Bluetti Apex 300 Power Station Review: A Cheap and Practical Unit for Home Backup?

Bluetti Apex 300 Review

It feels a bit weird calling a 3,800W, 85-pound power station simple, but that’s exactly what the Bluetti Apex 300 is. Basically, this new Bluetti power station is a refreshingly stripped-down approach to home backup and off-grid power. 

Instead of cramming every type of output port and wireless feature under the sun into one unit, Bluetti took a different route: build something powerful, expandable, and affordable, while cutting out the fluff. To make things even more interesting, they launched a bunch of accessories alongside it, so those who want to add extras have the option to do so.

So, has Bluetti finally released a power station that delivers on all fronts, or is this another weird release from a big brand that we’ve had past issues with? Let’s find out.

‍Spoiler Alert: The Apex 300 is actually a really impressive release. We think it delivers some very impressive features, but at a surprisingly budget-friendly price. While it won’t be the right option for everyone, it’s definitely worth taking a look at if you’re looking for a reasonably priced power station for home backup.

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Bluetti Apex 300 Specifications Breakdown

Before we dive into our testing and all of the things we like and dislike about this new Bluetti portable power station, let’s take a look at what it’s packing under the hood:

• Battery Capacity: 2,764Wh from the base unit (expandable up to 58kWh with 2,764Wh B300K Expansion Batteries)
• Inverter Output: 3,800W pure sine wave inverter (120V and 240V outputs)
• AC Input: Up to 3,840W with 30A or 50A fast-charging cable
• Solar Input: 2,400W via two 1,200W solar inputs (optional SolarX 4K accessory offers an extra 4,000W solar input)
• Output Ports: 6 x 120V AC ports (other ports available with the Bluetti Power Hub D1 accessory, which provides 2 x USB-A, 2 x USB-C 100W, 2 x 12V or 24V DC car ports))
• Weight: 85 lbs, so it just passes the Tiny Baby Lift Test
• Price (at time of review): About $1,400 with our discount code (TSLAPEX300)

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Our First Impressions of the Apex 300

Right out of the box, the Apex 300 looks familiar — it borrows the classic Bluetti design from the old Bluetti AC300 and Bluetti AC500 power stations, but unlike the units in their AC-series, this unit actually has a built-in battery.

No more separate inverter-and-battery setups. The Apex 300’s internal battery holds 2,764Wh, and you can expand it up to a massive 58kWh with additional batteries. Each of those batteries delivers another 2,764Wh of storage capacity, and a single Apex 300 is capable of linking with to up to 20 of those B300K Expansion Battery modules.

For reference, that’s enough scalability to power an off-grid cabin for days or even provide light home backup for a full-sized house. Plus, the batteries stack nicely on or below the main Apex 300 unit, so they take up surprisingly little space.

At around 85 lbs, it’s still a hefty piece of gear, and each expansion battery you add is going to increase that weight by another 65 lbs. If you choose to expand it, you’re probably looking at more of a semi-permanent setup. In other words, don’t expect to be able to quickly toss it in your trunk, like an EcoFlow DELTA 2 Max or Anker F2600.

With an expanded Apex 300, we think most people will want to keep it inside their garage, basement, workshop, or RV. Still, you’d have the option to disconnect and move it if needed.

The Bluetti Apex 300’s Ports and Add-Ons:

Here’s where things get interesting (and probably a bit divisive). The Apex 300 doesn’t have USB ports, DC ports, or much of anything beyond its six AC plugs and high-voltage connectors.

Instead, Bluetti uses adapters, like the optional DC Hub, which can clamp onto the unit or nearby surfaces to provide the unit with USB and 12V DC outputs.

Normally, we’d roll our eyes at that kind of design. But given the Apex 300’s relatively low cost and target audience of homeowners looking for affordable backup power, it actually makes sense. This isn’t built for charging phones and drones, like some of the smaller units Bluetti and its competitors carry, it’s built specifically for powering your home or RV.

That said, the adapters aren’t cheap. That Bluetti D1 Power Hub that gives you your DC and USB ports costs about $300, which is a steep price for what you’re getting. For that money, it really should have double or triple the ports. Better yet, it should be a $50 upgrade.

