After 2 months of solid testing, the GRECELL P500 proves to be a reliable portable power station with a rugged build optimized for the outdoors. It keeps my smartphone, Apple Watch and AirPods charged for weeks without fail. The P500 is comparable to the Jackery EXPLORER 500 and Goal Zero Yeti 500X, but it’s cheaper, more lightweight and provides more ports to plug into.
In this GRECELL review, we’ll provide honest feedback of the GRECELL P500 Portable Power Station and look at design quality, power output, battery life, real world testing to see how the P500 compares to other leading brands like Jackery and Goal Zero Yeti.
Disclosure of Product Sample: We want to be fully transparent with our readers. In the course of creating this review of the GRECELL P500 Mini portable power station, the manufacturer provided us with a sample product for testing in order to write an honest review. This sample product was provided to us at no cost.
GRECELL Review: P500 444W Portable Power Station
From its robust design to its reliable performance, the P500 packs a lot in a lightweight, affordable package. It’s a great companion for camping trips or power outages to keep your important gear charged.
GRECELL P500 Product Overview
The GRECELL P500 is designed to deliver power whenever and wherever you need it, in a package that’s built to last. It’s a lightweight portable power station with a stated 444Wh of capacity, 300-watt output with 600-watt peak surge, pure sine wave delivery, and 10 outlets and ports.
With its wide array of outlets and ports that include AC, DC, USB-A Quick Charge, USB-C PD, and wireless charging, the P500 is a great companion for camping trips or power outages to keep your important gear charged.
Pros and Cons
PROS:
- 444Wh of capacity to power a wide variety of devices.
- Impressive 600-watt surge capacity.
- Diverse selection of outlets and ports that include AC, DC, USB-A Quick Charge, and USB-C PD.
- Individual ON/OFF switches for each outlet and port to prevent energy loss.
- Overload protection automatically shuts down the battery if the wattage exceeds capacity.
- Includes MC4 cable for solar panels.
- Lightweight, rugged build with rubber bumpers along the edges for shock absorption.
- Small enough to fit in a medium-sized carry bag or backpack.
CONS:
- A noisy cooling fan comes on whenever the power station reaches input or output of 5-watts and higher, which makes it hard to use indoors.
- Uses Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxides (NMC) technology, which has a shorter lifespan that LiFePO4.
- No app for remote management.
Unboxing – what’s inside?
- GRECELL P500 Portable Power Station
- 100-240V AC adapter
- 12V car charger cable
- MC4-7.9*0.9/8mm connect cable for solar charging
- user manual
Hardware specs
- Battery cell type: NMC Li-ion
- Maximum Input power: 105W
- Battery capacity: 444Wh
- Max Output: 300W (600W Peak Surge)
- Outlets and Ports: 10 total
- (2) AC: 110V~120V / 60Hz, Total 300W
- (1) Quick Charge USB-C PD: 5V/ 9V/12V/15V/20V⎓3A (Max.60W) / 2.5x faster than a universal USB-C charger
- (3) USB-A 3.0: 5V⎓3.0A, 9V⎓2A, 12V⎓1.5A 18W
- (1) Wireless Charger: 9V⎓1.1 A (10W)
- (2) DC 55*2.5: 12V⎓5A (each), Total 10A
- (1) x Car Outlet : 12V⎓10A
- Inputs: 3 ways to charge
- DC Input: Voltage: 12V~26V Current: 4A~8.5A
- Car Cigaretter Charger Input: 12V~15V Current: 8A~8.5A
- PV (Solar): 12V~26V Current: 6A~8.5A
- Warranty: 24-Months
- Retail Price: $349 ($289 with discount)
- Temperature:
- Operating Temp: 14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C)
- Recharging Temp: 32 to 104°F (0 to 40°C)
- Storage Temp: -4 to 113°F (-20 to 45°C)
Physical Design and Build Quality
The P500 Mini is built for action – I like the compact, sturdy design that enables the portable power station to handle dirt, dust, surprise falls and everyday wear and tear with ease. The exterior is constructed of ABS plastic with rubber bumpers layered along its edging for shock absorption, which a lot . There’s also a foldable grip handle on top for easy transport.
Weather resistance
Weather resistance is essential for any portable power station. The GRECELL P500 is designed with polymer plastic shell to protect against rusting, corrosion and water exposure, while also being able to handle temperatures between 14 to 104°F (-10 to 40°C).
Furthermore, GRECELL components are sealed against dust and moisture intrusion, thus ensuring long lasting reliability in everyday use despite environmental conditions.
