China, together with 30 manufacturers — including Xiaomi, Huawei, CATL, BYD, and Anker — has developed a unified safety standard for portable batteries. The new rules will take effect on April 1, 2027, and are projected to lead to power bank price increases of up to 30%. For those who regularly charge their iPhone, iPad, or MacBook on the go, this means one thing: buying a good power bank will soon be more expensive, but safer. You probably remember that some airlines even banned checking AirPods in luggage to prevent them from catching fire? S-Safety!
The blow came from where no one expected — portable batteries are going up in price. Image: twobirdsbreakingfree.com
Power Bank Prices Up by 30%
The main reason is stricter manufacturing requirements. Until now, China had no unified mandatory safety standard for portable batteries. Each manufacturer decided on their own what materials to use and what tests to conduct. Now all power banks must pass a series of rigorous tests before hitting the market, which requires more expensive components and processes.
Price increases may even affect established manufacturers. Image: macworld.com
Additionally, manufacturers will be prohibited from using recycled or refurbished battery cells in new devices. Previously, such cells were what made the cheapest models possible. Now every battery in a power bank must be new, which directly affects production costs.
The 30% price increase is a forecast, not an exact figure. How much specific models will go up in price will depend on the brand and capacity. But the trend is clear: the most budget segment will be hit the hardest.
New Standards for Power Banks from China
The standard describes several mandatory tests that every model must pass before entering the market:
- Nail penetration test — a 4mm diameter steel nail punctures a fully charged battery cell and remains inside for 5 minutes. The battery must not catch fire or leak. This simulates damage from a puncture.
- Temperature tests — resistance to heating up to 135°C for 60 minutes. This checks battery behavior under extreme conditions, such as prolonged exposure to sunlight in a closed car.
- Overcharge test — voltage is increased to 1.4 times the nominal level. This checks whether the battery will explode if the charging device malfunctions.
- Tests after cyclic aging — safety checks on cells after numerous charge and discharge cycles. This means the power bank must be safe not only when new, but also after months of active use.
- Mechanical tests — drops, pressure, and impacts. Simulating real-life situations: dropped from a desk, crushed in a backpack.
These tests are generally similar to those long used in aviation for approving batteries for aircraft. But now they will become mandatory for all power banks at the manufacturing stage.
What Will Change for AliExpress Power Banks and Budget Models
Chinese batteries under 1,000 rubles will most likely no longer exist. Image: techradar.com
The cheap no-name power bank segment will be hit the hardest. These are the ones that most often use recycled cells, exaggerate stated capacity, and cut corners on protection circuits. Under the new rules, manufacturers must indicate on the packaging:
- actual battery capacity;
- output power;
- supported fast charging protocols;
- service life;
- safe operating conditions.
If the standard takes full effect, devices that claim “20,000 mAh” on the case but actually have a battery of 8,000 mAh inside should disappear from the market. For AliExpress buyers, this may mean that the cheapest listings at 300–500 rubles will simply vanish, and the remaining ones will become more expensive. However, exactly how the new rules will be enforced on marketplaces remains an open question.
How to Choose a Power Bank After the New Chinese Standards Take Effect
After the new standards are introduced, navigating power banks will become easier — if only because honest labeling will be mandatory. But even now, there are several rules that will help you make the right choice:
- Capacity. For charging an iPhone 15 or 16, a power bank of 5,000–10,000 mAh is sufficient. For an iPad or MacBook Air, you’ll need a model with at least 20,000 mAh and USB-C Power Delivery support.
- Fast charging protocols. iPhone supports charging via USB-C PD — make sure the power bank does too. Without it, charging speed will be minimal.
- MagSafe. For wireless iPhone charging on the go, there are power banks with MagSafe magnetic attachment — convenient, but capacity is usually limited to 5,000 mAh.
- Brand. Xiaomi, Anker, Baseus, Samsung — all of them participated in developing the new standard. Products from these companies passed internal safety tests even before the new rules.
If you plan to take a power bank on a plane, remember the restrictions: most airlines allow carrying portable batteries with a capacity of up to 100 Wh (approximately 27,000 mAh) in carry-on luggage only. This rule is not related to the new Chinese standard and has been in place for a long time.
Timeline for the New Power Bank Regulations
The standard will take effect on April 1, 2027. Until then, manufacturers can sell devices under the old rules, so a sudden price spike right now is not expected. However, gradual price increases will begin earlier — companies will restructure production lines and transition to new components in advance.
Buy batteries only from trusted manufacturers, and you’ll have no problems. Image: uk.ugreen.com
It’s important to understand: China produces the vast majority of power banks in the world. The new standard will affect not only the domestic market but everything sold on global marketplaces, including Russian ones. So the price increase will affect buyers in Russia as well.
If you’ve been eyeing a good power bank for your Apple devices for a while, it makes sense not to delay your purchase. Current models from trusted brands are already safe enough, and prices haven’t gone up yet.
