Technologies

I Take My Anker Charger Everywhere. Here’s Why You Might Want to Snag One From Amazon Now

The Anker 622 MagGo snaps onto the back of my iPhone and powers me through long days. Plus, it’s on sale for Amazon’s October Prime Day.

Whether you’ve picked up Apple’s latest iPhone Air with its thin design and limited battery life or you just need extra juice for long trips, a portable charger is a necessity. And with Prime Day deals, you can snag one for less.

Like many people, I take my phone with me wherever I go. I’m not afraid to admit that I’ve come to rely on it for just about every aspect of my life — from getting news, weather and navigation help to staying in close contact with friends, family and co-workers. That means I live in constant fear that my iPhone’s battery will die on me right when I need it most. That is, I did until I found the Anker 622 MagGo, which CNET ranked as the best magnetic power bank with an integrated stand. I now take it with me everywhere I go, too.

This charger is a worthwhile buy even at its full retail price of $48. But right now, you can get every color for a solid discount of 42% off at Amazon. All the colors — interstellar gray, buds green, dolomite white, lilac purple and misty blue — are available for $28. And yes, the deal applies to bundles too.

Here’s why I’ve stuck with this little charger for so long

Have you seen people walk around with a loop of cable hanging from their pocket to their phone? I’ve been there and hooked that loop on too many chairs and table corners. Never again. The ring of magnets in the Anker 622 MagGo aligns with the MagSafe magnets in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, latching securely and charging without wires. (The notable exception is the iPhone 16E, which does not offer MagSafe but does charge wirelessly using Qi technology. The Anker 622 MagGo will charge the iPhone 16E but won’t latch to it magnetically.)

It’s also compact — a little backpack feeding power to the phone while you’re holding it or have it stashed in a pocket, even a jeans pocket if your fit isn’t too tight.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

Those features alone would have convinced me, but the Anker 622 also includes a fold-out back flap that props up my iPhone and can also hold the phone in its wide orientation for StandBy mode. With a power adapter such as the Anker Nano Pro (not included) and a charging cable, I’ve taught long classes with the phone angled to help me keep track of time without checking my watch.

Essential Anker 622 MagGo specs

Here’s what you need to know.

Battery capacity: 5,000 mAh
Voltage: 1.55 volts
Output: 7.5-watt magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time.
Input: The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device.
Size: 4.13 by 2.62 by 0.5 inches
Weight: 5 ounces
Included: Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable
Warranty: 24 months

MagSafe-compatible charging

I’ve owned several battery chargers and each one has some sort of compromise. They’re bulky. They require a cable. They charge wirelessly but don’t include a magnet to keep the phone in place so it’s hard to maintain that connection. There’s always something.

The Anker 622 is half an inch thick and snaps onto the back of my iPhone using the MagSafe-aligned magnets. I don’t have to turn it on to start charging — power flows as soon as the connection is made.

Now, this isn’t the highest-capacity (5,000 mAh) or fastest portable charger. That’s fine. What I usually need is a way to eke out a few more hours of battery life on my iPhone. I can typically get a full top-off of my iPhone 15 Pro.

Making a stand

The other appealing feature of the Anker 622 MagGo for me is its built-in stand. Honestly, it doesn’t look like it should work well: It’s a fabric-covered set of plastic pieces that lie flush against the case, folds in two places and attaches to the back of the unit with a magnetic strip when extended. Yet I’ve had no problems with the stability of my iPhone 15 Pro or even the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max size.

This also lets me use standby mode by turning the iPhone to landscape orientation (the magnets are strong enough to hold the phone in place) when it’s on a table or desk.

Smart port placement matters

The charger gets its juice from a single USB-C port, which is positioned on the edge of the case, not the bottom. That means you can replenish it while the stand is open — many chargers’ ports are stuck on the bottom.

That USB-C port also acts as a charger for other devices when you plug in a cable, such as when your Apple Watch needs a boost.

