Plus: Fascinating insights into employee retention at Nintendo and sales numbers for (some rather pricey) Switch 2 peripherals.

Accessories firm PowerA have released a series of peripherals and items designed to look after your believed new Switch 2 console to avoid a broken, smashed machine while taking it on-the-goTech14:16, 15 Jun 2025The PowerA Slim case for Switch 2Gamers who have just snapped up their fancy new Switch 2 console need some protection for their latest purchase.Because this fine piece of tech can easily be dropped while gaming onto a hard floor.‌Thankfully, a host of peripherals and accessories are already hitting stores for the Nintendo machine just days after its summertime launch.‌And it means you’ve now got options to protect your pricey device from a nasty fall or screen smash early in its gaming life.The bods at Power A have dropped a series of items worth considering for you Switch 2.Our go-to here is the new Slim Case which is a bargain at just £14.99.Article continues belowOfficially licensed by Nintendo, it has a moulded interior with soft fabric lining that perfectly cups your console, keeping it tightly nested from movement when zipped in.The case has a clean, rugged designIt looks the part too, with a grey tough fabric feel and that all-important Switch 2 logo on the front, bottom right, so you can show off to your pals.‌Inside you can even tuck in 10 game cards for your favourite titles thanks to a dedicated rack area.And that has an integrated play stand for on-the-go gamers who want to put out the magnetic Joy-Cons and have the display stand up in the case at a nice viewable angle where it remains protected while you game outdoors with pals.The play stand doubles as a padded screen protector when the system is inside the case, which is ideal.‌We’ve tried this out and it feels of good quality and well padded to protect your console.You can also get a screen protector from the firm to cover your precious 7.9-inch 1080p LCD screen form a break during a fall.There are two in a pack for £9 and, just like mobile phone screen protectors, they’ll give you an extra layer of cover while not affecting the touch screen mechanisms.‌The pack includes a microfibre cleaning cloth, placement guides, dust removal stickers and applicator.The Mario Time advantage controller for Switch 2Finally, if you want to avoid the Joy-Cons altogether there are new controllers for the Switch 2 to consider.Article continues belowThe best looking one is arguably the Advantage wired controller dubbed ‘Mario Time’ which costs £29 and boasts hall-effect magnetic sensor thumb sticks for fluid gameplay, on board audio controls for your gaming headsets and a cool Super Mario themed look.‌‌‌

All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors. However, we may receive compensation from retailers and/or from purchases of products through these links.Featured in this articleBest Overall Sateen SheetsBoll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet SetRead moreFor a Romantic DrapeEttitude CleanBamboo Sheet Set Read moreThe Affordable PickGood Sleep Bedding Egyptian Cotton Sateen SheetsRead moreShow more3 / 8A close cousin to percale and silk, the best sateen sheets offer a happy medium of refinement and softness, all in one durability, and an easy-to-clean fabric.Sateen is known for having a polished appearance because of its lustrous sheen and wrinkle-resistant material. This comes from a tight satin weave that leaves a shiny look without compromising a smooth hand feel. While you can find this bedding in elevated spaces like this vibrant West Village town house thanks to embroidered touches and traditional prints, they’re surprisingly versatile and come in many forms. Here, our editors dive into their favorites for their bedrooms. Since you can find many in higher thread counts though (which we dive into more below), these are durable enough for any room in the house—as seen in this family-friendly getaway.Inside this ArticleBest Overall Sateen Sheets1/8Boll & Branch Signature Hemmed Sheet SetBoll & Branch caught commerce director Rachel Fletcher’s attention when she was browsing for new sheets for a few reasons. One: The brand makes organic and fair trade sheets: Two: She loves a sateen weave, and the retailer mentioned that this set was their bestseller and she wanted to see what the hype was about. “Boll & Branch claims that these cotton sateen sheets are buttery soft, and I definitely agree,” Fletcher says. “That extra-soft feel paired with the lovely, cooling properties make them feel like the luxury sheets that they are.” Along with an earthy color palette (Fletcher has her set in mineral) and thoughtful hem detailing, this set stood out to be our top pick. These do have a higher price point, but as some of the plushest sheets she’s slept on, Fletcher thinks they’re worth it.Specs:Material: 100% organic cottonThread count: N/ASizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, King With Std. Cases, California King, Split KingColors: 18 colors; 8 printsUpsides & DownsidesUpsidesSustainable materialBreathableOrganic colorwaysDownsidesExpensiveFor a Romantic DrapePhoto: Yelena Moroz AlpertPhoto: Yelena Moroz Alpert2/8Ettitude CleanBamboo Sheet Set “These sheets are buttery—pun intended,” says senior commerce editor Nashia Baker, who has the set in the butter yellow hue and loves the fabric’s delicate yet durable feel. Contributor Yelena Moroz Alpert also has this set and says that the cooling lyocell fabric set takes the bamboo sheets category up a notch. “Somehow they feel substantial