We take for granted how easy we have it. The plethora of devices we use each day are easily powered (or recharged) by plugging them into our walls. We turn on lights, use our phones, keep our food cool, and charge our computers all with the electricity coursed through our homes. But when we’re spending time in the outdoors, tapping into a power source isn’t so easy. Trees don’t have outlets. Mountains don’t include power strips. The ocean doesn’t offer wireless charging pads. But they can with a portable power station and Bluetti’s EB3A is a leading option to take with you when you venture off the grid. We recently put the EB3A to the test in various outdoor scenarios and put together our Bluetti EB3A review to help you decide if this power station is the right one for you.
When entering the wild we instinctively know that we will have to “rough it” without easy access to the electricity we effortlessly use each day. At least that was the case until power stations became a thing. Portable power stations are essentially large batteries, usually contained in a box form with a convenient handle, that provide various ports to power/charge your various devices. Smaller, handheld power banks have USB ports to charge your phone, but power banks have multiple USB ports, 12V “cigarette lighter” ports, 120V outlets, and other ways to get power in and out of them. Depending on the size of the power station and your power usage, portable power stations can power your devices for days and can be recharged using a solar panel for even more electrical fun.
In recent years, the portable power station market has exploded with hundreds of different devices to choose from. We’ve reviewed the Golabs i200 Portable Power Station in the past and we’re big fans of the ability to take our power on the go. The market is filled with power stations from brands you’ve never heard of (like Golabs), but some big players in the space offer products that rise above the clutter in build quality and features.
Bluetti is one of the “big players” and they have come to be known as one of the top manufacturers of portable power stations. We’ve respected and been in awe of Bluetti for a while and we were thrilled when they reached out and asked us to review their EB3A Power Station. After our test unit arrived, we spent months dragging the EB3A along with us on various adventures. Almost all portable power stations can charge a phone or two, but we wanted to understand why Bluetti’s products are considered some of the best. So we took our time in our testing and got a real feel for how the unit performs over time and in various conditions.
Overall, the EB3A looks like most other portable power stations. Its square design positions all input and output ports on the front with a carrying handle and wireless charging pad on the top. Each side of the EB3A houses vents for cooling airflow and the back is bare with nothing but black plastic. The EB3A’s subtle, all-black design avoids the loud colors brands like Jackery are known for. It looks clean if not minimalist.
One of the most innovative features of the Bluetti EB3A is its built-in wireless charging pad. Positioned conveniently on the top of the unit, this pad allows you to charge your compatible devices effortlessly. No more fumbling with cables or hunting for the right connector. Simply place your smartphone or other Qi-enabled device on the pad, and it will start charging instantly.
Key Benefits of Wireless Charging:
This feature is particularly useful for those who are always on the go, ensuring that your devices remain charged without the hassle of managing various cables.
The LED status panel on the Bluetti EB3A is another testament to its user-centric design. This bright, easy-to-read display provides all the critical information you need at a glance, ensuring you’re always informed about the power station’s status.
This LED status panel ensures that you are always in control and aware of the power station’s performance, making it easier to plan your energy usage and avoid unexpected power shortages.
From a design perspective, our only gripes are the location of the AC charging (input) port and the lack of more than 1 USB-C charging port. Most portable power station manufacturers have decided that multiple USB-A ports are more important than multiple USB-C ports, but I am sure this will change in the next few years as USB-A becomes obsolete.
With 268Wh of battery capacity and 2x 600W (1200W surge) AC outlets, the standout features of the EB3A are the 100W USB-C port and the wireless charging feature. The USB-C ports give the ultimate flexibility in one port for multiple devices. We were able to charge our Apple watch, iPhone, iPad, and MacBook Pro all comfortably through this port. Unfortunately, with only one of these ports on the EB3A, your devices will have to wait their turn, but the wireless charging pad on the top helps at least get some juice into your phone.
