BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 Portable Power Station review – Power your gear through winter storms and more!

REVIEW – Portable power stations are a dime a dozen, and most are relatively similar in terms of design and capability.  BLUETTI has evolved their lineup with their latest offering in the Elite 200 V2, which has impressive output and capacity while being incredibly efficient in terms of size and power delivery.  This is the sort of product that will make other manufacturers take notice, and we’re excited to see what it can do.

↓Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $1699 (sales at time of review run from $1099 – $1399)
Where to buy: Amazon or BLUETTI

What is it?

The Bluetti Elite 200 V2 is a portable power station with significant power output capability, packed into a relatively small package.  Its largest dimension is just shy of 14″ and is just over 50lbs (which is several inches smaller and nearly ten pounds lighter than the BLUETTI AC200L) yet still manages to deliver higher output capability than its predecessor.  The V2 moniker is interesting, as this is the first Elite 200 power station to come to market from BLUETTI.  Rumor has it that this will be explained by BLUETTI at CES in January 2025, but for now, we are left to wonder. 

BLUETTI got their start in 2009, and in 2011 launched the worlds first Lithium battery backup system.  Since then, they have been consistently at the forefront of innovation in portable and off-grid battery options.  We often feature BLUETTI deals, news and product reviews at The Gadgeteer.  

What's Included

• Bluetti Elite 200 V2 power station
• AC Charging Cable x 1
• Solar Charing Cable x 1
• Grounding Screw x 1 
• Documentation

Tech Specs

Capacity	2073.6Wh
Expandable Capacity	No
Output Power	2600W
Max Surge Power	3900W
Battery Type	Automotive Grade LFP (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Life Cycles	6000+ (80%)
Warranty	5 Years
Total Outlets	9
Outlet Types	AC Outlet: 4 2 x USB-A 2 x USB-C (100W) 1 x Car Port
AC Input	1800W
Solar Input	1,000W
Charging Time	AC – 1800W: 1H(80%)/1.4H (100%) PV (photovoltaic (solar)): 2.4h (100%)
Charging Options	AC/PV/Car/Generator/Lead-acid Battery
Bidirectional Inverter (No Adapter Required)	Yes
Bypass Charging	Yes
UPS	Yes (15ms)
MPPT	Yes
App Control	Yes, iOS and Android
Accessory	Alternator Charger
Handle Design	Built-in integrated
Noise Level	16dB – 50dB
Screen	LCD
Weight	24.2kg / 53.4lbs
Dimensions (L x W x D)	340 x 250 x 320mm / 13.8 x 9.8 x 12.7″

Design and features

BLUETTI is pretty consistent in appearance across their devices, and the Elite 200 V2 fits nicely into the lineup. 

Starting at the top, robust carry handles are found at each end – which you’ll need to haul around this 53lb power station.

In the front is where you’ll spend most of your time using the Elite 200 V2.  All of the output ports are found here, along with the usual LCD display.  BLUETTI does a great job in their displays – this is bright and crisp, and packing in a ton of information at a glance.

Additional ports are found on the right side, which is where you’ll charge by AC.  The Elite 200 V2 has a turbo mode charge capability, which can charge the power station in just under 90 minutes.  While this power station can be used outdoors, it should always be protected from the elements.  

This product uses a high-voltage or high-amperage lithium battery and poses a fire risk. Never leave the battery unattended while charging, and always disconnect the charger once the battery is full. Learn more about lithium battery safety here.

Other features of the Elite 200 V2 include:

• Multi-mode UPS (15ms) 
  • Standard: grid power drops, battery kicks in within 15ms 
  • PV Priority: power station charges from the grid to a set % (SoC), then switches to solar input
  • Time Control: for those who pay premium grid prices at set times, the Elite 200 V2 can be set to switch to battery power on a schedule.  This keeps you off the grid at peak, pricier times.
  • Custom: setup your own schedules, SoC, etc
• LiFePO4 automotive-grade batteries, good for 6000+ cycles (80%)
• Recovery modes to retain AC/DC output settings after the power station fully drains
• Compatible with 12V – 60V solar panels, supporting up to 1000W
• Low idle consumption, 10w/h with AC and DC left on.   
• AI Battery Management System 
• WiFi, Bluetooth and companion app support

Check out our other BLUETTI power station reviews!

Assembly, Installation, Setup

The power station is very well packaged from the factory, and arrived with just over 70% battery life.  I plugged it into the wall with the included AC cord to top off, and it was ready to go!  

BLUETTI has a companion app for its products, which gives you the ability to check in on your power station and get historical data.  Setting the app up was straightforward and self-explanatory.  Props to BLUETTI for allowing an ‘offline’ mode connection over Bluetooth that does not require an account.  The screen caps that follow are of the connection process for Bluetooth, which the app helpfully guides you along.  

Once set up, you can power toggle AC and DC outputs, monitor battery consumption, and tweak settings.  

If you’re looking for the ability to control your device through the BLUETTI cloud, you’ll need to create an account and link your Elite 200 V2.  This method also requires the power station to be on WiFi, so if you need to be able to leverage this in a power outage you’ll also want to be sure your networking equipment is also powered somehow. 

The app experience is pretty solid, and I didn’t run into any issues with it crashing or bugging out.  I do prefer the simplicity of the Bluetooth connection method over the BLUETTI cloud, though it’s nice to have the options.

Performance

The Elite 200 V2 has an impressive capacity and output capability, making it versatile to cover power needs in a variety of situations at home or on the road:

My tests with the Elite 200 V2 were all within the expected run times, and within ~2000Wh of capacity (>93%) which is wildly efficient.  I can’t find official documentation around this, but I’ve heard that BLUETTI has built the Elite 200 V2 with a new manufacturing technique that prioritizes battery efficiency, size, and component longevity/safety.  This is apparent in the performance boons in this regard over other BLUETTI power stations.

Looking at the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) functionality, the advertised 15ms is on the edge of being ‘too long’ for switchover, but in practice I didn’t find issues with the Elite 200 V2 taking over power delivery.  I hooked up everything on my desk to the power station to test the UPS capability, and everything continued to work with grid power being cutoff.  Power demand at the time of switchover testing was approx. 800w as I had games running simultaneously on the PS5 and PC.  Testing was inclusive of: 

• Gaming PC (running a game)
• Monitor
• PS5 (running a game)
• 2.1 speakers
• Desk fan

From a utility perspective, the size and output of the Elite 200 V2 make it best suited for applications where portability is important – such as a work site, at camp, in the car, or to cover ad-hoc needs around the house in a power outage.  Having all of the output plugs in the front helps maximize its small footprint, as you wouldn’t have to contend with plugs hanging out the side (unless charging the power station).  Despite its solid output, the lack of a 30A RV plug will be disappointing to some, though it seems BLUETTI prioritized size over that functionality.

Final thoughts

Pros

• Size is impressive for capacity and output capability
• Build quality
• Longevity of batteries 

Cons

• Lack of a 30A RV plug
• Wireless charging pads at the top would be nice

To say the market for portable power stations is oversaturated would be an understatement, and by in large many of the manufacturers are doing the same thing.  The Elite 200 V2 from BLUETTI is an impressive leap forward in terms of design and capability, and brings genuine improvements that other manufacturers will have to follow in order to stay competitive.  This is an exceptional, capable power station that will keep the lights on for years to come.

Price: $1699 (sales at time of review run from $1099 – $1399)
Where to buy: Amazon or BLUETTI
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by BLUETTI. BLUETTI did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.