Review it – If you are looking for a power station today, the choices available can be very difficult. It seems that everyone and their uncle are selling these things. So how do you fix it? What I do when I review power stations is to try to determine what consumers want. In some cases, a 1,000 – 2,000 watt monster power station is needed. Sometimes a smaller device is better, especially if you just want to charge portable devices when you’re “off the grid” or something to bypass electricity a bit. In this case, I recommend a small power station in the 600-700 watt range. This has been the sweet spot in size, performance, and cost. The old “$1 per watt” rule no longer applies, which brings us to the Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station. Is the price of the product acceptable?
What is it?
Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station is a LiFeP04 Battery that puts out 300 watts of power. This means that if you have a device that uses 100 watts, the R600 will power for 3 hours. A 50-watt device will run for 6 hours. It’s the math. It may sound like a lot, but it will cost a smart tablet 3-4 times as much as a smartphone.
Recharging R600 (via wall AC) only takes an hour. Note that the built-in fan may come on during the reset. Although it doesn’t sound loud, it does and recognizable.
A good selection of ports is available on the front of the R600. Two 18W USB-A ports and two 100W USB-C ports should not only charge any device but do it quickly. Along with USB, there are two AC outlets, two DC ports, and a 12V “cigarette” port. There’s also a built-in LED bulb that’s kind of useless. It’s bright enough, but makes the R600 a heavy flashlight. A small On/off button activates the R600. Note that none of the ports will work unless the entire session is run first. The AC and DC ports are protected by soft covers, but the USB ports are not. It seems like an odd choice.
The side of the Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station sports an AAC recharging port (no power brick), a solar panel port, and a charging button that can reset the device if needed.
Finally, on the top there is a wireless connection and a curved connector. Unfortunately, because of the camera bump, it won’t charge the new iPhones wirelessly.
The Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station has an LED display on the front that contains a lot of information—many of which we cannot mention in this review. (See photo) The most important numbers are its battery life, its output, and Bluetooth—yes, Bluetooth!
Explanations
- Power: 299Wh
- Battery type: LiFePO4
- AC input: 400W
- Solar Input: 300W
- Cigarette lighter: 200W
- AC-Output: 600W (2)
- USB-C output: 100W (2)
- USB-A output: 18W (2)
- DC Output: 120W (2)
- Cigarette Lighter: 120W max.
- Wireless charging: 15W max.
- LED light
- Bluetooth app
- Weight: 16.13 lbs
- Growth; 7.6 x 7.5 x 11.2 inches
Design and appearance
Note that all my testing is anonymous. I don’t have an engineering degree or a voltage tester or other measuring equipment. I’m using the R60 as any homeowner would—without considering its performance or limitations. Just grab it and use it when needed.
The design of the Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station is nothing special. It has a striking military green and black color scheme that says “tough”. The exterior is made of hard and durable plastic. The handle makes it easy to carry. It also weighs 16 lbs.
The battery used in the R600 is LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate).
LiFEPO4 is safer than lithium-ion batteries. Plus R600 for life of 3500 before 80%. This equals 10 age extracting and recycling every day.
The R600 can be charged in three ways: wall outlet, 12V car (“cigarette”), or solar. The off-the-wall is very fast at about an hour. A 12V car connection is not useful unless it is charging for a long trip.
Solar is a good option if There’s plenty of sunshine in the Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station. I live in Central Florida. Florida may be the Sunshine State, but it’s cloudy, rainy – and solar doesn’t like clouds or humidity. R600 only pays if sunlight is available. Solar panels are great for people in the Southwest, but in the East, they can be an expensive way to pay. Allpowers sent a 100 Watt solar panel to test. A 100W panel usually takes 3-4 hours to charge R600—in the sunlight! The good news is that solar panels can have a chain of twice or more depending on the number of panels – up to 300 watts max. Solar panels can be expensive, but if you don’t have a grid (for example, camping), solar panels may be the only solution.
Once the R600 is charged (it’s important to be fully supplied if it’s in the box), it’s just a matter of plugging in whatever you want. Keep in mind that large, power-hungry appliances will be too much for R600. If your needs are more powerful, a 1500W-2000W power supply is recommended.
Charging my iPhone 12 Pro Max from 15% to 100% via the R600’s 100W port took less than an hour. It’s much faster than my USB-C connector.
I noticed that charging a device using the R600 cannot be done unless the device is turned on first and that’s it the device that needs to be charged is connected. It’s “First A, then B”.
Then there’s Bluetooth. Allpowers R600 Portable Power Station has Bluetooth power control via its app (iOS and Android). Although the Bluetooth version is only 10 yards short, at least you won’t have to get out of your camp chair to change its settings. From this program, ports can be turned on and off. ECO integration can be requested, and the timer can be used for the session. This can be useful if you want to sleep with music but don’t want R600 running all night.
Which I like
- It also charges quickly through the wall
- Charges equipment quickly
- Many useful ports
- Solar power is available
- Built-in light
What I would change
- Devices do not charge unless they are connected when the R600 is turned on
- USB ports are not protected like AC outlets.
Final thoughts
As the number of power stations increases, the quality increases while the cost decreases. If you need a power station or two, shop first. Prices can be found on all maps. The Allpowers R600 hits the sweet spot of price vs power vs performance. That’s a lot to like without the high price.
Allpowers also makes other, larger battery power stations.
Price: $215.20 US.; 100W Solar panel: $135.99
Where to buy: All power and Amazon
Source: An example of this drug was given by All power.