The Best Portable Power Stations of 2023

Apr 27, 2024

Bring a little power into your life with one of these best portable power stations.

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You never know when an emergency will strike, so it's always best to be prepared. The best portable power stations fulfill a variety of roles, from keeping a household running when things go awry to adding convenience to outdoor excursions.

Portable power stations are a modern convenience that every household should consider investing in. They're the kind of device you may never use but don't want to be without when life throws a curveball. A great power station can mitigate an otherwise problematic situation, especially if you live in an area known for heavy or violent storms.

When you're shopping for a new portable power station, there are a few things you'll want to watch for. Maybe the most important is the available inputs. Are there enough plugs to cover what you need in an emergency or charge all your devices?

If you're looking at a power adapter and it's missing components you need, it may be an automatic pass. Some of the best portable power stations support USB charging, have a 12V input, and no less than 2 AC ports.

From there, you can look at other aspects, like the battery capacity, typically rated in milliamp-hours (mAh). You can use this number and the rated voltage (either 12V or 24V) to determine the watt hours using the formula (mAh)*(V)/1000.

So, if your portable power station has a capacity of 20,000mAh and a rating of 24V, its watt-hours would be 480Wh. Why is this important to know? Every device you use with the station will chip away at that 480Wh. For example, if you have a 200W desktop computer, the power station can run it for approximately 2 hours without any other variables.

While looking at wattage, you'll also want to consider the peak and continuous wattage ratings. Peak wattage refers to the max wattage needed to run a device from a cold start. Continuous wattage refers to the lower supply they'll need to remain running.

If you're worried about keeping appliances running, the station will need a higher peak wattage rating, easily well into the 2,000W range. This part is crucial and can't be emphasized enough---if you want to power your fridge during a power outage, you must have a power station with a high enough peak wattage rating to handle the startup draw of the compressor.

Finally, how does the power station charge? Some only support wall outlet charging through a DC port, while others are compatible with detached solar panels. The latter is recommended, especially if you plan on traveling with your power station.

There's plenty to think about when shopping for a new portable power station, so we've tried to simplify the process. Below, you'll find five of the best portable power stations, at least one of which should satisfy your needs.

Pros

Cons

✓ 7 ways to charge

✗ Fairly large for a portable unit

✓ Long 2,000Wh capacity

✗ On the heavier side

✓ 2-hour recharge with 1,200W solar input

✓ 17 outputs, including USB-C and wireless

The BLUETTI AC200P Portable Power Station provides 2,000Wh of power, with a 2,000W AC Pure Sine Wave Inverter for maximum efficiency. This power station is far from cheap, but its overall capacity, input, and output justify the cost.

An ample number of high-performing outputs will keep your home or life running longer than some of the more affordable options. When it comes to powering essential devices, reliability often trumps savings.

This power station can be put to good use with the 17 different outputs, including USB-C, USB-A, AC, and wireless options. BLUETTI designed the AC200P for various scenarios, with options to recharge the LiFeP04 3,500 life-cycle battery using AC, solar, and car adapters. You can even couple an external solar panel and the AC adapter to charge simultaneously for a fast recharge.

BLUETTI's AC200P is the best portable power station for its versatility, battery capacity, and durability. Unfortunately, all of this comes at the cost of a considerably large size for a portable unit. It's one of the largest on this list, at 60 lbs and 16.5x11x15.2 inches. But if you have the space and you have the cash, you won't be disappointed.

BLUETTI delivers a wholly efficient and reliable portable power experience sure to keep all your devices charged and ready when needed.

Pros

Cons

✓ Very reasonable price

✗ 330W cap limits capabilities

✓ Compact and easy to transport

✗ Mostly practical as a roadside companion

✓ Solar charging compatible

✓ Built-in SOS flashlight

The Flashfish 330W Portable Power Station is a simple-looking device that's friendly to your wallet. Its unassuming construction features eight ports, including 2 AC, 2 DC, and a 45W USB-C option. Though not the most robust in terms of inputs and outputs, when you spot the modest price tag, the appeal of the Flashfish power station is more apparent.

The unit boasts a cost per Wh of only 69 cents, so you're saving a bunch on this portable unit. Due to its size and capacity, you won't run an entire household with it. However, the unit is great for travel, especially with the built-in SOS flashlight.

The 330W will keep small devices running, just don't expect to use it to cook meals on a portable electric cooktop. This is more of an emergency device to guarantee you have lighting, a charged smartphone, power for your CPAP machine, and other small essentials.

Related: The Best Solar Chargers of 2023

If you don't mind spending more, the Flashfish is compatible with 100W solar panels. And since you can have the panels plugged in while using the battery, you can create a near-limitless stream of power for your sub-330W devices. Though a power unit's capacity may be low, its price and size boost its value.

The low-priced Flashfish 330W portable station is easy to transport and features solar charging compatibility for ample convenience.

Pros

Cons

✓ Mobile app puts you in full control

✗ Very expensive

✓ Expandable up to 8,192Wh

✗ Heavy and bulky

✓ 16 output ports

✓ 2-hour recharge with AC and solar

Rivaling the company's own AC200P Portable Power Station, BLUETTI's AC200MAX is an enhanced version that boosts the watt-hours to 2,048, improves fast charging by 200W, and supports 200W more solar input. The biggest change, though, is its compatibility with BLUETTI expandable batteries.