How the Anker 622 MagGo compares to similar power banks

Before getting the Anker 622 MagGo, I carried an Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which doubles the battery capacity, includes a USB-A port and charges wirelessly but without magnets to hold the phone in place. That meant if I didn’t use a cable, the phone and charger needed to be stable and level; too often I’d find the iPhone slid off its wireless perch and not charged. It’s also larger and heavier. I still use it, but it’s the power bank that goes into my carry-on suitcase as a backup charger.

Since I’ve owned this Anker 622 MagGo, the company has released a few updated models. The $60 Anker 633 packs 10,000 mAh into a thicker brick, includes a USB-A port in addition to USB-C and has a metal kickstand for resting the phone upright.

You can also consider getting the chunkier Anker MagGo Power Bank that delivers 10,000 mAh and follows the same idea of compact magnetic charging and a convenient kickstand. Its main appeals are faster 15-watt magnetic charging and Qi2 compatibility, plus a small display on the side that reports the battery capacity and an estimate of the remaining battery in hours.

(Note that some Anker power banks were part of a recent recall. Be sure to claim your free replacement or gift card if you own one of the affected devices sold between 2016 and 2022.)

For more smart buys, check out this amazing multitool and a portable TV that can go anywhere.

Join Our Daily Deals Text Group!

Get hand-picked deals from CNET shopping experts straight to your phone.

By signing up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to receive recurring marketing messages at the phone number provided. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Reply STOP to unsubscribe. Msg & data rates may apply. View our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Impulse Buys Under $25 on Amazon That Make Unexpectedly Great Gifts

+17 More

See all photos

Technologies

HelloFresh Meal Kits Recalled Amid Listeria Concerns

USDA announces the recall of two meal kits after HelloFresh’s source of spinach was compromised by dangerous bacteria.

Two HelloFresh meal kits have been recalled by the US Department of Agriculture due to potential contamination by the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. HelloFresh is working alongside the USDA to contact customers who purchased the affected products, specifically the Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta and Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey ready-made meals.

The contaminated ingredient in the two affected meal kits is spinach, which may contain Listeria monocytogenes. HelloFresh sources its spinach from FreshRealm, a California-based supplier that identified Listeria in its product and notified the Food Safety and Inspection Service.

«We have directly contacted customers who may have received the Cheesy Pulled Pork Pepper Pasta or Unstuffed Peppers with Ground Turkey between September 6 and October 9, 2025, and advised them to immediately discard any affected product,» a statement by the company reads.

HelloFresh is reimbursing customers.

Don’t miss any of our unbiased tech content and lab-based reviews. Add CNET as a preferred Google source.

The USDA is similarly urging people who may have the affected meal kits in their refrigerators to discard them or return them to the place where they were purchased.

The potentially contaminated spinach is included in other ready-made pasta products stocked by Albertson’s, Trader Joe’s and Walmart. The listeria outbreak is continually expanding, and the USDA warned that the recall will likely grow as more affected products are identified.

No illnesses have thus far been linked to the affected HelloFresh meal kits, but pasta meals produced with FreshRealm spinach have been linked to at least four Listeria-related deaths and 20 illnesses.

The meal kit industry is booming, and more than one in five Americans have ordered pre-portioned recipe ingredients or ready-made meals in the past year. HelloFresh is a meal kit and ready-made meal juggernaut: That means more people than ever before will have to reckon with the fact that pre-packaged ingredients may be sourced from suppliers undergoing a product recall.

I already ate one of the affected meal kits. What should I do?

If you have consumed one of the affected meal kits, be aware of the symptoms of listeriosis, a disease caused by Listeria. According to the USDA bulletin, common symptoms include fever, muscle aches, headache, stiff neck, confusion, balance loss, convulsions and other gastrointestinal issues.

Listeriosis is especially dangerous for pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. In extreme cases, the infection can cause miscarriages, stillbirths and death.

If you develop flu-like symptoms within two months of eating an affected HelloFresh meal kit, you should seek medical care and explain the contaminated food intake to your health care provider. Listeria infections require treatment with prescription antibiotics.

Technologies

Today’s NYT Connections Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 8, #850

Here are some hints and the answers for the NYT Connections puzzle No. 850 for Wednesday, Oct. 8.

Looking for the most recent Connections answers? Click here for today’s Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections: Sports Edition and Strands puzzles.

