that can be used to recharge the PowerCore at 2A with an appropriate wall adapter that will support the speed.

Its 20,100mAh capacity gives it some weight — 12.6oz to be exact — but that's a lot of backup battery life whether you're using 1 device or 2. Anker has included a nice mesh carry bag for the PowerCore, too. The compact size of the power bank (6.5 x 2.3 x 0.9-inches) makes it easy to even slide in your pocket if needed.

The plastic shell of the PowerCore sports a nice matte finish that's easy to grip, but still manages to show some fingerprints when in the right lighting. The front features 4 blue LED lights that signify how much juice is left in the power bank — 1 light = 25%, 2 lights = 50%, and so on.

You can tap the power button the side at any time to check the battery level, but when it's fully charged the lights will completely shut off.

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Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh power bank

When you plug your iPhone into the PowerCore 20100 they'll instantly start to charge, which isn't the case on many aftermarket power banks (some require you to power it on first).

There are safety features built in as well, such as surge and short circuit protection. Anker's PowerIQ and VoltageBoost technology allow the PowerCore to automatically provide the fastest possible charge to your iPhone or iPad that's plugged in — up to 2.4A, of course.

For the impressive battery life that this compact power bank packs you really can't go wrong. It doesn't look or feel cheap, and its design is simple and straightforward.

Whether you're going off the grid for a weekend or just need an emergency charger on hand when your devices hit critical levels, this will boost your battery quickly and efficiently. You can get the Anker PowerCore 20,100 in black or white for $39.99 straight from Amazon, including a nice 18-month warranty.

$39.99 from Amazon (opens in new tab)

Brent Zaniewski
Brent Zaniewski

Your friendly neighborhood accessories guru

4 Comments
  • Is it safe to assume a 10 hour recharge time for the battery itself?
  • Mine takes quite a while to charge fully after being drained. I usually charge it overnight, so I'm not sure exactly how long it is.
  • I love this charger!!! My wife and I recently made a trip to Disneyland and it was awesome not to have to worry about making sure our phones were charged before we went into the park, or making sure we didn't overuse our phones and killing the battery. I had an iPhone 6+ and she had a 6 and we could easily charge both of our phones 3 times under one charge on the Anker PowerCore. Plus like the article says, it will charge it at 2.4 amps, so it's charged way faster than with using the power block for the iPhones.
  • I have the previous 16000 version. This is definitely a high quality unit. The mesh case it comes with makes transport very easy. You definitely get what you pay for.