Anker PowerPort 21W Review

Cons: Pocket too small to hold extra cords and accessories
Manufacturer: Anker
Our Verdict
Compare to Similar Products
![]() This Product
Anker PowerPort 21W | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Price | $90 List $69.99 at Amazon | $80 List $59.46 at Amazon | $50 List $27.99 at Amazon | $30 List $19.98 at Amazon | $55 List $56.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score ![]() |
|||||
Star Rating | |||||
Pros | Efficient, powerful, great value for its size, lightweight | Inexpensive, efficient, user-friendly, excels in partly cloudy conditions | Quick to charge, portable size, panel actually works despite small wattage | Compact, lightweight, fast charging capabilities | Impressive charging speeds, can charge multiple devices simultaneously, affordable |
Cons | Pocket too small to hold extra cords and accessories | Bulky, lacks portability | Heavy, slow to replenish battery via solar | Lacks versatility | Poor interruption recovery |
Bottom Line | A compact, lightweight panel with exceptional efficiency and charging capabilities | We were impressed by its ability to charge our gadgets quickly and reliably and its reasonable price is the cherry on top | This exceptionally priced battery pack quickly charges devices, and if left in the sun for hours, can replenish via solar | This little panel is by far the lightest in this review, but its charging abilities are impressive | A powerful, fast charging machine, capable of charging multiple devices, complete with a reasonable price tag |
Rating Categories | Anker PowerPort 21W | BigBlue 3 | Goertek 25,000mAh | BEARTWO 10,000mAh | Ryno-Tuff 21W |
Charging Speed (30%) | |||||
Charge Interruption Recovery (20%) | |||||
Multiple Device Charging Speed (20%) | |||||
Weight & Portability (20%) | |||||
Durability (10%) | |||||
Specs | Anker PowerPort 21W | BigBlue 3 | Goertek 25,000mAh | BEARTWO 10,000mAh | Ryno-Tuff 21W |
Panel Size (watts) | 21W | 28W | 5W | <5W | 21W |
Weight (measured) | 17.6 oz | 23.5 oz | 19 oz | 7.52 oz | 17 oz |
# of USB outlets | 2 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 2 |
Max USB Output Current (amps per port) | 2 amp | 2 amp | 1 amp | 2.1 amp | 2.4 amp |
Battery kit? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Size folded | 11" x 6.3" x 0.75" | 11.1" x 6.3" x 1.3" | 7" x 3.75" x 1.25" | 5.5" x 3" x 0.7" | 5.9" x 11.8" x 0.8" |
Battery? | No | No | Yes | Yes | No |
Charge tablet? | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
Charge laptop? | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
Panel Type | Mono-crystalline | PET Polymer | Mono-crystalline | Mono-crystalline | Mono-crystalline |
Size opened | 26.3" x 11.1" x 0.2" | 33.1" x 11.1" x 0.2" | 7" x 3.75" x 1.25" | 5.5" x 3" x 0.7" | 18" x 11.8" x 0.1" |
Battery input (Volts / Amps) | N/a | N/a | 5V 2A | 5V 2.1A | N/a |
Charge capacity (mAh) | N/a | N/a | 25,000mAh | 10,000mAh | N/a |
Charge iPhone/Smartphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Direct USB Plug? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Daisy Chain? | No | No | No | No | Yes |
12-Volt connection | No | No | No | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Anker 21 is back on the market. This spring, Anker presents the same panel that won our hearts years ago. The new panel was consistent with other Anker products, and we weren't disappointed.
Performance Comparison
Charge Interruption Recovery
In this category, the Anker 21W did fairly well. When left in the sun for thirty minutes, the panel charged our battery pack up to 10%. Then, after we shaded it and uncovered it some times, the panel reestablished a connection to the battery and resumed charging after about five minutes of attempting to do so. Most of the more significant models performed in this way, so our testing results were inconclusive as to which contender soared above all the rest regarding performance.
Charging Speed
The 21W from Anker came in a close second in our race to charge a 6,000 mAh external battery. It took just under four hours (three hours and 40 minutes to be exact) for the panel to charge the battery from completely dead to 100%. When plugged into the wall, these batteries took about two hours to charge fully, so this is very efficient.
In thirty minutes, the 21W from Anker charged a Pixel 3 from about 30%. This is impressive and on par with some of the larger capacity panels in this review.
Multiple Device Charging Speed
The 21W from Anker is a powerhouse when it comes to charging multiple devices. Like the BigBlue, the Anker was able to deliver some charge to two devices simultaneously, which is certainly impressive for a panel of its relatively small size. The Anker 21 charged our phone 4% when plugged in next to a battery pack, which is similar to panels of the same size, and earns the Anker a high score in this metric.
Durability
The Anker has delivered a durable, well-made product. The Anker 21 is made of industrial-strength PET polymer faced solar cells surrounded by durable polyester canvas. This construction makes the Anker panels durable and able to withstand the harsh conditions found in the outdoors. They also have a thirty day return policy if you have any issues and will give you a full refund. They have an 18-month warranty. The warranty is another benefit of buying from a reliable company, and Anker has proven time and time again that they create well-made, durable products.
Weight and Portability
The 21W is incredibly lightweight, especially given its capabilities. Ounce for ounce, the panel is miles above the other 20W panels and even outdoes some of the panels of smaller capacities.
For being a tri-fold panel with a large surface area of cells, the 21W is small and sleek. When folded, the width is about the size of a thin book or a magazine.
Value
The Anker 21 is fairly pricy, especially when you consider its overall capacity. Nowadays, you can find a panel with a much larger capacity for a similar or cheaper price, which reduces the value of this panel. On the other hand, it's well made and comes from a reliable company, which adds to its value.
Conclusion
The Anker 21 is well made, light, and compact. It can also carry its weight as a charging powerhouse. It's efficient when charging one or more devices, and can recover its charge even after being shaded for a few minutes. The panel also works decently well on overcast days, whereas some of the lower wattage panels could not keep a charge going when clouds were overhead. We are big fans of this long-time favorite, but the Anker 21 has finally come up against some fierce competition in recent years.
— Jane Jackson
Ad-free. Influence-free. Powered by Testing.
GearLab is founded on the principle of honest, objective, reviews. Our experts test thousands of products each year using thoughtful test plans that bring out key performance differences between competing products. And, to assure complete independence, we buy all the products we test ourselves. No cherry-picked units sent by manufacturers. No sponsored content. No ads. Just real, honest, side-by-side testing and comparison.
Learn More