Bluetti AC500 & B300S review: upgraded portable power station to get you through disasters

If you've been paying close attention, you might notice the AC500 and B300S look very similar to the AC300 and B300 I reviewed in 2023. Well, like Apple and iPhones, companies like Bluetti never rest and constantly iterate to ensure the product line never goes stale.

The Bluetti AC500 and B300S are an excellent step up with more power, expansion opportunities, and high-powered outlets. While you're losing out on the number of standard AC outlets, you get more options for high-power connections and an additional 100W USB-C port.

Note that the AC500 is an inverter and cannot operate independently. It is part of a modular system, so you'll need to purchase the AC500 and at least one battery like the B300S.

As I said in last year's review, this modular system can be portable, but it works best as a home power backup solution. These kinds of systems have near-identical use cases, but there are enough changes and spec updates to warrant a fresh rundown.

Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup review — Design

Bluetti has designed these massive units to be incredibly utilitarian. The blocky exteriors keep all of the needed ports facing the user, a touch screen offers information and controls, and the two units stack neatly.

The Bluetti AC500 is a giant inverter capable of 5,000W output when connected to the B300S battery pack. A single B300S has a 3,072Wh capacity, and up to four can be connected to one AC500 for 18,432Wh capacity.

The AC500 and B300S combo create a massive portable power station. The only reason these products can be considered portable in any sense is because of the included handles and that they separate for transport.

The AC500 is 20.5 inches by 12.8 inches by 14.1 inches and weighs 66.2 pounds. The more squat B300S is 20.5 inches by 12.5 inches by 10.5 inches and weighs 79.6 pounds.

When combined, you get an enormous 146-pound behemoth you'll need Bluetti's proprietary cart to move around. Really, despite being classified as a portable power station, you're likely to buy them, set them up, then let them stay put.

Inputs for the AC500 include 4,500W max AC input via one B300S or 5,000W with two or more B300S connected. A solar input up to 3,000W and a 12/24V cigarette lighter port are also available.

Combine solar and AC inputs for up to 6,000W with one B300S connected or 8,000W with two or more B300S connected.

Outputs include 3 120V 20A standard three-prong AC outlets, a 120V 30A L14-30 connector, a 120V 30A TT-30 connector, and a 120V 50A NEMA14-50 connector. Output can reach 5,000W total, and the AC500 supports up to 10,000W surge.

Additional ports include two 100W USB-C ports, two 5V 3A USB-A ports, two 18W USB-A ports, a 12V 30A RV DC outlet, and a 24V 10A car outlet. Bluetti's signature two wireless 15W charging pads are also available on top of the unit.

The B300S has a 500W AC input for charging separately from the AC500, but it's a much slower option. The solar input is also maxed out at 500W without the inverter connected. A car cigarette lighter port is also available on the unit.

Even without the inverter, the B300S can output a little bit on its own. There is a 100W USB-C port, an 18W USB-A port, and a 12V 10A DC car outlet.

Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup review — Features

Bluetti AC500 & B300S is a powerful portable power station combo that keeps your devices or home powered when other power sources aren't available. It can act as a home battery backup, power source while on an extended camping trip, or uninterruptible power supply for your home computer and network.

If you have more than one B300S, you can easily hot swap batteries and keep the AC500 powering your home or devices without interruption. That can be handy if you're charging the B300S via solar but need power away from where the solar panels are set up.

Having all three of these plugs available on the Bluetti AC500 means you'll never have to worry about having the right plug or adapter. This is especially important in some work environments or RV parks where you never know what someone else might need if you're helping them.

The AC500 has a L14-30, a TT-30, and a NEMA14-50 outlet that are used for RVs and campers. Users can connect heavy-duty appliances, equipment, or their campers to provide ample power.

If you're running a single B300S, the system can power a 600W microwave for 4 hours, power an electric hammer for 3 hours, or run an 8,100BTU AC for 2.5 hours. Connect solar or external power to extend the use of the portable power station.

Recharge the B300S in 3.5 hours when maxing out 500W solar and 500W AC. If only solar or AC is available, the 500W input will fully charge the battery in about 7 hours.

