Portable power stations are incredibly versatile and useful tools for a variety of situations, making them a must-have for anyone who enjoys outdoor activities or needs backup power at home. These compact devices allow you to charge multiple electronics simultaneously, from smartphones and laptops to appliances, ensuring you stay connected and powered up wherever you are or whatever is happening. Whether you're camping in the wilderness, hosting a backyard barbecue, or facing a sudden and unexpected power outage, a portable power station provides a reliable source of energy that enhances convenience and peace of mind.Also: The best Black Friday deals live nowHowever, the downside to these handy devices is their price tag, which can often be quite steep. Investing in a quality portable power station can feel like a significant financial commitment, especially when you're looking for one with decent capacity and features. This is why taking advantage ofBlack Friday -- now only two weeks away -- is such a savvy move. During this shopping extravaganza, which is slowly but surely creeping up on us, you can find substantial discounts on portable power stations, allowing you to secure a high-quality unit at a fraction of the regular price. By planning ahead and shopping smartly on Black Friday, you can enjoy the benefits of a portable power station without breaking the bank.And I'm here to help you do just that. After reviewing well over 100 power stations this year alone, and having close contact with the big names, I've been able to find you the very best deals live ahead of Black Friday.Shop deals at AmazonOur favorite early portable power station deals for Black Friday 2024Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 Portable Power Station: $459 (save $340 at Amazon + $60 off on-page coupon): This unit features 1,500W AC output and 3000W surge peak, and can handle multiple appliances, including AC units, fridges, and electric pots. It also features PD fast USB-C charging which gives you rapid charging speed without power adaptors.EcoFlow Delta 2 Max with 4 x 100W solar panels: $1,299 (save 1,000 at Amazon): The perfect whole-home solution that an harvest 400W of power when the sun is shining.Bluetti AC200L: $999 (save $1,000 on Amazon): This is a fantastic power station, boasting 2,400W output, as well as supporting expansion with diverse battery packs, fora maximum capacity of 8192Wh.EcoFlow River 3: $159 (save $100 at Amazon): Equipped with 6 outlets, this power station that's small enough to fit on your nightstand can charge 6 devices at once with an AC output of 300W (600W surge).Bluetti Power Station AC300&B300K Expansion Battery: $1,699 (save $1,300 at Amazon): This is a powerhouse, with the inverter offering an array of AC and USB ports for outputting that power, while the B300K brings 3,072Wh of power (and you can daisy chain up to four B300K units!).EcoFlow Delta 3 Pro: $2,959 (save $740 at Amazon): The EcoFlow Delta Pro 3 supports both 120V and 240V voltages and has a 4,000W output (6,000W with X-Boost, scalable up to 12,000W), allowing this unit to power nearly every home appliance out there, even massive 3-ton AC units or 1 HP water pumps.Jackery 1000 Plus Solar Generator Kit: $1,399 (save $700 at Amazon): With a massive 1,264Wh capacity, this unit supports up to three add-on battery packs at a time, expanding from 1.25kWh to a huge 5kWh. This powerhouse is the ideal solution for off-grid living, road trips, photography, and a variety of outdoor activities.EcoFlow River 3 with 45W solar panel: $199 (save $140 at Amazon): A great portable solution, perfect for throwing into a backpack or vehicle.Bluetti EB3A: $198 (save $71 at Amazon): This portable power station has it all -- a 600W AC inverter, 268Wh LiFePO4 battery pack, and 9 outlets, enough to keep your devices powered while you are out and about off-grid or during a power outage. EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra Maria Diaz/ZDNET Current price: $4,649Original price: $6,299The EcoFlow Pro Ultra is a whole house generator that features triple inverters and a battery. Each inverter supports 120V & 240V and has an massive 7,200W output, allowing you to run almost any heavy household appliance, even a 3-ton central air conditioner. Multiply that by three and the inverters can handle an incredible 21.6kW AC output. View now at Amazon Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET The AC180, as is the case for all Bluetti units I've tested recently, absolutely excels in this area as well. Its display is bright and clear, complemented by just three backlit buttons, striking the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality. View now at Amazon Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Current price: $459Original price: $699This power station is aimed at those drone pilots who are away from a power outlet for extended periods. Along with the usual AC and USB ports, this power station also has SDC ports designed specifically for fast-charging DJI drone batteries with each port being used to charge one battery at a time. View now at Amazon Jackery Current price: $2,599Original price: $4,999Featuring 4,085.6 Wh capacity, this is a portable power station that is capable of powering heavy load devices of up to 3,000W, which means that heavy loads such as air conditioners are not off the list. Perfect for RVs, this unit is more than capable of more meeting all your power needs for outdoor exploration or home use. Additionally, it is whisper quiet, producing only 30dB when in operation. View now at Amazon Jackery Current price: $3,499Original price: $4,999The Solar Generator 5000 Plus includes several standout features that put it head and shoulders over the