If you need reliable power during an outage or off the grid, these CNET-tested portable power stations deliver. Find out which one suits your needs best.
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This is really the main point of a portable power station. How many times can you recharge that phone? Or how long will that light run?
So many to choose from... AC receptacles, USB ports, wireless charging, RV connector... make sure it has what you need!
Other than the main AC charging via receptacle, some people specifically need DC charging on the road, or solar panel charging (check the input watts here).
Once all your basic criteria are met, check out the nice-to-haves. Ability to add additional batteries? Modular pieces to spread around your power?
If you’re looking for a way to stay connected when the power is out, consider a power station as an emergency backup power source. Whether it’s for traveling, camping or an unplanned power outage, a portable power station is an inexpensive backup when a generator is out of budget.
However, not all power stations are created equal. Most portable power stations are big and bulky but can run for days, even powering a refrigerator. Others, however, are lightweight and portable but only good for a few hours of cellphone charging.
We’ve tested over 100 models for battery life, input and output charging options, capacity, charge time and additional features. Here's how we ranked them.
After countless hours of testing, our CNET experts found the clear answer to which portable power station is the best -- the $3,299 Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus. Jackery's offerings have never failed us in the portable power station arena, and this one is certainly no exception with its incredible features such as wireless charging and compatibility with solar panels. What set the Jackery 2000 Plus apart was the ability to expand it by adding external batteries, increasing its overall capacity and capabilities, although competitors like EcoFlow, Anker and others are adopting this feature, too.
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Jackery has been busy with new releases this year, and for some, it might be easy to get confused by its naming system. At first, I thought the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus was an incremental update to the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro, but no; this is a decidedly different product. The standard specs and performance are similar at a glance, but coming in at around 20 pounds heavier, the 2000 Plus is built to do more.
First and foremost, with the added weight comes a telescoping handle and durable wheels. You'll also notice the inclusion of a round RV-type AC output rated at 25A. What's more, if you'd like to pick up two of these, you can use the new Jackery expansion connector to link up both units and supply yourself with two separate 240-volt outlets (each rated 30A). We've seen this from a few other manufacturers, but I'm happy to see Jackery doing this early in the game.
Similarly, Jackery has thrown in on the modular game by offering external expansion batteries. For now, the 2000 Plus is the only unit that'll accept these batteries, but we can assume more are to follow. Each external battery has the same capacity as the base 2000 Plus unit, and currently, you can link up to five additional batteries to the main unit for a staggering 12,256.8Wh. Additionally, you can still combine two sets of the six-piece combos for that 240-volt capability and an even larger capacity of 24,513.6Wh.
For these reasons and more, the Jackery 2000 Plus is our top pick for both the best large and best overall portable power station.
With a 512 watt-hour capacity and 1,000-watt output, the DJI Power 500 all-scenario portable power station can serve as an essential backup power source during emergencies, especially for road trippers and content creators.
With DJI’s fast-charging technology, Power 500 gets you back to 100% power in just 70 minutes or, if you’re in a rush to get out, charged to 80% in just 50 minutes. The dual 100-watt USB-C two-way ports can provide separate power supplies to two devices such as cameras, phones and laptops. Certified by five SGS noise tests, the DJI Power operates at 25 decibels, as quiet as a whisper.
Insert your favorite quote about big things coming in small packages here.
The 1000 Plus has a stated capacity of 1,264Wh paired with a 2,000-watt output. The new "Plus" line also supports capacity expansion through external batteries. With this unit, you can add up to three extra batteries for a total of up to 5kWh.
Charge via a wall outlet in about 1.5 hours -- or double that time if you opt for the 1000 Plus’ 800-watt solar charging input.
Modular is the way to go for most people who need serious power. And Jackery's Plus line continues to impress with its full suite of expandable products.
The capacity and capabilities of portable power stations continue to evolve, with the largest models being capable of home backup and running high-power appliances. The Anker Solix F3800 is one such portable power station, with plenty of juice and the ability to run just about anything in your home.
There are a few things I am particularly fond of with this unit. For starters, you can add up to six expansion batteries for a total of 26.9Wh capacity. The Solix F3800 boasts a nominal power output of 6,000 watts and the capacity for 120/240 split-phase output in the same unit. It also has both NEMA 14-50 and L14-30 receptacles to directly charge things like your EV, RV or large appliances.
You could also choose to pull double duty, run two of these units and max out the expansion batteries for a total of 53.8kWh capacity. Doing so would double your power output to 12,000 watts. It's no slouch in testing either, with a reasonable 79% usable measured capacity and the ability to charge to full in under three hours. Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity allows for monitoring energy use through the app, which is a nice touch. It comes with a generous five-year warranty, which is notably longer than the other extra-large portable power station on this list, the Fossibot F3600 Pro.
Currently on sale for $379 and normally priced $700 at MSRP, this station has 768Wh of capacity. (We tested this unit to have about 93% of that capacity as usable. Anything over 90% is excellent.) It also has a rated power output of 1,000 watts (2,000 peak) and promises to charge to 80% in 45 minutes. In our charge tests, we found that in turbo charge mode, the AC70 hits that 80% charge even faster, at just 33 minutes.
As usual, the interface is simple and the information screen is easy to read. The battery chemistry is lithium iron phosphate, and this unit can additionally take in 500 watts of solar charging power. It also has a '"UPS feature" for power switchover of 20ms. (Check any essential medical equipment if you plan to use this as a backup power source -- some devices require switchover times below 12ms.) All in all, this is a great package with a low price tag, which makes it a perfect budget option.
The Dakota Lithium PS2400 is the fastest-charging portable power station on our list. Now, looking at our test data, that doesn't mean that it took less time to charge than any other unit, but, in using our residential AC charging method, it instead indicates the unit that charges the most watt-hours per minute. This method allows the large-capacity units to compete in this category with much smaller units that naturally charge much faster.
Charging from 0% to 100% in 77 minutes, the PS2400 sees 26.76 watts-per-minute charging from a standard 120-volt, 20-amp residential outlet. A close second was the Oupes Mega 3 at 26.48 watts per minute, followed by the VTOMAN Flashspeed in a more distant third at 24.9 watts per minute. Different units make up the bulk of the next-best contenders, from companies like Oupes, VTOMAN, UGreen and Goal Zero
If charging to recover your total capacity is a major concern for you, these are the units to look at. In addition, they all offer simultaneous charging from other inputs like solar or other DC inputs if you need to up your recharge game.
Also notable is the unit's 10ms switchover time.
EcoFlow is a company that's earned quite a few spots on our list over the years. One of its most recent additions is the new River series, consisting of the River 3, River 3 Plus and River 3 Max. The River 3, as you might have guessed, is the smallest one in the lineup, with a 245 watt-hour capacity.
There's a lot to like in this small, reasonably-priced package. The River 3 weighs just 7.8 pounds and measures 10 x 8.3 x 4.4 inches. Perhaps more impressively, it comes with 90% usable capacity out of the box, with the ability to charge to full in an hour. It's not shy on ports or features either, with two AC ports, one car port output, a USB-C output and two USB-A ports. Like many portable power stations today, it supports solar panel charging, generator hookups, and car battery recharging -- making it a great option for camping as well.
rechargeable power station EcoFlow also claims that devices drawing less than 100W will get double the runtime. It includes UPS capability with a switchover time of under 20 milliseconds, which should be sufficient for most electronics -- except highly sensitive devices like PCs or medical equipment. I also like the screen, which lets you monitor charging output and battery capacity at a glance. For this much power in such a small package, the River 3 is hard to beat.