Weight and portability
The GRECELL P500 is conveniently lightweight, weighing 9.6 lbs. and with dimensions of 10.75″L x 6.73″W x 6.42″H, it’s small enough to fit in a medium to large backpack. This makes it a great for camping or mobile events. If you need longer off-grid time, consider purchasing a portable solar panel which can be used in tandem to provide longer operating times on a single charge.
Performance and Power Output
Safe Smart Battery Management Systems (BMS)
The GRECELL P500 is designed to efficiently manage energy so that you don’t lose power unnecessarily, with a variety of built-in battery management conservation tools. One of my favorite features are the individual ON/OFF switches for each outlet and port that prevents energy loss.
This means that after you power the power station ON, you need to additionally turn ON the specific outlet or port that you want to use. A lot of portable power station at this size don’t have this option, and it ensures you don’t waste power when you’re not actually using the outlet or port.
Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)
MPPT technology boosts the overall efficiency of solar charging, to help the battery achieve charging speeds up to 94% efficient for solar panels.
Overload Protection and Automatic Shut-Off
The P500 is designed to protect you from over-voltage, current overloads, temperature anomalies and short circuits. When testing the battery, I found that it has an automatic shut-off that kicks in if you try to charge devices that exceed the output, without draining the battery capacity. This is a great feature so that you don’t run the battery down if you accidentally to run devices that are too energy hungry.
Pure sine wave delivery
The GRECELL P500 Portable Power Station utilizes two 3-prong, pure sine wave AC outlets for consistent and reliable power output. This allows the station to deliver a stable voltage, which is essential when running devices like medical equipment.
The pure sine wave also provides more compatibility with all types of electronic devices, such as laptops, TV sets etc., as well as smaller electronics like cell phones or tablets.
Comparison with Other Brands
Jackery EXPLORER 500
The Jackery Explorer 500 portable power station provides more capacity and output compared to the GRECELL P500, however it offers less output ports, longer AC, DC and solar recharge time, is heavier and about $150 more expensive.
Goal Zero Yeti 500X
The Goal Zero Yeti 500X provides a bit more capacity and surge output compared to the GRECELL P500, however it also offers less output ports, longer AC and solar recharge time, heavier weight and is about $50 more expensive.
| GRECELL P500 | Jackery EXPLORER 500 | Goal Zero Yeti 500X | |
| Capacity | 444Wh | 518Wh | 497Wh |
| Output | 300W (600W surge) | 500W (1,000W surge) | 300W (1,200W surge) |
| Battery Type | NMC | NMC | NMC |
| Charge Cycles | 500 charge cycles to 80%+ | 500 charge cycles to 80%+ | 500 charge cycles to 80% |
| Recharge Time | – 5 hours via AC – 5 hours via 80W solar panel – 7-8 hours via DC | – 7.5 hours via AC / DC – 9.5 hours via 100W solar panel | – 10 hours via AC – 4.5 hours via 12V car port – 6 hours via solar 100W panel |
| Output Ports | 10 total: – 2x 110V-120V AC – 3x USB-A QC3.0 – 2x USB-C PD Quick Charge – 1x 12V DC – 1x Car port – 1x Wireless charging pad | 7 total: – 1x AC – 3x USB-A – 2x 12V DC – 1x car port | 7 total: – 2x AC – 2x USB-A – 1x USB-C PD – 1x USB-C – 1x 12V car port |
| Weight | 9.6 lbs | 13.32 lbs (6.04 kg) | 12.9 lbs (5.8 kg) |
| Retail Price | $349 | $499 | $399 |
| Warranty | 2-years | 2-years | 2-years |
Real-World Testing
GRECELL P500 Battery Life and Charging
The GRECELL P500 NCM lithium-ion battery can be charged via 12V~26V DC input, 12V~15V car cigarette input and 12V~26V PV (Solar) input.
Once charged to 100%, I’m able to use the P500 daily for up to 4-5 weeks without needing to recharge. I’m charging my smartphone, Apple Watch, Apple Airpods every day, once or twice per day.
GRECELL P500 Solar Charging
Charging the GRECELL P500 power station by solar power is an easy process and just requires plugging into the solar input.
In my case, I connected the PV port to a BougeRV 100W 9BB mono solar panel using the included MC4 cable. Once the solar cable is connected, the LCD screen illuminates, displaying battery and input power levels.
The P500 has a max solar input of 80W, and I’m able to reach between 70W and 75W of input power when charging. This process consistently takes about 5 hours for the battery to reach 95%, which is faster than expected and exceeds my expectations by 2 hours.
The GRECELL P500 5 hour solar charging speed is faster than comparable products like the Jackery EXPLORER 500 and Goal Zero Yeti 500X, both estimated to take 6 to 9 hours to fully charge via solar.
