Bluetti Apex 200 Review: A Versatile Power Hub for Home and RV

It’s hard to overstate just how good the Bluetti Apex 200 power station truly is. In fact, as far as devices like this go, it is actually a bit of a wonder. This unit has some of the most eye-popping specs we’ve ever seen in the power station space, making it primed to become the power hub for use in every aspect of your life. Thanks to its outstanding design, incredible versatility, and impressive expandability, this device can serve as a whole-home backup system, keep your RV running at a remote campsite, and provide plenty of power at the job site, too. It has all the right ports, includes remote monitoring via your smartphone, and is light enough to take car camping. It even has an affordable price tag, easing the barrier to entry while offering plenty of room to grow along with your needs.

So what makes it so special? Read on to find out.

Performance Power House

If you’re looking for portable power for use on your adventures, the Apex 200 definitely has you covered. The device has a storage capacity of 2560Wh and a continuous max power output of 3200W. It also supports up to 3000W of solar charging, which can replenish the battery to 80% in about 50 minutes and fully tops off the lithium power cell in about 1.7 hours. All of that functionality comes in a package that weighs less than 60 lbs and includes two built-in handles that make it easy to move around.

On its own, the Apex 200 is an impressive piece of kit capable of recharging or powering just about anything you plug into it, including an RV. But the device is also compatible with Bluetti’s line of expansion batteries, which expands its capacity to an incredible 33.28kWh. That’s enough to run your entire home for days at a time. Adding an expansion battery also increases the power station’s performance, with output bumping up to a sustained 3600W. When connected to your home energy system, that extra bit of power output won’t seem like much, but RVers and overlanders will appreciate the additional output—not to mention storage capacity—they’ll receive simply by adding an expansion battery.

Of course, all of that capacity and performance isn’t especially useful if you have a limited number of charging ports to plug into. Never fear, as the Apex 200 doesn’t disappoint in that regard either. The unit comes with three 120V AC outlets like the ones found in your home, plus two USB-A (15W) and two USB-C (100W and 150W) ports. It also has a 12V vehicle cigarette lighter port, an Anderson 12V/30A port, and a TT-30R port, which directly accepts RV 30A plugs. Yes, you literally can plug your RV directly into this power station and run lights, appliances, and other features.

Recharging the Apex 200 itself is surprisingly quick and easy, too. As mentioned, it can be recharged to 80% using solar in as little as 50 minutes, with a full recharge requiring just 1.7 hours. As always with solar, charging times and speeds will vary depending on the solar panels, cloud cover, amount of direct sunlight and other variables. Alternatively, plugging into a 120V AC outlet takes just 46 minutes and 1.6 hours for an 80% or a full charge, respectively. Other options include recharging via a vehicle alternator, the 24V outlet in a car, or a gas-powered generator, each of which tops off the power station in a relatively quick and easy fashion.

Keeping a Low Profile

One of my favorite things about the new Apex 200 is its relatively flat, low-profile design. Not only does this give it a distinctive look that stands out from the crowd, it makes it easy to stack with the expansion batteries when setting up a home backup energy solution. It also has the added benefit of making it easier to store in an RV cargo hold or the trunk of a car. To be clear, the power station is still sizable by total volume, but because it isn’t as tall as some of its competitors, it fits neatly into more spaces and maintains a good center of gravity.

If you’re working on your own custom camper van build, or upgrading an existing power system in an RV or overlanding vehicle, you’ll appreciate the Apex 200’s low profile, too. The device offers everything you could ask for, including excellent access to its solar input ports and a large—yet still quiet—fan to ensure proper cooling for its delicate circuits. And if you do want to add additional batteries to the setup, you can do so quickly and easily with dedicated connection ports.

