Flight-safe power banks for air travel

Carrying power banks onboard an aircraft used to be a pretty straightforward affair, but the recent clampdown by airlines like Singapore Airlines, Scoot and AirAsia has turned it into something you actually have to think about before packing. The TL;DR version is that you can still bring them onboard, but with tighter limits on quantity, stricter capacity caps, and – arguably the biggest change – a complete ban on using or charging them mid-flight, all in the name of reducing fire risks tied to overheating batteries.

It also doesn’t help that there isn’t a single, unified set of standards on what power banks you can or cannot bring onboard. For instance, Singapore Airlines requires prior approval if your power bank is above 100Wh but under 160Wh, while ANA doesn’t. It can feel a bit inconsistent depending on who you’re flying with, which is why my colleague Cheryl’s FAQ feature is worth a read before your next trip.

So if you’re planning a trip anytime soon, it’s probably a good time to take a closer look at the power bank you’re bringing along. Most everyday options, especially those in the 10,000mAh to 20,000mAh range, still fall comfortably under the 100Wh limit and won’t require any extra approvals, but beyond that, things start to get a little more complicated depending on the airline. With that in mind, here are some power banks that I think strike a good balance between capacity, portability, and staying within those increasingly strict travel rules.

Best flight-safe power banks for travel

Xiaomi UltraThin Magnetic Power Bank 5000 15W

$69.90

This incredibly thin Xiaomi power bank comes in orange, silver and black colourways. If you’re looking for one that matches your iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max, this should be at the top of your list.