Anker 548 Power Bank Review: Perfect for an Emergency and More

The inexpensive and portable power bank can charge multiple devices simultaneously and even provide a light.

The Anker 548 Power Bank can help provide power, and more, while camping or in case of an emergency. Inside the power bank is a 60,000mAH, or 192Wh, battery. With that, you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max more than seven times and 2.9 charges of a MacBook Air. There are two USB-C and USB-A ports. Along with a built-in LED lamp, the power bank can be charged with a solar panel.

If you’ve ever looked for a power cord or charger, you probably know the name Anker. The company has always been well-known for its high-quality lineup of power accessories for your smartphones and much more.

But the company also puts its expertise into larger power stations that can help you juice up electronics during an emergency or while away from the grid when camping.

The Anker 548 Power Bank can help you charge multiple devices like a smartphone and laptop while sporting a few tricks up its sleeve. We’ll take a closer look and help decide if it’s for you.

The Anker 548 Power Bank fits between the smaller portable power banks that can fit in a bag or purse and the much larger versions that can power multiple items around a home for days.

It weighs 5.06 pounds and is around the size of a bread loaf at 7.7 inches tall and 4.5 inches square in length and width. To make it easier to move, there is a very sturdy carrying handle. Inside the power bank is a 60,000mAH, or 192Wh, battery.

With that, you can charge an iPhone 14 Pro Max more than seven times and nearly three full charges of a MacBook Air. So you’ll be able to keep your gadgets powered when you need them. Along with two USB-C ports, there is a pair of USB-A ports. The USB-C ports can provide up to 60W of power, that’s enough to charge many MacBook models at the fastest possible speed.

Thanks to EV-grade batteries, Anker says that the power bank will remain healthy for up to 3,000 charging cycles. Even if the battery was unplugged for a full year, expect that it will maintain 85 percent charge even without a recharge. That’s great news if you wanted to purchase one and store it in an out-of-the-way place, like in your car.

On top of the power bank is a small, foldable LED lamp. To activate it, just press the small light button on the front of the power bank.

While you can see the illumination in the normal mode, it really shines bright when unfolding. There are two different lengths of the lamp when unfolding. To expand the lamp, you can just grab the top plastic section and pull.

For even more flexibility, there are two brightness modes of the lamp that you can toggle with the light button. With a fully charged battery pack, it can provide a little more than 42 hours of light on the high setting. Even on the low setting, the lamp provided enough illumination to brighten up a completely dark room.

Next to the light toggle is an SOS button. Press it once to start the universally recognized SOS distress signal using the lamp.

There is another surprise with the lamp. If you connect the battery to a full-time power source, it will automatically turn on during a power outage. Just press the light button until you see “Auto” on the screen.

Anker includes a USB-C cable with the power bank, but you’ll need to provide your own AC adapter. That’s a bit of a disappointment, but one I’m willing to overlook with the low cost of the power bank. If you don’t have a USB-C power adapter, you can purchase one for less than $20. If you’re in the market, take a look at some of the best USB-C chargers that are safe to use.

Instead of waiting for a power outage, I plugged in the power bank and set the Auto feature. Then I hit the GFCI test button to turn off the power to the outlet. On cue, the light turned on. It’s a great feature, especially if you plan to store it around your home in an easily reachable location.

For me, I’m storing the power bank in a closet. And it will be great to know in the event of a power outage, I will know exactly where to find it.

Even if you don’t use the feature, there are emergency glow strips on either side of the battery pack that will light up when you point a flashlight at it during a power outage or when searching for it in a car.

Below the LED lamp is a screen that provides important information. While the battery isn’t in use, or if the screen ever turns off, just tap the light button to activate the screen. You’ll see the battery's remaining percentage, input and output information, and time before the battery is completely discharged.

By default, the screen only illuminates for 30 seconds before timing out to save battery power. But you can adjust those settings by pressing the SOS button twice to enter the settings page. You can select from 1 minute, 5 minutes, or 30 minutes.

The 30-second time out was a bit too short in my testing, so I changed it to 5 minutes. While it will obviously draw some additional power, it's a small amount.

Another big plus, not usually found in portable battery packs of this price range, is the ability to change with a solar panel. As long as your solar panel has an XT-60 connector with a 10-24V range, you can juice up the power bank with the power of the sun.

I’ve charged the Anker 548 multiple times using my solar panel and an adapter that I own, and everything worked without any issues. Being able to use solar power for charging makes the power bank even more useful if you’re preparing for an emergency or a long-term campout. There are also a number of other great solar-powered technologies to use while camping.

While I wasn’t able to go on a camping trip or (thankfully) experience a power outage, I used the Anker 548 Power Bank extensively to power and charge my electronics at home. I used a combination of both USB-C and USB-A cords without any issues.

The screen is a great way to see how much power is being used and how much time you have before the pack is completely depleted.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive power bank for an emergency, for use in the car, or out at your favorite campsite, it’s hard to go wrong with the Anker 548.

It has enough juice to keep multiple electronics charged, and the built-in lamp for emergency power outages and other times is a great addition. The ability to charge with a solar panel is another big win. It’s more than worth the cost. With the reasonable price, it’s perfect to grab one for at home and maybe even another to keep in a car.

Born and raised in sunny west Texas, Brent graduated from Texas Tech University with a BA in journalism. He's been writing about technology for more than 5 years and enjoys all things Apple, accessories, and security.