In Some Ways, Bluetti’s Step-Down Apex 200 is a Step Up From the Apex 300

4 min readWhen I reviewed the Bluetti Apex 300 power station earlier this year, I was impressed with how powerful it was and how easy it was to expand into a robust home backup system. But there were a few notable trade-offs, mostly in portability and a lower variety of outlets. With Bluetti’s Apex 200 power station, those drawbacks are answered with a powerful model that’s much better suited to life on the road.Physically, it’s not hard to notice the difference between the two units. At 84 pounds, the Apex 300 is large and heavy to tote around. The 200 is 59 pounds and roughly 28 percent smaller. It’s not as powerful as its larger sibling, but the 200 is still definitely built for use in the home, while being more adaptable for long road trips or cross-country treks in an RV.ProsDC output, including two high-power USB-C ports and a 30-amp DC outputAble to handle a high amount of solar input of up to 3,000 wattsUp to six batteries can be addedConsFan can get a bit loudNo 240-volt outputKey SpecsPower3,200 (3,600 with expansion battery)Capacity2,560 WhMax Solar Input3,000 WOutlets3 x 120V; 1 x 120V 30A; 2 x USB-C, 2 x USB-A; 1 x 12V; 1 x 12V 30A Weight59 lbGood for Basic Home Backup or Road TripsThe Apex 200 outputs up to 3,200 watts of continuous power (it says 3,600 on the front, but that’s only if it’s connected to an expansion battery). That’s enough to run several appliances or even a few circuits in your home electrical system if you connect it to a manual transfer switch using the 120-volt, 30-amp port. It also has a 2,560-watt-hour capacity, which can provide several hours of power—I ran my refrigerator for a full 27 hours on a single charge, and when I ran the numbers, I estimated that it runs just over 90 percent efficiently, which is very good for a power station.Trevor RaabThe front panel is angled, making the display easier to read from above. It features both AC and direct DC output, and has a 120-volt 30-amp outlet for connecting to a transfer switch of an RV.The 200 also brings direct DC power back, with a bank of USB outlets and both 10- and 30-amp 12-volt outputs. This is something the Apex 300 doesn’t have built-in (it requires an optional hub to add it), which makes it a bit less versatile as a portable station.One niche feature I really liked was the ability to turn off each AC outlet individually using the mobile app. Doing this helps to cut down on the slight battery drain that an idle outlet can contribute, and it’s not commonly seen on power stations. It might seem like a small thing, but when you’re trying to get the most runtime out of your power station, every little bit helps. It’s also handy if you want to turn off power to one device, but not another.Trevor RaabA cool feature is the ability to turn individual AC outlets on and off, which helps prevent battery drain from outlets not in use. Or you can turn off devices plugged into it remotely over Wi-Fi.What you don’t get with the Apex 200, however, is 240-volt output for higher-powered applications like powering high-voltage appliances or HVAC systems. That means it’s not suited for advanced whole-home backup like the Apex 300 is, but it's fine if you're only powering 120-volt appliances.The Apex 200 does, however, mimic the modularity of the 300. You can add up to six additional batteries to expand your capacity to over 33 kilowatt-hours using the largest batteries Bluetti offers, the B500K. You can also pair it with the Apex 300 to combine and increase total power output to over 7,000 watts.Solar Charging Game ChangerOne of the most surprising features I found with the Apex 200 was a maximum solar input of up to 3,000 watts. That’s incredibly high for a power station in this size range. It achieves this by offering two sets of inputs: low-voltage XT60 input (up to 1,000 watts) and high-voltage MC4 input (up to 2,000 watts). If you had the rated panels to support both of these inputs, you could fully recharge this station in just a few hours on a perfectly sunny day.Trevor RaabThe Apex 300 has a high-voltage solar input (bottom left), which helps it achieve 3,000 watts of max solar input. That’s not common in power stations of this size.This attention to detail on solar recharging makes the Apex 200 one of the most robust power stations I’ve seen targeted to the on-the-go end user who likes to tap into the sun's rays for energy while off-grid and on the road. Of course, it also features standard charging from AC power, including a Turbo mode that supports fast charging, an auto mode that allows you to set the rate you prefer, or a silent mode that limits the amount of input so that the cooling fan doesn’t need to turn on (which on this model can be a bit loud).Another feature I like is passthrough charging, which allows you to run devices from the station while recharging the battery at the full rate. The inverters in lesser power stations will throttle the input if they need to power something at the same time, but not here. This is true of the Apex 300, too, and I’m glad they kept this feature in the Apex 300.Who Is the Apex 200 Best For?For my money, this power station is best suited to those who plan to use the Apex 200 for limited home backup during emergencies to power 120-volt devices or circuits, while also wanting to take it on trips. Overlanders, especially, will appreciate the lighter weight and portability, and they’ll also love the high solar input, which can come in handy when you’re on the road and out of range of AC power. I still like the Apex 300 a lot, but the Apex 200 shows that a bit more versatility can go a long way.Shop the Bluetti Apex 200 Portable Power StationOther Editor-Recommended Power StationsDavid is a Reviews Editor for Hearst’s Enthusiast Group, contributing to Popular Mechanics, Runner’s World, Bicycling, Best Products, and Biography. He has over 25 years of experience writing about and reviewing consumer electronics, kitchen appliances, DIY products, outdoor gear, and more. He also spent years covering the ever-changing world of online retail. To relax, he loves experimenting with new recipes, tweaking his smart home setup, and spending time outdoors on his bike or camping.