Anker Zolo 20,000mAh 30W power bank review: a large power bank with a good price but not enough ports

Anker Zolo 20,000mAh 30W power bank

The Anker Zolo 20,000mAh 30W power bank has plenty of power and capacity – it's capable of charging larger devices like tablets and some laptops.

It certainly stands out in appearance, thanks to its thick size and vibrant colorways, although there is a black variant if you want something less ostentatious.

The Zolo feels as sturdy as some of the best power banks, yet it’s not as heavy as you might expect given its size. The plastic chassis feels smooth and the shiny panel on top is a nice touch. However, the translucent, ribbed border surrounding it is less so, and seems a little pointless; perhaps it offers extra grip when holding the bank, but I don’t think I’d miss it if it wasn’t there.

For a power bank of this size, it’s a shame it only has two ports (one USB-C and one USB-A), as there’s plenty of real estate for more. And while there is a small readout displaying the battery level – nicely disguised within that central panel – it seems like a missed opportunity to incorporate a bigger screen with more information to display, given all that space.

However, what is very useful is the 6-inch hardwired USB-C cable. This is made from a thick, braided cloth that feels durable, and Anker claims it will survive over 10,000 bends in its lifetime.

The slot that houses the jack end of this cable also feels very secure, yet it’s not hard to unplug the jack when needed. There also appears to be a good deal of internal strain relief on the hardwired end, so I feel reasonably confident it won’t come loose from its connection.

The cable provides 30W of charging power, meaning it can handle larger devices, such as some tablets, handheld gaming consoles, and laptops. It managed to charge my Google Pixel 7a from half to full in just over an hour, with the Zolo’s battery depleting to 86%, meaning you should get quite a few charges out of it.

The USB-A port, on the other hand, provides a maximum of 22.5W of power. This charged my Pixel 7a from half to full in about an hour and a half and depleted the bank’s battery to 87%, so it’s another solid effort.

There’s also a trickle charging mode for this port, which lets you safely charge low-powered devices such as smartwatches and earbuds. You can activate this easily by pressing the power button on the side twice. Pressing the power button another two times deactivates the mode.

Another useful feature of the Anker Zolo is the Smart Charging Reminder, which means the battery readout flashes when it falls to 5%, alerting you to the need to charge it back up.

Charging the Anker Zolo itself took over four hours from 20% to full. This isn’t a particularly impressive performance, but given its capacity, it’s understandable. You can use the built-in cable or the USB-C port for charging the bank.

Considering its price, large capacity, high power output, and integrated cable, the Anker Zolo represents good value. However, I wish it had more ports to take advantage of its large size and more display information.

If you need more connectivity options, and even more power, the Juovi J2621 is a better alternative, thanks to its 45W output and four USB ports. What’s more, it’s cheaper than the Zolo. If features are a priority for you, then the Anker MagGo (10K) is a good choice, thanks to its detailed display and wireless charging capability. It’s more expensive than the Zolo, though.

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