Outdoor power supply with battery life

A portable power station's lifespan depends on the type of battery inside. Most new portable power stations, including all the models we recommend here, feature LiFePO4 battery technology, which lasts far longer than older lithium-ion technology. How much more? LiFePo4 power stations will last for more than 3,000 charge cycles, or about 10 years.

LiFePo4 power stations will last for more than 3,000 charge cycles, or about 10 years. That's far longer than the 500 or so charge cycles and 3 to 5 years you'll get from an older power station with a lithium-ion battery. How long does it take to recharge a portable power station with solar panels?

These days most portable power stations, including all those we recommend here, use LiFePO4 batteries, which are capable of holding far more cycles, which is the number of times a battery goes through a complete discharge and recharge, than older lithium-ion batteries while also being less likely to combust.

Bring big backup power with you with these expert-recommended portable power stations, which can store enough power to charge electronics, appliances, and more.

While a particular power station might claim to hold 1,000 watt hours, the actual amount of usable power you can get out of it is a different story. The best portable power stations also have an onboard computer that shows you how much energy is left in your unit, as well as how much power it's currently using.

With the new LiFePo4 battery chemistry, I personally found that units in the 1000 Wh range were fairly portable, while those that were closer to 1500 Wh were more of a chore to pick up and move around. Power stations that stood out as especially difficult or easy to move around have been noted in the individual reviews.