Best Small Portable Power Stations Under 500Wh

The EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus is the best small portable power station under 500 Wh. It tops our scoring at 7.7/10 thanks to LiFePO4 cells rated for 3,000 cycles, a 600 W inverter with 1,200 W surge, a 10 ms UPS switchover, 220 W of solar input and an add-on battery that nearly triples its 286 Wh capacity.

How we picked

We ranked every current station under 500 Wh in our power station database with our published scoring rubric. It weighs battery chemistry and rated cycle life, continuous AC output, energy per pound, wall and solar recharge speed, expandability, UPS switchover, warranty and app control. Seven models qualify. “Best overall” is simply the top score; every other label names the single spec that earns it.

All seven use LiFePO4 cells, so chemistry doesn’t separate them here. What does: inverter size, how fast they refill, and whether you can add capacity later.

The best small power stations, ranked

#1

Best overall

EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus

7.7Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

Rated cycle life

3,000

AC output

600 W

Energy density

27.5 Wh/lb

A 286Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 600W inverter and a 10 ms UPS, aimed at desk backup for routers and PCs or light camping use, with an optional stack-on extra battery.

Strengths

• Expandable to 858Wh with the EB300 or EB600 extra battery
• UPS switchover under 10 ms with a USB-B port for PC/NAS shutdown signaling
• 600W rated output, 1200W surge/X-Boost
• 220W solar or car input over an 11-55V range

Watch out for

• Only one USB-C port, limited to 100W
• USB-A ports are 12W each
• Base capacity of 286Wh runs a 600W load for well under an hour

The RIVER 3 Plus wins because it’s the only sub-500 Wh station that does everything reasonably well and then lets you grow. Its 600 W inverter (1,200 W surge) handles a blender, a CPAP or a TV. Its 220 W solar input is the highest relative to capacity in the class, at 0.77 W per Wh, so a single 300 W-class panel can refill it in about 1.3 hours of good sun. The 10 ms UPS switchover and a USB-B port for PC shutdown signaling make it a credible desk backup for a router and modem.

The catch is capacity. At 286 Wh it’s on the small side, and at 10.4 lb it carries the least energy per pound here (27.5 Wh/lb). The fix is EcoFlow’s stack-on extra battery, which takes the system to 858 Wh. That’s enough for about 13 hours of CPAP use at ResMed’s typical draw. Full specs are on the RIVER 3 Plus spec page.

#2

Most inverter output (700 W)

BLUETTI AC50B

7.0Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

Rated cycle life

3,000

AC output

700 W

Energy density

30.27 Wh/lb

A 448Wh LiFePO4 portable power station with a 700W inverter, two AC outlets and two 65W USB-C ports, aimed at campers and road-trippers powering small appliances and electronics.

Strengths

• 580W AC charging, 70 minutes to 100%.
• LiFePO4 cells rated for 3,000+ cycles to 80% capacity.
• Power Lifting mode runs resistive loads up to 1,000W.
• Can add a B80 battery through Power Bank Mode.

Watch out for

• USB-C ports are limited to 65W each.
• Solar input capped at 200W (12-28V).
• Only one USB-A port and a Bluetooth-only app connection.

The AC50B has the strongest inverter under 500 Wh at 700 W continuous, plus BLUETTI’s Power Lifting mode for resistive loads up to 1,000 W. Its 448 Wh pack runs a 16-inch oscillating fan for about 4 hours or a ResMed AirSense 11 for about 6.8 hours. AC charging is quick for the size, at 70 minutes to full from a 580 W input.

Two limits matter. BLUETTI doesn’t publish a surge rating, so treat the 700 W continuous figure as the ceiling for start-up loads too. And the solar input is narrow: 200 W at 12-28 V. That rules out every high-voltage folding panel in our database and limits you to 12 V-class panels like the 21 V BougeRV 200W.

