Step 1 - Power vs Price
When deciding on the right Portable Power Station, you need to consider what your needs are. On the whole, the more power you need the more expensive the station is going to be. So, if your power needs are pretty low you can get a Portable Power Station for between £150-300. Whereas if you need a lot of power they can go as high as £3500 or even higher if you decide on adding additional batteries (note that not all products accommodate this). Check out our comparison page for a comprehensive look at both power and price.
How many Wh do you get for a £?
Most Portable Power Stations measure their power storage capabilities in Watt Hours (Wh). So, we divided the amount of Wh by the price of the main brands to give us an average of cost per Wh.
Step 2 - Inputs and Outputs
Inputs: Almost all Portable Power Stations have the same inputs: AC (power from the mains), Solar and a Car Port (a car cigarette lighter charger).
Outputs: Most Stations have an AC outlet, a USB-A, a USB-C and a Car Port. Quite a few have DC outlets listed. It is worth noting that a Car Port (cigarette lighter plug) is also DC.
Step 3 - Charging Time
The amount of time it takes to charge your Portable Power Station can vary quite a lot across the different brands. For example, some brands charge more than twice as fast than others if charging from an AC wall outlet. Also, if you are charging from solar or a car port, make sure you note the charging times. These are usually slower than the AC charging times we have listed on our comparison page.
Step 4 - Weight
On average the more power the battery stores, the heavier it is. If weight is a concern, then definitely take a look at our comparison page.
Step 5 - Additional Power?
Some Portable Power Stations have the capability of having additional power via batteries. Please note that if you want these you will have to purchase these batteries separately from the manufacturer.