Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) Review

The Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) looks like other Anker battery banks; however, we don’t necessarily think that’s bad. Anker has made light work of creating dozens of battery banks in every configuration imaginable so every traveler can find the perfect one for them. However, just because they’re all similar doesn’t mean they’ll all be as helpful. Will this model hold up, or should you look elsewhere? Let’s dive in.

The Rundown

The PowerCore 20K’s shell is plastic. That might sound negative, but most of the top battery banks are plastic. While you’ll find a few carbon fiber models on the market, those will cost you significantly more than what you’ll pay from Anker.

Overall, we’re happy with the durability of the Anker 325 Power Bank. It’s held up without issue and still looks new. Most large Anker battery banks have the same plastic shell; we’ve tested numerous models. The primary tester for this product has been using an Anker 20K battery bank for three years without issue, including several drops from a moving bike onto the streets of Detroit. Though that’s a different power bank, the shell is very similar, so it’s worth noting!

Regarding ports, the Anker 325 Power Bank feels modern and dated simultaneously. There are two input options: a Micro-USB and a USB-C port. The USB-C port charges faster, though both are pretty slow. You’ll want to charge this battery bank overnight, as it can take hours to go from zero to full. If you’re just topping it off, that can still take a couple of hours. That said, the USB-C is a nice inclusion.

If you were amped about the USB-C input, you won’t be happy with the output options. They’re both USB-A ports. Yeah, we know. Why offer USB-C input but not output? We can’t answer that but understand it frustrates us as much as it does you. Still, USB-A and Micro-USB are widely used in certain parts of the world and still aren’t that uncommon in countries that lead tech development, so we can’t be too upset. Still, a USB-C input without USB-C output just feels wrong.

The charger’s front face has a small circle button, typical for battery banks, especially those from Anker. Tapping the button will show you approximately how much charge is left in the tank. You get a reasonably accurate reading from the four LEDs.

If you tap the button twice, you’ll enter low power mode. This is handy for charging more sensitive devices, like AirPods or Bluetooth headphones. When you tap it twice, a little green light turns on, indicating that trickle charging mode is on. Tap it again to turn it off. We think it’s an easy and nice inclusion.

Packability

If you’re looking for dimensions, you’ve come to the wrong place (look at the top of the page). Here, we’ll chat about the vibes the Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) gives off while you’re trying to stow it inside various travel-related things.

If you want to put this in your pocket, you might want to think twice. It’s doable but pretty long, so it can be awkward and won’t fit into every pocket. You can put it in your back pocket with a cable running out of it connected to a device in your front pocket, but it isn’t the most comfortable experience.

Stowing it in a sling is fine; however, smaller slings can be tight or not work with how long the battery bank is. With larger slings, this isn’t an issue.

Depending on the size of your tech pouch, you should be able to slide this inside without an issue. If you’re packing more minimalistic, you may want to stow it inside your daypack or travel backpack. Though this particular model didn’t go on a flight, we’ve taken loads of 20K battery banks on flights (even some from Anker) without issue.

Quick Comparison

NITECORE makes some of the best battery banks on the market, so we will compare the Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K) to the NITECORE NB20000, another 20K battery bank we like.

The NB20000 measures 5.37 in x 2.36 in x 0.84 in (13.6 x 6 x 2.1 cm) or 10.645 cubed inches. The Anker measures 6.25 in x 2.875 in x 0.625 in (15.9 x 7.3 x 1.6 cm), or 11.23 cubed inches, so you’re saving some volume with the NITECORE model.

Regarding weight, the NITECORE is .45 ounces (12.8 grams) lighter than the Anker, which isn’t enough to worry about, we don’t think. The NITECORE is a carbon fiber polymer blend instead of the Anker’s plastic construction.

As for charging, the NITECORE is far and away more advanced. It has four ports, the same as the Anker; however, three charge, including one USB-C port that maxes out at 45 watts, which is enough to charge some laptops. The USB-A ports aren’t anything to write home about, but that’s all you’re getting with the Anker model.

At this point, you might wonder why anyone would purchase the Anker 325 Power Bank (PowerCore 20K). First: price. It is less than half the price of the NITECORE NB20000, which is worth considering, especially if you don’t need to charge larger devices. Second, many still use USB-A chargers, and the PowerCore 20K will meet those needs. Though many online will make you feel dated for using a USB-A charger, we’re not those people, and we still use them in our everyday lives, even if most of our cables have been USB-C for a while.

If you’re reading this in a few years, check for a more modern review to see if we feel the same about USB-A charging ports!