What are the best portable power stations?

To help you decide, I tested the efficiency, in a variety of scenarios, of the best portable power stations from Jackery, EcoFlow, Anker, Goal Zero, Bluetti, Dakota Lithium, Lion Energy, Vtoman, and Ugreen. What to Know Before Purchasing a Portable Power Station

Should you buy a LiFePO4 battery for a portable power station?

The good news for anyone in the market for a portable power station is that the industry as a whole is moving toward LiFePO4 batteries. One of the most important factors in choosing a portable power station is the amount of energy it can store, known as its energy potential.

What is a portable power station?

Portable power stations can power and charge electronic devices off the grid. They don’t burn fossil fuels, so they’re cleaner, quieter, and require minimal maintenance compared with gas- and diesel-powered generators. They can be recharged using solar panels and home electrical outlets.

How much does a portable power station cost?

The price of portable power stations can be difficult to pin down, as they fluctuate substantially not only depending on the proximity of a retailer holiday like Amazon Prime Day or Black Friday, but also between retailer sites. For some of the portable power stations in my test, “list price” would vary between retailer sites by up to $400.

How much power can a portable power station hold?

While a particular power station might claim to hold 1,000 watt hours, the actual amount of usable power you can get out of it is a different story. The best portable power stations also have an onboard computer that shows you how much energy is left in your unit, as well as how much power it’s currently using.

How do you drain a portable power station in storage?

Of course, the fastest way to drain a portable power station in storage is to leave it turned on. I checked that all the power stations were switched off before tucking them in for three months. And somehow one power station — the Ugreen PowerRoam — ended up switched on for the long-term storage test anyway.