but incredibly light and smooth,” she says of this splurge-worthy set. “The site says that the silky-soft sateen weave is comparable to 1,000 thread count cotton—and I believe it. I’ve never touched a baby alpaca, but I imagine that it’s as soft as these sheets.”Specs:Material: 100% CleanBamboo lyocellThread count: 1,000 thread countSizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California KingColors: 8Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesPearly appearanceLightweightUltra softDownsidesPriceyThe Affordable Pick3/8Good Sleep Bedding Egyptian Cotton Sateen SheetsDon’t overlook the best Amazon sheets for high-end sateen bedding. Contributor Erika Owen says these are a great option: “After a single night, they became my favorite set, and a few more nights and a wash only locked in this opinion.” She says they’re sumptuous, cool, and durable—and their quality (think texture, weight, and comfort) hasn’t changed after many rounds through the washer and dryer. “I would buy these as a gift for my best friend, if that tells you anything about how much I recommend these,” says Owen. “There’s nothing better than feeling really good as you hit the hay—who doesn’t want a luxury bed situation—and I felt that way every time I dug into these silky sheets. Let it also be known that I’m no stranger to night sweats and these kept me cool every single night.” The finishing touches are the deep pockets and sturdy elastic on the fitted sheet to fit a grand mattress.Specs:Material: 100% Egyptian cottonThread count: 1,000 thread countSizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California King, Split KingColors: 13Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesHigher thread countCoolingSturdy after several washesDownsidesSome shoppers found the fabric weightyA Vibrant Print4/8Rifle Paper Co. Peacock Sateen Bed Sheet SetThese are some of the softest bed sheets out there, just take it from Alpert. Not only are they comfortable to sink into night after night thanks to the plush 300 thread count, but they also veer away from traditional patterns and solid colorways. “I was originally drawn to the peacock print because it is just so whimsical and livens up my guest bedroom,” Alpert says. “But these are also buttery soft. Maybe too soft—my guests never want to leave.” If it wasn’t for the true-to-Rifle print, she would mistake these for hotel sheets because of their supple feel.Specs:Material: 100% combed cotton sateenThread count: 300 thread countSizes: Twin, Full, Queen, KingColors: 3Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesUnique patternsSuppleAiry materialDownsidesNot as ideal for minimalistsClassic Core Set5/8Brooklinen Luxe Sateen Core Sheet SetIf you want sheets with unparalleled quality, durability, and softness that gets better with every wash, multiple AD staff members say you can’t go wrong with these Brooklinen sheets. Fletcher shares that this sateen set is “super classic, smooth, and has a crisp feel.” Sleepers with sensitive skin will also be happy to know that they’re “not at all scratchy or harsh on my skin, like some of the less expensive options I’ve tried in the past,” Fletcher adds.Specs:Material: 100% long-staple cottonThread count: 480 thread countSizes: Twin, Twin XL, Full, Queen, King, California KingColors: 22Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesStructured fabric like a press shirtWrinkle-free designAffordableDownsidesLimited-edition colors sell out fastMore AD-Approved Sateen Sheets6/8Hill House Home Fitted Sheet“For a $100 top sheet and $125 fitted sheet, I truly didn’t know what to expect from a brand as new to the decor game as Hill House Home, but was delightfully surprised at the quality and attention to detail that was put into making these products,” contributor Katarina Kovac says of these Hill House Home sheets.“I wanted something that was crisp yet elevated, and the colored trim in the Savile Sheets was my answer.” Since she’s had her fair share of sheets that have a sandpaper-like texture, she paid close attention to how well these felt after the first wash. To her delight, these “felt soft, velvety, and breathable against my skin, leaving me truly struggling to get out of bed in the morning.”Specs:Material: 100% brushed cotton sateenThread count: N/ASizes: Twin, Full, Queen, King, California KingColors: 6Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesTraditional printsLushSmooth feelThoughtful trimDownsidesFlat sheet, fitted sheet, and pillowcases are sold separately7/8Homebird Sateen Fitted Sheets (Set of 3)Fletcher loves an ethically made, slippery sateen weave, and it took just one night of sleep to be sold on this Homebird set. “They’re very high quality and everything you want in a sateen sheet: incredibly soft to the touch and slightly silky, with a sturdiness to them that you can tell is the result of a high thread count,” she says. “They fit my bed perfectly and also have the most useful feature that, in my opinion, every set of sheets ever made should have: a long-side and short-side label.”Specs:Material: 100% GOTS-certified, long-staple organic cottonThread count: 300 thread countSizes: Full, Queen, KingColors: 7Upsides & DownsidesUpsidesSilky smoothHelpful labels to make the bedDeep pocketsDownsidesOnly available in muted tones

