⭐⭐⭐ 3 Stars Good overall but no USB-C support is a big drawback
Anker PowerCore 20100 is a large-capacity sleek and compact power bank with 2.4 amp (12-watt) charging and a reasonable price. However, these days USB-C is a must for power banks. For similar price, Anker’s latest PowerCore Essential 20000 is more modern, lighter, slimmer, portable chargers that can also be charged via USB-C.
PowerCore Essential 20000 PD also charges all latest iPhones/Androids fast via 20-watt USB-C PD charging/recharging. It can fast-charge (from zero to 60% in 30 minutes) latest iPhones 13, 12, 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS, X/8/8+, iPad Pro 11/12.9/Air 3, mini and latest Samsung S/Note/A phones and most other Android phones. It also takes half the time to get charged compared to PowerCore 20100/Essential.
What We Like
- Compact high-quality 20000 mah portable charger
- True 20,100 mAH battery capacity
- Can charge most Android Phones and iPhones from 0 to 50% in about 50 minutes
- 2 fast charging 2.4 Amp Ports (maximum charging speed supported by iPhone 7, 7 Plus, 6S, 6 Plus, 5, SE etc.)
- Total 4.8 amp output (2.4 + 2.4 amp) means you can charge two iPhone 7 or 8 phones at fast speed at once.
- Slim, narrow and long design.
- Very low weight for capacity (12.6 oz or 350 gm).
- Solid build quality with double-layer inner metal & outer polycarbonate shell
- Matte understated finish with curvy sides
- Reasonable Price
What We Do Not Like
- Makes sense if you have an old iPhone (7 or earlier) and do not plan to upgrade. Cannot fast-charge latest iPhone 13/12 or Samsungs S/Note etc. Takes twice as long.
- It takes about about 10-11 hours to fully recharge this power bank using a 2 Amp wall charger or 20 hours with Apple iPhone charger. However, the PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD can be recharged in 5 to 6 hours.
- Can be only recharged via micro-USB (free cable is included). This is not an issue with iPhones as they use a Lightning cable charger. However, almost all new Android phones these days come with USB-C chargers. Even newer iPhones support USB-C charger. If you have a phone that comes with a USB-C charger, we recommend buying the new PowerCore Essential 20000 PD.
(Note: Anker offers a total of six Powercore brand 20000 mAh powerbanks currently!! Refer the Anker PowerCore 20000 mah comparison table in this article for features of each.)
Update: The latest version is PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD and comes with USB-C PD and is best suited for latest iPhones and Android phones. To be honest, the plain vanilla PowerCore 20100 is now obsolete and if you want lowest priced decent 20,000 mah power bank, then Xiaomi Redmi 20000 is a better choice and can also be charged with USB-C port. Anker’s latest Powercore, the PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD can be charged in just 6 hours with a PD wall charger such as iPhone 11 Pro/Max charger while the plain vanilla PowerCore 20100 takes minimum 10-12 hours to charge fully.
Anker PowerCore 20100 is Anker’s low cost 20100 mAH capacity equivalent USB power bank . This excellent power bank has a long, narrow and slim design that makes it very pocketable and portable.
20,100 mAH is some serious battery capacity but the low weight (about 12 oz) of this mobile USB power bank makes it perfectly suited for your backpack, handbag or carry-on luggage.
A standard fast charging 2 Amp wall charger such as Anker Elite dual 2.4 amp wall charger will charge Anker PowerCore 20100 overnight (about 10 hours). Regular 1 Amp USB charger will charge it in about 20 hours.
PowerCore 20100 vs PowerCore Essential 20000
PowerCore II 20000 vs PowerCore 20000 Speed PD
| Features | New Release! USB-C PD PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD | USB-C PD PowerCore III 19200 45-watt USB-C PD | USB-C PowerCore Essential 325 20000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.4 amp rapid charging for all iPhones iPhone 8/7 /6s/6 /5s/SE 0 to 50% in 30 min iPhone 12/11/XR/X 8+/7+/6s+ 0 to 50% in ~1 hr min |
iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, XR, XS, X, 8, 8+ zero to 60% in 30 min | iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11, XR, XS, X, 8, 8+ zero to 60% in 30 min | Can't fast-charge new iPhones 60% in 30 mins |
| 2.4 amp rapid charging for all Androids | 0 to 50% in ~1 hr | 0 to 50% in ~1 hr | 0 to 50% in ~1 hr |
| Fastest USB-C charging of iPhone 14, 13, series & 12, 11, XR, XS, X, 8, 8+ 0 to 50% in 30 min | 0 to 60% in 30 mins for latest iPhones | 60% in 30 mins | |
| Fast Charging for Samsung S23, 22 series to S8, Note 10/9 | 20 watt USB-C PD | 45-watt USB-C PD | |
| Time to recharge Powerbank | 6 hrs with 18w USB-C PD charger | 3 hrs with 45-watt USB-C PD charger | 12 hrs with 2.4 amp charger |
| Number of Ports | Two (1 USB-A and 1 USB-C) | Three (2 USB-A and 1 USB-C) | Two |
| Special Features | Best for iPhone 14, 13, 12, 11/11 Pro/Max XR/SE 2, XS/8/8+, iPads, all Pixels and latest Samsung S/Note smartphones | 45 watt max USB-C PD output Best for iPhones latest Samsungs, latest iPads and Macbooks Gets charged in 3 hrs |
Can be charged via USB-C port Light at 12.2 oz/240 gram Good for both iPhones and Android phones |
PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD is the latest version with 18-watt USB-C PD output and input. It gets charged in about 6 hrs using a USB-C PD charger and charges latest iPhones 11, 11 Pro, 11 Pro Max, XR, XS, X/8/8+ and latest Samsung S10, S9/S8, S7, Note 10/9/8 and most other Android phones from zero to 50% in 30 minutes.
PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD also supports 18-watt Quickcharging and this makes it suitable for the widest range of modern smartphones – both iPhones and Samsung/LG/Moto/Xiaomi Androids.
PowerCore II 20000 is a micro-USB power bank (can not be charged via USB-C cable) that supports QC 2.0 (18-watt fast charging – about 50% in 30 minutes), which is the fastest charging speed supported by Samsung S10, S10+, S9, S9+, S8, S8+, Note 8, S7, S7+, Note 5, S6 etc. It does not support QC 3.0. However, we still recommend PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD as it offers everything that PowerCore II 20000 offers and offers extra future ready 18-watt USB-C PD.
Both Google and Apple are both moving towards 18-watt USB-C PD fast charging in latest and upcoming Android phones and iPhones as well as Macbooks. If you have a Macbook, and latest iPhone 12, 11, 11 Pro, XS Max, XS, XR, 8, 8 +, or iPhone X, or an Android USB-C phone such as Samsung S21, S20, S10, S9, S8, Note 8, S7 etc., we recommend PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD which supports 18-watt USB C PD fast charging (50% in 30 minutes) for the latest iPhones and Android smartphones.
Anker PowerCore 20000 Speed PD comes with a bundled USB PD wall charger and gets charged in 4 hours. It will also charge Macbooks at faster 24 watt charging speed. The combined wall charger/powerbank deal of PowerCore 20000 Speed PD is also much more reasonably priced as well. PowerCore 20000 Speed PD will also charge Nintendo Switch at maximum supported 18-watt PD charging speed. PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD and PowerCore 20000 Speed PD with PD charger are the most versatile Anker Powerbank today in the 20000 mAH range and it are the best option for latest iPhone 11, 11 Pro/Max, XR, XS, , 8, 8+, all latest Android phones including S10, S10+, S9, S8, S7, Macbooks, Switch etc.
PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD & PowerCore 20000 Speed PD 18-watt USB-C PD Fast charge of Samsung S10, S9, S8, S7 etc and USB PD fast charge of iPhone XS, XR, X, iPhone 8, 8+ About 50% in 30 mins
PowerCore Essential 20000 – 2.4 amp or 12-watt charging supported by almost all Android phones and iPhones – About 40-50% in 50 minutes
Design and Packaging
Anker PowerCore 20100 battery bank has to be one of the best looking high capacity power banks in the market. It comes in two matte colors – black and a very cool looking white – with four blue LED indicators.
The matte finish ensures that the outer surface remains fingerprint free and looks subtly beautiful as well.
This powerbank has a dual layer design. The inner metal shell provides protection and ruggedness while the outer polycarbonate layer ensures a smooth outer surface that does not scratch other items in your bag.
USB battery bank performance
True to Anker’s reputation, the Anker PowerCore 20100 battery bank also offers true 20,000 mAH capacity which means that you can charge most smartphones about 4-6 times with this powerbank.
The powerbank uses very high quality 6 Panasonic 18650 3400 mAH NCR18650B batteries which are one of the highest quality batteries available in the market. The high qualities batteries are reassuring and promise long life and safety.
iPhone 8, iPhone 7 and iPhone 6s, 6 – Six times
iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro, and iPhone XR, Xs, X, iPhone 7 Plus, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone 6s/6 Plus – More than four times
Samsung Galaxy S10, S9, S9+, S8, S7, S6 – More than four times
Samsung Galaxy S10+, Note 9, Note 10+, Note 10 – from 20% to 100% Four times
iPad Mini – Two times
iPad Pro – 1.5 times
Two Fast Charging ports
Anker PowerCore 20100 USB battery bank comes with two 2.4 amp fast charging ports. 2.4 amp is the fastest charging ports that you will currently get in the market and with both ports delivering 2.4 amp current, you do not have to worry about remembering the fast charging port.
Latest Update: Anker now offers PowerCore Essential 20000 USB-C PD for superquick charging for latest iPhones and Samsung and other Android phones. The new version can charge compatible devices up to 50% in just half an hour. It also gets fully charged using a PD charger/iPhone 11 Pro/Max charger in just 6 hours and with Samsung USB-C chargers in 8 hours.
Please note that iPhones 7, 7 plus and older do not support USB-C PD/Quickcharge but instead support 2.4 amp fast charging supported by Anker PowerCore 20100.
All standard safety protections
Anker PowerCore 20100 comes with 10 safety protections ranging from surge protection and over voltage protection to temperature control and output current limiting cut-off. While most of these are available in all quality external battery banks, one feature that we will like to mention here is the Voltage Boost feature.
Voltage Boost feature
Anker claims that the voltage boost feature senses the resistance of the cable and increase current accordingly. This feature is important when you are charging your device using long cables as such cables have high resistance that wastes current and leads to slower charging.
While we always recommend users to use shorter and high quality cables as they make your powerbank charge last longer and charge your device faster, Anker Voltage Boost feature at least takes care of one of these issues by increasing current to charge your device faster. However, please note that as increased current will drain your power bank faster too, the best option is still to use a high quality and very short cable to extract maximum power from your power bank and reduce wastage of stored power.