Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger Review

Some of our readers may know already that the Anker PowerCore 10000 has been one of our most highly recommended portable chargers and also took the runner-up spot in our list of best power banks in 2019. A recent upgrade of this beloved unit has since been released by Anker, called the Anker PowerCore 13000 Portable Charger. Let’s take a look at it in this review.

Design & Portability

First thing I notice about the Anker PowerCore 13000 is that it looks just like a widened version of its predecessor. It measures 3.8 inches in length, 3.1 inches in width, and is 0.9 inch thick. But even at this size, it has great pocketability. Although it’s quite hefty, the short stocky form-factor makes it slide easily in your jeans or jacket pocket. Some might prefer a long smartphone-esque design like the Anker Astro E3 due to the slimness, but we definitely prefer the power bank to be as small as possible, and the Anker PowerCore 13000 is exactly that.

Design-wise, not much has changed since the previous PowerCore models. It’s still encased in a sturdy matte black shell with the famed Anker logo embedded in the middle. The shell is still very smooth, some might say too smooth. This smoothness combined with the round-edged design make it slide out of your hand or from your desk quite easily at times. Some users have easily fixed this problem by placing sticky bumpers in each of the four corners, which can be found cheaply on Amazon. However, since we’ve been spoiled with the new PowerCore II series, we definitely prefer their ridged texture over this smooth shell. But that aside, for a plastic shell it feels very robust and quality built. So it will probably survive some not-too-heavy impact and an occasional drop here and there.

Features

One feature that was sorely missed and what kept the Anker PowerCore 10000 from being a near perfect power bank was an extra charging slot. The Anker PowerCore 13000 was made just to solve this problem, as it’s fitted with not one, but two output ports making it finally possible to charge two devices simultaneously. In turn of course, some compactness had to be sacrificed. Which is why the PowerCore 13000 is bigger than its predecessor. But to be fair, for most people it’s quite worth it.

The two charging ports are fitted with Anker’s signature PowerIQ technology, making the ports seek the ideal output amperage for the device you’re charging. It protects your device from damage and also makes sure you get the best charging speeds. And although Quick Charge is not supported, both of the ports can output up to 3A, which is 0.6A higher than previous Anker PowerCores. This not only allows you to charge your phone up fairly quickly, but allows you to charge large tablets at a very decent rate as well. One thing Anker is not stating however, is if the power bank is able to output 3A through both ports simultaneously (6A in total). It’s not that important, but for clarity, we’d like to know if the PowerCore 13000 is able to provide maximum charging speeds when charging two tablets or other large devices at once.

Power

For a portable charger of this size, it packs an immense capacity. A lithium-ion battery rated at 13000mAh, the Anker PowerCore will provide you with up to five charges for your phone, depending on your phone’s model. It charges an iPhone 6S five times, an iPhone 7 or 8 four-and-a half times, or an iPhone X three times. A Samsung Galaxy S7, S8 or S9 three times or a Samsung Galaxy 10 two-and-a-half-times.

Charging rates are very quick, although not as extraordinary as you might think with 3A output. It charges the Samsung Galaxy S7 in about one hour and thirty minutes, and the iPhone 7 and 8 are charged in about one hour and ten minutes, making the Anker PowerCore 13000 just as fast—or perhaps a tad bit faster than other Anker models like the Anker PowerCore 10000, Anker PowerCore II Slim 10000 and the Anker PowerCore Elite 20000.

The 13000mAh is enough to charge most moderately sized tablets. An iPad Air can be charged fully once, a Samsung Galaxy tab 3 can be charged nearly twice, or a Nexus 7 tablet can be charged fully twice. The Anker PowerCore 13000 is also compatible with a USB-C 12 inch Macbook, which it can charge to an impressive 60% batterystatus. You do need to use your own USB-C cable to charge the Macbook with, as it is not included with the power bank.

A small downside but definitely not a dealbreaker, is that the Anker PowerCore 13000 does not allow for pass-through charging. Meaning you can’t charge it and a device at the same time. If you truly need pass-through charging in a power bank, take a look at some of our RAVPower and Jackery power bank reviews.

With an input of 2A, the Anker PowerCore 13000 is recharged quite fast. Using a regular 2A charger, the power bank is fully charged within five hours. When using an older 1A powerbrick however, it takes almost ten hours. Still not bad to be fair.

Conclusion

If you already own the original Anker PowerCore 10000 and don’t need an extra charging slot, the PowerCore 13000 might not be worth the upgrade. But if you do like the extra charging option, more power and an impressive output of 3A per port, for a slight sacrifice of compactness the Anker PowerCore 13000 is a great pick. Whether you want to charge your phone four times or your tablet once, the Anker PowerCore 13000’s reliability makes sure you’ll never be out of juice on the road. All in all, it’s a very welcome upgrade to one of the most popular power banks in the world.

Technical Specifications