If you want a portable charger that is small enough for a pocket and fast enough for a modern phone, Anker is still one of the first brands people look at. This page used to review the Anker PowerCore 10000 with Quick Charge 3.0. That model is gone from Anker’s store, so the review now covers the power bank that fills its slot in 2026: the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W, Built-In Retractable USB-C Cable), model A1638.

Updated September 2026: product availability, specs and prices re-checked.

The old PowerCore 10000 QC 3.0 had one USB-A output, a Micro-USB input and Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0. The Nano keeps the same 10,000mAh capacity but moves everything to USB-C, adds a built-in cable and a screen, and roughly doubles the output power. Below is what changed, what the specs say, and what reviewers report.

What Happened to the PowerCore 10000 QC 3.0?

The PowerCore 10000 QC 3.0 product page on anker.com no longer exists, and the model is not part of Anker’s current 10K lineup. Micro-USB input and Quick Charge 3.0 have also been overtaken by USB-C Power Delivery, which is what current iPhones, Pixels and Galaxy phones use for fast charging.

There is a safety point worth knowing if you still own an older Anker bank. In June 2025, Anker and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled about 1.16 million units of the original PowerCore 10000 (model A1263) because the battery can overheat. In September 2025 a second CPSC recall covered about 481,000 newer units, including the Anker Power Bank (10K, 22.5W), model A1257, and the MagGo Power Bank (10K, 7.5W), model A1652. Check the model number printed on your power bank against Anker’s recall page before you keep using it. The Nano A1638 reviewed here is not on either recall.

Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W): Key Specs

• Capacity: 10,000mAh (36Wh, per Anker’s FAQ)
• Built-in cable: retractable USB-C, about 2.3 ft (70 cm), locks at six lengths, up to 45W
• USB-C port: up to 45W
• USB-A port: up to 22.5W
• Recharge input: USB-C, up to 30W; Anker says about 2 hours 10 minutes for a full recharge with a 30W or stronger charger
• Pass-through charging: yes
• Display: screen showing remaining battery
• Size and weight: 3.21 x 1.99 x 1.42 in (about 82 x 51 x 36 mm), 0.51 lb (about 230 g)
• Colors: Aurora White, Teal Oasis, Pink Aura, Misty Blue
• Price: about $60 on anker.com (September 2026)

Charging Performance and Speed

The headline number is 45W from the built-in cable or the USB-C port. That is more than any current phone needs, and it leaves room for a tablet or a small handheld console. Anker rates it at 50% on an iPhone 16 Pro in 27 minutes. Pack Hacker reported similar results in its review: 50% on an iPhone 16 Pro in 27 minutes and on a Galaxy S24+ in 25 minutes.

Output drops when you charge more than one device. With the cable and the USB-C port in use together, Anker lists 15W plus 7.5W. With all three outputs in use, each gets 7.5W. So the Nano is quick for one phone and slower as a shared charger.

How many phone charges should you expect? Anker does not give a number for this model. Every power bank loses some energy to voltage conversion and heat, so you get fewer full charges than the 10,000mAh label suggests. The exact number depends on the size of your phone’s battery.

Pass-Through Charging

The old PowerCore 10000 QC 3.0 could not charge a phone while it was itself plugged in. The Nano can. According to Anker’s FAQ, the connected device gets priority until it reaches about 80%, then the power bank starts refilling itself. That makes it handy on a nightstand or in a hotel room with only one wall outlet.

Design and Build

The biggest design change is the retractable USB-C cable. You don’t need to carry a separate cord, and the cable locks at six lengths, so it isn’t dangling while you use your phone. Reviewers point out the trade-off: if that built-in cable breaks, you lose the main convenience of the product, although the separate USB-C and USB-A ports still work.

At 36 mm thick, the Nano is chunkier than the old 22 mm PowerCore, even though it is shorter. Pack Hacker called it thicker than other 10K banks and noted that the white finish shows smudges. At about 230 g, it is also a bit heavier than the 188 g PowerCore 10000 QC 3.0.

The screen replaces the old four-LED gauge. It shows remaining charge, which is easier to read than counting dots.

Other Anker 10,000mAh Power Banks in 2026

The old version of this review compared five PowerCore models. None of them is in Anker’s current lineup. Here is how the 10K options on anker.com compare today:

• Anker Nano Power Bank (30W, Built-In USB-C Cable), A1259: a fixed (non-retractable) USB-C cable plus USB-C and USB-A ports, 30W max, about 215 g, color screen. About $50 (September 2026). A good pick if you don’t need 45W.
• Anker 313 Power Bank (PowerCore 10K), A1229: the budget option at about $26 (September 2026). It uses the older, slower design with Micro-USB input, closer to the original PowerCore than to the Nano.
• Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K, Slim), A1664: Qi2 magnetic wireless charging up to 15W plus a 30W USB-C port, about 216 g and 0.58 in thick. Best for iPhone users who want a snap-on battery.
• Anker MagGo Power Bank (10K), A1654: Qi2 15W wireless, 27W USB-C, a smart display and a fold-out stand, about 250 g. Anker says it gives about one full iPhone charge.

Flying With It

At 36Wh, the Nano is well under the 100Wh limit that U.S. airlines allow in carry-on bags without approval. Power banks must go in your carry-on, never in checked luggage, as the TSA explains.

Main Highlights of the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W)

Pros of the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W)

• 45W USB-C output, fast enough for phones and tablets
• Built-in retractable USB-C cable that locks at six lengths
• Pass-through charging
• Screen shows remaining battery
• Three outputs: cable, USB-C and USB-A

Cons of the Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W)

• Thicker and heavier than older 10K banks
• Output is split to 7.5W per device when all three outputs are in use
• If the built-in cable fails, the main feature is gone
• Costs about twice as much as a basic 10K bank

Related reading

• Best Budget True Wireless Earbuds in 2026
• Best Budget Bluetooth Headphones in 2026: 5 MPOW 059 Alternatives

Final Verdict

The PowerCore 10000 with Quick Charge 3.0 was a good pocket charger in its day, but it has been retired, and its Micro-USB and Quick Charge 3.0 design no longer matches current phones. The Anker Nano Power Bank (10K, 45W) keeps the same 10,000mAh capacity and adds USB-C fast charging, a built-in cable, pass-through charging and a battery screen. It is thicker and pricier, so if you only need a basic backup, the 30W Nano or the budget Anker 313 cost less. For most people who want one small bank that charges a phone quickly without an extra cable, the Nano 45W is the current Anker model to look at.

Featured image: anker.com