How many ports does a portable power station have?

You’ll find five ports here - a single AC socket, two USB-A and one USB-C ports, and a car outlet. The trade-off for getting a budget portable power station comes from the lower battery capacity, which sits at just 256Wh.

What devices can a portable power station run?

So long as your portable power station has the right ports and enough capacity, it can run a massive range of devices, including phones, laptops, and desktops. Higher capacity units will also let you power appliances and charge electric vehicles. Check which ports your preferred model has, including USB Type-A and Type-C, AC and mains sockets.

Should you buy a budget portable power station?

The trade-off for getting a budget portable power station comes from the lower battery capacity, which sits at just 256Wh. So, you won’t be able to power most household appliances or anything like that, but it’s more than enough to keep smaller devices like your phone and laptop on charge.

How do you calculate power consumption for camping?

From smartphones and cameras to portable coolers and lighting, note the power consumption of each device in watts. Consider the Duration: Determine how long each device will be in use during a typical day of camping. Multiply the device's power consumption by the number of hours it will be running to calculate the daily energy consumption.

Are portable power stations suitable for camping?

Almost all compact portable power stations will be suitable for camping, but I rather like the Bluetti Handsfree 2 for this role - mostly because many of them are big, boxy, unwieldy units that take up a fair amount of space.

How much does a portable power station cost?

There are a lot of models on the market, and the best portable power stations can handle everything from charging mobile devices and laptops to powering appliances and even EVs. If your needs are simple, you can pick up a good portable power station for around $150-200. What is the difference between a portable power station and a generator?