#3

Most capacity (499 Wh)

Goal Zero Yeti 500

6.7Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

Rated cycle life

4,000

AC output

500 W

Energy density

31.01 Wh/lb

A 6th-generation 499Wh LiFePO4 Yeti with a 500W pure sine inverter, two AC outlets and three USB-C ports, suited to camping, car trips and small-device backup.

Strengths

• LiFePO4 pack rated for 4,000+ cycles to 80% capacity
• Three USB-C ports: one 100W PD plus two 30W
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth control through the Goal Zero Power App
• IPX4 water-resistance rating

Watch out for

• Only two AC outlets and a 500W continuous inverter
• AC fast charge (500W) must be selected; default wall charging is 240W (about 3 hours)
• Solar input tops out at 200W, and 200W panels need the HPP-to-8mm connector
• Not chainable and no expansion battery support

At 499.2 Wh the Yeti 500 is the biggest battery in this group and the only one rated for 4,000 cycles to 80%. That capacity buys the longest runtimes here: about 7.6 hours of CPAP use, 2.5 days on a cycling 12V fridge and 47 hours of a 60 W-equivalent LED bulb. Three USB-C ports (one 100 W, two 30 W), Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app control and an IPX4 rating suit car camping well.

Its 500 W inverter trails the 600-700 W units, there’s no expansion, and Goal Zero’s 500 W fast charge has to be selected; the default wall charge is 240 W, about three hours. Solar tops out at 200 W through an 8 mm input.

#4

Best for laptops (140 W USB-C)

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2

6.4Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

Rated cycle life

3,000

AC output

600 W

Energy density

30.38 Wh/lb

A compact 288Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 600W inverter, two AC outlets and a 140W USB-C port, suited to day trips, charging laptops and phones, and light outage backup.

Strengths

• 140W and 100W USB-C ports.
• UPS switchover of 10ms or less.
• Power Lifting mode runs resistive loads up to 1,500W.
• 9.48 lb with WiFi and Bluetooth app control.

Watch out for

• Not expandable; BLUETTI states it does not support battery expansion.
• Solar input limited to 200W at 12-28V.
• AC + DC charging tops out at 380W.

The Elite 30 V2 is the one to buy if most of your load is USB-C. Its 140 W port can fast-charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro at full adapter speed, and a second 100 W port handles a tablet or a second laptop. At 9.48 lb for 288 Wh it carries 30.4 Wh/lb. You also get a 10 ms UPS, Wi-Fi app control and a 600 W inverter with Power Lifting to 1,500 W on resistive loads.

It isn’t expandable, solar is capped at 200 W within a 12-28 V window, and BLUETTI doesn’t list a full AC recharge time. Combined AC and DC charging tops out at 380 W.

#5

Most USB-C output (two 140 W ports)

Anker SOLIX C300

5.8Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

AC output

300 W

Energy density

31.65 Wh/lb

Solar recharge rate

0.35 W per Wh

A 288Wh LFP power station with a 300W inverter and three AC outlets, plus three USB-C ports including two 140W ports. It suits laptops, phones, CPAP-class loads and small electronics on short trips.

Strengths

• Three USB-C ports, two rated at 140W, and USB-C2 also accepts 140W input
• 300W AC output across three outlets, with SurgePad support up to 600W
• 10ms UPS switchover
• 9.1 lb, light enough to carry one-handed

Watch out for

• Solar input is limited to 100W at 11-28V
• AC output is 300W; Anker says SurgePad works best with heat-generating devices and does not work in bypass mode
• USB-C and XT-60 recharging cannot be used at the same time
• No expansion battery port

The SOLIX C300 is a USB-C hub first and an AC station second. Two of its three USB-C ports are rated 140 W, so it can feed two big laptops at once, and the second 140 W port doubles as a charging input. Its 288 Wh of LiFePO4 weighs 9.1 lb (31.6 Wh/lb), it switches over in 10 ms as a UPS, and Anker backs it for 5 years. It launched at $249.99.

The AC side is modest: 300 W continuous across three outlets, with Anker’s SurgePad mode reaching 600 W for heat-generating devices. Solar is capped at 100 W within an 11-28 V window through XT60, USB-C and XT60 charging can’t run at the same time, and there’s no expansion port. Anker doesn’t publish a cycle rating. See the SOLIX C300 spec page for the full port list.

