Comparison · updated Nov 15, 2026
Portable power station comparison: 7 models, sorted by what you need to run
From a 9-pound CPAP companion to an expandable 120/240 V home battery. We compare capacity, output, charging and price, and say plainly where each one falls short.
Specs at a glance
Which one for which job
| If you mainly need to… | Look for | Our pick from this list |
|---|---|---|
| Run a CPAP for about a night, charge phones and laptops | 250–500 Wh, LiFePO4, light weight | Elite 30 V2 |
| Camp for a weekend with a 12 V cooler and lights | ~1,000 Wh, 300 W+ solar input | AC180 or Elite 100 V2 |
| Keep a fridge, router and lights on overnight | 1,000–1,500 Wh, 1,500 W+ output with surge | AC180 |
| Keep a fridge, internet and lights on for most of a day | ~2,000 Wh, 2,000 W+ output | Elite 200 V2 |
| Get through a full day or more of essentials without solar | 3,000–4,000 Wh | Elite 400 |
| Power a van or RV off-grid for days | 3 kWh+, alternator and solar charging | Elite 300 or Elite 400 |
| Back up home circuits, a well pump or 240 V loads | 3,000 W+ output, 240 V, expandable | Apex 300 (with an electrician) |
Model-by-model notes
We have not lab-tested these units. Our notes interpret the published specs for real use and flag the specs a manufacturer leaves out. Prices are what we saw on the retailer site on the date shown; holiday promotions change them often.
How we compared
- Specs come from manufacturer product pages, checked November 15, 2026. Where a page doesn't publish a figure, we say "see listing" rather than guess. One exception, marked "retailer spec", comes from major retailer listings.
- Capacity vs output. We match models to jobs on both watt-hours and continuous watts. "Lifting" or "power lifting" modes let resistive appliances like kettles run at reduced power. They don't help a motor start, so we don't treat them as surge ratings.
- Usable energy. Our runtime estimates assume about 85% of rated capacity reaches your AC devices, which is typical for inverter-based stations.
- Why one brand right now. This first version covers BLUETTI's current lineup because it spans every size class, uses LiFePO4 cells in the models we checked, and publishes most of the specs we need. BLUETTI is also an affiliate partner, which we disclose on every page. We plan to add other brands, and the calculator is brand-neutral: use its Wh and W numbers to judge any model.
Before you buy: check the retailer listing for the exact outlets, surge rating, warranty terms and return window. Specs can change between production runs.