Say you want to connect multiple Apex 300 power stations together, you’ll need to buy the Bluetti Hub A1 Parallel Box, which retails for around $699! These are steep prices for components that other brands charge much less for, or just include for free.

The Design and Build:

In terms of the physical design of this Bluetti solar generator, they kind of stuck to what works. The Apex 300 looks a lot like the older Bluetti AC500, but they included an internal battery.

The display screen you get with this unit is bright, crisp, and easy to read, even outdoors. All the buttons and ports are also clearly labeled, so even someone who was completely new to power stations could figure it out without a manual.

The Bluetti app is still a little sluggish compared to the EcoFlow or Anker apps, but it lets you toggle power modes, monitor stats, and tweak settings from a distance.

No wheels though, so if you plan on moving it regularly, invest in a cart. Again, Bluetti sells this accessory, but it’s not cheap. The Bluetti Folding Trolley that was designed for the Apex 300 and its expansion batteries is priced at $399 on their website. For perspective, Pecron's wheeled cart sells for about $150.

Performance Testing the Bluetti Apex 300 Power Station

While the specifications looked great on paper, we wanted to see how this unit actually performed in real-world situations, so we ran the Apex 300 through all our usual testing. Here’s what we discovered:

Idle Power and Efficiency Testing:

After running a variety of loads through the Apex 300’s six AC outlets, we were able to calculate the efficiency at right around 85%. We usually give anything over 80% a thumbs up, so let’s call 85% a solid “A” grade.

Next, we wanted to check the idle power draw. If you’re unsure about idle rates in power stations, it basically means the amount of power the unit uses just to stay switched on. This is useful information because it lets you know how long the unit could be sitting in standby mode before it would fully drain its own battery.

When we checked, we found a single Apex 300 had an idle draw of right around 20W. This means you could leave a fully charged Apex 300 powered on for about 6 days before the standby drain would empty the battery. For backup power and running occasional loads, like a sump pump or a refrigerator, that’s really impressive. A lot of similarly sized power stations have an idle draw of roughly double that.

Assessing the Noise Levels:

Since they're designed for indoor use, another thing we like to test with these home backup power stations is how loud they are. Even when we ran this thing under a really heavy load, we found it was surprisingly quiet. For a unit with a hefty 3,800W inverter, having near-silent operation at full-tilt is really impressive. It’s also something we think a lot of people will appreciate when they’re using this thing inside their home or their RV’s main living space.

The Bluetti power stations we tested in the past weren’t this quiet, so the fact they have addressed this issue for this latest release shows that they’re actually trying to innovate to compete. Turns out the Apex 300’s noise control is on par with the quietest power stations on the market, like those on offer from EcoFlow and DJI.

What We Liked About the Bluetti Apex 300

Now that we’ve covered the basics for this innovative Bluetti power station, let’s look at all of the things that impressed us about it:

It Has a Built-in Battery (Finally):

Unlike previous high-output power stations that Bluetti released, like the AC300 and AC500, the Apex 300 comes with a built-in internal battery. You still have the option to stack expansion batteries like those earlier models, but it’s no longer mandatory.

If you just want a power station that you can use right out of the box, the Apex 300 is an option. Plus, that 2,764Wh battery it comes with is nothing to sneeze at. You get a high enough storage capacity that it would be a practical source of power during something like a 24-hour blackout.

120V and 240V from One Unit:

This is not only rare, it’s one of the Apex 300’s standout features. You can flip a simple switch on the front panel to change between a 120V and 240V output. No need to pair it with a second unit to hit 240V, which is the case with a lot of power stations, including the extremely popular Pecron E3600LFP. That’s huge.

Now, to be clear, running 240V will reduce your available inverter output, so it’s not ideal for powering 240V and 120V loads simultaneously. But it’s an impressive level of flexibility for a portable power station at this price point.

Expandability and Accessory Availability:

We love that Bluetti finally ditched the comically oversized battery cables from the old AC500. The new connection system is sleek, stackable, and far less awkward, making it easy to build a tidy, modular backup power system. Plus, being able to cleanly scale the system up to the heights of 58kWh of storage capacity is amazing.

The availability of the optional SolarX 4K Adaptor is another nice touch, letting you expand solar input from 2,400W to 6,400W total (2,400W built-in + 4,000W via the SolarX). At roughly $699, it’s not exactly a cheap accessory, but those planning on leaning into solar power for backup purposes will really appreciate that combined 6,400W solar input.