GRECELL P500 AC Charging
When charging the P500 via AC wall outlet, I connect the 12-24V DC input to the included 100-240V AC adapter and plug into a wall outlet.
AC charging takes about 20 minutes to reach an input level of about 79W, and takes about 4.5 hours to charge the battery to 95%, which is about the same speed as solar charging.
The GRECELL P500 AC charging is
- Faster than the Jackery’s EXPLORER 500 7-hour AC charging speed.
- Similar to the Bluetti 3-4 hour AC charging.
- Slower than the EcoFlow RIVER 2 Max 1 hour X-Stream charging.
GRECELL P500 Pass-Through Charging
I was happy to find that the P500 allows pass-through charging on the USB-A Quick Charge, and USB-C ports when you’re charging via AC wall outlet.
User-Friendly Features
LCD screen
The GRECELL P500 has an easy-to-read LCD screen with a user friendly interface. The display has essential information regarding the power station’s performance, including remaining battery capacity and power output levels for each outlet and port. Knowing the output levels was very useful in making sure I didn’t exceed capacity.
Thanks to this feature users can ensure they get accurate readings of their device’s performance at all times and make sure they never run out energy during critical moments in their journeys!
Emergency flashlight
The great thing about the GRECELL P500 portable power station is its integrated tri-mode emergency flashlight. This includes light, strobe and SOS modes making it perfect for a range of different uses.
The bright LED light has variable brightness levels that can be adjusted to suit various applications and make sure you can see in dark or lowlight environments, while the safety features include a strobe mode for signaling your location in an emergency situation.
It also provides a handy SOS pattern which is hardwired into the unit so you’ll be able to signal your presence when necessary without having to remember any special codes.
What devices can you charge with the GRECELL P500?
I tested a number of devices with the GRECELL P500, and the portable power station performs well with devices rated from 10-watts all the way up to 400-watts.
- iPhone (10W): Approximately 40 to 45 charges
- Fan (25W): Approximately 20 hours
- MacBook Air (60W): Approximately 5 to 7 charges
- 27 Inch LCD Television (50W): Approximately 10 hours
- Blender (250W): Approximately 2 hours
- Hair Dryer (400W): Approximately 1.25 hours
- Hand Saw (400W): Approximately 1.25 hours
Safety and Performance Certifications
The GRECELL P500 Portable Power Station has a number of industry leading certifications, including CE, ROHS, FCC, UL and UN38.3 for safety and performance.
CE Certification
The GRECELL P500 power station has earned the highly coveted Conformité Européene (CE) certification, verifying its compliance with European laws and regulations regarding product safety and quality.
By complying with CE standards, consumers can trust that they are using products that meet rigorous standards for health, safety, environmental protection, and consumer rights. This certification ensures efficient production processes which limits any potential harm to users or adverse effects on the environment due to manufacturing processes.
Additionally, it provides assurance of compatibility across different EU countries and meets technical requirements for use in fields such as construction and electrical engineering.
ROHS Certification
The ROHS certification verifies that the product meets specific environmental regulations and restrictions on the use of hazardous substances.
It also indicates that all components are in compliance with local laws and safety standards. With this kind of assurance, users can be more confident of both eco-friendliness and product safety. Furthermore, ROHS shows a commitment from manufacturers to create sustainable products that adhere to uniformity in production standards across borders.
FCC Certification
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) is an independent agency of the United States government that regulates communications by radio, television, wire, satellite and cable. The FCC certifications are extremely important for ensuring that products like GRECELL T-500 power station meet the regulatory requirements prescribed in terms of electromagnetic interference, as well as safety standards of quality assurance and verification.
UL Testing Report
UL stands for Underwriters Laboratories, which is an independent testing organization that specializes in product safety and performance testing. By certifying the GRECELL T-500 power station as safe and reliable, UL provides users of this product with peace of mind when using it around their family or business.
UN38.3 Testing Report
UN38.3 is a safety certification associated with lithium-ion battery transportation. This certification guarantees that these batteries meet travel requirements set by the United Nations and related organizations for safe transport on land, air or sea, mitigating risks such as accidental discharge or short circuits during transit.
The UN38.3 criteria tests aim to assess various aspects like altitude simulations, vibration testing and shock impact in order to certify the product meets specific functional operating parameters for safe transport of lithium-ion batteries over long distances.
Conclusion
The GRECELL provides a sophisticated level of functionality for a portable power station of this size, and offers a nice mix of convenience and reliability by being both light weight yet powerful enough to charge multiple devices simultaneously.
