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1 If power banks were shoes, most would be hiking boots, chunky, sturdy, and not something you slip into your pocket without a plan. The Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, MagGo, Slim)? It’s more like a pair of sleek loafers. It’s designed to disappear into your everyday carry, to sit quietly in your bag or even your jeans pocket until you need it, then leap into action to top up your phone.
Wafer Thin Marvel
With its slim MagSafe-compatible design, wireless charging, and just enough capacity to keep your phone alive through the day, this isn’t a heavy-duty backup battery. It’s a smart, stylish lifeline for people who like to travel light but hate the sight of the dreaded “1%” icon.
Design & Features
The first thing you notice is how little there is to notice. This power bank is only a few millimetres thicker than a smartphone, and its footprint is almost identical to an iPhone’s. That’s by design. Anker made it so it can snap to the back of your phone without looking or feeling awkward. The exterior has a smooth, premium-feeling finish with softly curved edges, so it won’t snag on fabric or scratch other items in your bag. The build feels solid, with no creaks or flex when you squeeze it, this is a slim device that doesn’t feel delicate.
To keep the minimal aesthetic, a neat set of four tiny LEDs on the side tells you how much battery is left, and there’s a satisfying little power button you can click to check the status or start wireless charging. Inside, Anker has built in temperature sensors and heat-spreading materials to keep the device running cool, even during high-speed charging sessions.
One of its main features is the MagSafe wireless charging. The magnets align neatly with iPhones 12 and newer, locking the bank into place so you can keep scrolling or texting while charging, no cables dangling, no awkward grip. The wireless side can push up to 15W to compatible devices. The battery melted into the aesthetics of my iPhone 15. For wired connections, there’s a USB-C port on the bottom edge that works both ways, charging your device or charging the power bank itself, at up to 20W. That’s fast enough to add serious charge to a phone in a short time, or refill the bank itself in under two hours.
Weight, Ports & Outputs
At 122 grams (about the weight of two chocolate bars), this is one of the lightest power banks you can buy with built-in magnetic wireless charging. You could slip it into a pocket and forget it’s there until you need it. Just remember to check your pockets before putting on a wash!
Port & Output Details:
- Wireless MagSafe/Qi2 charging: up to 15W
- USB-C wired charging: up to 20W input/output
- Dual charging (wireless + wired at the same time) splits power, with wireless dropping to around 5W and wired to roughly 12W to keep heat under control.
It is worth noting that the Anker Nano Power Bank is not meant to be a multi-device powerhouse. It’s a personal charger, best used for keeping one phone alive and happy! If you need something with a bit more clout, check out my review of the Anker Laptop Power Bank.
Functionality
With a capacity of 5,000 mAh, this isn’t going to replace your wall charger for days on end. But for its size, it’s plenty capable. On most modern iPhones, you can expect roughly a 70–80% top-up from completely empty. In real-world terms, that’s enough to get you from “uh-oh” to “plenty for the rest of the day” in a single boost.
Wired charging is where you’ll see the speed advantage. Plugging in with USB-C can get a phone from zero to around 50% in half an hour, depending on the model. Wireless is a bit slower, but the convenience of simply snapping it onto the back of your phone while you use it is hard to beat!
Recharging the Nano itself via USB-C takes under two hours with a 20W charger. You can also use pass-through charging, but this isn’t the fastest way to top up both. The built-in heat management works well. Even after a solid 20–30 minutes of wired charging, the bank feels warm to the touch. However, not uncomfortably hot. During wireless charging, it stays cooler than many bulkier competitors, which is impressive given its size.
Conclusion
The Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, MagGo, Slim) is the definition of “just enough” in the best possible way. It’s not built for marathon multi-day charging. It’s built to be there when you need a quick, convenient top-up without carrying a tech brick in your bag. Its slim profile, MagSafe wireless charging, and light weight make it a natural everyday carry item, especially for iPhone owners. The build feels premium, the heat management is impressive for something this thin, and the dual charging options give you flexibility.
If you want a backup battery that looks good, feels good, and keeps your phone happy without weighing you down, the Anker Nano Power Bank (5K, MagGo, Slim) is one of the most elegant solutions you can slip into your pocket.
The Anker Nano Power Bank receives the Thumb Culture Platinum Award!
Disclaimer: A sample was received in order to write this review.
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