Key Takeaways
- The Anker 325 is a budget power bank option for those who don’t need more advanced features.
- It has a 20,000mAh battery capacity, which makes it ideal for power-hungry devices such as headphones.
- The limited ports and slow charging may be drawbacks for some users.
Keeping your devices charged while on the go isn’t always easy. Power banks aim to solve this problem by offering a charging solution that you can throw in your bag and take with you wherever your next adventure takes you. There are power banks out there that offer wireless charging and larger batteries, but they tend to be quite expensive and heavy.
The Anker 325 power bank is priced low and designed for people who don’t need the biggest portable battery with the most features. At just $30, it’s a simple, solid budget power bank for the budget conscious. I’ve been testing the Anker 325 power bank for the past week to see if it’s a good fit for me.
Anchor 325
$30 $43 Save $13
If you’re not too concerned about fast charging or a wide range of ports, this option offers high capacity and great quality at a great price.
- Fast charge two devices via USB Type-A
- 20,000mAh battery
- Inconvenient size to carry
- Charging via Micro-USB is slow
- Port Selection Restrictions
Pricing, Availability and Specifications
The Anker 325 sells for $30 on Anker’s website. It’s currently on sale for $30 on Amazon, where we expect Amazon will follow Anker’s lead and lower its permanent price from $43 to $30. The Anker 325 has a maximum output of 15W, which is fine for phones and headphones, but not powerful enough to charge an iPad, which requires a minimum of 20W (although I was able to charge my Remarkable 2 e-ink tablet).
This is a great budget solution for low powered devices like headphones, earphones, etc. Although the power bank is a little on the larger side, it is still very lightweight so it won’t add much weight to your backpack.
However, the lower output power helps keep the price down, and we felt the port selection was a little lacking – just two USB-A ports, a Micro-USB input for charging a power bank, and a USB Type-C port that can also charge a power bank.
What I like about the Anker 325
Perfect as a backup charging option for your wireless headphones
The Anker 325 power bank is an entry-level power bank. It only has a few ports and no special charging features like an LCD screen or Qi2 support. This power bank is the simplest of the bunch. It features 20,000 mAh of power, which can charge most smartphones 2-3 times on a single full charge, depending on the smartphone. I tested the power bank with an iPhone 15 Pro Max and it was able to fully charge it 2 times before the battery died. I also used it with an older Samsung Galaxy S8 and it was able to charge it 5 times before the power bank died.
The Anker 325 is small enough to fit in a spare pocket in my camera bag and made it easy to charge my headphones while hiking. It’s a great budget solution for low power consumption devices like headphones and earbuds. The power bank is a bit on the larger side, but it’s still very lightweight so it doesn’t add much weight to your backpack.
What I didn’t like about the Anker 325
Few ports and slow charging speeds
The Anker 325 is a budget power bank that doesn’t have that many ports. It only has two USB Type-A outputs, so you’ll need a dongle to charge your USB Type-C devices. I have an iPhone 15, so I connected my phone with a USB Type-A to Type-C cable. It’s not the worst, but it didn’t take full advantage of the iPhone’s fast USB-C charging capabilities. I also found the charging time to be slow compared to other power banks I’ve used, even for low-powered devices. Once the battery was completely depleted, it took about 12 hours to fully charge the power bank with a 10W charger. This is pretty slow compared to many power banks on the market and isn’t the best for long trips with continuous use.
If you’re looking for a power bank to keep your devices charged while you’re out and about, the Anker 325 is a good affordable power bank to go for, especially if you’re doing outdoor activities like hiking or fishing that require you to charge low-power devices.
The overall design is nothing to write home about; it has a textured black plastic housing that looks bland. Anker advertises the 325 as being able to withstand multiple drops without any issues, and it felt durable in the hand. I also found the Anker 325’s actual charging speeds to be slower than advertised; even using a USB port tester and with different USB cables, I was only able to achieve a maximum of 13W.
Should I buy the Anker 325?
If you’re looking for a power bank to keep your devices charged while you’re out and about, the Anker 325 is a good, affordable power bank to go for, especially if you’re doing outdoor activities like hiking or fishing that require you to charge low-power devices. If you don’t have the latest model phone, you should be able to charge your device multiple times before the battery runs out.
However, if you need to charge multiple USB Type-C devices simultaneously, especially in critical situations such as professional environments, we recommend choosing a different, possibly more expensive and feature-rich, power bank.
Anchor 325
$30 $43 Save $13