The Apex 200’s design also puts several nice physical buttons in easy reach, including a clearly marked, illuminated power button that is easy to find even in the dark. This seems like a simple thing, but some competitors have gotten a little too clever with these buttons that don’t always make it clear exactly what you have to push in order to activate the power station. There are also two dedicated buttons for turning on the AC and DC charging ports, as well as an “Action” button that can be programmed—via the Bluetti app—to grant quick access to a variety of functionality.

Another handy switch found on the front of the Apex 200 gives users the ability to adjust the device’s charging mode. This switch toggles between three settings: Silent, Auto, and Turbo. In “Silent” mode, the power station prioritizes staying quiet over charging at a rapid pace, while “Turbo” does the opposite. “Auto” mode selects the best option available based on current battery levels and power out settings. During our testing, we found that even in Turbo mode, the unit stayed relatively quiet, but in the other two settings we rarely heard a peep out of it at all.

Smartphone App Control Comes of Age

Using a smartphone app to monitor and control a power station isn’t new, but Bluetti continues to lead the way in this area. This feature allows users to activate and deactivate charging ports, adjust settings, connect to the Apex 200 via WiFi or Bluetooth, and much more. Of course, it also lets you see how much energy is flowing in and out of the device, which is important for monitoring usage, estimating recharge times, and getting a general sense of performance. The app also enables firmware updates to ensure the unit is running the best available software and can even add new features over time.

If you’re using the Apex 200 as the hub for your home backup power solution, the smartphone app is even more useful. It provides important context for your energy usage both currently and over time, and can even be used to adjust settings remotely. The device can even watch for severe weather alerts and update its functionality to account for potential blackouts. Users can also switch charging modes on the fly, schedule charging output to ensure connected gadgets and appliances are powered, and turn on power lifting mode when a bit of extra energy is needed. This is all just the tip of the iceberg for what the Bluetti smartphone app provides, as the company has built an underlying software platform that puts a lot of functionality into the palm of the user’s hand.

The level of sophistication found in the Apex 200’s software, firmware, and hardware is impressive, to say the least. The device is extremely well designed and built and marks the culmination of years of research and development on the part of Bluetti. Everything about this device screams quality, which also translates to ease of use for veteran power station owners and newcomers alike. This is especially important as an increasing number of people are searching for ways to not just power their outdoor adventures, but ensure that their homes are kept safe, comfortable, and livable during prolonged power outages. This device can do that, and much more, all while growing and transforming to meet the needs of a changing life.

An Affordable Energy Solution

It wasn’t all that long ago that a power station with this level of sophistication and functionality would have been beyond the reach of most people. Similar products from other manufacturers in the past often cost several thousand dollars before adding any expansion batteries to the mix. But thanks to improving technology, rapidly scaling manufacturing processes, and just plain innovative design, the Apex 200 arrives with a price that won’t break the bank and makes for a great starting point for users to scale up over time.

The Bluetti Apex 200 is officially available now with an initial price tag of $1099. That price is for orders made from November 5–19. Anyone who orders between November 20–30 will receive early-bird pricing of $1149, while a launch price of $1199 runs from December 1–5. You can also take an additional 5% off the price using the promo code: BLUETTI5OFF.

When placing your order, keep in mind that larger home backup solutions can use multiple Apex 200 devices to handle more expansion batteries. If you’re considering using this power station as your home energy hub, it may be worth ordering more than one unit now at these discounted prices. You’ll always be able to expand your system later, but depending on your home energy plans, you can save quite a bit of money by taking advantage of early discounts.

By this point of the review, you already know that we’re big fans of this power station. It is the most versatile device of its kind that we’ve ever seen, allowing owners to use it at home as part of a grand backup power solution or take it with them on the road when camping, traveling, or working. Additionally, this unit is well suited for use in and around an RV, or as a hub for a camper van or overlanding vehicle build. It delivers so much functionality in a compact design that it really is an impressive piece of technology that changes the game in many ways.

To learn more about the Bluetti Apex 200, visit the company’s website. There, you’ll find a full rundown of the technical specs, use cases, and detailed information on setting up a whole home energy solution.