Anker 25K 165W Power Bank Review

Every now and then, something lands on my desk that completely shifts my expectations. I’ve tested plenty of power banks over the years, from bargain bin impulse buys to the supposedly “premium” ones that somehow still feel like cheap, plastic lunch boxes, but the Anker 25K 165W Power Bank sits in a league of its own. I don’t say that lightly. From the moment I picked it up, it struck me as one of those rare gadgets that feels like it’s been designed by people who actually use their tech. Not to hit a specific price point. But… properly designed, for real life use.

The build quality is the first thing that grabbed me. You can instantly feel the difference. It’s solid and premium in that way only Anker seems to always pull off, dense enough to feel capable, but refined enough that it doesn’t feel like you’re carrying around a brick. It has weight, but it’s quality weight. The casing has this smooth, matte finish that doesn’t scratch easily, doesn’t feel cheap, and doesn’t attract fingerprints. I can toss it into my bag next to my Switch 2, ROG Ally X, camera gear, or whatever else I’m travelling with, and I know it’ll handle the bumps and knocks without issue. It gives you immediate trust, and with portable power, that trust is everything.

But what honestly blew me away were the cables. Built-in cables are usually the “yeah, nice idea, terrible execution” part of power banks. They’re thin, flimsy, awkward, and make you wish they weren’t attached at all. But with this thing? Completely different story. The built-in, USB-C cable feels sturdy and reliable and is designed in a way that it can be used as a carry handle, which is a testament to its durability, its now something I’m actually happy to use on expensive devices, not something I avoid out of fear. Then you’ve got the retractable cable, which is just brilliant. It snaps in and out with this smooth, confident movement, and the cable itself doesn’t feel cheap in the slightest. The whole system feels intentional, not tacked on. And the convenience? Honestly, game changing. I can grab the power bank knowing I don’t need to bring a separate cable. No rummaging through a bag. No hunting for cords at the bottom of a suitcase. It’s all there, built in, ready instantly.

Then there’s the display, and again, I went into this thinking it would be a gimmick. But it ended up being one of my favorite features. Having the ability to quickly glance at how fast a device is charging, how much power is left in the bank, or how long it’ll take to recharge makes the whole experience feel so much smarter. When you’re switching between a Switch 2 session on the couch, a ROG Ally X session on the train, or topping up your phone while out with the family, having that little bit of extra info is surprisingly helpful. It turns charging from a guessing game into something more thoughtful and controlled. It genuinely improves the way you use the device.

But the real magic of this power bank hits when you use it for gaming. If you’re someone who uses a Nintendo Switch 2, a ROG Ally X, or any modern handheld, you know how annoying it is when power banks can’t keep up. Most of them start off well, but the moment you’re mid-game, the device drains faster than it charges. Or it trickles slowly, barely keeping the battery level steady. Or even worse, it drops in and out and you get that dreaded on screen “charging paused” moment.

I didn’t run into that once with the Anker 25K. This thing pumps out consistent, stable power like it’s nothing. I plugged in the Switch 2 mid session and watched it go up steadily and rapidly. I plugged the Ally X in while playing something heavy and it charged it just as confidently as if it were plugged into a wall. It doesn’t stutter, doesn’t hesitate, doesn’t sag under load. It just does its job properly. And for gamers, that matters more than anything else. This is easily the best handheld gaming power companion I’ve used to date.

What’s wild is how much power it packs compared to its physical size. If you handed this to someone without telling them what it can do, I genuinely think they’d underestimate it. It looks clean and compact, not oversized. Yet when you use it, it performs like something far larger. This makes it perfect for travelling. I’ve used it on road trips, at airports, at cafés, at the park with my daughter, even just sitting outside on the patio while gaming, and every single time, it gives me so much confidence knowing I’m not going to run out of juice. It’s one of those gadgets that quietly becomes part of your daily routine. You stop noticing you’re carrying it because it naturally earns its place in your everyday setup.

And I can’t ignore the value either. At around $150 in Australia at the time I’m writing this, it feels almost too cheap for what it offers. I’ve spent more than that on power banks that felt half as capable. This feels like premium hardware at a mid-range price, which is rare, and honestly refreshing.

After using it for a decent chunk of time, gaming sessions, weekend outings, workdays, long drives, Japanese travel days, the whole lot, I realised something that almost never happens with accessories: I couldn’t find a flaw. Not one that matters, anyway. It’s robust, fast, extremely convenient, and matches perfectly with every device I care about. It genuinely solves real problems without introducing new ones. And it’s rare I can say that about a piece of tech.

So, in the most straightforward way possible, this is the best power bank I’ve ever used. Full stop. It’s earned a permanent spot in my everyday life. It pairs beautifully with the Nintendo Switch 2 and ROG Ally X! It’s ridiculously well built, the display is surprisingly useful, and the built-in cables elevate it from “nice accessory” to “must-have.”