Simple Yet Practical Design (And Low Price):

The stripped-down design with minimal ports might be a bit off-putting for certain buyers, but this was never trying to be a power station for everyone. It’s actually very refreshing that Bluetti was realistic about their target market and made something specifically for them, instead of trying to cram in extras that they don’t need.

Essentially, it was designed for those who just want reliable home backup or a portable power system for an off-grid property. Bluetti stripped away the clutter and extras to satisfy a very specific set of needs. Not only does this simplify the entire system, it helps keep costs low. For those who later decide they want those extras, they sell plug-in accessories that can help, even if they are a bit pricey.

Basically, they designed a simplified, expandable home backup power station that works really well. At right around $1,400, it’s also priced really well.

Honestly, it’s one of the most affordable large-capacity power station setups you can buy right now, and it even competes with options like the x2 Pecron E3600 + 240V Hub Bundle that we’ve consistently said is the best deal in portable power.

If you’re after a powerful, modular, and budget-friendly power station designed for home or off-grid use, and you can live without a row of USB ports, the Bluetti Apex 300 is one of the smartest buys Bluetti has made in years.

Quiet and Efficient Performance:

It’s also significantly quieter than we expected, even when we pushed the inverter to its limits. That 85% efficiency rating and low idle draw also means that it’s not just performing quietly, it’s performing really well.

If you’re planning on using it for backup power inside your home, RV, or off-grid cabin, you’ll appreciate the silence, as well as the knowledge that you’re not wasting your off-grid power on an inefficient system.

What We Didn’t Like About the Apex 300 Power Station

There was a lot to really like about the Apex 300, but we did run into a few issues when we were digging into it. Here’s our main gripes:

Poor Customer Support:

When you try to call Bluetti, there’s no dedicated tech support line. You have to submit a ticket and wait 24–48 hours for each response. For a company as big as Bluetti, that’s frustrating, especially if something goes wrong with a power station that you just dropped over 1,000 bucks on.

It gets worse when you compare what you get with Bluetti to Anker’s customer support. When you call Anker SOLIX, you get highly responsive and knowledgeable customer service reps who are willing to walk you through any sort of issues you run into.

It’s not like this is some new issue either. Even when we tested the Bluetti Elite 200 V2 earlier in the year, we ran into the same customer service woes. Step it up, Bluetti.

Accessory Costs:

While we just praised Bluetti for offering so many different accessories and adaptors for this unit, and we do think a lot of them are very useful, they’re really expensive for what you get.

Take that D1 Hub, which just gives you the same output ports that most power stations in this category come with out of the gate. That thing is priced at nearly $400!

Honestly, where do they come up with that sort of price for a few ports? It gets worse when you consider the fact that you could go out and buy an entire power station like the Pecron E1000 for that sort of money.

The Misleading and Exaggerated Specifications:

Bluetti’s marketing claims about being able to hit a 30kW solar input are… let’s just say optimistic. Actually, no, they’re just straight up misleading.

After multiple calls and emails (with their poor customer support), it became clear that hitting 30kW requires a very specific setup involving multiple Apex 300 units, multiple SolarX 4K Adaptor accessories, a huge pile of expansion batteries, and simultaneous high-speed AC charging cables. Oh, and let’s not forget an entirely separate solar power system that the Apex 300 can plug into.

With so many qualifiers and specific requirements needed to hit anywhere near that number, why even advertise it? It’s obviously just going to confuse and disappoint buyers.

Bluetti, you don’t have to exaggerate. A 6,400W solar input is already really impressive.

Our Final Verdict: Should You Buy the Bluetti Apex 300?

The Bluetti Apex 300 isn’t trying to be everything to everyone, and that’s exactly why we like it. It was built for home backup, off-grid cabins, workshops, or anyone who wants serious power in a semi-permanent setup without paying for a bunch of extra ports they’ll never use.

It’s quiet, efficient, well-built, very user-friendly, and genuinely affordable for the performance you get. The lack of USB ports might turn off casual users, but if you want a compact system that can scale up into a full home backup solution, the Apex 300 hits the mark.

We didn’t start off on the right foot with Bluetti, and our first review of their AC500 was a bit of a disaster, but it seems like Bluetti finally got it right.