While 2,048Wh is its native max, it can be expanded to 8,192Wh with two battery packs. Of course, that means a tethered system that takes up a lot of space. But the space it takes up (as well as its cost), is well worth it, as you can see from our review of the BLUETTI AC200MAX:

I do feel everyone, especially if you're in a region at risk of inclement weather, should have the AC200MAX at home, charged and ready to go. It's a great backup system to keep your household running during a blackout until power is restored and can help mitigate things like loss of food when the refrigerator dies.

Despite its size, the AC200MAX is a convenient, multipurpose portable charger compatible with BLUETTI's line of solar panels. The device's expandable power using BLUETTI batteries enhances functionality in various scenarios, making this the ultimate portable power station in emergencies. Its incredibly high price tag is the biggest thing keeping it from excelling to the overall best category.

The AC200MAX is also compatible with the BLUETTI app (available on iPhone/iPad and Android), allowing you to monitor and control your unit. Maximizing efficiency is a feature most portable power stations should probably have, and the AC200MAX makes good use of it to ensure you're never wasting battery power.

Though pricey, the AC200MAX is expandable to over 8,000Wh, ensuring you have more than enough capacity to run the essentials in an emergency.

Pros

Cons

✓ Very compact and lightweight

✗ Low 155Wh limit

✓ Surprising 4,2000mAh capacity

✗ Limited output ports

✓ Solar panel compatible

✗ Cost per Wh could be lower

Lightweight and small, the AIMTOM 4,2000mAh Power Station sports a surprising number of outlets considering its size and price. The power station has a relatively low cost per Wh, which furthers its appeal. If you frequent campgrounds or RV parks, this power station is sure to come in handy to keep your basic devices running.

Despite a relatively low 155Wh rating, this portable power station has a battery capacity of 4,2000mAh. It's a slight imbalance, but that does mean it will be a long while until you have to recharge the power station. If you're running a CPAP machine or have many small electronics to keep charged, that's definitely beneficial.

The AIMTOM 4,2000mAh Power Station is only 3.48 lbs and measures 7.67x6.73x3.54 inches, making it incredibly easy to carry around and travel with. Even at its smaller size, the station features six outputs, including three USB and three DC ports. Considering the station's smaller size, you'd expect simplicity. However, the AIMTOM features a solar panel input that will help keep things running even longer.

Due to its size and 155Wh limit, you're limited on what you can charge and power with the AIMTOM portable station, but it's a handy device to have around if you're frequently on the road.

AIMTOM's portable station is deceptively powerful, with over 42,000mAh capacity hindered only by the limited 155Wh limit.

Pros

Cons

✓ USB fast-charging ports

✗ Bulky looking design

✓ Plenty of output ports

✗ Somewhat expensive

✓ Super fast charging

✓ Solar panel compatible

Boasting a 2,016Wh expandable capacity with a surprising 2,400W max, the ECOFLOW Portable Power Station DELTA Max 2000 has the specs to get the job done. This portable power station is a great candidate for keeping power-hungry appliances running for a short spell.

The true draw of the EF ECOFLOW is its charging time, as you can see in sister site Review Geek's ECOFLOW Delta Max 2000 review:

At home, I recharged the power station on two separate occasions. It took around an hour, and I could track the battery's charging progress at any time on the screen or through the smartphone app. I also liked that I could keep other devices connected without impacting the battery charge time.

Considering all that it can charge and power, the fast charge makes this a versatile station useful at home as a backup and on the road.

Though it looks bulky and cumbersome, it's not the biggest power station on this list. However, like the BLUETTI AC200MAX, it's expandable (up to 6,048Wh), which creates a large configuration of units that's not as easy to transport.

It's hard to beat a 1.8-hour charge time, even if the price tag is on the high side. However, the cost per Wh isn't out of range, and the power station has a high AC output with plenty of port options, including fast-charging USB plugs. This results in a portable power station that should keep your essentials running and charged for a decent amount of time.

EF ECOFLOW's portable station delivers lightning-fast charging, so you'll virtually always have a portable station to charge you devices off of.

The size of the power station you need depends on the power consumption of the devices you plan to run. Calculate the total power consumption of all the devices and the desired duration. For example, if you're consuming 300W of power continuously for 5 hours per day, you'll need a portable power station rated at least 1,500Wh.

Yes, a portable power station can run a heater, but it depends on the capacity of the power station and the power requirements of the heater. Make sure the power station has enough capacity to run the heater for your desired length of time.

While a portable power station can run a refrigerator, you need to consider the power consumption of the refrigerator and the capacity of the power station. Some portable power stations may not have enough battery life to sustain the refrigerator's power requirements. Check the mAh of your power station's battery and the watt hours of your refrigerator to determine compatibility.

Portable power stations can be charged in multiple ways. The traditional method is using a DC cord plugged into a wall outlet. Depending on the power station, you may also have the option to charge it using a USB-C cable or through your car's cigarette lighter. Some power stations even support solar charging, allowing you to use detached solar chargers to keep the station charged throughout the day.