Unboxing

BLUETTI AC180 powerstation arrived from official manufacturer's website. The journey from the EU warehouse took ~ 1 week. through the GLS courier service. Delivery to the house door was made by the transportation services provided by Itella. The package had no serious damage, box is in a good condition.

Just like the previously tested model, this BLUETTI AC180 is additionally packed in a transportion box. Once removed from this travel box, the powerstation is safely and securely contained within the product packaging.

Complete set: AC180 station, instructions, AC 220V charging cable, car 12V charging cable and another cable for connecting the solar module.

Assembly quality

BLUETTI products are characterized by a modern and stylish design, so this one is no exception. The AC180 has a rectangular shape with two handles on the sides that are integrated into the body for easy and convenient transportation / carrying. There is a small but practical LCD screen on the front.

The weight of this model is a bit higher ~ 17kg. However, when lifted, I wouldn't say that it weighs that much, it certainly seems lighter. Dimensions: 340mm×247mm×317mm. Evaluating the plastic quality of the product, I would say it is no different from the previously tested EB3A model, it is durable and high quality.

Specifications

• 1800W pure AC current converter/inverter (2700W peak);
• 1152Wh capacity LiFePO4 battery with 3500+ life cycles up to 80%;
• Fast 1440W charging from the grid (100% in 1.3 - 1.8 hours)
• 500W max. charging from solar panels (within 2.8 - 3.5 hours)
• Charging methods: AC current / solar / car / generator;
• 8 outputs that can be used to charge several devices at the same time; 
• Intelligent control and monitoring through BLUETTI APP;
• 15W wireless charging and PD 100W USB-C port;

After seeing its specifications, I would say "monster" in a small shell. It is possible to charge and use it at the same time, because the BMS of this model supports pass-through technology. BLUETTI AC180 also has a UPS function, so if the power supply from the network is interrupted, it switches to the power supply from the battery just within 20ms.

What did we like?

I will repeat myself, but BLUETTI really knows how to attract attention with the modern and stylish design of its products. The integration of the handles into the sides of the case is very cleverly thought out. It is much more convenient to carry: it can be carried with one hand and with both hands. Although it is not big, but according to the parameters it is really powerful. Since the body is rectangular, it makes it much easier to place it in the car interior among other things in a "tetris" way.

The buttons are simple and placed next to each other. It is enough for an ordinary user to know what type of current he needs, and then just press the button accordingly. The screen is informative, it shows the incoming and consumed power, as well as the remaining battery percentage. It also displays how much time is left until fully charged or discharged. In order not to drain the battery additionally, the screen turns off after a while. Great because it saves 15W of power consumption.

App control - the settings on the APP is not much different from the mentioned little brother EB3A. Among the most relevant options, I would like to highlight the following features: it is possible to enable both fast and silent charging mode, choose which voltage AC or DC is needed, activate "Power lift mode", which allows you to connect devices with a starting current higher than the nominal energy consumption. The biggest advantage of using app control is that you can turn off the power station remotely via Bluetooth.

I really appreciate BLUETTI's decision not to use any additional charging adapters if charging from the AC outlet. A cable with CEE is really much easier to buy than to adapt another charging brick. BLUETTI AC180 also comes with a 12V charging cable, which makes it convenient to charge in the car.

What we didn't like?

There are a lot of pros, but there are also some cons. But yes, most of them are just very minor. Anyways, what could be better? There is only one USB-C port... Come on, the time is coming when this port will be standard for most devices. Also, BLUETTI EB3A had a really good LED light on the front, unfortunately, but this model no longer has it. And there is definitely space for that. So, when going for nature trip, you will need to think extra about the lighting source.

When using fast charging feature, the cooling fan turns on after a while. I would compare the noise it makes to the noise of a gaming laptop. In addition to this, it would be convenient if the "Power lift mode" could be activated without the help of the control app. In a situation when you are in nature or in the forest, and there is no Bluetti app on your phone and it is difficult to get a mobile connection - I would say it becomes a little problematic. In Lithuania, I have personally had cases when you try to get a mobile connection, but it is not available, because the forests or other obstacles are blocking it.

During the day, the illumination of those three buttons is hardly visible. There is a Battery Pack option in the app, maybe it can be expanded or changed in some way in the future, but nothing is mentioned about it anywhere else. And finally, the USB-C connector is only intended for power delivery, so it will not be possible to charge the power station through it.

Is it worth buying?

And the most important question, is it worth purchasing this product? I can say that this mobile energy station BLUETTI AC180 really catches the eye, both from the design side and from the functionality side. Powerful and convenient for transportation - great!

LiFePO4 cells are a much better choice than Li-ion due to their efficiency and longevity. But... since this is a completely new model, its price is still high. I would say €1000 is a bit too much, considering the battery capacity and compared to similar models available on the market.

For example, NEWSMY N1200P model can be purchased at a much more attractive price (before that the manufacturer was called NECESPOW). You can find a detailed review of this model by clicking here. And although the N1200P station is a little weaker (1200W), the design is not as good as BLUETTI, it does not have premium functions and control via APP, but the battery capacity is very similar, it has 3x 220V connections and the price is about 30% lower. For the remaining amount of money, you can still buy a good solar module, if you need it.

Of course, if you want more PREMIUM power station - you should also consider buying AC200P model. If I called the Bluetti EB3A the little brother, then the AC200P can easily be called the elder. Its battery capacity is huge - 2000Wh, and the "peak" power reaches 4800W. In addition, a solar panel / combination of solar modules with a power of up to 700W can be connected to charge this powerstation.

Furthermore, AC200P connections / ports have protective caps, so when you're outside, a little rain will be less scary compared to the AC180 model. It is worth mentioning that AC200P doesn't have fast charging feature just like AC180, but if you properly plan the charging time before use, it should not be a problem. During the promotion periods - this BLUETTI AC200P power station can be purchased for approx. €1100. So if the price of the AC180 does not fall below ~800€, I think it would be worthwhile to save up a little bit more and purchase a AC200P model.