#6

Lightest (7.8 lb)

EcoFlow RIVER 3

5.8Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

Rated cycle life

3,000

AC output

300 W

Energy density

31.41 Wh/lb

A 245Wh LiFePO4 power station with a 300W pure sine wave inverter, suited to charging phones, laptops, cameras and small appliances on camping trips or during short outages.

Strengths

• LiFePO4 battery rated for 3,000 cycles to 80% capacity
• Full AC recharge in about 60 minutes from a 320W input
• 100W USB-C port plus a 126W car outlet
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app control at 7.8 lb

Watch out for

• 300W rated AC output (600W surge/X-Boost) limits it to small loads
• No extra battery port, so capacity cannot be expanded
• Standard model switches over in under 20 ms (EPS), so EcoFlow advises against it for desktops or NAS units
• Solar input tops out at 110W and 30V

At 7.8 lb the RIVER 3 is the lightest station we track, and its 245 Wh works out to 31.4 Wh/lb. It refills from the wall in about an hour at 320 W, and its 100 W USB-C port and 126 W car outlet cover most camping electronics. Think of it as a phone, laptop, light and 12V-fridge battery: it runs a Dometic CFX5 45 for about 30 hours.

The 300 W inverter (600 W surge) ties for the weakest here, it can’t be expanded, and solar maxes out at 110 W and 30 V. EcoFlow also advises against the standard model’s 20 ms switchover for desktops or NAS units. Its 2-year warranty is the shortest in the class.

#7

Most energy per pound

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus

5.2Amphourly Score

Battery chemistry

LiFePO4

AC output

300 W

Energy density

34.82 Wh/lb

Solar recharge rate

0.35 W per Wh

A compact 288Wh LiFePO4 power station with a single 300W AC outlet and two 100W USB-C ports, suited to charging laptops, phones and small gear on day trips.

Strengths

• 8.27 lb with a 288Wh LiFePO4 battery
• Two USB-C outputs rated up to 100W
• Wi-Fi and Bluetooth app control
• 20 ms UPS switchover

Watch out for

• Only one AC outlet, rated 300W continuous / 600W surge
• Solar and car charging run through the USB-C input, capped at 100W
• Not expandable

The Explorer 300 Plus packs 288 Wh into 8.27 lb, the best ratio under 500 Wh at 34.8 Wh/lb. Two 100 W USB-C ports and Wi-Fi app control make it a good laptop-and-camera battery for day trips.

It scores lowest for clear reasons: one AC outlet rated 300 W, solar and car charging both routed through a USB-C input capped at 100 W, and no expansion. Jackery also doesn’t publish a cycle rating for it. With a 100 W cap, a solar refill takes about 2.9 hours of good sun even with a larger panel.

What can a sub-500Wh power station run?

Small stations are electronics batteries with an inverter attached, not appliance runners. The math is the same for every model: usable energy (85% of rated capacity, to cover inverter and conversion losses) divided by the appliance’s average draw. Here’s what our top pick runs on one charge, using sourced wattages from our appliance wattage table:

Runtime = usable energy ÷ average draw. We count 85% of the rated 286 Wh as usable (243 Wh) to cover inverter and DC conversion losses. Fridges and freezers are averaged over their compressor cycle. An appliance runs only if its running watts fit the 600 W inverter and its start-up surge fits the 1,200 W surge rating. Wattages come from our appliance wattage table; try your own mix in the runtime calculator.

A few patterns jump out of that table:

• Phones, routers and LED lights run for a day or more. A Wi-Fi router at 6.5 W runs about 37 hours on the RIVER 3 Plus, and a 60 W-equivalent LED bulb at 9 W about 27 hours.
• Anything near 100 W drops to a few hours. A 95 W oscillating fan gets about 2.6 hours; a 162 W 45-inch TV about 1.5 hours.
• Heat-making kitchen appliances are out. A drip coffee maker pulls about 1,300 W while brewing, almost double the RIVER 3 Plus’s 600 W inverter. Nothing in this class can run one.

