Testing the DJI Power 1000 power station.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Do you remember those bulky power banks that could barely charge your phone? forget them! Power stations are the new rockstars of portable electricity. In just a few years, their popularity has exploded and they’ve transformed from niche products to a dazzling array of options.
You can now find everything from compact, grab-and-go systems suitable for camping adventures to heavy-duty units that can keep your entire home running for days during an outage. And the best part? The price range is incredibly versatile, with options ranging from a few hundred bucks to several thousand dollars for almost any budget.
Too: Best portable power stations of 2026: expert-tested
But if you’re dropping hundreds or thousands of dollars on a system, you need to make sure you’re getting the best possible value for your hard-earned money. That’s why, here at ZDNET, we make every effort to put each power station through a series of tests.
How we test portable power stations in 2026
Over the years, I’ve tested well over 100 different portable power stations to find out which one is the best. To do this efficiently – because it takes several days to do it properly – I have developed a comprehensive testing framework. This not only ensures that manufacturers are not playing fast and loose with their spec sheet data, but also checks whether the units are safe and reliable. Here’s how we test portable power stations.
What makes Power Station ZDNET recommended?
There are many factors to consider when it comes to recommending a power station, and we believe readers deserve the best possible power station for their money.
First and foremost is safety. No matter how good something is, if it is not safe, it is of no use.
Subsequently, it is important that the power station delivers on its promises. If we can’t trust manufacturers to be honest about specifications, we can’t trust them on anything else either.
After that, it’s about balancing other factors like capacity, cost, and features. It’s all about finding the right mix to ensure you’re getting the best bang for your buck.
Unboxing and visual inspection
It all starts with a visual inspection. Even the smallest power stations are weighty pieces of kit, and some of the larger units can weigh 70 pounds or more. It is a heavy item that can be damaged by couriers, so packaging is required to protect the precious cargo. I begin every test with a detailed visual inspection, checking for signs of physical damage, loose components, or more subtle issues like crushed cables. This may seem basic, but the last thing I want is to plug a box full of lithium batteries into the mains and have it do something unexpected.
ability test
Next, I plug the unit into the main AC and do the first charge. Units typically ship with about 50% charge, so this is a top-up.
This is also a good time to check that all LCD panels, buttons, and ports are working, and download any related apps to link the Power Station to my smartphone.
While the unit is charging, I use a few discharge/charge cycles to properly condition the batteries. I would apply a modest load to the system – a 500W floodlight if the unit has AC output, or some of my larger power banks if the unit only has USB-C – to completely discharge the system between recharges. To find out the true capacity of a system, I use power meter To measure how much power the unit consumes to recharge. I will run these tests multiple times to make sure the results are consistent.
load test
It is important to test the output of all ports. To see how much load a USB port can handle, I use a combination of usb power meter Connected to high-power USB device (laptop, phone, power bank) to pressurize the port.
Overloading the DJI Power 1000 by connecting it to a toaster.
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
As for AC power, I use a number of home appliances like lights, kettles, toasters and heaters to keep things as close to the real world as possible. These loads help me ensure that the unit is capable of producing its rated power for a sustained period of time and can handle being pushed beyond its rated surge load. I look for a graceful shutdown when overloaded.
ups capacity test
If the manufacturer claims that the power station can be used as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply), I would test this feature by connecting a power-sensitive load (a desktop PC is good for this test), connecting the power station to the AC mains, and then disconnecting the power. If the power station can handle the switchover, it passes the test.
thermal testing
I use a thermal camera to check the cabling and any external power supplies as well as the entire power station for any hot spots indicating a potential problem. If the weather permits (I am in the UK after all), I leave the power station to work in the sun to see how it handles being exposed to direct sunlight and working.
security testing
When dealing with what is essentially a box full of rechargeable batteries, safety is my number one priority. I run a series of visual inspections and electronic tests on each power station (and associated accessories) to ensure it conforms to electrical safety standards. These range from checking plugs, leads and sockets to inserting test signals into cables and equipment to ensure their integrity.
real world use
There’s nothing like taking power stations outside to really test their robustness!
Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET
Testing is essential to ensure that the numbers on the spec sheet match real-world performance, nothing beats actual use. This is where we really measure how these power stations perform. I reiterate two types of usage scenarios. The first is home use, where you leave the device plugged in and charging, and be prepared for a power outage. Power cuts are rare where I live, but I can simulate it easily. It’s kind of fun to have your entire life running from a power station for a few hours, or, in some cases, a few days.
The second scenario is of off-grid use. This involves strapping the power station to the back of a car or truck, driving it on dirt roads, and taking on whatever nature throws at it. Then I use it for a few days to charge things like cameras, drones, and laptops. You can learn a lot about an instrument by doing this, and it has really helped me separate the wheat from the chaff. Some power stations look great indoors, but once you take them outside, they can start to become flaky and unreliable.
By combining these rigorous tests with real-world scenarios, I ensure that the power stations I recommend are truly the best of the best.
solar charging
For solar generator systems, I like to try testing solar panels to find out how well they work for charging power stations. Now, as I’ve already mentioned, I live in the UK, so the sun won’t always cooperate. However, I have found that even weak UK sunshine is quite effective when using modern solar panels, and I have found that I can get good outputs from March to October.
Other observations
As I use the power stations I’m testing, I look for a few things that may affect their use.
For example, is the LCD display readable in bright sunlight, are the handles comfortable to use, or are the port covers loose or fragile or fall off after a few uses? These can be deal breakers and deserve attention. Because if you’re using your power station outside or carrying it any significant distance, or need port covers to protect the unit from dust and dirt, these things may matter to you.
