Other Portable Power Stations We Tested
Ampace Andes 600 Pro for $449:
This compact power station weighs 19 pounds and features an easy-carry handle on top. It stores 584 Wh of power and can be fully charged in an hour (30 dB sleep mode). It can deliver 600 watts (1,800 W surge) and has multiple ports (2 x AC, 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A, 2 x DC 5521, 1 x Car). There’s also a remote control app that lets you adjust the light bar function or the top’s colored light. It performed well during my tests and could be useful for small gadgets while camping, but the EcoFlow River 2 Pro mentioned earlier offers more power for a lower price.
Photograph: Simon Hill
EcoFlow Delta 3 Plus for $699:
I really like the stylish, compact design of EcoFlow’s Delta 3 Plus, with the screen and ports located at one end. It offers 1,024 watt-hours, can consistently deliver 1,800 watts, and has a surge mode of 2,600 W. It also charges up in about an hour and includes several ports (6 x AC, 1 x Car, 2 x USB-A, 2 x USB-C, 2 x DC5521). You can expand its capacity with EcoFlow’s compact and stackable add-on battery ($599), though it’s a bit pricey. The Plus version features two solar ports for quicker solar charging and an impressive 10-millisecond response time for uninterruptible power supply (UPS) functionality. However, the fan is a drawback. It runs constantly, even while just charging a single phone, and stays around 55 decibels after it’s fully charged and unplugged. Charging it from a wall outlet makes the fan noticeably louder, which could be bothersome and raises concerns about overheating. Despite the fan noise, I enjoyed using this power station, and the app is useful for remote control. There is a quiet charging mode, but it drops the charge rate to 200 watts, resulting in a full charge taking over five hours.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Acer 600W Portable Power Station for £499:
This power station is quite portable, boasting a LiFePO4 battery with 512 watt-hours through nine ports (two AC, two USB-A, two USB-C, two DC5521, and a car port). It’s a good size for a campsite and can handle lighting and charging smaller devices, but with a maximum output of 600 watts, I wouldn’t recommend plugging in anything too demanding. You can fully charge it using a wall outlet in about two hours. It features a small LCD displaying the remaining battery percentage, estimated remaining run time based on current usage, and wattage input/output. It worked adequately during my tests, but it appears to be available only in the UK and is a bit pricey for its capacity.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Bluetti AC200L for $1,599:
This unit has been succeeded by the Elite 200 V2 above, but it remains a solid power station with similar features. It has slightly lower capacity, is heavier and currently pricier, but can be expanded up to 8,192 watt-hours with Bluetti’s add-on batteries. While the design and performance are comparable, the Elite 200 V2 comes out ahead for me and is a better buy, especially if you can get it for less.
Dabbsson DBS1000 Pro Portable Power Station for $569:
This power station offers a 1,024-watt-hour capacity with a LiFePO4 battery and a good mix of ports to charge and power your devices. The US model includes four AC outlets, three USB-A ports, three USB-C ports, a car socket, and two DC5521 barrel ports. It can charge to 80 percent in under an hour when plugged in, but be prepared for some fan noise. You can also charge it through solar panels or the car port. Wi-Fi connectivity allows app control, but the display provides necessary information without it and features a customizable light underneath. The output reaches an impressive 2,000 watts, with boost and surge options that can temporarily raise it to 3,000 and 4,000 watts, respectively. It performed well during my tests and can serve as an EPS with a 15-millisecond delay. While it’s a solid alternative to our recommended picks, it doesn’t particularly stand out. The fan activates frequently and can be irritating, and I encountered an issue with one of the USB ports not charging a phone consistently. Consider purchasing the DBS2000B battery expansion to increase capacity to 3,072 watt-hours and output to 2,400 watts. It includes a 5-year warranty with registration.
Bluetti AC180 for $499:
I also tested this smaller model from Bluetti, which is a good choice if you don’t need as much power as the previous option offers. The AC180 has a LiFePO4 battery with a 1,152-watt-hour capacity. It maxes out at 1,800 watts but can surge up to 2,700 watts for brief periods. The US model features four AC outlets, one USB-C (100 W), and four USB-A ports (15 W each). There’s even a wireless charging spot on top that supports up to 15 watts. You can fully charge the AC180 from an outlet in an hour, and it comes with solar and car charging cables as options. It can also function as a UPS with a 20-millisecond switch time. This power station is suitable for small gadgets and appliances like a TV or mini fridge. The fan noise goes up to around 45 decibels under heavy load, which isn’t too disruptive. However, the weight (35 pounds) feels relatively heavy for its capacity, and I’d prefer more USB-C ports.
Zendure SuperBase Pro 2000 for $2,099:
With a substantial 2,096-watt-hour capacity, numerous outlets (6 x AC, 1 x Car, 3 x DC5521, 4 x USB-C), and a maximum output of 2,000 watts (with a surge of 3,000 watts), this is an excellent portable power station. It weighs 47 pounds but has two wheels, a carry handle, and a separate telescopic handle. Zendure’s app is sleek; this power station can also work as an uninterruptible power supply, and it performed well in my tests, though the fans were almost constantly on. I have some concerns regarding its longevity. The SuperBase Pro 2000 features a Li-NMC battery, potentially due to its higher energy density than LiFePO4 (the similarly sized SuperBase Pro 1500 has a LiFePO4 battery and only 1,440 Wh capacity), but Li-NMC batteries typically have a shorter lifespan. The warranty is 2 years, but you can extend it by a year if you register with Zendure.
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