Portable power supplies are getting bigger, more powerful, and cheaper. You might expect a company like Anker, known for making small standby solutions for mobile devices, to make a move into this space, but you might not expect such a leap from DJI, which has spent the last 10 years It has been producing drones and cameras for years.
Still, both drones and cameras require a lot of battery capacity packed into small packages, so DJI is just bringing that knowledge and experience to a consumer-grade powerhouse -- though you can power yours on the road with these new devices. devices to charge, but they can also serve as backup systems for your home.
The DJI Power 1000 portable power bank sells for less than $1,000 on Amazon and has a 1,024 Wh battery that can be fully charged in 1 hour and 10 minutes. Although I personally would choose a more powerful power station, DJI still has a lot to recommend it.
DJI Power 1000 Portable Power Station
Fewer sockets but more power output
Over the past month, I've been testing a number of power stations in the 1,000 to 3,000 watt-hour range because that's what keeps some basic household electronics (like laptops, phones, and microwaves) as well as heaters and air conditioners during a power outage. Or the minimum amount of power required by medical equipment such as fans or CPAP machines. They are also light enough to actually tow to a campsite.
The DJI 1000 is at the lower end of this power range, but has some features not available on more powerful devices. I like the design, with a slightly wider but lower body and two handles on the sides. I find it easier to carry, which is a big benefit considering it weighs 32 pounds. The front of the device offers two AC outputs (2,200 watts of continuous AC output) as well as two USB-A and two USB-C ports (140 watts of output). Two AC outputs can be used as UPS in case of power interruption. These USB-C ports are no joke, either: the 140W output is much higher than most USB-C power supplies, and it can support USB PD 3.1 to power a MacBook.
Other power stations offer at least as many ports, if not more, but lack DJI's SDC and SDC lite ports. These "smart" DC ports are specifically designed to quickly charge DJI drones, or provide input and output to other devices in the DJI dongle mini ecosystem . You can use these ports to connect your device to a solar panel or car charger, but again, to do that you'll need to buy some proprietary dongle. Currently, the only solar panel DJI offers is the Zignes 100-watt solar panel , which is only available on its website for $299; this is the recommended brand, but there's no indication that other brands aren't compatible.
Most power stations offer onboard charging and solar panel connections, and while I like the idea of faster charging (and DJI may hint at higher outputs in the future), having to buy and track down proprietary cables isn't appealing Me--If a cable is broken (or lost) during a power outage, you're out of luck.
No application to manage the power plant
Many newer power stations offer apps to manage the input and output of power and help you monitor power reserves. DJI doesn't offer such an app, which is odd since the battery is designed to help manage DJI devices, and DJI already has a device management app .
Still, as a power station, the DJI 1000 does everything it's supposed to do: It comes with a three-year warranty, extendable to five years, and an expected lifespan of 4,000 cycles, or 10 years. The maximum input power for solar charging is 800 watts, which is commensurate with its capacity. DJI's marketers tout how quiet the device is (up to 25 decibels), but there have been no noticeable sound issues with any Power Station I've tried, including DJI's.
The best choice for existing DJI users
Basically, a power bank is a power bank. As long as it can pump out power, it can get the job done, and at $999, DJI is a great value. However, you can also find many other power stations in the 1000w range at this price point that don't require additional dongles and often come with additional output options - I like the Jackery Explorer 1000 ($999) or the Anker SOLIX C1000 ($999).
In testing these devices, I've found that 2000 watts is a comfortable middle point to ensure you have enough power to power household devices during a power outage, run a heat or air conditioning source, use the microwave occasionally, and use necessary medical equipment. Currently, DJI only offers 500W or 1,000W versions. If you can afford to buy a 2,000-watt device and add a solar panel or two for charging during multi-day power outages, consider pricier options like the EcoFlow DELTA Max 2000 ($1,499) or the Anker SOLIX F2000 ($1,999) solution.