If the B300S is connected to the AC500, recharging is much faster, with up to 8,000W of input across AC and solar. Maxing out input will recharge the B300S in less than an hour.

The LiFePO4 battery has a 4-year warranty and more than 10 years of expected service time. It is rated at 3,500 life cycles.

Using the Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup system

I was able to test the AC500 & B300S portable power station combo through a couple of power outages during the incredible hurricane season in 2024. I may be in northeast Tennessee, but much of my region was flooded or dealing with power outages thanks to Hurricane Helene.

Whether I wanted to add charge to my iPhone or battery-operated lanterns or provide power to my entertainment system, the Bluetti AC500 & B300S proved useful. My power was restored relatively quickly, so I didn't have to worry about getting the battery recharged. Had I needed to, I would have taken it to a nearby home that had power and charged it over the AC outlet.

There are better portable power stations sold by Bluetti if the purpose is travel. The AC500 & B300S may have modular components, but they are clearly meant to be stationary systems.

I expect anyone wanting to reduce their reliance on the grid or have emergency whole-home backup power will choose this system. It's quite excellent as a standalone unit, but its true power lies in its ability to expand with more B300S units.

The wireless charging pads on top of the AC500 are useful, but I'm not sure why Bluetti continues to add them. Users would be much better off charging over a wire to one of the USB-C ports rather than wasting energy on the inefficient wireless pads.

I hope a future model incorporates Qi2 with magnetic attachments so charging via those pads makes a little more sense. Otherwise, 7.5W over those pads on iPhone just doesn't make sense.

The Bluetti app continues to be a useful tool for controlling the portable power station. When the app is opened, users can see all of the information needed to control inputs, see battery level, and note discharge rates.

There are options for controlling different features of the battery buried in the settings menu. I wish the app was focused on battery operation, but the Bluetti forum is still present in the app.

Considering an upgrade

If you're already rocking an AC300 or similar inverter, there's likely little reason to upgrade unless you've run into the 3,000W output limit and 5,000W is enough. Note that if you have multiple B300 batteries, the AC500 can only connect to four B300 total or six B300S total.

Throw in a second AC500 and you can achieve an incredible 36,864Wh through twelve B300S. When combining two of these units, you're able to run a split-phase 240V system too.

Mixing B300 and B300S is possible, but only up to four units. With such expensive systems, I recommend sticking with what you have and not chasing what's new unless it makes a significant difference.

Of course, you can always augment an existing set of B300 batteries with the more powerful AC500 inverter. Then expand by adding in another AC500 and a set of B300S batteries.

It all depends on your individual needs and finances.

Prepared for anything

As weather conditions get worse every year, it is becoming more and more critical to own home battery backup solutions like those provided by Bluetti. Whether you're trying to go off-grid or power an RV, the Bluetti AC500 & B300S is a good starting point.

The use cases for the AC500 & B300S combo are unchanged from the ones I discussed for the AC300 & B300 combo in 2023. These gigantic systems will provide high-wattage output for long hours when needed, wherever needed.

People generally think it is obvious that a home should have a refrigerator, a washing machine, a shower, or a television. I think it's time we should think the same way about portable power stations and other home power backup solutions.

It's time to consider a power generation system for your home. And if the AC500 & B300S feel a little extreme for your needs, Bluetti has plenty of other options to get you started.

Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup review — Pros

• Incredible expansion opportunity
• No need for an external power supply
• More industry-grade outlets alongside plenty of standard AC outlets
• Additional USB ports

Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup review — Cons

• Not exactly portable despite its name
• Qi chargers are wasteful and need an upgrade or need to be removed

Rating: 4.5 out of 5

Adding power and port options made me more forgiving of Bluetti's latest portable power station. It's hardly portable, but it can still be moved by a person who can lift 100 pounds or push a cart.

If you need a truly portable system, there are better options. However, despite its size, the Bluetti AC500 and B300S combo is quite versatile.

Where to buy the Bluetti AC500 & B300S home battery backup system

Get the Bluetti AC500 & B300S portable power station combo from Bluetti for $2,499. There are options to add additional B300S or solar panels to customize your perfect home battery backup solution.