When a company like DJI, best known for its drones that conquer the skies, decides to plant its feet firmly on the ground with a new product, you pay attention. That’s the case with the DJI Power 2000, a portable power station designed to keep your gear running no matter where you are. I got my hands on the Power 2000, along with a portable solar panel and the carrying trolley, to see if DJI’s ground game is as strong as its air game. After putting it through its paces, I can say it’s a seriously impressive piece of kit, though not without its quirks.
DJI Power 2000 Review
When a company like DJI, best known for its drones…
First Look: Built Like a Tank
Right out of the box, the Power 2000 feels substantial. And by substantial, I mean heavy. Weighing in at nearly 50 pounds, this is not something you’ll be casually slinging over your shoulder. The build quality, however, is exceptional. It feels less like a piece of consumer electronics and more like industrial-grade equipment. The casing is made from flame-retardant materials, and the sturdy, built-in handles make lifting it a two-handed, but secure, job.
Given the weight, the carrying trolley isn’t just a nice accessory; it’s almost essential if you plan to move the Power 2000 more than a few feet. The trolley is well-designed and makes wheeling the unit around, even over slightly uneven ground, a breeze. It’s a practical solution to the unit’s biggest physical drawback.
One of the first things I noticed, and my biggest initial gripe, is that you can’t just turn it on and start using it. You have to connect it to the DJI Home app first. It’s a quick step, but it feels like an unnecessary hurdle when you just want to plug something in and get power.
Power and Performance
Once you’re past the app setup, the Power 2000 is all business. It boasts a 2048Wh capacity and a massive 3000W output, which is enough to power about 99% of common household appliances. I threw a few challenges at it, from running a power-hungry miter saw to keeping a chest freezer going during a simulated outage. The Power 2000 didn’t flinch. It handled the surge from the power tool and the steady draw from the freezer effortlessly, with the cooling fans remaining surprisingly quiet.
The front of the unit is decked out with a generous array of ports:
- Four standard AC outlets
- Four USB-A ports
- Four USB-C ports (two at 65W and two powerful 140W ports)
- Two dedicated SDC (Super-Fast Direct Charging) ports for DJI drones
The high-wattage USB-C ports are fantastic for modern laptops and devices, capable of fast-charging a 16-inch MacBook Pro at its full 140W speed, provided you have the right cable.
When it’s time to recharge the unit itself, the speed is impressive. Plugged into a standard wall outlet, it can go from empty to 80% in just 55 minutes, and a full 100% in about 90 minutes. This is incredibly convenient, minimizing downtime between uses.
The DJI Ecosystem and Solar Charging
What sets the Power 2000 apart from some competitors is its integration with DJI’s own products. The SDC ports allow for super-fast charging of certain DJI drone batteries, including the Mavic 3, Air 3, and Inspire 3 series. If you’re a professional creator or serious hobbyist already in the DJI ecosystem, this is a killer feature. It’s worth noting that it doesn’t fast-charge the Mini series drones, but you can still charge them perfectly fine using the standard USB-C ports.
I also tested the solar charging capability with one of DJI’s portable solar panels. The setup is a little clumsy. You have to connect the panel to a separate Solar Panel Adapter Module (MPPT), which then plugs into one of the SDC ports on the Power 2000. The module can be screwed onto the side of the main unit, which is a neat touch, but it feels a bit like an afterthought.
With a single 200W panel on a bright day, I was seeing around 180W of input. At that rate, charging the entire 2048Wh battery from zero would take over 10 hours. Realistically, a single panel is best for topping off the battery or slowing the discharge rate while you’re using it. For serious off-grid charging, you’d need to chain multiple panels together.
Safety and Other Smart Features
DJI didn’t skimp on safety. The Power 2000 uses a Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) battery, which is known for its stability and long lifespan. DJI promises it can handle over 4,000 charge cycles, which translates to roughly a decade of regular use before you see significant degradation. The unit is also packed with 26 temperature sensors and 21 fuses to monitor its health and prevent any issues.
Another excellent feature is the Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) mode. If you have the Power 2000 plugged into the wall with your devices plugged into it, it will switch over to battery power in just 0.01 seconds if the grid goes down. This is fast enough to keep sensitive electronics like computers running without a hiccup.
The system is also expandable. You can connect up to 10 additional battery packs to create a massive 22,528Wh power reserve, turning it from a portable solution into a serious home backup system.
Final Thoughts
So, who is the DJI Power 2000 for? It’s a fantastic, if pricey, power station for anyone who needs reliable, high-output power away from an outlet. For DJI drone operators, the fast-charging SDC ports make it a near-perfect field companion. It’s also ideal for RV life, overlanding, outdoor events, or as a robust home backup for power outages.
The DJI Power 2000 is a powerhouse in every sense of the word. It’s built tough, delivers a massive amount of clean and quiet power, and recharges incredibly fast. The deep integration for drone users is a unique and compelling advantage.
The main downsides are its significant weight and the annoying requirement to activate it via an app before you can use it. But the weight is a trade-off for its ruggedness and large capacity, and the carrying trolley makes it manageable. While the solar charging setup could be more elegant, it’s a functional and valuable option for off-grid use.
Overall, the Power 2000 is a top-tier product. It delivers on its promises with thoughtful design and powerful performance. If you can justify the PhP87,790 price, and its weight isn’t a dealbreaker, it’s one of the best portable power stations on the market today.
Source: Gadget Pilipinas
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