We often review smartphones, laptops, tablets, TVs, smartwatches, and other tech devices. However, these devices cannot always be powered using regular powerbanks.
As we cover news, attend product launches, work outside our homes, and visit different places, having access to a power source can be important. Not every location has an available power outlet, and regular power banks cannot provide enough power for larger devices.
This is where portable power stations can be useful. For this review, we are testing the BLUETTI Elite 10 based on our daily use, including powering some of the devices we normally use for work.
How long can it last? Read on to find out.
Portability
When I first got the BLUETTI Elite 10 Power Station, I was pleased with its size. It is not as big or heavy as I initially expected. At 1.8kg, it is still relatively heavy, but considering that it is a power station, I find the weight manageable for its size. It measures 200 × 146 × 110mm as well.
The Elite 10 also has a built-in handle on the side. This makes it easier to carry with one hand instead of having to hold the entire power station with both hands. Since power stations are generally thick and can be difficult to carry for longer periods, I found the handle useful when moving the unit around.
I was also able to bring the Elite 10 to a coffee shop to take photos of the power station. Surprisingly, it even fit inside my tote bag. I was able to carry it around, although I probably looked like I was carrying a small generator.
So, while it is not exactly pocket-friendly, the Elite 10 is still manageable enough to bring outside when needed.
Still, if you only need to charge your phone, tablet, or even a laptop, which can now be charged using some power banks, bringing a large power station like this may be a bit overkill, right?
Moving on, the unit we received comes in Green, which has a light pastel shade. Personally, I like the color as it looks clean and is easy to spot. The Elite 10 is also available in Black for those who prefer a darker finish.
Ports
The BLUETTI Elite 10 comes with several ports and controls, including an AC outlet and input, USB-A and USB-C ports, a DC5521 port, DC input, power buttons for AC and DC, an LCD screen, and an LED light with a dedicated button.
It has both inputs and outputs, with input for charging the power station and output for powering other devices.
The AC outlet works like a regular wall socket and can power devices such as laptops, fans, and small appliances. During my use, I mostly used the USB-A and USB-C ports for my tablet, smartwatch, and smartphone, while I used the AC outlet to power my electric fan, which I will discuss more later.
I also found the layout straightforward. The buttons and ports are easy to identify since they are clearly labeled.
Power Output and Charging
The BLUETTI Elite 10 has a 400W output and uses a pure sine wave inverter, with the AC outlets providing up to 200W in total.
It also has a 100W USB-C port, another USB-C port with up to 15W, two 15W USB-A ports, and a 60W DC5521 port.
For charging, the Elite 10 supports up to 200W AC input, while AC charging with bypass can reach 350W. It also supports up to 100W solar or car charging through the DC input.
Connectivity
Another useful feature of the BLUETTI Elite 10 is its mobile app. There is a QR code on the power station that you can scan to download the app.
You can either log in or register for an account, or use the app in offline mode and connect directly to the Elite 10 via Bluetooth. I chose the offline mode, and connecting to the power station took less than 10 seconds.
The app also made it convenient to monitor and control the Elite 10 from a distance. When I was using it to power my electric fan, I could still check and control the power station even when I was away from the unit.
From the app, I could turn the power station on or off, check the battery percentage, monitor the AC and DC output, see how many watts were being used, and check the estimated remaining runtime.
Check out this screenshot of the monitoring dashboard, the battery was at 30%-29%, with around 1 hour and 45 minutes of estimated runtime remaining.
It also showed 0W for both solar and AC charging, meaning the power station was not being charged at the time. The DC output was using 15W, while the AC output was turned off.
I found this useful because I could quickly see how much power was being used and how much battery was left without having to check the power station itself.
Battery, Charging, and Usage
For my first test, I charged the BLUETTI Elite 10 from 0% to 100% using its AC input. I started at around 2:25 PM, and the power station reached 18% by 2:42 PM. It reached 29% at 2:58 PM, 47% at 3:20 PM, 66% at 3:44 PM, and 85% at 4:09 PM, before reaching 100% at 4:31 PM.
This means it took around 2 hours and 6 minutes to fully charge from 0%.
After charging the Elite 10, I used it to charge my smartphone, smartwatch, and tablet. I first tested it with my smartphone alone. Charging the phone from 0% to 5% used 4% of the Elite 10’s battery through the AC outlet.
After a few minutes, I added a tablet using one of the USB-A ports. At 7:23 PM, the smartphone was at 13%, the tablet was at 8%, and the Elite 10 had 96% battery remaining.
At 7:41 PM, the smartphone reached 24%, while the tablet was at 22%. The Elite 10 had dropped to 87%.
I checked again at around 8:09 PM. Both the smartphone and tablet were at 44%, while the Elite 10 had 74% battery remaining.
For the final check, both devices reached 58%, while the Elite 10 showed 62% battery remaining. This gave me a better idea of how much battery the power station uses when charging two devices at the same time.
The following day, I used the Elite 10 to power an electric fan. I started the test at around 11:02 AM with 43% battery remaining. By 11:19 AM, the battery had dropped to 31%.
While running the fan, I noticed that the top and back of the power station became slightly warm. The right-side vent was also warm, which helped release heat while the unit was running.
I also tested it with my laptop. At around 1:38 AM, the laptop, which started at 5%, had reached 13%, while the Elite 10 had dropped to 26%.
Based on my use, the battery level dropped noticeably when powering the electric fan and charging my laptop.
I think it isn’t necessarily a drawback, but it makes sense given its 128Wh battery size.
Naturally, using the Elite 10 Power Station for heavier appliances like an electric fan draws more power than just charging a smartphone or other devices, so using it for multiple purposes at once will drain the battery faster.
Price
For the price, the BLUETTI Elite 10 Portable Power Station is priced at PHP12,999 in the Philippines. However, as of writing, it can be purchased for as low as PHP8,299 through BLUETTI’s official website.
Verdict
After using the BLUETTI Elite 10 to charge my smartphone, smartwatch, laptop, and tablet, as well as power an electric fan, I found it most practical as a backup power source during unexpected power interruptions or when working somewhere without a reliable outlet.
During my charging test, I was able to charge my phone and tablet simultaneously, although I noticed that the Elite 10’s battery percentage also dropped fairly quickly.
For me, the Elite 10 makes more sense as a backup power source. Depending on how you will use it, expect 1 to 5 hours of active power. That’s why it is ideal for brief power outages, quick remote work sessions away from wall outlets, or short vacation trips, and not for all-day use.