Let’s talk about the Anker 165W Power Bank—the star of the show here. If you’re someone who’s always on the go and needs a reliable way to keep your gadgets charged, this thing might just be your new best friend. I’ve spent some time with it, and honestly, it’s packed with features that make it stand out from the crowd.
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Design and Build Quality
First impressions matter, right? The Anker 165W Power Bank comes in two colors: Space Black (which is what I got) and Silver. It has this sleek, rounded finish that feels premium but not overly flashy. It’s compact enough to fit into most backpacks or even larger bags, but at 15.7 x 5.4 x 5 cm, it’s not exactly pocket-sized. And weighing in at 594 grams, it’s definitely more of a “backpack power bank” than something you’d casually toss into your jeans.
One thing I noticed right away is that the front has this glossy finish, which looks cool but does tend to attract fingerprints like crazy. If you’re someone who hates smudges, you might want to keep a microfiber cloth handy. Compared to the Anker Prime 250W Power Bank, this one is slightly smaller, though not by much. The Prime is a beast in terms of power output, but the 165W version strikes a nice balance between size and capability.
Built-In Cables
Now, here’s where things get interesting. This power bank comes with two built-in cables, which is a feature I absolutely love. No more scrambling around looking for a cable when you’re out and about—it’s always there, ready to go.
The first cable is the retractable USB-C cable (labeled as C1). You pull it out from the top, and holy smokes, it’s 70cm long! That’s way longer than I expected. It’s perfect for situations where you want to keep the power bank tucked away in your bag while charging your phone or laptop. Think about it: you could have the power bank sitting in your backpack’s side pocket while the cable snakes its way out to your device. It works kind of like a seatbelt—you pull it out as far as you need, and it stays put until you’re ready to retract it. When you do retract it, it zips back in smoothly.
On the side, there’s another built-in cable—a 30cm looped USB-C cable (C2). This one isn’t retractable, but it’s still super useful. Anker says it can support up to 20kg of weight, so you can use it to attach the power bank to the outside of your bag if you’re running low on space inside. Plus, it’s braided, which should make it more durable over time.
Ports and Charging Capabilities
Let’s talk ports because this power bank has plenty of them. In addition to the two built-in cables, you’ve got:
- C3 port: For using your own cable.
- A port: Output only, for older devices or accessories that don’t use USB-C.
All three USB-C ports (C1, C2, C3) support both input and output, which is great for flexibility. The A port is output-only, but hey, not everything needs to be fancy.
Here’s the breakdown of the charging speeds:
- Single port charging: Up to 100W from any USB-C port and 33W from the A port.
- Two-port charging: Up to 165W shared across any two USB-C ports, or 133W shared between a USB-C port and the A port.
- Three or four ports: The retractable C1 port gets priority with up to 100W, while the remaining power (up to 30W) is shared across the other ports.
What does this mean in real-world terms? Well, if you’re charging a high-power device like a MacBook Pro or Air, you’ll want to use the retractable C1 port since it always has the highest potential output. For tablets and phones, the looped cable or C3 port will work just fine since they typically only draw around 30W max anyway.
Smart Display
One of the coolest features of this power bank is the built-in smart display. There’s a button on the side that turns it on, and it gives you all kinds of useful info:
- Battery level: Shows how much juice is left in the power bank.
- Temperature: Monitors the power bank’s temperature to prevent overheating.
- Battery health: Tells you the current health of the battery (mine was at 100% health and zero cycles out of the box, which was reassuring).
The display has a blue theme with a different font compared to older models, and there’s even a little winking face at the top. It’s quirky, but I like it. When nothing’s plugged in, the display shows a sleepy face, and when you start charging, it switches to a smiley face. Little details like this make the user experience feel more fun and engaging.
Performance Testing
Okay, let’s get to the meat of it—how fast does this thing actually charge? Anker claims it can charge an iPhone 16 or Samsung phone to around 50% in 25 minutes, and bigger devices like a MacBook Pro or Air in just over 30 minutes.
I tested it with my iPhone 16 Pro Max, and while it didn’t hit 50% in exactly 25 minutes, it was pretty darn close. My iPad Pro, which was at 27% battery, started drawing 35W, which is near its max charging capacity. So yeah, it’s definitely fast enough for most devices.
One thing to note is that charging speeds taper off after the first 50% or so. This is normal—it’s designed to preserve the health of your device’s battery. Still, having access to up to 100W means you’ll spend less time waiting around for your gadgets to charge.
Trickle Charge Mode for Smaller Devices
If you’ve ever tried charging small devices like earbuds or smartwatches with a big power bank, you know they can sometimes stop charging prematurely. That’s because these devices only draw a tiny amount of power, which can cause the power bank to “fall asleep.”
Anker has solved this problem with trickle charge mode. Just double-press the side button, and a little blue dot appears above the A port on the display. This keeps the power bank active for those low-power devices. To turn it off, double-press the button again. Simple and effective.
Recharging the Power Bank
When it’s time to recharge the power bank itself, you’ve got options. All three USB-C ports support up to 100W input, so you can plug it into a compatible charger and get it back to full capacity in about 1 hour and 42 minutes. During my testing, I plugged it in at around 20%, and it showed me exactly how long it would take to reach 100%—about 1 hour and 11 minutes.
Oh, and here’s a neat feature: pass-through charging. If you plug something into the power bank while it’s charging, the display will show “Pass Through” and indicate both input and output. This makes it a handy little hub for charging multiple devices at once.
Capacity and Real-World Use
The Anker 165W Power Bank has a capacity of 25,000mAh (90Wh), which puts it just under the 100Wh limit for carry-on flights. Always check with your airline, but generally speaking, you should be good to bring this on a plane.
How many charges will you actually get? Anker provides a handy formula: multiply the power bank’s capacity in milliamp-hours (25,000mAh) by 0.65, then divide by the capacity of the device you’re charging. For example, my iPhone 16 Pro Max would get around 3.5 full charges. Smaller devices like earbuds or smartwatches will obviously last much longer.
Final Thoughts
Overall, I’m really impressed with this power bank. The built-in cables are a game-changer, the smart display adds a layer of convenience, and the charging speeds are lightning-fast. Sure, it’s a bit bulky and heavy for everyday pocket-carry, but for travel or commuting, it’s hard to beat.
At $89, it’s not the cheapest power bank out there, but considering the features and performance, I think it’s worth the investment. If you’re looking for something even more powerful, you might want to check out the Anker Prime 250W Power Bank, but it comes at a higher price point.
So, would I recommend the Anker 165W Power Bank? Absolutely. It’s versatile, reliable, and packed with thoughtful features that make life easier. If you’re in the market for a high-capacity power bank, this one deserves serious consideration.
