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In 2024 many of us rely on electronics to thrive in day to day life. The convenience provided to us by phones, cooking appliances and more is unparalleled throughout history, but electronics are only useful as long as they’re charged up with power. It can be a harrowing experience to lose power unexpectedly or travel to a place with no means of harnessing electricity. Luckily, portable power packs exist. Power packs are compact, easily transportable power banks that can store electricity for you to use to charge your devices during emergencies or planned excursions to areas without power. Most are meant for devices like phones, tablets and laptops, but some are powerful enough to power even large home appliances. Here are the best portable power stations available on Amazon.
Key Features
- 293Wh lithium-ion battery pack
- 300w output
- Charges from 0-80% in about 2 hours
- Lightweight and easy to carry
- 6 output ports
The Jackery Explorer has a 293Wh lithium-ion battery pack and reaches a maximum power output of 300w. It can charge from 0% to 80% in 2 hours and reaches a full charge in 3.5 hours. This power station weighs just 7.1 pounds and is easy to move around.
Key Features
- 268Wh battery
- 600w output
- Charges from 0-80% in around 30 minutes
- 9 total outlets
- 1 Wireless charger
- 2 year warranty
The BLUETTI Portable Power Station has a 600w AC inverter and a 268Wh LiFePO4 battery pack. It has 9 total outlets and can charge several devices at once. This power supply can be charged from 0% to 80% in around 30 minutes and reaches a full charge in 1 hour with a standard wall outlet. It comes with a 2 year warranty.
Key Features
- 88.8Wh battery
- 80w output
- Charges from 0-100% in 6 hours
- Built-in LED flashlight
- Weighs 2.1 pounds
- Scratch-resistant film on the sides
The MARBERO 88Wh Portable Power Station features a 88.8Wh battery and offers a max output of 80w. The Battery Management System protects the battery pack from overheating, overloading, and prevents other electrical problems. It has a total of 6 ports. The LED flashlight makes this one of the best portable power stations for camping trips. MARBERO offers a 2-year warranty for this product.
Key Features
- Up to 600w output
- Fast charging from 0-100% in 1 hour
- Solar charge in 3 hours
- 6 outlets
- ECOFLOW companion app
- 5 year warranty
The EF ECOFLOW Portable Power Station River 2 has very fast charging and can go from 0% to 100% in only an hour using traditional charging methods, or 3 hours when using the optional solar panels. It has 2 AC outlets, 2 USB-A ports, 1 USB-C port and 1 car outlet. The power station comes with an ECOFLOW companion app that allows you to customize your setting and view battery life and charging times of your devices. This power station comes with a 5-year warranty.
Key Features
- 256Wh battery capacity
- Industrial-grade electronic components
- Charges from 0-80% in 1.5 hours
- Durable unibody design
- 5 year warranty
The Anker 6 port powerhouse has a 256Wh battery capacity. It’s built to have a lifespan up to 10 years and comes with a 5-year warranty. High-quality electronic components contribute to a drop-proof unibody design. It can charge from 0% to 100% in 1.5 hours with the USB-C port.
Pros and cons of portable power stations
Portable power sources provide many valuable features. They are a practical and environmentally friendly way to power your devices on the go or in the case of a power outage. They’re also great to bring along when going on camping trips or off-grid. Most can charge many devices at once, and the station itself can be charged through an AC outlet, car charger port or even with solar panels. The biggest drawback is the need to keep the device charged in order to use it for other devices — if you have an outage and it’s not charged, then you’re out of luck.
Are portable generators and portable power stations the same?
Gas-powered generators convert gasoline, fuel or propane into electrical energy. Portable power stations store electricity in their internal battery so it can be used later. According to Generator Bible, portable power stations provide up to 1,000w on average while generators provide from 1,000w up to 20,000w. Portable power stations tend to cost less than generators on average.
Can a portable power station power a home?
In order to power a house, it will take an average of 5,000 to 7,500 watts from your power station or generator according to LCEC. With a more powerful power station it can be done, but it’s not likely with smaller and portable models.
Can a car battery be charged with a portable power station?
A standard ICE car battery can be jump started if you have a jumper cable adapter for your power station. EV’s can’t be charged with portable power stations because they don’t have the power to charge their traction batteries.