Today’s NYT Connections puzzle has a fun mix of topics. Music fans and artists, there are a couple categories for you. If you need help solving the puzzle, you’re in the right place. Read on for clues and today’s Connections answers.

The Times now has a Connections Bot, like the one for Wordle. Go there after you play to receive a numeric score and to have the program analyze your answers. Players who are registered with the Times Games section can now nerd out by following their progress, including the number of puzzles completed, win rate, number of times they nabbed a perfect score and their win streak.

Read more: Hints, Tips and Strategies to Help You Win at NYT Connections Every Time

Hints for today’s Connections groups

Here are four hints for today’s Connections puzzle groupings, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group.

Yellow group hint: Top-notch.

Green group hint: Rock out.

Blue group hint: Hand me a brush.

Purple group hint: Time to sleep?

Answers for today’s Connections groups

Yellow group: Finest.

Green group: Rock music subgenres.

Blue group: Paint finishes.

Purple group: Kinds of beds.

Read more: Wordle Cheat Sheet: Here Are the Most Popular Letters Used in English Words

What are today’s Connections answers?

The yellow words in today’s Connections

The theme is finest. The four answers are best, cream, elite and select.

The green words in today’s Connections

The theme is rock music subgenres. The four answers are alternative, arena, classic and garage.

The blue words in today’s Connections

The theme is paint finishes. The four answers are eggshell, gloss, matte and pearl.

The purple words in today’s Connections

The theme is kinds of beds. The four answers are flower, nail, oyster and river.

Technologies

Anotha’ One: Apple Arcade Gets More Sports Games in November

Apple is also adding three other games to the service next month.

Apple Arcade continues to expand its sports games roster with the addition of Football Manager 26 Touch on Nov. 4. This comes after Apple added NBA 2K26 Arcade Edition and Retro Bowl ’26 to Arcade in October and September, respectively. That means American football, basketball and football — or soccer — are represented on Apple’s gaming service.

Apple Arcade is filled with familiar and classic games, alongside exclusive titles, that you can play for $7 per month (£7, AU$10). Many of these games can be found in the App Store, but they may have paywalls and ads that hinder your gaming experience.

An Apple Arcade subscription provides access to games without paywalls and ads, a feature typically denoted by «Plus» in the name. Here are all the games you can play on the service starting in November. You can also check out the games Apple added to Arcade in October, like Retro Bowl ’26.

Football Manager 26 Touch

Release date: Nov. 4
Developer: Sports Interactive

The Football Manager franchise is about giving you the chance to live as a manager of a football club, and according to Apple, the latest installment delivers more authenticity than ever before. This entry features upgraded graphics, official Premier League licenses and women’s football for the first time in the series’ history.

«We think the reimagined user interface will really enhance the experience across Apple devices,» Miles Jacobson, Sports Interactive’s studio director, told Apple. «In addition, the arrival of the Premier League fully licensed and the introduction of women’s football will further deepen exploration for Arcade players.»

MySims and MySims Kingdom

Release date: Nov. 6
Developer: EA

These spinoffs of the iconic The Sims franchise are a great way to experience a cartoony take on the popular series.

In MySims, you move to a small town that has been struggling, and with a little help from the locals, you’ll transform it into a bustling community. You’ll build homes and businesses, uncover decorations and help characters find what they need to make the town special.

And in MySims Kingdom, you’ll set off on an adventure to help King Roland and his subjects revitalize the kingdom. You can build contraptions, discover new lands and customize the kingdom to your liking.

Toca Boca Jr. Classics

Release date: Nov. 6
Developer: Toca Boca and Sago Mini

This collection is packed with nine games that you and your children will love. You can help your animal friends feel better in the game Pet Doctor, or become a stylist in Hair Salon. Or you can create your own community in Blocks. There are plenty of opportunities for creativity and fun in these games.

You can start playing these games in November, and you can access plenty of others now in Apple Arcade for $7 a month or $50 annually. You can also try Apple Arcade free for one month with your first sign-up, or you can get a three-month free trial when you buy an Apple device. To access Apple Arcade, open the App Store on your iOS or iPadOS device and tap the joystick in the menu bar.