BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station Review

Whether you live in an area that is prone to power outages, frequently camp or travel off the grid, or need a way to provide power for essential appliances and other devices in the event of an emergency, The BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station is a versatile and robust portable power station that can be used in a variety of situations. If you’re looking for a reliable and portable power source, the BLUETTI EB3A is a fantastic option. Let’s discover what it’s capable of!

This is a sponsored article and was made possible by BLUETTI. The actual contents and opinions are the sole views of the author, who maintains editorial independence, even when a post is sponsored.

Unboxing Experience

The unboxing experience for the BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station is well-thought-out and straightforward. Undoing the singular front-facing pull tab allowed me to quickly slide the unit out of the box. The included items can be removed easily, echoing the spark of joy you feel when unboxing a flagship smartphone. BLUETTI also kindly grants every BLUETTI EB3A customer a 24-month warranty period, as long as you keep all packaging and accessories on hand in the unlikely event that you wish to return your unit.

The following items are included in the box:

• BLUETTI EB3A Power Station
• AC charging cable
• Solar charging cable
• User manual
• Quality control certificate card
• Warranty card

Full Charge Ahead

Before using the included AC charging cable to charge the BLUETTI EB3A Power Station for the first time, I drained the unit down to 0% using its 100W USB-C port to keep my 14-inch MacBook Pro charged during a multi-hour road trip. It is worth noting that when I plugged in my laptop charger for the first time, the BLUETTI EB3A curiously did not deliver power until I could pair it via Bluetooth to my iPhone via the BLUETTI companion app.

Charging the BLUETTI EB3A from 0 to 100% took a little less than two hours. The “Standard Mode” charging setting delivers 268W of power. Remarkably, the BLUETTI EB3A features a 350W “Turbo Mode” setting that I confirmed could charge the unit from 0 to 100% in about an hour and a half. This is incredibly useful for those last-minute trips where you may need to quickly charge the device when getting ready to leave the house.

The EB3A also has a solar charging feature that is capable of charging the unit in just one hour. I was unable to test that without a solar panel. Nonetheless, this product remains a full-featured leader in its class. Take a look at how impressively long your favorite accessories can last when you have the BLUETTI EB3A on hand.

Design and Specs: Power Outage Proof

The BLUETTI EB3A features a total of nine outputs, allowing you to charge several devices at once. With six ways to recharge, including AC, solar, AC + solar, AC + adapter, vehicle, or generator, you will be hard-pressed to find a power station more versatile than the BLUETTI EB3A. It’s a technologist’s dream, with a diverse range of I/O options conveniently placed along the front of the device for excellent accessibility. On the top of the unit, a Qi wireless charging pad for compatible smartphones outputs 15W – the same power delivery as Apple’s MagSafe peripheral.

A built-in LED flashlight has three modes: high brightness, medium brightness, and an SOS pattern. While I personally found the plastic carrying handle a bit pesky to undo, the BLUETTI EB3A’s lightweight form factor coming in at a little over 10 lbs. more than makes up for this. When you pick up the BLUETTI EB3A for the first time, you will be shocked at how light it is. Here’s a look at the full spec sheet:

Size and Weight:

• Dimensions: 10.04 x 7.09 x 7.20in (255 x 180 x 183mm)
• Weight: 10.14lbs (4.6kg)
• Operating temperature:-4 to 104℉ (-20 to 40℃)

Output Ports:

• 2x AC outlets 120V/5A outlets (600W Total)
• 2x USB-A 5V/3A
• 1x USB-C 100W max.
• 1x 12V/10A DC car outlet
• 2x 12V/10A DC 5521 5.5mm outlets
• 1x 15W max. Qi wireless charging pad
• Inverter type: Pure Sine Wave
• Surge power: 1,200W

Input Ports

• AC charging cable (Standard mode): 268W max.
• AC charging cable (Turbo mode): 350W max.
• Solar input: 200W max, VOC 12-28VDC/ 8.5A
• Car input: 12/24V from cigarette lighter port
• Maximum input: 430W, with simultaneous AC and solar input

The BLUETTI EB3A’s lithium iron phosphate battery (LiFePO4) and advanced Battery Management System (BMS) enable industry-leading product longevity and safety features. In contrast to the lithium-ion batteries you will find in competing power stations, the LiFePO4 battery powering the BLUETTI EB3A offers enhanced safety, outstanding durability, and a longer life cycle. In fact, the BLUETTI EB3A is rated for 2,500 cycles until it reaches 80 percent of its original capacity. Most lithium-ion batteries are only rated for 800 – 1000 cycles before peak performance capabilities are affected. The BMS importantly protects against the following safety risks:

• Voltage overload
• Low voltage
• High temperature (overheating)
• Low temperature
• Short circuits
• Over current

BLUETTI Companion App

Pairing the BLUETTI EB3A to my smartphone was a breeze. I navigated to the App Store app on my iPhone and searched “BLUETTI” to find the BLUETTI app. While it would have been more convenient if the QR code in the included user manual linked to the smartphone app, finding and downloading the app was easy. Pairing the EB3A to my iPhone proved to be essentially frictionless. My unit automatically surfaced in the Bluetooth pairing menu. No need to press and hold a pairing button or thumb through the user manual to search for pairing instructions.

From the app, you can toggle the AC and DC output peripherals on or off, monitor the device’s battery percentage, toggle the flashlight, and activate over-the-air firmware updates (OTA). The app is speedy, straightforward, and works as advertised. There is also a version of the app available for the iPad and a version for Android smartphones on the Google Play Store. Being a dedicated Apple Watch user, I would love for BLUETTI to offer a watchOS version of the app for added convenience.

Final Thoughts

The BLUETTI EB3A Portable Power Station is an exceptional product for anyone looking for a reliable and portable power source. It has a sizable 268Wh capacity, a lightweight design, can be charged quickly, and features a variety of ports for charging a number of accessories all at once. Available directly from BLUETTI for the highly affordable price of US$239.00, the BLUETTI EB3A is a full-featured power station offering convenience and confidence during emergencies, while away from home for avid adventurers, and to tech enthusiasts on the move.