During those long drives, camping trips and even power outages, you're going to want a powerful portable power station. We’ve tested hundreds, and these are our top picks.
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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?
It's always a good idea to invest in a portable power station, and it may even be a lifesaver. For one thing, they're the best thing to have around when it comes to keeping electronics powered anywhere the power grid isn't available, like when you're travelling on the road, camping or during power outages. In fact, portable power stations have enough bells and whistles to justify adding one to your everyday life as a backup in emergencies. They can also be an inexpensive stand-in for generators when you need to keep your necessities up and running during an emergency like a tornado or general outage.
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After countless hours of testing, our CNET experts found a clear answer to which portable power station was the best -- the 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. What set the Jackery 2000 Plus apart was the ability to expand it by adding external batteries, increasing its overall capacity and capabilities, although this is also a feature that competitors like Ecoflow are adopting.
If you're looking to keep up the power for your devices, you'll have way more options than bulky, simple power banks with basic outlets. Since we first started reviewing portable power stations here at CNET, they have undergone significant improvements, bringing about features like USB ports, solar panel inputs and wireless charging. You can daisy-chain some models for even more power or connect others to your home's electrical system, giving you backup power in an emergency or power outage. You'll also find plenty that work just as well as portable generators for camping trips and other off-grid activities.
I spent hours putting each device through its paces to find the best of these portable power stations. I also considered factors such as battery life, power output, input charging options, and output options for juicing up my gear. Power stations that only sport AC outlets and force you to use adapters are no longer viable. Each is more than just an on-the-go phone battery charger or glamping must-have. These power bank performers have wide-ranging uses, from building and construction to staying connected with the office or family to having access to emergency lighting and power wherever you roam or call home.
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 also comes a telescoping handle and durable wheels. You will 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 also use the new Jackery expansion connector to link up both units and supply yourself with two separate 240-volt outlets (each rated 30A). We have 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 will 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 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 and 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 wall outlet in about one and a half hours; double that if you max out the 1000 Plus' 800-watt solar charging input and go that route instead.
Modular is the way to go for most people who need serious power. 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, so I've reconfigured the sizing categories for this category and added in "extra-large" since we're regularly seeing extra-large portable power stations.
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. This is the exact road map for manufacturers to follow, in my opinion, as we talk about developing a flexible energy platform for nearly all versions of residential life.
Currently on sale for $429, 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 a promise 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 on any important medical gear if you plan to use this as a power backup, sometimes those products 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.
We have seen several Bluetti models take titles in this list over the years.
The AC200 Max did not initially make our winners list when we first tested it earlier this year. A recent price cut brought the cost down, and it's currently on sale, bringing the final price down to $1,99. That's quite the value for what you're getting.
To be specific, what you're getting is 2,048 watt-hours of capacity (expandable to 8,192Wh), 2,200-watt output (4,800W surge) and 900 watts of solar charging power (1,400-watt solar plus AC). That's nothing to laugh at in this price range. Most offerings with similar specs sit closer to $2,000 and often are missing the expandability aspect.
The AC200 Max is comparable in form to Bluetti's larger format AC300 and AC500 units. The AC500 has more to offer, even going as far as showcasing a 50A outlet (still only 120 volts unless you want to join two units together for a split-phase 240) and the AC300 has more 120-volt 20A circuits, but the AC200 Max is the only one of these that has any battery capacity built-in. For both the AC300 and AC500, an external battery is required.
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 would 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. 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.
garage lights Also notable is the unit's 10ms switchover time.