How to Avoid Fake Chargers and Power Banks
Counterfeit batteries and chargers are the one place buying cheap can be dangerous. The simple math and checks that catch most of them.
A knock-off phone case is annoying. A knock-off lithium battery can be dangerous. Chargers and power banks are worth the small amount of extra care.
Do the capacity math
Battery capacity has physical limits. A 10,000mAh bank holds about 37Wh, using the formula mAh x 3.7 / 1000, and real 10,000mAh banks have a recognizable size and weight. If a listing claims 50,000mAh or more in something the size of a phone for very little money, the number is false.
Do not trust a printed logo
Safety marks such as CE and UL can be printed by anyone. They only mean something if the seller is someone you can hold accountable. Buying from the brand's store, or from an Amazon listing where the brand is the seller, is a better protection than looking for a logo.
Warning signs
- A famous brand at a price far below every other seller.
- Reviews that seem to be about a different product.
- No model number, or a model the brand's own site does not list.
- A charger that gets very hot under light use, or a bank that swells. Stop using it and recycle it properly.
Flying with a power bank
Power banks go in carry-on bags and not in checked luggage. Airlines generally allow batteries up to 100Wh, which is about 27,000mAh, without special approval. Rules vary, and some airlines add their own limits on how you can use a power bank on board, so check before you fly.
All the chargers and power banks we pick come from brands with their own stores and published warranties.