For anyone who has been camping or just needs to power their laptop without direct electricity, the need for a power station like the Bluetti AC180 is clear. I have to admit that I was a bit skeptical about the concept when I first heard about power stations a few years ago. But after using the Bluetti AC180, I am convinced. They have managed to deliver a power station that hits the sweet spot in terms of capacity, portability, charging speed and features. After putting it through its paces, I’m thoroughly impressed with this well-rounded power solution.
Unboxing the heavy little device, you will see the clean, minimalist design the Bluetti AC180 brings to the table. Encased in a sleek gray shell with black accents, it looks right at home whether you’re using it at a campsite or in a modern living room, giving it an almost Star Trek-like appearance. The built-in handles make it easy to carry around its 35-pound weight, something I did not expect when I first unboxed the device.
Once I looked past the design and actually started sorting out how to use the device, I was impressed with how robust it all felt. The AC180 feels solidly constructed, with high-quality plastics that seem like they could take a beating. While it’s not fully ruggedized or waterproof, it’s clearly built to withstand the rigours of outdoor use. I appreciate the attention to detail, like the rubber feet that keep it stable on uneven surfaces. I can imagine taking this on every camping trip I could go on if I were a big yearly camper.
Even beyond its build quality, the flexibility of power outlets and connections set the Bluetti AC180 apart for me. It feels built to fit most situations, with four ways to charge the power station, AC wall outlet, 12V car outlet, solar panels, and a gas generator. Thankfully, even though the Bluetti AC180 Power Station packs a lot of power, the AC180 supports ultra-fast charging up to 1440W when plugged into a wall outlet, allowing you to charge from 0 to 100% in just two hours. That’s incredibly handy when you need to quickly top up the battery before heading out. Solar charging is also speedy, with support for up to 500W input, although I could not test that aspect for this review.
But we all have a range of power banks, so what really makes this different? Well, it’s simple. With an 1152Wh LiFePO4 battery and 1800W pure sine wave inverter, the AC180 packs enough juice to run most common devices and appliances. In real-world terms, Bluetti says it can charge a smartphone over 100 times, a laptop 15+ times, or run a mini fridge for 17 hours. I am not a major camper, so while I did not use it in the great outdoors, I did use it for my after-office work devices to put it through its paces.
I was able to run my many laptops, phones, and an external monitor, but I still had over battery remaining to work through the night. Just to put it to the test, I even tried using it with appliances like a vacuum and an air purifier without it breaking a sweat. The high 1800W output is great for more power-hungry devices, and there’s a “Power Lifting” mode that boosts it to 2700W to handle brief spikes from things like power tools.
“Thankfully, even though the Bluetti AC180 Power Station packs a lot of power, the AC180 supports ultra-fast charging up to 1440W when plugged into a wall outlet, allowing you to charge from 0 to 100% in just two hours.”
I wanted to push the Bluetti AC180, so I tried running a full gaming rig with a monitor, and it was able to not only power it, but I managed to test it for a solid three and a half hours before I was hitting the 20% mark. While I am not sure it would be longer used, if there is something you desperately need a desktop for in a power outage, the Bluetti AC180 has you covered, even if that something is one last section of a game you are playing.
With that level of power, it is great that the AC180 is packed with output ports. You get 4 AC outlets, a 100W USB-C PD port, 4 USB-A ports, a 12V car outlet, and even a 15W wireless charging pad. That covers pretty much any device you’d want to power or charge. I love that you can run a bunch of devices simultaneously without any issues. As I mentioned, I tried to push the power station while testing, and even with numerous devices connected, it ran without issue, with each getting the needed power to run.
As someone who uses many high-power smartphones, I know that the wireless charging is limited to 15 Watts, and the USB-A ports are limited to 5V 3A, which is a bit slow compared to modern standards. Also, iPhone users should note that the wireless charging pad maxes out at 7.5W due to Apple’s limitations. Thankfully, the USB-C charging offers 100W charging, giving you plenty of juice for devices like smartphones, laptops, monitors, etc.
This being 2024, a device like this would not be complete without a smartphone app; thankfully, Bluetti offers one for both iOS and Android that pairs with the AC180 via Bluetooth. The app provides detailed info on input/output wattage, remaining battery, and estimated runtime and lets you tweak various settings.
I did not think I would like the Bluetti app, but I will be honest: it was a great way to access settings in a clear and easy-to-understand way. It allows for swapping the charging mode from Standard, Turbo or Silent with the push of a button. Some controls are buried in submenus and not where you’d expect. But once you get acclimated, it’s a nice option to have, especially for monitoring the power station remotely. It is also great to pick up the app and see exactly how much power you have left using the current devices.
“I did not think I would like the Bluetti app, but I will be honest: it was a great way to access settings in a clear and easy-to-understand way.”
With its substantial capacity and portability, the AC180 is a fantastic companion for camping trips, RV excursions, or off-grid living. Running a cooler, charging electronics, power lights, or even running small appliances makes it infinitely more comfortable than roughing it.
The Bluetti AC180 Power Station is also great for anyone who lives in an area where power may be spotty, and you need a backup when things do have issues. In the event of a power outage, the AC180 can keep your essential devices and appliances running for hours or even days, depending on your needs. The LiFePO4 battery is rated for over 2500 cycles, so it should last for many years of use.
This product has excellent build quality, a real 1800W output, ultra-fast charging, and an abundance of output ports. There’s very little to complain about here. The only minor downsides are the somewhat clunky companion app and the lack of full ruggedness for more extreme outdoor use. But those feel like nitpicks about what an excellent product is overall. If you’re looking for a portable powerhouse in the 1000-1500Wh range, the Bluetti AC180 is a great option. It offers impressive performance, portability, and value, making it one of the top choices in its class.
- [Charged in 1 Hour] – The AC180 packs a 1152Wh LiFePO4 battery, which can be fully charged in just 1 hour at 1440W AC input – always ready to go when you need it.
- [Power All Your Needs] – The AC180 boasts 1800W output and 8 outlets to handle almost anything you plug in. With a tap on the BLUETTI App, you can give it a boost to 2700W for your higher needs.
