Anker’s “Laptop Power Bank” is being shouted from the Cyber‑Monday rooftops as the ultimate travel sidekick, but let’s unpack the hype and see whether it’s really worth swapping your wallet for a chunky soda‑can that claims to power a MacBook and a DSLR at the same time.

**The $32 “discount” that screams “deal”**
First off, a $32 price drop from $119.99 to $87.99 looks nice on a banner, yet the so‑called “all‑time low” still lands you in the $90‑plus bracket for a 25,000 mAh pack. For context, a 20,000 mAh power bank from a competing brand can be found for under $70, and even a 30,000 mAh model from a lesser‑known Chinese maker sits comfortably below $80. So the real discount is not on the product; it’s on your perception of Anker’s brand premium. If you’re buying because the price feels like a steal, you might as well ask yourself why you trust the Anker logo more than the spec sheet.

**“About the size of a soda can” – a generous exaggeration**
Yes, it fits in a backpack pocket, but at 1.1 lb (about 500 g) it’s also about the weight of a paperback novel you could leave at home. Carry‑on compliance is a nice PR bullet, but the real TSA rule is a 100 Wh limit, and Anker’s 90 Wh rating is barely under the line. A lighter 10,000 mAh USB‑C power bank would clear security without making you feel you’re lugging a small dumbbell through the gate.

**Four‑device simultaneous charging: multitasking or power‑sucking?**
Anker boasts “up to four devices at once” with 165 W when two are plugged in, dropping to 130 W for three or four. In practice, that means you’re throttling each port to roughly 30–40 W. A MacBook Air draws about 30 W under normal load, a phone needs 15 W, an e‑reader a negligible 5 W, and a DSLR’s battery charger can be as low as 10 W. Push four of those together and you’ll see the power bank’s voltage dip, resulting in slower charging times for everything. The brochure‑level numbers look impressive until you actually try to juice up a laptop and a camera while also streaming a movie on your phone.

**“Reliable performance” – reliability is a given, not a selling point**
Any reputable power bank with a proper battery management system will protect against over‑voltage, over‑current, and overheating. That’s industry standard, not a unique feature. What’s more interesting is that Anker’s 165 W output is achieved via a single USB‑C PD 3.1 profile, which means you need a PD‑compatible laptop that can negotiate that wattage. Many older laptops (including some 2020‑era MacBooks) top out at 60–85 W, so the extra 80 W you’re paying for will sit idle, effectively turning the “165 W” brag into marketing fluff.

**LCD display: a glorified battery meter**
The built‑in LCD shows capacity, voltage, and current draw. Useful? Maybe, if you like staring at a tiny screen while you’re on a hike. Most modern smartphones already give you a detailed battery graph, and a quick glance at the LED indicator on the power bank does the same job. The LCD also eats up a bit of power itself, shaving off an extra 1–2 % of the total capacity over a full charge cycle—a tiny but measurable inefficiency for a device that already costs a premium.

**Weight and ergonomics: “a little over a pound” is a lot**
A heavy handle may feel like a “second USB‑C cable that doubles as a handle,” but it’s also a dead weight if you’re trying to slip the thing into a pocket or a side‑mount on a bike. Compare that to a 10,000 mAh slim power bank that weighs 7 oz and slides neatly into a jacket pocket. For most travelers, the phrase “lighter to lug around than a mass of charging blocks” just means “still heavy enough to make you wish you’d left it at home.”

**The “carry‑on compliant” claim is a hollow safety net**
Airlines have been tightening limits on lithium‑ion batteries after a string of incidents in the past decade. While 90 Wh is technically under the FAA’s 100 Wh ceiling, any damage to the pack (puncture, swelling, thermal runaway) could lead to immediate confiscation or, worse, a fire in the cargo hold. Cheaper alternatives with lower capacities (10 000–15 000 mAh) pose significantly less risk and are often exempt from the extra paperwork at security checkpoints.

**Bottom line: A pricey, heavy, feature‑laden brick that out‑shines itself**
Anker’s laptop power bank certainly looks slick, and the Cyber‑Monday markdown makes it feel like a bargain. Yet when you compare it to lighter, cheaper, and equally capable competitors, the “biggest discount yet” claim fizzles out. If you need a 25 000 mAh pack that can push a laptop at full speed, there are no‑name brands that will do the job for $60‑$70. If you care about brand reliability, Anker’s warranty and support might be worth a few extra bucks, but that’s a separate conversation from the superficial “165 W” hype.

So before you add that soda‑can‑shaped charger to your cart, ask yourself: do you really need a 1‑pound power bank that can *theoretically* charge four devices at once, or would a lighter, cheaper, and more sensible option keep your gadgets alive without breaking the bank (or your back)?

*Keywords: Anker laptop power bank review, Cyber Monday deals, portable charger, power bank vs laptop charger, 25,000 mAh power bank, carry‑on compliant power bank, USB‑C PD 3.1, travel power solutions*