Anker 737 Power Bank Review: 24000mAh Laptop Charger for Home Office and Travel

Most people buying a power bank are thinking about keeping their phone alive at the airport. The Anker 737 is not that product. At 24,000mAh with 140W Power Delivery 3.1 output, this is a device built to charge laptops, not just top off a phone. Whether that spec sheet translates into something worth $110 and the weight of a small paperback book depends entirely on how you work.

Capacity Specs vs. Real-World Laptop Charges

The 24,000mAh rating is measured at 3.7V internally, which means the usable watt-hours after voltage conversion lands closer to 85-88Wh at the output stage. Anker rates the 737 at 87Wh officially, which is important because TSA’s carry-on limit sits at 100Wh. The 737 clears that threshold with room to spare.

In practical terms, here’s what that capacity means against common laptops:

• MacBook Air M2 (52.6Wh battery): The 737 can charge a fully depleted M2 Air battery roughly 1.5 times before running dry. That’s one full charge plus most of a second.
• MacBook Pro 14-inch M3 (70Wh battery): Expect one full charge and a partial top-off, around 1.2 cycles from empty.
• Dell XPS 13 (51Wh battery): Similar to the MacBook Air story, approximately 1.4 to 1.5 full charges depending on conversion efficiency.
• Dell XPS 15 (86Wh battery): Just about one full charge, with efficiency losses eating the remainder.

These figures align with third-party reviews from outlets like Wirecutter and verified Amazon purchaser data. Conversion inefficiency typically runs 10-15% on high-capacity power banks, so real-world results will land slightly below the theoretical ceiling.

USB-C and USB-A Output: Simultaneous Charging Load Limits

The 737 has three ports: two USB-C and one USB-A. The headline 140W output applies only when a single device is connected to the primary USB-C port. Split the load across ports and the math changes fast.

When both USB-C ports are active simultaneously, total output drops to 100W shared between them. Add the USB-A port into the mix and you’re looking at further distribution. Anker’s published specs indicate the USB-A port delivers up to 22.5W independently. Running a laptop on USB-C Port 1 alongside a phone on USB-C Port 2 and a tablet on USB-A is doable, but the laptop won’t see peak wattage in that scenario.

For families traveling with multiple devices, the three-port layout is genuinely useful. Just don’t expect to fast-charge a MacBook Pro at full speed while simultaneously charging two other devices.

Charging Speed: 100W Output and Heat Generation Under Peak Draw

The 140W maximum output is a real spec, not marketing rounding. The primary USB-C port supports Power Delivery 3.1, which means it can negotiate the higher voltage profiles that newer laptops like the MacBook Pro 16-inch and Dell XPS 15 actually support.

At sustained high wattage draws, heat generation is a known tradeoff with this category of power bank. User reviews on Amazon and coverage from tech reviewers consistently note that the 737 runs warm, though not hot enough to trigger thermal throttling under typical use. Anker built in temperature management that reduces output if the unit gets too warm during sustained 100W+ draws, which is standard practice and not a flaw specific to this product.

For desk use in a home office, this works fine. Tucked in a bag during active charging, give it some airflow.

Size and Weight vs. Carrying a Second Wall Charger

This is where honest analysis matters most. The 737 weighs approximately 1.7 pounds (about 770 grams) and measures roughly 6.3 x 2.9 x 1.5 inches. For context, Anker’s own 65W Nano Pro GaN wall charger weighs around 4.4 ounces.

If you’re working from hotels with accessible outlets, a compact 65W or 100W GaN wall brick does the same job at a fraction of the weight and a fraction of the price. The 737’s value proposition is specifically about situations where outlets are scarce or unavailable: long-haul flights, outdoor locations, back-to-back conference days, or extended transit.

The digital display showing real-time wattage input and output is a standout feature at this price point. Knowing exactly how fast your laptop is drawing power, and how much capacity remains, removes the guesswork that plagues most power banks.

Recharge Time from Empty: Wall Outlet vs. Solar Panel

Anker’s published spec claims a 52-minute full recharge via the included 140W wall charger. Independent testing reported by reviewers at sites like Tom’s Guide puts the real-world number closer to 60-70 minutes under typical conditions, which is still exceptional for a 24,000mAh bank. Most competitors in this capacity range take 2-3 hours to recharge.

Via solar panel, recharge time becomes highly variable and impractical for most users. A quality 100W solar panel in direct sunlight could theoretically recharge the 737 in under two hours, but real-world solar efficiency, angle, and cloud cover make this a niche scenario at best. The 737 is not marketed as a solar product, and treating it as one sets unrealistic expectations.

Long-Term Battery Health and Cycle Degradation

Lithium-ion cells at this capacity typically retain around 80% of rated capacity after 300-500 full charge cycles, a standard industry benchmark that applies to the 737’s cell chemistry. Anker offers an 18-month warranty on this unit, which is shorter than the 24-month coverage some competitors provide.

For a device used weekly as a travel power bank, 300 cycles represents years of use. For someone charging daily as a primary power source, that math changes. Using the 737 as a trickle-fed desktop UPS substitute is a misuse case that will degrade the cells faster than the warranty period.

Who Actually Needs This

The 737 makes sense for:

• Frequent flyers on routes longer than 4-5 hours who use a laptop throughout the flight
• Remote workers doing site visits, field work, or multi-day outdoor events without reliable power access
• Anyone who regularly works from locations where outlets are competed over or unavailable (trains, conventions, cafes during peak hours)

The 737 does not make sense for:

• People who primarily work from home or in offices with accessible outlets
• Travelers who only need phone and tablet backup
• Anyone looking for a lightweight daily carry power bank

Pros and Cons

Pros:

• 140W output is genuine and supports PD 3.1 for newer high-wattage laptops
• 52-minute recharge time is best-in-category for this capacity
• TSA carry-on compliant at 87Wh
• Real-time digital display for input and output wattage
• Three-port layout handles multiple devices simultaneously

Cons:

• 1.7 pounds is significant carry weight for daily use
• $110 is hard to justify if you’re near outlets most of the day
• 18-month warranty is shorter than some competitors
• Runs warm under sustained peak loads
• Only one port delivers full 140W; multi-port use reduces per-device speed

Bottom Line

The Anker 737 is a well-engineered product that does exactly what it promises. The 24,000mAh capacity delivers roughly 1.5 MacBook Air charges or one full MacBook Pro charge from a single bank, the 140W PD 3.1 output is fast enough to actually charge a laptop rather than just slow its discharge, and the 52-minute recharge time makes replenishing it overnight trivially easy.

At $109.99, the question is whether your travel or work pattern actually demands this. If you’re on a plane twice a month with a laptop open the whole time, this pays for itself in peace of mind quickly. If you’re mostly home or office-based with the occasional day trip, a $35 GaN wall charger tucked in your bag covers 90% of the same need at 10% of the weight.

Buy the 737 for the specific problem it solves. That problem is real, and the 737 solves it well.