competition. First, the 5kWh capacity is enough to run a home for a day, and with every Battery Pack 5000 Plus you add, you add an extra day of running, up to a colossal 60kWh.The unit also supports 120V and 240V voltage output, so it can handle everyday devices like lights and laptops, along with heavy-duty equipment such as dryers, water pumps, and ovens. It can also be used to recharge electric vehicles.The 0ms response time in UPS mode is also useful for situations where you want the unit to start immediately when the power dips, making it perfect for powering sensitive devices such as routers, backup devices, and medical devices such as CPAP.And, to top all that off, it's whisper quiet, running at only 30 dB, so the unit won't disturb anyone's slumber. View now at Amazon EcoFlow Current price: $1,099 (with Amazon Prime)Original price: $1,899With a huge 2,400W output (3,600W surge) and 2,026Wh of power, this single unit can power up to 15 devices simultaneously. Throw in the 160W solar panel and you have a perfect system for keeping the lights on when the power goes out. View now at Amazon EcoFlow Current price: $2,999Original price: $3,199This is the perfect system to choose as a home backup system or if you want to harvest power using solar and use that to power your home. The system can output a whopping 3,500W of power, enough for the heaviest of workloads. But at 90 pounds, this is not something you're going to want to be taking in and out of a car. View now at Amazon Jackery Current price: $700Original price: $1,299The perfect portable off-grid solution in the form of a power station with 1,070Wh of power capacity and hefty 1,500W power output (3,000W surge), this is a power station that can handle most home appliances with ease. If you're looking for a backup system that done't consume a whole room and cost the earth, this is a great starting point.The panel can charge the unit in about 6 hours. View now at Amazon Jackery Current price: $89Original price: $129While Jackery's most compact offering yet may resemble a power bank, it's truly a solar generator, built to the rigorous standards of its larger counterparts. The Explorer 100 Plus can even be recharged using solar panels like theSolarSaga 100.Want to buy kit that includes the solar panel? No problem,Jackery has you covered. View now at Amazon Best Black Friday portable power station solar panel dealsBluetti 200W solar panel: $350 (save $150 at Amazon with coupon): This 200W solar panel is 200W solar panel is built to survive bumps and scratches, and is IP65 rated to shrug off water splashes.Jackery Solar Saga 100W: $210 (save $64 at Amazon with coupon): This is the perfect solar panel for smaller portable power station. It folds away, has a kickstand for easy setup, and the IP65 water-resistant rating means that it is protected against water splashes.Jackery SolarSaga 200W: $474 (save $225 at Amazon): This is the perfect solar panel for larger portable power station. Same as it's smaller counterpart, this one It folds away, has a kickstand for easy setup, and is IP65 rated.FAQsWhen is Black Friday?Black Friday is set to dazzle shoppers on Nov. 29, 2024. This exciting day of shopping follows Thanksgiving in the US and kicks off the holiday shopping season with a bang, offering major deals and discounts across a wide array of products.When is Cyber Monday?Cyber Monday is the first Monday following Thanksgiving, and this year it falls on Dec. 2, 2024. This shopping event follows Black Friday and is known for offering fantastic online deals, making it one of the busiest days for e-commerce.Are portable power station deals really better on Black Friday?In a word, yes. But as always, vigilance is needed to keep retailers and manufacturers honest. Taking ten bucks off the price of something costing several hundred dollars is not the sort of deal that would make the cut here, so you can always be guaranteed that we'll help you identify the best deals.What's the difference between Black Friday and Cyber Monday?Black Friday and Cyber Monday are two of the biggest shopping events of the year, but they cater to different shopping preferences and experiences. Black Friday, which occurs the day after Thanksgiving, is traditionally known for its in-store sales and literal doorbuster deals. Cyber Monday takes place the following Monday and is all about online shopping.Dating back to 2005, Cyber Monday was historically a day when retailers took advantage of people being back at work and having access to the internet, allowing them to do some sneaky shopping while they were supposed to be working.How did we choose these Black Friday deals?Over the past year, I've handled and reviewed dozens of power stations, ranging from small handheld units to large, wheeled systems that can power a home for days. I have a solid understanding of what's available, what's worth it, and what constitutes a fair price.I've also examined customer reviews to understand what matters to real users of the power stations I'm recommending. My personal experiences, whether positive or negative, may not reflect the broader consensus, so it's important to consider the opinions of others.Where can you shop the best Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals?Historically, I've found that the best power station deals are found on Amazon, but I do keep an eye on the likes of Walmart and Best Buy, as well as the manufacturers themselves.What are the best Black Friday deals?ZDNET's experts have been searching through Black Friday sales live now to find the best discounts by category. These are the best Black Friday deals so far, by category:You can also find the best Black Friday deals by price:And the best Black Friday deals by retailer:Top holiday deals