Anker iPhone 17 Portable Charger, Nano Power Bank with Built-in USB C Connector, 5,000mAh Portable Charger 22.5W, for iPhone 17/16/15 Series, Samsung S22/23 Series, iPad Pro/Air, AirPods, and More Review

There's a specific kind of frustration that comes from watching your iPhone die mid-commute while a chunky power bank sits uselessly at home because you didn't want to carry it. The Anker Nano Power Bank is built to solve exactly that problem — and for most iPhone users, it does a remarkably clean job of it.

The Whole Point: No Cable Required

The built-in USB-C connector is the headline feature, and it genuinely earns its place. You plug it directly into your iPhone 15, 16, or 17 — no cable to fish out of a bag, no dongle, no faff. For anyone who's migrated fully to USB-C (which, if you're on a recent iPhone, you have), this is a legitimately useful design choice rather than a marketing gimmick.

Frequent travelers on Reddit consistently cite compact, cable-free charging solutions as among their most-used travel items. The Anker Nano fits squarely into that philosophy — the kind of thing you throw in a jacket pocket and forget about until you actually need it.

Fast Charging That Actually Moves the Needle

At 22.5W output, this isn't a trickle charger. That's meaningful wired fast charging for iPhones, Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 devices, and AirPods — enough to push a meaningful charge into a modern iPhone in 30–40 minutes. The 5,000mAh capacity won't fully top up a large phone like the iPhone 17 Pro Max from zero, but it's designed to be a rescue device, not a replacement for overnight charging. Think of it as roughly one full charge for a standard iPhone, or two solid top-ups for AirPods and smaller devices.

For iPad Pro and iPad Air users: it'll charge them, but slowly. Manage expectations here — a 5,000mAh bank against a tablet's battery is a supplemental boost, not a meaningful top-up.

The Trade-offs Worth Knowing

A few things to be clear-eyed about before buying:

• 5,000mAh is genuinely small. If you're a heavy user — navigation running all day, hotspot on, screen at full brightness — you may find this bank drained before your phone is satisfied. Power-hungry users traveling for a full day would be better served by Anker's larger options, like the 20,000mAh or 25,000mAh banks that also show up frequently in travel communities as preferred solutions.
• No wireless charging. If you've been eyeing MagSafe-compatible power banks, this isn't one of them. It's strictly wired, via that built-in USB-C connector. Users comparing wireless options like the Kuxiu or Xclio Qi2.2 banks should note this Nano sits in a different category entirely — smaller, lighter, cheaper, but wired only.
• One port, one device. The built-in connector means you're charging one thing at a time. There's no secondary USB-A port for a second device simultaneously.

Who Actually Buys This

The Anker Nano makes the most sense for a specific type of user: someone on a recent iPhone who wants the smallest, lightest possible backup that requires zero accessories to use. Commuters, students, light travelers who already have a larger bank for longer trips. It's also a natural companion for AirPods and Apple Watch users who just need a quick top-up on the go.

If you're the type carrying a full Apple ecosystem — iPhone, iPad, AirPods, Watch — and you travel frequently, the Reddit travel community is pretty unanimous that a larger hybrid bank with built-in cables (the Anker 25K 165W was named repeatedly) is a smarter single purchase. The Nano is the secondary device in that scenario, not the primary one.

The Bottom Line

Anker's reputation for reliability holds here. This is a well-built, genuinely compact power bank that removes the most annoying friction point of portable charging — the cable. At 22.5W, it charges fast enough to matter. The 5,000mAh capacity is the honest limitation, and Anker isn't hiding it. Know what you're getting: a pocket-sized rescue charger for your iPhone, not an all-day power solution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How many times can the Anker Nano 5000mAh charge an iPhone?

A: Approximately once for a standard modern iPhone. Smaller devices like AirPods can be topped up two or more times. The 5,000mAh capacity is intentionally compact, so it's best treated as an emergency top-up rather than a full recharge solution.

Q: Does the Anker Nano support MagSafe or wireless charging?

A: No. This power bank is wired-only, using the built-in USB-C connector. It does not support MagSafe, Qi, or Qi2.2 wireless charging. If wireless charging is a priority, consider a different product category.

Q: Is 22.5W fast enough to noticeably charge an iPhone quickly?

A: Yes — 22.5W is genuine fast charging for iPhones and Samsung Galaxy S22/S23 devices, providing a meaningful charge in 30–40 minutes of use under normal conditions.

Q: Can the Anker Nano charge an iPad Pro or iPad Air?

A: It will charge iPads, but slowly given the large battery size relative to this bank's 5,000mAh capacity. It's better suited as a supplemental boost for tablets rather than a primary charging solution.

Q: How does this compare to larger Anker power banks for travel?

A: The Nano is the lightest, most pocketable option in Anker's lineup, ideal for short trips or as a secondary bank. Frequent travelers with multiple devices consistently recommend Anker's larger 20,000mAh or 25,000mAh models with multi-port outputs as a primary travel solution.

— Tech Lead Editor 2, CPrice