This Is the Power Bank You Need If You Want to Go Off the Grid

Almost all our devices can now be powered via USB—from lights and fans to smartphones, tablets, and laptops. But even with improved battery life, you’d eventually need to charge them. So, if you like going off the grid but still need your gear or are simply looking for a backup power source in case of a prolonged power outage, check out the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank.

Ugreen 300W 48,000mAh Power Bank

The Ugreen 300 48000mAh Power Bank is a massive fast-charging battery backup. It’s useful for use at home for emergencies and when you’re traveling in the backcountry to power your electronics.

Pros

• Can power up to five different devices simultaneously
• Quickly recharge an electronic device at up to 140 watts
• Comes with a built-in LED light

Cons

• Heavy and large dimensions

Price and Availability

The Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank is available on the Ugreen website for $199.99. Unfortunately, it’s unavailable on Amazon at the time of writing, but it should be live soon.

This power bank’s package is simple. All you get is the giant battery with its handle and a 3.3-ft/100 cm USB-C to USB-C cable rated for a maximum of six amps. Nevertheless, the power bank itself already delivers a lot of value to anyone who needs a battery backup.

How Much Juice Does This Battery Have?

The highlight of this power bank is its massive capacity, at 48,000mAh, which should theoretically be enough to recharge an iPhone 15 Pro Max a few times over from flat empty. It also has a maximum output of 300 watts, with one USB-C port capable of delivering 140 watts and the two other USB-C ports rated for 100 watts each. The USB-A ports deliver 22.5 watts respectively.

This means you can fast charge up to three gadgets simultaneously. Or you could fast charge one item while slowly juicing up four other devices.

As per my testing, the power bank charged my 15-inch M2 MacBook Air (66.5 Wh capacity) from empty to full in three and half hours, while simultaneously charging my 13-inch M2 iPad Air (36.59 Wh capacity) from 0% to 90% in the same time. This equates to about 99.431 Wh delivered to my devices. Since the power bank has a 153.6 Wh rating, it has an efficiency of about 64.73%.

Charges Up to Five Devices Simultaneously

I can plug five devices into the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank, but that doesn’t mean I will get 300 watts on all ports. I’ll break down the charging speeds of each port, depending on which ports are being used.

If I use one port at a time, the power bank will deliver the following charging speeds:

• Output 1 / Output 2: 22.5 watts
• Input / Output 3: 140 watts
• Output 4 / Output 4: 100 watts

When charging two devices simultaneously, this is the maximum power output you will receive from each port:

The table above shows that you can fast charge two USB-C devices using basically any port. But if you need to charge using the USB-C and USB-A ports, you must be careful to only use Output 1 for the latter to ensure that you can get at least 100W on the former.

Now, if you need to charge three items, you’ll get these charging speeds:

You’ll see again that USB-C offers no limitations, allowing me to get up to 100 watts on all three ports. But if you need to charge using one USB-A port, the output on either Output 4 or Output 5 drops to just 15 watts. If you need a quick charge, it’s better to wait until all of your USB-C devices are fully charged before plugging in a USB-A gadget.

But if you need to recharge four or five devices, here’s what you’ll get from each port:

The tables above show that Output 1 and Output 4 are connected, while Output 2 and Output 5 are also related to each other. So, if you plug a device into either port pairing, you will get reduced output on both. For example, if you use Outputs 1 and 4 at the same time, both will only deliver 15 watts each. But if you use Output 1 and Output 5 instead, you’ll get 22.5 watts and 100 watts, respectively.

Also, note that these are just the maximum listed outputs of each port. The actual output will still vary depending on your device, the power bank, and the USB cable that you use.

Recharges Quickly, Discharges Quickly

Another great feature of the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank is that it recharges quickly, too. It only accepts power via Input / Output 3, but it does so at a relatively quick pace of 140 watts. It can even charge other devices while recharging itself, so I could juice up all my equipment if I happen to not be able to get electricity for a few days.

However, despite its massive power capacity, the Ugreen power bank could also drain quickly because of its high-power output. While this isn’t an issue per se, it might surprise a few people who expect the power bank to hold power for longer.

A Couple of Neat Features

The one thing I like about this power bank is its digital display. Not only does it show how much power you have left in the power bank, but it also displays how many watts it’s receiving and outputting. You can also turn on the trickle charge feature, which ensures that my device will continuously get power for three and a half hours even after it’s full, which is particularly useful if I just want to keep my laptop or smartphone juiced up even as I use it.

It also has an LED strip light on its side, which is useful in the dark. So, if you have the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank during a power outage or outdoors after you put out a campfire, you don’t need a separate flashlight. It even has two brightness settings to adjust how much light it puts out. Plus, if you’re in trouble, you can activate SOS mode by pressing the LED power button three times.

The Price You Pay for Great Power

Despite having all these features, this power bank has a couple of drawbacks. First off is its size and weight: it weighs 3.6 lbs (1.65kg) and about the size of a large portable speaker. Even though it has a handle that makes it easy to carry, its heft and hulk would make it difficult to bring with you if you’re a backpacker and always on foot.

Since it also has a 48,000mAh capacity, it means you cannot bring it on a plane. The FAA puts a limit of 100 watt-hours on any battery you bring on board, which is equivalent to about 27,000mAh. So, if you want to travel with this power bank, it’s either by car or by boat—or you have your own private plane.

The Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank would be far more useful as a backup power source at home, or if you’re into the van life and love driving to remote places where there isn’t a power source. While you can certainly use your car’s engine or battery pack to provide electricity to your tent, having this around will help you power your gadgets without the noise of a running car or needing to run a line from your EV.

Should You Buy the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank?

If you’re the average city dweller and you rarely experience power outages, you really don’t need this massive power bank. I have several power banks in my possession, including one in my everyday bag and another in my laptop bag. My everyday bag power bank has been used less than five times in the past six months.

Nevertheless, I like keeping them around “just in case,” and the Ugreen 300W 48000mAh Power Bank is another “just in case” item I will keep in my home. Its $200 price point might be a bit expensive, but given that my work relies on electricity and the internet, that is a suitable investment for me to ensure that I can keep on going even if the power grid goes down.

And if you like to occasionally take road trips, having this power bank in your car could be a lifesaver, especially if you get stuck somewhere. It can ensure that your devices have power and that you have a light source while you wait for rescue.

Ugreen 300W 48,000mAh Power Bank

The Ugreen 300 48000mAh Power Bank is a massive fast-charging battery backup. It’s useful for use at home for emergencies and when you’re traveling in the backcountry to power your electronics.