Working remotely requires constant access to power. Choosing the right gear, in this case, Omnicharge vs Anker, can save time, money, and future headaches.
Omnicharge and Anker both produce portable power stations, power banks, and related gear.
They are great for working remotely and powering your life on the go. Both brands can find a place in your battery stack.
Let’s start with Omnicharge, go over Anker, and then compare the two with some recommendations.
You can read my full hands-on review of Omnicharge and my experience here.
OmniCharge Power Bank Products: An Overview
OmniCharge has 5 primary products. 3 are great for charging laptops and working remotely while the other 2 are great for mobile and gadget use.
Of the 3 charging laptops, two of them only differ depending on if you want USB-C or not.
OmniCharge’s two mobile options simply differ in battery size.
- Beast of a Battery
- Best for Professionals
- All Day Use
- Variety of devices at once
- USB Transfer Hub
- Best All Around Use
- Best for Macbooks and USB-C Charging
- Flexible and Capable
- Great Multi-Gadget Device
- Phones
- Cameras
- Up to 6 phone charges
- 2 laptop charges (allegedly)
- Pocket-sized
- Better alternatives at this size
- Expensive for capabilities
- Maybe 2 phone charges
Now, let’s get an overview of Anker’s products so we can compare them.
Anker Power Bank Products: An Overview
Anker has many more product options available compared to Omnicharge. Maybe a few too many options.
With models like “Anker 313, Anker 335, Anker 535, Anker 747, and many others, it can be confusing and potentially intimidating for casual users. Let’s break it down.
What do the Anker Product Models Mean?
1st Number = Series. Higher the number, the newer tech/fancier it is.
2nd Number = Number of charging ports (how many devices can it charge at the same time).
3rd Number = Battery capacity which correlates to how many charges it provides.
Anker also has some power banks that plug directly into the wall and you can charge devices while the power bank is also charging. While this may be useful in certain situations such as on a commuter train where there may only be a single outlet, I have chosen to exclude these.
Most power banks get charged at home, hotel, or other places with multiple outlets to charge the power bank and other devices at the same time.
Here’s an overview of 5 of the Anker Power Banks that compare with OmniCharge.
- Best for Multiple Small Devices at Once
- Can Charge Macbook Air Once
- 4 ports
- Can charge many phones 3 times or more
- Great for backpacking
- 3 ports
- 1.5 to 2.5 phone charges
- Simple, light
- Great for day trips
Best Power Bank for Laptops: OmniCharge vs Anker
In my opinion, the best power bank for laptops is the OmniCharge Ultimate.
It’s great for no-anxiety remote work. It’s also great if you use dual monitors that consume more power from your laptop.
Lastly, if you have a chunker of a laptop like I used to, it can charge the Dells and HPs of the world that have terrible battery life.
In my opinion, this is simply the best of the best for working professionals doing significant work on the road. It's great for staying fully charged and carefree power usage. It charges my dual monitor set up, camera, phone, Verizon jetpack wifi device, and more.
Best Power Bank for Phones: Anker vs OmniCharge
Even though I own an OmniCharge Mobile power bank, I believe Anker wins easily over OmniCharge in terms of the best Power Bank for small devices.
They are more affordable, have more options, and they’re slim.
In my opinion, you can’t go wrong with the Anker 525 for the price.
The best power bank for day trips to back up your phone, camera, or other small devices.
Can You Take Omnicharge Power Banks On a Plane?
Yes, you can take Omnicharge batteries on a plane. All their products, including the Omni Ultimate comply with Federal Aviation safety limits. This makes them perfect for travel. — Update— Read my review of the Omnicharge Ultimate – I would be hesitant to test my luck with it.
Most airlines allow 100Wh batteries without any restrictions. Above 100Wh you may need approval which may involve filling out a form during check-in.
I simply google “Airline Name battery limits” and you can quickly determine if there will be any issues.
Can You Take Anker Power Banks On a Plane?
Yes, you can generally take Anker Power Banks on a plane. Typically, a power bank with a battery capacity of 100 watt-hours (27,027mAh) is legally allowed on planes and is considered safe. Above that limit, it’s best to review airline-specific guidelines.
Can Omnicharge Power Banks Charge a Laptop?
Yes, Omnicharge has 3 options to charge laptops. The best option for significant remote work is the Omnicharge Ultimate. If you don’t need as much capacity, the Omnicharge 20C+ works great.
Can Anker Power Banks Charge a Laptop?
Yes, Anker power banks can charge laptops. However, they are best for those that use USB-C such as Macbook Air laptops.
If you don’t have a Mac, you’ll probably be better off with an OmniCharge.
Buying Omnicharge vs Anker Power Banks
For me, it’s best practice to buy “big ticket” items or complicated products such as power banks and batteries directly from the company. It makes life easier for any potential returns and warranties compared to buying it on Amazon and then proving when you bought it and all that.
It also limits the chance of getting a counterfeit product from Amazon or other websites.
Shop OmniCharge on their website, and here is Anker’s official website.
Final Thoughts on OmniCharge vs Anker Power Banks
These two companies cover a wide variety of use cases for power banks.
OmniCharge is the winner for working remotely but isn’t as strong in the mobile device arena.
Anker is great for an extra charge on a MacBook Air or Surface, but doesn’t have a great product for many work laptops. However, they do excel in terms of affordable, quality, and 2-3 small device charging.