The same loads across all seven stations show how much capacity matters at this size:

Station	Usable Wh	16-inch fan (95 W)	Starlink Mini (33 W)	Single electric blanket (60 W)
EcoFlow RIVER 3	208	2.2 h	6.3 h	3.5 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	243	2.6 h	7.4 h	4.1 h
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	245	2.6 h	7.4 h	4.1 h
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	245	2.6 h	7.4 h	4.1 h
Anker SOLIX C300	245	2.6 h	7.4 h	4.1 h
BLUETTI AC50B	381	4.0 h	11.5 h	6.3 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500	424	4.5 h	12.9 h	7.1 h

Want to model your own mix? The runtime calculator adds up running watts, start-up surge and duty cycles for any combination.

Power stationEcoFlow RIVER 3 (245 Wh, 300 W)EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus (286 Wh, 600 W)Anker SOLIX C300 (288 Wh, 300 W)BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 (288 Wh, 600 W)Jackery Explorer 300 Plus (288 Wh, 300 W)BLUETTI AC50B (448 Wh, 700 W)Goal Zero Yeti 500 (499 Wh, 500 W)DJI Power 500 (512 Wh, 1,000 W)OUPES Exodus 700 (576 Wh, 700 W)Anker SOLIX C800 Plus (768 Wh, 1,200 W)BLUETTI AC70 (768 Wh, 1,000 W)Goal Zero Yeti 1000 (998 Wh, 2,000 W)Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (1,024 Wh, 2,000 W)BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 (1,024 Wh, 1,800 W)DJI Power 1000 (1,024 Wh, 2,200 W)DJI Power 1000 V2 (1,024 Wh, 2,600 W)EcoFlow DELTA 3 (1,024 Wh, 1,800 W)EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (1,024 Wh, 1,800 W)OUPES Mega 1 (1,024 Wh, 2,000 W)PECRON E1000LFP (1,024 Wh, 1,800 W)Anker SOLIX C1000 (1,056 Wh, 1,800 W)Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh, 1,500 W)BLUETTI AC180 (1,152 Wh, 1,800 W)Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (1,264 Wh, 2,000 W)VTOMAN Jump 1800 (1,408 Wh, 1,800 W)Goal Zero Yeti 1500 (1,505 Wh, 2,000 W)PECRON E1500LFP (1,536 Wh, 2,200 W)VTOMAN FlashSpeed 1500 (1,548 Wh, 1,500 W)Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus (2,043 Wh, 3,000 W)Anker SOLIX F2000 (2,048 Wh, 2,400 W)BLUETTI AC200L (2,048 Wh, 2,400 W)DJI Power 2000 (2,048 Wh, 3,000 W)EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max (2,048 Wh, 2,400 W)EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max Plus (2,048 Wh, 3,000 W)Growatt INFINITY 2000 PRO (2,048 Wh, 2,400 W)OUPES Mega 2 (2,048 Wh, 2,500 W)BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 (2,074 Wh, 2,600 W)BLUETTI Apex 300 (2,765 Wh, 3,840 W)Anker SOLIX F3000 (3,072 Wh, 3,600 W)Jackery Explorer 3000 v2 (3,072 Wh, 3,600 W)PECRON E3600LFP (3,072 Wh, 3,600 W)Growatt HELIOS 3600 (3,686 Wh, 3,600 W)Anker SOLIX F3800 (3,840 Wh, 6,000 W)EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 (4,096 Wh, 4,000 W)Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus (5,040 Wh, 7,200 W)Custom: enter your own specs

What you'll plug in

• Full-size refrigerator (ENERGY STAR)160 W, cycles 32% of the time×
• Wi-Fi router6.5 W×
• LED bulb (60 W equivalent)9 W×
• Smartphone charger10 W×

