Top 5 compared
The best portable power stations
Power for the campsite, the RV and the next outage: quiet, fume-free and recharged from a wall outlet or the sun.
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The top 5 at a glance
A portable power station is a large rechargeable battery with household outlets and USB ports, so it runs much of what a small gas generator would, from stored power instead of fuel. At home it keeps a router, a laptop or a CPAP machine going through an outage; away, it runs lights, an electric cooler and, on the bigger ones, a coffee maker.
Every one here uses LiFePO4 batteries, and the makers that give a figure rate them for thousands of charge cycles. Some take over in under 10 milliseconds when the power goes out, so a computer stays on. On some, the quickest wall charging has to be switched on in the maker’s app, and solar charging may call for the maker’s own panels.
What matters
- Capacity in watt-hours, for how long it keeps things running.
- A continuous AC rating above your biggest appliance’s wattage.
- Weight, if it has to go further than the car.
- A USB-C port strong enough to charge a laptop.
#1Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Portable Power Station (1024Wh)
Over $300
It refills fully from the wall in 49 minutes, so it’s ready again between outages or before the next trip. The under-10ms UPS switchover keeps a CPAP machine or a laptop running if the power drops.
What owners say: Owners say it handles whatever they plug in, from a full-size fridge to a 12-cup coffee maker, and one ran it for 19.5 hours on a single charge; its compact size wins praise too.
A closer look: The 49-minute HyperFlash charge has to be switched on in the Anker app. The app’s time-of-use mode can also charge it while electricity is cheaper and run your devices from the battery at peak times, so it earns its keep at home as well as at the campsite.
- Runs a CPAP through outages
- Charges when electricity is cheaper
- 10 ports
- 5-year warranty
Best for: Home backup and fast refills
- Capacity
- 1,024Wh
- AC output
- 2,000W (3,000W peak)
- Wall recharge
- 49 min (app)
- Solar charging
- 600W max, full in 1.8 hrs
- Weight
- 24.9 lb
#2Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station (1070Wh)
Over $300
A 1,070Wh battery with 1,500W from its three outlets, enough for a fridge, an electric pot or a window AC unit, in a 23.8 lb box with a foldable handle. The app’s emergency mode refills it from the wall in an hour.
What owners say: Owners have kept car fridges going for two days and a pellet stove running for up to nine hours on one charge, and plug the TV, the internet and a few lamps into it during outages without any fuss.
Heads up: Solar charging works only with Jackery’s own panels, so budget for one of those if solar is part of the plan.
A closer look: Out of the box it takes about 1.7 hours to fill, which is easier on the battery; switch on the one-hour emergency mode in the app before a charge when time is short, or the 30dB quiet mode overnight near the tent. The built-in LED light helps with finding tent stakes after dark.
- Built-in LED light
- 30dB quiet charging mode
- Foldable handle
- 100W USB-C port
Best for: Camping weekends and outages
- Capacity
- 1,070Wh
- AC output
- 1,500W (3,000W surge)
- Wall recharge
- 1 hr (app), 1.7 hrs default
- Solar charging
- 400W max (Jackery panels)
- Weight
- 23.8 lb
#3EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic Portable Power Station (1024Wh)
Over $300
X-Boost lets it run heavier appliances of up to 2,600W, beyond its 1,800W rating, and it reaches 80% from the wall in 45 minutes. The built-in UPS takes over in under 10ms if the power cuts out, so a PC or router keeps running.
What owners say: Owners call it dependable, with one timing a full charge at about 35 minutes and another running a big PC for days; a few miss having a 12V car outlet.
A closer look: Charging schedules and backup modes such as Storm Alert live in the EcoFlow app, worth setting up before hurricane or ice storm season. Add a 500W solar panel (sold separately) and it refills in about 2.5 hours of good sun.
- Takes over if power cuts
- Charging schedules in the app
- 5-year warranty
Best for: Running a fridge or microwave
- Capacity
- 1,024Wh
- AC output
- 1,800W (2,600W X-Boost)
- Wall recharge
- 0–80% in 45 min
- Solar charging
- 500W max, full in 2.5 hrs
- Weight
- 26.7 lb
#4Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station (292Wh)
$200–$300
At 7.5 lb it goes anywhere a cooler does, and 292Wh with a 300W outlet covers phones, cameras, a laptop, drone batteries or a CPAP on a weekend away. The 100W USB-C port charges a laptop without its power brick.
What owners say: Owners have run a diesel heater for several nights and fans for 20 hours on it, get three or four nights of camp power from a charge, and like its balance of size and power.
A closer look: Two AC outlets, a 100W USB-C port, two USB-A ports and a car port cover most camp gear at once, though anything over 300W, such as a coffee maker or a hair dryer, is too much for it. Paired with Jackery’s 100W panel, it reaches 80% in about 2.8 hours of sun.
- 100W USB-C charges laptops
- Built-in handle
- Two USB-A ports, car port
- AC adapter and car cable
- 2-year warranty
Best for: Weekends away and light loads
- Capacity
- 292Wh
- AC output
- 300W (600W peak)
- Wall recharge
- About 4 hrs (adapter)
- Solar charging
- 100W panel, 80% in 2.8 hrs
- Weight
- 7.5 lb
#5EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Portable Power Station (2048Wh)
Over $300
Twice the battery of the 1kWh units, for longer outages, RV weekends and power tools: 2,400W from its outlets, or up to 3,400W in X-Boost mode for heavier appliances, and 0–80% from the wall in about 68 minutes. EcoFlow builds it for home backup, with a switchover of under 10ms.
What owners say: Owners have run a TV for about 12 hours, a waffle iron and a freezer from it, and find it simple to use with several things plugged in at once.
A closer look: At about 45 lb it’s a heavy lift, so it suits a spot in the garage, by the fridge or in the RV better than a walk to the campsite. Set charging priorities and schedules in the EcoFlow app, and a 500W solar panel brings it back to 80% in about 3.4 hours of good sun.
- Takes over if power cuts
- Handles power tools
- Set charging schedules in app
- 5-year warranty
Best for: Long outages and RVs
- Capacity
- 2,048Wh
- AC output
- 2,400W (3,400W X-Boost)
- Wall recharge
- 0–80% in 68 min
- Solar charging
- 500W max, 80% in 3.4 hrs
- Weight
- 44.8 lb
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | #2Jackery 1000 v2 | #3EcoFlow DELTA 3 Classic | #4Jackery Explorer 300 | #5EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | ||||
| Picked Rating | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 |
| Price | Over $300 | Over $300 | Over $300 | $200–$300 | Over $300 |
| Capacity | 1,024Wh | 1,070Wh | 1,024Wh | 292Wh | 2,048Wh |
| AC output | 2,000W (3,000W peak) | 1,500W (3,000W surge) | 1,800W (2,600W X-Boost) | 300W (600W peak) | 2,400W (3,400W X-Boost) |
| Wall recharge | 49 min (app) | 1 hr (app), 1.7 hrs default | 0–80% in 45 min | About 4 hrs (adapter) | 0–80% in 68 min |
| Solar charging | 600W max, full in 1.8 hrs | 400W max (Jackery panels) | 500W max, full in 2.5 hrs | 100W panel, 80% in 2.8 hrs | 500W max, 80% in 3.4 hrs |
| Weight | 24.9 lb | 23.8 lb | 26.7 lb | 7.5 lb | 44.8 lb |
| Best for | Home backup and fast refills | Camping weekends and outages | Running a fridge or microwave | Weekends away and light loads | Long outages and RVs |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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