Power bank feature creep is out of control 

A power bank sits on top of a dock, both with large display, while a retractable cable module sits on a table surrounded by books in the foreground.

This $270 power bank from EcoFlow requires proprietary modules and a desktop dock to reach its full potential. | Photo by Thomas Ricker / The Verge

There was a time not too long ago when buying a power bank was as easy as choosing the cheapest portable battery that could charge your phone and quickly slip into your pocket, purse, or backpack. The hardest part was deciding whether it was time to ditch USB-A ports.

Recently, however, brands have been slathering on features, many of which are superfluous, in an attempt to both stand out from the commodified pack and justify higher price points. It’s especially prevalent amongst the bigger power banks that can also charge laptops, those that butt right up to the “airline friendly” 99Wh (around 27,650mAh) size limit.

At CES 2026, we’re see …

Read the full story at The Verge.