Add an applianceAdd an appliance…ResMed AirSense 11 CPAP (56 W)Home oxygen concentrator (5 LPM, CAIRE IntenOxy 5) (350 W)Laptop computer (50 W)MacBook Pro 16-inch (140 W adapter) (140 W)MacBook Pro 14-inch (70 W adapter) (70 W)MacBook Air (35 W adapter) (35 W)Desktop computer (80 W)Computer monitor (85 W)LED/LCD TV (about 45-inch) (162 W)Sony PlayStation 5 (gaming) (218 W)Cable/DSL modem (6 W)Wi-Fi router (6.5 W)Starlink Standard kit (88 W)Starlink Mini (33 W)Smartphone charger (10 W)Tablet (charging) (20 W)Blu-ray disc player (ENERGY STAR) (13 W)Inkjet printer (83 W)Hair dryer (1,500 W)Satellite TV dish (15 W)LED bulb (60 W equivalent) (9 W)CFL bulb (60 W equivalent) (16 W)Incandescent bulb (60 W) (60 W)Quartz halogen work light (1,000 W)High-intensity LED flood light (250 W equivalent) (88 W)Full-size refrigerator (ENERGY STAR) (160 W)Refrigerator, top-mount freezer (no icemaker) (195 W)Refrigerator, side-by-side with icemaker (230 W)Refrigerator (conservative generator-sizing value) (700 W)Compact chest freezer (ENERGY STAR) (180 W)Upright freezer with auto defrost (ENERGY STAR) (220 W)Microwave oven (1.25 cu ft) (1,500 W)Microwave oven (compact) (925 W)Drip coffee maker (1,300 W)Toaster (2-slice) (1,100 W)Toaster oven (1,225 W)Blender (standard countertop) (300 W)Blender (1,000 W class) (1,000 W)Slow cooker (250 W)Electric grill (1,650 W)Electric range burner (small) (1,300 W)Electric range burner (large) (2,400 W)Dishwasher (ENERGY STAR) (633 W)Electric kettle (1.7 L, Cuisinart CPK-17) (1,500 W)Induction cooktop, single burner (Duxtop 9600LS) (1,800 W)Air fryer (6 qt, Cosori TurboBlaze) (1,725 W)Electric pressure cooker (Instant Pot Duo 6 qt) (1,000 W)Compact mini fridge (3.3 cu ft, Midea MRM33S8BSL) (115 W)Single-serve coffee maker (Keurig K-Classic) (1,500 W)Portable space heater (high setting) (1,500 W)Room (window) air conditioner, typical (1,200 W)Window air conditioner (13,000 BTU) (1,800 W)Central air conditioner (3-ton) (5,400 W)Ceiling fan (120 W)Window fan (153 W)Oscillating fan (16-inch) (95 W)Furnace blower (1/4 HP) (600 W)Furnace fan (efficient variable-speed motor) (200 W)Furnace fan (standard motor) (500 W)Dehumidifier (30-70 pint) (535 W)Humidifier (75 W)Air purifier (65 W)Electric blanket (single) (60 W)Electric blanket (double) (100 W)Window air conditioner (5,000 BTU, LG LW5016) (440 W)Window air conditioner (8,000 BTU, LG LW8016ER, ENERGY STAR) (660 W)RV rooftop air conditioner (13,500 BTU) (1,500 W)RV rooftop air conditioner (15,000 BTU) (1,800 W)12V portable fridge (Dometic CFX5 45) (58 W)12V portable fridge (Engel MT45) (48 W)12V portable fridge (Anker EverFrost 40) (50 W)12V diesel air heater (Webasto Air Top 2000 STC) (29 W)12V roof vent fan (MaxxAir MaxxFan Deluxe) (54 W)Electric chainsaw (corded) (1,200 W)Electric hedge trimmer (450 W)Electric string trimmer (350 W)Electric lawn mower (corded) (1,200 W)Electric pressure washer (1,200 W)Electric lawn edger (950 W)Sump pump (1/3 HP) (800 W)Submersible sump pump (1/2 HP) (1,000 W)Well pump (typical residential) (1,000 W)Well pump (1/3 HP) (750 W)Pond pump (1/8 HP) (93 W)Garage door opener (1/2 HP) (1,050 W)E-bike charger (48V, 3A) (164 W)Circular saw (1,200 W)Corded drill (600 W)Reciprocating saw (1,440 W)Table saw (10-inch) (1,800 W)Belt sander (1,200 W)Hand (palm/orbital) sander (600 W)Air compressor (1 HP) (1,600 W)Wet/dry shop vacuum (900 W)Lithium-ion tool battery charger (360 W)Airless paint sprayer (1,080 W)Upright vacuum cleaner (1,220 W)

