Aferiy P280 review: A multifunctional power station that I'd use for emergency backup

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I’m definitely an aficionado of portable power stations. Last year, I tested well over a hundred different units in a variety of off-grid locations, as well as during real-life power outages. I know what I like — and, more importantly, don’t like — when it comes to power stations, and I enjoy giving companies feedback on how they can improve their products. 

It’s a market that tends to be dominated by a few big names, so it’s quite refreshing when a smaller player comes out with a product that should make the market leaders sit up and pay attention.

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This is exactly what Aferiy has done with the P280 portable power station. This is a unit that, right out of the box, surprised me in more ways than one.

Note: The version in the images is for the UK, which has different AC sockets and power outputs.

15 ports in all

The P280 is a 2,048Wh capacity power station built around an array of 4,000+ recharge cycle, automotive-grade LiFePO4 cells that have a 10-year lifespan and a much better safety record than the older Li-ion cells. 

This unit can push out 2,800W continuously (and support peak loads up to 5,600W) through its array of ports. It has five AC outlets, four USB-C ports (two rated for 20W max, the other two for 140W max), two 18W max USB-A ports, a 12V car output port, two 12V/3A DC5521 ports, and a single 12V/25A XT-60 port.

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That’s a total of 15 ports in all, so all your devices — from your camping refrigerator and CPAP machine to your earbuds and drones — can get charged up from the one power station.

The AC output is enough to handle pretty much any mains-powered device you want to throw at it, making it a very versatile backup power solution.

The inputs are equally impressive. Along with a variable AC input that can be set between 600W and 1,800W (depending on input power, how fast you want to charge, or how quiet you want the unit to be), it also features two XT90 ports that can be used to charge the unit via solar panels (up to 600W per port) or a vehicle’s 12V/24V system.

Charging is fast

Using AC alone, the unit can go from zero to 80% in just under an hour, and from flat to full in an hour and a half. 

With 1,200W of solar input, the charging time is around 2.5 hours. You can also use a combination of AC, solar, and car charging, depending on what you have available. This fast-charging feature is really useful in situations where you have limited access to AC power (maybe a generator you only want to run for a while, or when the power comes back on briefly during an outage), because you can make the most of it.

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Since the P280 has dual XT90 inputs, it’s perfect for use in an RV and eliminates the need for a separate MPPT charge controller, as you can charge the unit with solar on one XT90 input and the vehicle’s power on the other. This flexibility is great in an off-grid situation because you can mix and match based on factors like the weather or whether the unit is being transported in a vehicle.

The unit is cooled by fans on either end, which allows you to stack the unit and still get good airflow, but be aware of shoving it into a corner or against a wall, as this could cause issues (although I’ve had this running in a cramped footwell of a vehicle with limited ventilation for several days without any issues).

Uninterruptible power supply

If you want a power station that can also work as an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) and be able to switch quickly when the power goes down, the P280 is a perfect choice because it can switch over from AC input to internal batteries in under 10 milliseconds, fast enough that even delicate devices like PCs won’t notice.

On the front of the unit is a clear display that gives you a pretty deep dive into what the power station is up to in terms of inputs, outputs, and how much runtime or charge time it has remaining. If you want a deeper dive, or carry out maintenance like updating the firmware, you’ll need to turn to the app (iOS and Android supported). It can also activate features such as silent charging or set a recharge schedule.

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If the 2,048Wh capacity of the P280 isn’t enough for you, you can connect up to four satellite battery packs for a whopping 10.24kWh of storage capacity — enough to keep a standard home going for two days.

The P280 measures 15.7 x 11.0 x 12.4 inches and weighs in at just under 50 pounds. This is a bit weighty when it comes to single-person lifting off the ground (it’s at the limit of what the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health — NIOSH — considers a high risk of injury), but thanks to the ammo crate-style handles on either side, it’s perfect for two-person lifting.

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There is a light built into the unit, but it’s a tiny flashlight-style LED that is about the only part of this that feels like a bit of an afterthought. I guess it’s better than nothing when you need a light, but I’d have preferred a bigger light.

ZDNET’s buying advice

I am blown away by the Aferiy P280. While there is no shortage of 2kWh power stations out there, the P280 adds advanced features such as high-peak load support, fast charging, and dual XT90 inputs, elevating it to a place where it stands out.

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Normally priced at $1,100 (which isn’t a bad price at all for this portable power station), right now you can get a whopping 33% off at Amazon, so you can pick up the P280 for only $739, which is a fantastic price for what is a darn good system. I’ve carried out all the usual safety and performance tests on my unit, as well as putting it through its paces for several weeks, and it’s performed flawlessly.