Qualitywise, the EB3A looks the part. It’s sturdy, well-built, and has everything you’ll need to stay powered while off the grid. Its electrical components work well and as advertised with the added convenience of connecting your phone via Bluetooth to monitor all of your charging activities. Honestly, we haven’t found a real use for the Bluetooth connection and we never used it again after verifying that it works. The superb LED status screen tells you all you need to know about what is going in and what is going out of the EB3A. One detail we love about the EB3A that we missed in our review of the GoLabs i200 is the battery status shown as a percentage rather than by a series of bars. The battery percentage reading on the EB3A makes it crystal clear exactly where you’re at in the juice department. You’ll also find a time estimation on the EB3A that tells you exactly how long until your power station will be full (when charging) or empty (when discharging at the current rate).
In our testing, the EB3A served us well – really well. On short camping trips without our Overland Trailer, we used it as our central electrical hub – powering everything from our mobile devices to our inflatable mattress pump. When we took the EB3A along on sailing trips, it provided a convenient central charging hub for all of our personal and mobile devices. Having the EB3A serving “small device duty” saved up our boat’s electrical system for the more vital tasks of engine starting, refrigeration, and water system pumping. Combining the EB3A with a portable solar panel (like Bluetti’s PV200) gave us a completely separate electrical system for less crucial uses.
The EB3A charges fast – about 1.5 hours with AC alone – and can be turbocharged when charged with both a solar panel and AC at the same time (up to 430W of charging input). While this double charging feature is impressive, most of us will rarely be in positions where we have access to both solar power and AC power at the same time. We think the 268W capacity of the EB3A is a great size for weekend camping trips and with a portable solar panel like the 200W Bluetti PV200, the EB3A can easily serve for longer trips depending on how you lean on it.
The 600W (1200W surge) AC output of the EB3A is better than most units this size – the GoLabs i200 only offers 200W for example – and the pure sine wave inverter makes the EB3A safe for use with sensitive electronic devices like laptops. While we rarely use 120V AC power while on our adventures, the 600W AC ports come in handy for the occasional task where 120V power is required.
Other than a bit of dust at our campsite, we aren’t typically hard on our power stations. We didn’t drop the EB3A from heights or roll it down mountains to test if it still works. Weighing in at just over 10 pounds, power stations like the EB3A aren’t typically carried around a lot. They are hauled along on an adventure (most likely car camping or overlanding) and set in a location for the duration. When we consider durability of the power stations we review, we are interested in build quality and light waterproofing. Our primary concern is will thing last when hauled from a shelf at home to a remote campsite.
The EB3A instills a lot of confidence in the durability department. Both the 12V “cigarette lighter” port and the 120V input port have rubber covers to prevent light rain from entering. That being said, I would never recommend keeping one of these out in the rain for long. The sleek black design is simple and beautiful and having all ports and buttons on the front does seem to make sense in the durability department. We like the look of the EB3A so much that we find ourselves protecting it from abuse. Perhaps that’s part of Bluetti’s durability strategy.
As with all of Bluetti’s products, they aren’t cheap. At an MSRP of $299 (though currently $90 off when you use code “EB3A” on Bluetti’s website), there are cheaper power stations of this capacity on the market. But at around $200, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better overall power station with these features. Bluetti has become as strong brand in this space which is reinforced by their push into larger home-focused battery backup systems like the EP800. Bluetti knows power and all of their products just look and feel better than most others in the space.
All in all, you can’t go wrong with purchasing a Bluetti EB3A. It will last you a long time while having a feature-set that you will actually use down the road.
The EB3A could be your central power hub for your next adventure – especially when paired with a portable solar panel to give you power for an unlimited amount of time (as long as the weather cooperates). It has all of the ports you’ll need to power your mobile devices and offers 600W of AC power if you can’t live without that coffee maker or full-size TV on your trips. The wireless charging pad gives you the ability to easily and conveniently charge phones without tying up one of the USB ports. The LED screen is bright, easy to read, and has more information that you’ll actually need about what is happening with your power station. If you can pick one up for around $200, the EB3A will be a device that you find all sorts of uses for (outdoors and at home) for years to come.
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