Add

Runs all of it for about 2.3 h on a full charge.

Runtime

2.3 h

Running watts

214of 600 W inverter

Start-up peak

214of 1,200 W surge

Average draw

105W after cycling

Runtime = 85% of the battery's rated Wh (usable after inverter and DC losses) ÷ the average draw. The start-up peak assumes one motor starts at a time.

Smallest stations that run this load

Station	Battery	Inverter	Runtime	Buy
EcoFlow RIVER 3	245 Wh	300 W	2.0 h	Amazon
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	286 Wh	600 W	2.3 h	EcoFlow
Anker SOLIX C300	288 Wh	300 W	2.3 h	Anker SOLIX
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	288 Wh	600 W	2.3 h	BLUETTI
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	288 Wh	300 W	2.3 h	Amazon
BLUETTI AC50B	448 Wh	700 W	3.6 h	BLUETTI
Goal Zero Yeti 500	499 Wh	500 W	4.1 h	Goal Zero
DJI Power 500	512 Wh	1,000 W	4.2 h	DJI

Is a small station big enough for a CPAP overnight?

Usually not for a full night with the humidifier running. ResMed’s AirSense 11 user guide lists a typical power consumption of 56.1 W. Over an 8-hour night that’s 449 Wh at the machine. Divide by our 85% usable fraction and you need about 528 Wh of rated capacity, which is more than any station in this group.

Station	Rated Wh	AirSense 11 runtime at 56.1 W
EcoFlow RIVER 3	245	3.7 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	286	4.3 h
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	288	4.4 h
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	288	4.4 h
Anker SOLIX C300	288	4.4 h
BLUETTI AC50B	448	6.8 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500	499.2	7.6 h
RIVER 3 Plus with extra battery	858	13.0 h

Two caveats cut in opposite directions. The 56.1 W figure is ResMed’s typical draw with its standard setup; your own pressure settings, humidifier and heated-tube use change it, so check your machine’s manual for its own number. And running a CPAP from a DC adapter instead of the AC outlet skips the inverter, which usually stretches runtime past our conservative 85% assumption.

For runtimes on larger stations, see how long a power station runs a CPAP. If you need guaranteed full nights, either expand the RIVER 3 Plus or step up to a 1 kWh-class station; our mid-size power station rankings cover those. This is power-draw math only. Ask your equipment supplier or clinician about running medical devices from battery power.

Energy per pound: why weight matters at this size

Small stations get carried to campsites, beaches and job sites, so watt-hours per pound is the most practical spec after capacity. It’s also one of the metrics our rubric weighs, scored between 10 and 35 Wh/lb.

Station	Capacity	Weight	Wh per lb
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	288 Wh	8.27 lb	34.8
Anker SOLIX C300	288 Wh	9.1 lb	31.6
EcoFlow RIVER 3	245 Wh	7.8 lb	31.4
Goal Zero Yeti 500	499.2 Wh	16.1 lb	31.0
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	288 Wh	9.48 lb	30.4
BLUETTI AC50B	448 Wh	14.8 lb	30.3
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	286 Wh	10.4 lb	27.5

The spread is narrower than it looks. Every model lands between 27.5 and 34.8 Wh/lb because they all use LiFePO4, which trades some density for cycle life. The RIVER 3 Plus pays for its extra-battery port and larger inverter with the worst ratio, but it weighs only about 2 lb more than the Jackery for nearly the same capacity.

