Recently, we’ve been extensively covering the topic of power stations on our site. Unfortunately, portable power stations remain a necessity in Ukraine due to the destruction of energy infrastructure by Russian missile and drone strikes. As a result, nearly every Ukrainian household now has a source of backup power for potential grid outages. For those who don’t yet own such equipment, a purchase is likely in their plans. We aim to provide information on portable power stations across various price points, and today, we’ll take a closer look at what the relatively affordable and compact BLUETTI AC70 can offer. This popular model features a 768 Wh battery and promises dependable performance.
Main characteristics of BLUETTI AC70
Before diving into the testing of the power station, let’s first review its key specifications to get a general idea of its potential capabilities.
- Battery information:
Battery capacity: 768 Wh (32 V, 24 Ah)
Battery type: LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)
Service life: 3000+ charge cycles to 80% of original capacity
Control system: MPPT Controller, BMS - AC output:
Inverter type: pure sine wave
AC outlets: 2 x 230V/4.3A
Rated power: 1000 W
Peak power output: 1500 W
Increased power mode: 2000 W - DC system:
USB-C ports: 2×100 W
USB-A ports: 2×5V/2.4A – 12W total
Car socket: 1 x 12V/10A - Input current and charging:
Alternating current: 950 W max.
Solar panels: 500W max, 12V-58VDC, 10A
Charging from the car: 12/24 V from the cigarette lighter socket
Maximum input power: 850 W from the mains and solar panels - Charging time:
850W AC current: 1.3-1.6 hours
Solar panels (500 W): 2.8-3.3 hours - General data:
UPS: yes, up to 20 ms
Pass-through Charging: yes
Weight: 10.2 kg
Dimensions (WxHxD): 31.4×20.95×25.58 cm
Operating and storage temperature: from -20 to 40℃
BLUETTI AC70 page on the manufacturer’s website
It’s worth noting that despite its compact size, this portable power station comes equipped with features typically found in larger, next-generation models. These include direct AC mains connection without the need for a separate charging adapter and pass-through fast charging, allowing connected devices to draw power directly from the grid while the station itself charges. Additionally, it features an Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) function, ensuring that devices powered through the 230V outlets remain unaffected during power outages. We’ll test the real-world performance of these features later on.
Read also: BLUETTI AC200L Portable Power Station Review: Reliable Backup Power for the Entire Home
Positioning and price
As mentioned earlier, the AC70 (1000W, 768Wh) is a mid-range compact model within BLUETTI’s lineup of portable power stations. Its current price on the official European website is €499.
In fact, BLUETTI offers only a few smaller power stations in its lineup. These include the new AC50B (700W, 448Wh), which is gradually replacing older models like the EB55 (700W, 537Wh) and EB3A (600W, 268Wh), as well as the ultra-compact AC2A (300W, 204.8Wh).
Unpacking and package contents
The BLUETTI AC70 comes securely packaged in double-layered perforated cardboard boxes. The outer box serves as a shipping container, while the inner box features a plastic handle for easier carrying. The power station itself is securely held in place by foam inserts and wrapped in a polyethylene bag for added protection. All included accessories are neatly packed in a separate small box.
The package includes three charging cables: one for AC mains, one for solar panels, and one for a car outlet. Additionally, the box contains a user manual, a warranty certificate, and a grounding wire screw.
Read also: BLUETTI AC200L vs OUKITEL P2001 Plus: comparison of portable power stations
Design, materials, build, layout of elements
The design of the BLUETTI AC70 follows the typical aesthetic of the brand’s modern lineup. It features a compact rectangular shape with rounded edges and corners, offering a clean and well-thought-out appearance. The device’s casing is made of durable, impact-resistant dark gray plastic, and the build quality is excellent, as expected. However, the manufacturer notes that the station lacks water resistance, so it should not be used or stored in high-humidity environments.
The top of the station, near the rear, features a cutout that forms an integrated handle for easy carrying.
Given its relatively lightweight and compact size, the station can indeed be considered a fully portable device.
The left panel features only ventilation openings.
On the right side, there is an AC charging port covered by a rubber plug. Unlike larger models that use proprietary AC cables, the AC70 connects to the power grid using a standard C14 power cable, making it easy to replace a damaged or lost cable if needed. Additionally, this side features a threaded connection for the grounding wire.
The rear panel features a sticker with all the relevant information and key specifications of the device.
The front panel houses all the main ports: two 230V AC outlets with pure sine wave support, two USB-A ports, two USB-C ports, a 12V DC input for charging from solar panels, a car outlet, or an external battery, as well as a 12V car cigarette lighter socket.
It’s worth noting that, unlike more expensive models, not all of the ports on the BLUETTI AC70 are equipped with rubber covers—the 230V outlets and USB ports are fully exposed.
Read also: OUKITEL P2001 Plus Portable Power Station Review
Control and display
At the top center of the front panel is an informational LED display. Below it are the power button and two buttons for turning the DC and AC interfaces on and off.
