Which portable electric energy station to choose? The best models 2024

 A portable power station allows you to bring power wherever you need it. CNET tested the best energy stations to find the one that's best for you.

As electronic devices become more integrated into our daily lives, the need to keep them powered and connected increases. However, we cannot take the electricity grid everywhere we go. Portable energy stations are therefore the best solution to keep our batteries full in all circumstances.

If you want to charge your devices, your options are no longer limited to simple, bulky power banks with basic power outlets. There have been major improvements to portable energy stations since we started testing them. The evolution of the industry has led to the emergence of many options. Many include features like USB ports, solar panel inputs , and wireless charging. You can even connect some models together to get even more power, or link them to your home's electrical system, giving you backup power in the event of an emergency or power outage.

Best Portable Power Stations 2024

Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus: the best portable power station

Jackery has been very active this year with several new product announcements. And for some, it can be easy to get lost in its naming system. For example, we have the Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro. At first glance, we thought the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus might be some sort of incremental update to the 2000 Pro. But no, this is a decidedly different product. Specs and performance seem similar. However, at around 9kg more weight, the 2000 Plus is designed for more power.

First of all, the extra weight comes with a telescoping handle and durable wheels. You'll also notice the inclusion of a round VR-style AC output with a capacity of 25A. Additionally, if you want to get two of these devices, you can use the new Jackery expansion connector to connect the two units and get two separate 240-volt outlets (30A each). We've seen this before from other manufacturers, and we're happy to see Jackery going this route early in the game.

Likewise, Jackery has entered the modularity game by offering external expansion batteries. For now, the 2000 Plus is the only device that accepts these batteries, but we can assume more will follow. Each external battery has the same capacity as the 2000 Plus base unit. And as of today, up to five additional batteries can be connected to the main unit, giving an impressive capacity of 12256.8 Wh. Additionally, you can combine two six-piece sets for a capacity of 240 volts and an even greater output of 24513.6 Wh.

For all these reasons and more, the Jackery 2000 Plus is our best full-size portable power station, and the best overall.

EcoFlow River 2 Pro: best value for money for a portable electric station

In an interesting twist, the EcoFlow River 2 Pro wins both the best value for money and best budget titles.

The River 2 Pro pretty much conforms to the manufacturer's descriptions. You'll find 635.1Wh usable out of the advertised 768 (just below the industry standard of 85% usable capacity). It offers plenty of charging output options. EcoFlow's claim that it would take 70 minutes to fully recharge was proven correct. In fact, in our testing, the process completed in just 69 minutes.

Normally priced at €799, this unit is among our lowest prices per watt at 78 cents. However, if we take into account that the EcoFlow store currently offers the River 2 Pro for €699, it comes in at 65 cents per watt.

Bluetti AC200 MAX: best value for money

We've seen several Bluetti models place on this list over the years.

The AC200 MAX was not initially on our list when we first tested it at the start of the year, but after a price drop, and currently on sale with an additional €500 reduction (Amazon coupon to check ), this device at a price of €1499 is a sure value.

A capacity of 2,048 Watt hours (expandable to 8,192 Wh), a power of 2,200 W (4,800 W surge) and a solar charging power of 900 W (1,400 W solar plus AC) are not to be disdained in this range of price. Most offerings with similar specifications are often more expensive and often lack expandability.

This unit is comparable in form to Bluetti's larger AC300 and AC500 units. The AC500 has more to offer, even going so far as to feature a 50A outlet (still only 120V unless you want to join two units together for a two-phase 240) and the AC300 has more 120V 20A circuits, but the The AC200 MAX is the only one of these that actually has built-in battery capacity. For AC300 and AC500, an external battery is required.

Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus: Best Mid-Sized Portable Energy Station

The 1000 Plus has a claimed capacity of 1264Wh coupled with an output of 2000W. The new “Plus” line also supports capacity expansion via external batteries. With this unit you can add up to three additional batteries for a capacity of 5kWh.

Charging via a wall outlet takes about an hour and a half; double that if you max out the 800W of the 1000 Plus's solar charging input and opt for this solution instead.

Modular is the way to go for most people who need a lot of power. Jackery's Plus range continues to impress with its comprehensive suite of expandable products.

Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro: the alternative to a medium-sized portable power station

This model pushes the boundaries of the “mid-sized” category both in terms of capacity and price with a capacity of 1512 Wh, just below our limit for mid-sized devices of 1799 Wh. It's also one of the more expensive mid-size options, with a price tag of €1,599.

However, you will get a reliable machine that scored well in our usable capacity tests (90.4%), which will recharge quickly (from 0 to 100% in two hours), and does so with mains charging. . Add a few solar panels and you can significantly reduce this time.

These similarly sized units are ideal for when you're going from one overnight trip to the next and need something to last a few days, or longer if you're equipped for recharging.