The practical split is 8 lb versus 15 lb. The RIVER 3, Explorer 300 Plus, SOLIX C300 and Elite 30 V2 all weigh under 10 lb and carry one-handed. The AC50B and Yeti 500 nearly double the capacity for about 5 to 6 extra pounds.

How fast do small stations recharge from solar?

Solar refill time depends on two numbers: the station’s maximum solar input and the watts your panel actually delivers. We assume a panel gives 75% of its rating in real-world sun, and the station clips anything above its input limit.

Station	Solar input max	Voltage window	Fastest solar refill	With one 200 W panel
EcoFlow RIVER 3 Plus	220 W	11-55 V	1.3 h	1.9 h
BLUETTI Elite 30 V2	200 W	12-28 V	1.4 h	1.9 h
EcoFlow RIVER 3	110 W	11-30 V	2.2 h	2.2 h (capped)
BLUETTI AC50B	200 W	12-28 V	2.2 h	3.0 h
Goal Zero Yeti 500	200 W	12.3-28 V	2.5 h	3.3 h
Anker SOLIX C300	100 W	11-28 V	2.9 h	2.9 h (capped)
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus	100 W	12-27 V	2.9 h	2.9 h (capped)

“With one 200 W panel” uses the BougeRV 200W Foldable, a 21 V Voc panel that fits every window above. The voltage window is the trap at this size. Six of these seven stations top out at 27-30 V, so a 400 W folding panel with a 40-58 V Voc won’t work with them at all, even though its wattage looks right. The RIVER 3 Plus’s 55 V ceiling is the exception, and it’s one reason it scores highest.

Here’s every panel we track checked against the RIVER 3 Plus’s input:

• Solar input up to 220 W
• Voltage window 11–55 V
• Connector XT60i

Recharge time is from empty with one panel in full sun: 286 Wh ÷ the lower of75% of the panel's rating or the station's solar input limit. A panel rated above the input limit is safe as long as its Voc fits, because the station only draws what it can take. MC4 panels need a standard MC4 adapter cable, which many stations include. Wiring two panels in series doubles the Voc, so check the total against the voltage window. Try any pairing in the solar panel matcher.

8 panels that don't fit

• Jackery SolarSaga 200W Solar Panel: its 8mm DC plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port
• Anker SOLIX PS200 Portable Solar Panel: its 57.6 V Voc is above the 55 V limit
• Anker SOLIX PS400 Portable Solar Panel: its 57.6 V Voc is above the 55 V limit
• Goal Zero Nomad 400: its brand-specific plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port
• Goal Zero Nomad 200: its brand-specific plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port
• Goal Zero Nomad 100: its 8mm DC plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port
• Goal Zero Boulder 100 Briefcase: its 8mm DC plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port
• Goal Zero Boulder 200 Briefcase: its brand-specific plug doesn't fit the XT60i solar port

For any other pairing, run the solar panel matcher, or see our solar panel rankings for the panels that fit low-voltage inputs.

Side-by-side specs

Which small power station should you buy?

• Desk backup for a router, modem or small PC: the RIVER 3 Plus. Its 10 ms switchover and shutdown-signaling port are built for it, and a router plus modem (12.5 W together) runs for about 19 hours.
• Car camping with a 12V fridge: the Yeti 500 gives the most hours, about 2.5 days on a Dometic CFX5 45 before you count other loads.
• Laptop work away from an outlet: the Elite 30 V2’s 140 W USB-C port matters more than its AC rating. If two laptops share the battery, the SOLIX C300’s pair of 140 W ports covers both.
• Lightest possible kit: the RIVER 3 at 7.8 lb, or the Explorer 300 Plus if you want more watt-hours for the weight.
• CPAP every night: none of these alone, at a typical 56.1 W draw. Expand the RIVER 3 Plus or move up a size.

If you’re unsure which size you need, our guide on how to size a power station walks through the method, and watts vs watt-hours explains the two numbers that decide everything above.