The display is clear and bright, with no complaints. However, it only shows basic information about the device’s status: input and output power for all interfaces, battery charge level, estimated charging time or runtime, and indicators for the current operating modes. There is no built-in settings menu on the station, which is a typical feature of the newer BLUETTI models. All settings can be adjusted through the mobile app, which we will review next.
Read also: EcoFlow River 2 Max power station review: Affordable, fast, cool
Mobile application
The BLUETTI AC70 is controlled via a smartphone using a mobile app. The user guide for the app can be downloaded from the official website.
Android:
iOS:
This charging station connects to the smartphone only via Bluetooth. Therefore, remote control of the station through the internet is not available for this model. Such a feature is supported only by more expensive devices.
You can explore the main features of the BLUETTI app in more detail through the screenshot gallery below:
In addition to duplicating the buttons on the station’s body, the mobile app offers a variety of extra settings – enabling high power mode, selecting UPS mode and charging priority, controlling charging speed, and configuring grid parameters. Additionally, you can activate a mode where the station automatically adapts to the state of the grid if its parameters are unstable. The app also provides a user manual and detailed statistics on energy consumption and cost savings when using the power station with solar panels.
Tests and experience with BLUETTI AC70
To begin with, we will check the key feature of the portable power station, namely pass-through charging and UPS functionality. Why is this important? From experience, I can confidently say that a station with a separate adapter that charges only via DC is very inconvenient because when the power is off, your devices lose power. Then you have to manually switch all devices from the stationary socket to the charging station. When the electricity comes back on, you need to reverse the process. However, with the BLUETTI AC70, you can simply keep the station permanently plugged into the mains, and all critical devices can be powered from the charging station’s outlets.
If the power goes out, thanks to the UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) function, the station automatically activates emergency power supply to the connected devices from the built-in battery through the AC inverter. Once the electricity supply is restored, the station charges itself in parallel while continuing to provide power to the devices.
In this video, I demonstrate how the UPS and pass-through charging function works:
The first test of the BLUETTI AC70 was conducted in a regular living space, where the station was able to power my entire workstation without any issues (a powerful laptop, large 43″ monitor, motorized desk, and all peripherals), a audio receiver + 5 speakers, subwoofer, Wi-Fi router, security system hub, 55″ TV, and an aquarium filtration pump.
All this equipment consumes approximately 300W in total. Accordingly, the station can provide up to 2 hours of autonomous operation for this set of devices from its own battery. Of course, if the stationary power supply is lost, this time can be extended by simply turning off unnecessary electrical devices. For example, if the TV, receiver, and subwoofer are excluded from the power circuit, the consumption drops to 130-150W, allowing me to work for over 4 hours with the large monitor.
Next, we move to the kitchen, where the station faces a more serious test with powerful household appliances. The dual-chamber refrigerator consumes around 140W, and the station easily handles the task of maintaining its continuous operation for 4 hours on the built-in battery.
However, when I attempt to connect additional loads, such as a microwave or coffee machine, which consume around 1000W at the moment, the protection mechanism activates, turning off the inverter.
The situation can be partially resolved by activating the Power Lifting mode in the mobile app.
After enabling the Power Lifting mode, the station is able to handle even powerful household appliances, although not simultaneously with the refrigerator. In any case, these are quite impressive results for a fairly compact power station. The full testing process of the BLUETTI AC70 in the kitchen is demonstrated in several videos below.
Video 1 – Testing without activated overdrive mode:
Video 2 – Testing with the Power Lifting mode activated:
Read also: ALLPOWERS S1500 Portable Power Station (AP-SS-008): Review and user experience
Charging
The fast charging feature via AC power is a truly useful function that significantly reduces the recharge time for the built-in battery. I can confirm that the approximate time for a full charge via AC aligns with the manufacturer’s claims — around 1.5 hours.
Certainly, you can reduce this charging time further by additionally charging the AC70 via DC power from solar panels, a car charger, or an external battery.
It’s also worth noting that the overall power and charging speed are directly related to the noise level produced by the station’s active cooling system. By default, the station is set to a standard (medium) charging speed, which limits the charging current and prevents it from reaching maximum values. In this mode, the station is relatively quiet, with the fan kicking in occasionally, though the noise level is noticeable, but not overwhelming. Through the mobile app, you can adjust this setting to suit your needs—choosing between Turbo or Silent charging. Consequently, the power and noise level will change, so keep that in mind.
Conclusions
The BLUETTI AC70 is a compact portable power station with a broad range of capabilities. Despite its small size, the model offers relatively high electrical power, sufficient for typical household or outdoor use. The built-in battery capacity is average, which imposes some limitations on using the station during extended power outages. However, this is offset by the ability to charge the station simultaneously with both AC and DC power, providing a quicker recovery time.
What I liked
- The overall quality of the device
- Compact size, light weight
- Pass-through Charging and UPS mode
- Standard AC charging cable
- Power Lifting mode 2000W
- High-quality mobile application
Drawbacks
- Lack of rubber plugs on AC sockets and USB ports
- Connection to a smartphone only via bluetooth
Where to buy