Getting outside and enjoying some much-needed sun (or just nature for that matter) is a joy no matter where you are. Similarly, power outages during winter storms, wildfires, or summer heat waves are unpredictable. Our lives revolve around electrical equipment, such as smartphones, smartwatches, tablets, laptops, and GPS devices. And when the power goes out, having a backup (or multiple backups) just feels right. This is where portable power stations can play a major role. Granted, you still have your traditional gas generator that can provide energy when those outages occur. Still, this evolving market of portable power stations is definitely something you should investigate and keep your eye on. If you are someone who enjoys the outdoors and likes to camp, getting one of these power stations is the perfect addition to your outdoor equipment.
One of those small pocket power packs is ideal for camping and when you’re away from power for long periods of time BUT impractical with a family with multiple items. This is where Anker’s 521 PowerHouse Power Station comes into play. The Anker 521 power station features six outlets: two USB-C ports, a car socket, three-pin US plugs, and two USB-A ports. In addition to its lamp bar on the front (which I thought was superfluous at first but turns out it isn’t), the 521 also has a power-saving mode that automatically cuts off power to a device when fully charged.
Anker The Brand
I’ll admit it, I’m a bit of an Anker fan. I’ve been using their products for years, and I’ve never been disappointed. Yeah, you have the occasional slip-up or quality issue with a product (and this has increasingly been an issue with the onslaught of supply chain issues created by covid), but they’ve always been quick to make things right. In my opinion, their chargers are some of the best on the market. Their batteries always seem to last just a little bit longer than the competition (there are some exceptions ~ Jackery). Most of the Anker brand’s products are very affordable and durable. But what really sets Anker apart for me is their customer service. Whenever I’ve had an issue with an Anker product, their customer service has always been super responsive and able to help me out. It’s really refreshing to see a company that cares about its customers. That’s why I’m such a big fan of Anker.
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Portable Power That Matters
Based on Anker’s claims, we tested the 521’s ability to power our devices. Anker claims this power station unit can charge a camera 15 times, a laptop four times, and a smartphone 20 times. That’s a huge task if you ask me. We didn’t try each of those for each charging cycle, but we did use the Anker 521 quite a bit on the last trip and it met our expectations with charging capacity and speed. With Anker, you’ll get great LiFePO4 batteries. I’m very hopeful that this portable power station will live up to the company’s 10-year lifespan claim. I see these kinds of claims often when it comes to batteries. For the most part, I believe them. But ultimately how you treat and use your batteries has more impact on their lifespan than anything.
I also used this Anker power station to power an air pump to blow up the paddle boards AND to power a small air compressor to pump up the tire of my ATV. This device powered my laptop to a full charge and even powered my tablet to a full charge. I used the Anker 521 in just about every portable charging situation I could find. After four days in the mountains using the Anker 521 to power a ton of our devices, it still had juice leftover. This portable power station is one I’d highly recommend. Aside from just a portable power unit to take with you for on-the-go travel, I have to imagine this would be a perfect tool in case of a power outage as well.
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Additional Power Station Features Worth Mentioning
A power station must be portable. And not just portable but easily portable. One of the main strengths of the Anker 521 lies here. Around 8.2 pounds (inches too), it resembles a larger-sized ATV battery. It’s not bulky and cumbersome either.
We tested the 521’s portability in a car. A four-hour drive went by with Anker comfortably fitting in the passenger footwell. I used my laptop plugged into the Anker power station while in the passenger seat without any issues. Due to its lightweight, it was easy to move from the front to the back of a vehicle with just one hand when the kids wanted a turn to charge their devices. The Anker 521 also rested comfortably in the middle console between the driver’s and passenger’s seats, so that was a pleasant surprise.
The Power Saving Mode feature made the Anker 521 undeniably efficient. Plugging in an item displays the remaining power hours. The power consumption will drop significantly after attaching an empty device, so ideally it’s a good idea to charge your devices fully before embarking on any journey. As for power and portability, the Anker 521 is impressive.
Pros:
- Power-saving mode is a nice feature
- Ultra-portable design
- Made from very durable materials to handle drops and general wear and tear
- I was surprised at how fast this Anker power station charges devices. Definitely noticeable.
- The solar bundle option is very affordable for portable solar energy. The Anker 521 Solar Generator bundle will run around $550. In direct sunlight, you’ll get a full charge in a little over 4 hours.
Cons:
- One USB-C port only. I haven’t torn apart the unit, but with USB-C being used more and more, I can’t see why Anker couldn’t have put one more port here.
- Wish they had surplus car sockets (but that’s just me being picky.
Specifications
- Brand: Anker
- Wattage: 200 watts
- Item Weight: 8.2 Pounds
- Color: Black
- Frequency: 60 Hz
- Output Wattage: 200 Watts
Anker 521 Limitations
I didn’t run into many issues and limitations with the Anker 521. It performed really well with just my wife and I on our last mountain trip. I didn’t really like having the two AC receptacles share a hole for the ground prongs on the plug. They’re almost two close together, but I didn’t have a need to use both at the same time, so again… I’m being picky. If you wanted to plug in two laptops or a lamp and a laptop, you won’t be able to. The USB-A ports only kick out 14W total, which may not seem like a big deal UNLESS you are using both of the ports at the same time.
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According to some customer reviews from verified buyers, there have been some technical issues with some units: USB-C stops charging, LCD screen stops working after a month, rapid drop in charging capacity, etc. These are typical one-off issues, so I don’t think they are commonplace. After I have this power station unit for a while, I’ll come back and update this review with more findings.
Anker 521 Portable Power Station User Reviews
This product has an amazing 4.6 rating out of 5 on Amazon. That’s with 500+ customer reviews driving that rating as well. And based on customer ratings by feature, portability (4.6), lightweight (4.5), charging power (4.5), and battery life (4.3) are the most important features customers love about the Anker 521 portable power station.
Final Thoughts On The Anker 521 Power Station
Anker’s 521 Portable Power Station has really caught my attention. I like that it delivers a great deal of recharging power and is compact. Anker’s 521 operates without a hitch in practice, despite a few shortcomings and limitations. The device provides great flexibility when camping or in emergency situations.
