Review: The smallest 3kWh power station yet just launched – and it undercuts rivals (aff)
A new 3kWh power station is shrinking the category, packing serious power into a much smaller frame at a lower price
There are lots of reasons to be cheerful about the fact that portable power stations are finally getting smaller.
Recently there have been plenty of new compact AC units launched from various brands, but the physical stature of the bigger units - the ones that can genuinely power your home - has always been an issue.
Bluetti has been the first company to convincingly take a step towards slimming things down, though, with its new Elite 300. It's still a bit of a monster, don't get me wrong, but that's because it has monstrous power. It has a 3kWh battery, in fact.
Coupled with its hefty 2,400w inverter, this makes the newcomer a seriously capable unit - at the same time as being the smallest on the market.
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It's also incredibly affordable - if, that is, you can catch the introductory price. At £1,399 it's cheaper than Jackery's similarly powerful Explorer 3000v2, which is currently on sale for £1,599.
Jackery was the first to properly slim down a 3kWh power station, but its 3000v2 is just a touch bigger and around a kilogram heavier.
The two units are a similar shape, too, with grab handles on either side, and they both feel rugged and built to last.
They also have the same LiFePO4 battery technology, but Bluetti rates the Elite 300 to 6,000 cycles, while Jackery expects 4,000 cycles.
Solar input is higher on the Bluetti, the AC input is similar on both models, but the inverter is more powerful on the Jackery with a maximum output of 3,600w before the 7,200w surge, versus 2,400w on the Bluetti before a 4,800w surge.
And therein lies the conundrum. The Bluetti is better in most ways than the Jackery, but the Jackery has more heavy lifting power. This won't be a problem for everyone, because 2,400w is still an impressive output, but will the smaller frame and cheaper entry price be enough to sway you?
The Bluetti's other features match up fairly closely to the Jackery, too. There are four USB outputs; two USB-C and two USB-A. One of the USB-C outputs can handle 140w, which is more than the Jackery, and the new display on the Bluetti is slightly better and brighter than the Jackery.
The apps for both devices are equally good, there's little to choose, but the Bluetti does have a 400w DC output to make up for having only two AC sockets over the Jackery's three.
Fundamentally, it comes down to what matters to you. If you need the biggest possible inverter, and you don't mind a bit of extra bulk, and a higher price, go for the Jackery.
I've lived with both units, and used them for a variety of tasks. While the size difference is less significant than you might think, the difference in price is hard to ignore.
If Jackery's sale ends, the Explorer 3000v2 will go back up to £2,299, while the Bluetti's standard price is only £100 less at £2,199.
Either way, then, whichever model you prefer, get your skates on and catch the sale. But which one to run towards? It's a tough choice, but for most people I suspect the Bluetti would clinch it. It's genuinely the smallest 3kWh unit out there at the moment, and the introductory price is hard to ignore.