Over the past few months, I’ve had the pleasure of testing out the reMarkable Paper Pro. You can read my full review here, but in short, it gets everything right about the note taking experience. Despite being an e-ink tablet, it does get quite pricey. However, there are certainly some fantastic parts of the experience that make it worth comparing to an iPad Air, depending on what you’re looking for in a note taking device for school, work, or whatever else. Updated June 15th to reflect reMarkable’s new post-tariff pricing. Overview Since the reMarkable Paper Pro comes in at $679 with the reMarkable Marker Plus included, it likely makes most sense to compare this against Apple’s iPad Air 11-inch. That comes in at $599 without an Apple Pencil, and adding in the Apple Pencil Pro will run you an additional $129. The equivalent iPad setup will run you $50 more than the reMarkable Paper Pro. Given the fact that iPad Air‘s regularly go on sale, it’d be fair to say they’re roughly on the same playing field. So, $679 for a reMarkable Paper Pro setup, versus $728 for a comparable iPad Air setup. Which is better for you? Obviously, the iPad Air has one key advantage: It runs iOS, has millions of apps available, can browse the web, play games, stream TV shows/movies, and much more. To some, that might end the comparison and make the iPad a clear winner, but I disagree. Yes, if you want your tablet to do all of those things for you, the iPad Air is a no brainer. At the end of the day, the iPad Air is a general purpose tablet that’ll do a lot more for you. However, if you also have a laptop to accompany your tablet, I’d argue that the iPad Air may fall into a category of slight redundance. Most things you’d want to do on the iPad can be done on a laptop, excluding any sort of touchscreen/stylus reliant features. iPads are great, and if you want that – you should pick that. However, I have an alternative argument to offer… The reMarkable Paper Pro does one thing really well: note taking. At first thought, you might think: why would I pay so much for a device that only does one thing? Well, that’s because it does that one thing really well. There’s also a second side to this argument: focus. It’s much easier to focus on what you’re doing when the device isn’t capable of anything else. If you’re taking notes while studying, you could easily see a notification or have the temptation to check notification center. Or, if you’re reading an e-book, you could easily choose to swipe up and get into another app. The best thing about the reMarkable Paper Pro is that you can’t easily get lost in the world of modern technology, while still having important technological features like cloud backup of your notes. Plus, you don’t have to worry about carrying around physical paper. One last thing – the reMarkable Paper Pro also has rubber feet on the back, so if you place it down flat on a table caseless, you don’t have to worry about scratching it up. Spec comparison Here’s a quick rundown of all of the key specs between the two devices. reMarkable Paper Pro‘s strengths definitely lie in battery, form factor, and stylus. iPad has some rather neat features with the Apple Pencil Pro, and also clears in the display category. Both devices also offer keyboards for typed notes, though only the iPad offers a trackpad. Display– 10.9-inch LCD display– Glossy glass– 2360 × 1640 at 264 ppi– 11.8-inch Color e-ink display– Paper-feeling textured glass– 2160 × 1620 at 229 ppiHardware– 6.1mm thin– Anodized aluminum coating– Weighs 461g w/o Pencil Pro– 5.1mm thin– Textured aluminum edges– Weighs 360g w/ Marker attachedStylus– Magnetically charges from device– Supports tilt/pressure sensitivity– Low latency (number unspecified)– Matte plastic build– Squeeze features, double tap gestures– Magnetically charges from device– Supports tilt/pressure sensitivity– Ultra-low latency (12ms)– Premium textured aluminum build– Built in eraser on the bottomBattery life– Up to 10 hours of web browsing– Recharges to 100% in 2-3 hrs– Up to 14 days of typical usage– Fast charges to 90% in 90 minsPrice– $599 ($529 on sale) for iPad Air– $129 ($99 on sale) for Pencil Pro– $679 bundled with Marker Plus Wrap up All in all, I’m not going to try to convince anyone that wanted to buy an iPad that they should buy a reMarkable Paper Pro. You can’t beat the fact that the iPad Air will do a lot more, for roughly the same cost. But, if you’re not buying this to be a primary computing device, I’d argue that the reMarkable Paper Pro is a worthy alternative, especially if you really just want something you can zone in on. The reMarkable Paper Pro feels a lot nicer to write on, has substantially longer battery life, and really masters a minimalist form of digital note taking. Buy M3 iPad Air on Amazon: Buy reMarkable Paper Pro on Amazon: What do you think of these two tablets? Let us know in the comments. My favorite Apple accessory recommendations: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

We may earn a commission from links on this page.After spending about a week with the Nintendo Switch 2, I have to admit that it’s a good console. It’s priced fairly for its sleek form factor and the performance it offers, and it sets Nintendo up to stay relevant while gaming graphics only continue to get more complex. And yet, for my own personal tastes, it’s still not my handheld of choice. Instead, I’ll be sticking to Valve’s Steam Deck, the first and still overall best handheld gaming PC, at least going by value for money. And if you don’t necessarily care about Nintendo’s exclusive games, there’s a good chance it might be the better option for you, too.The Steam Deck is cheaper than the Switch 2Out of the gate, the most obvious reason to get a Steam Deck over a Nintendo Switch 2 is price. Starting at $400 for a new model, it’s only modestly cheaper than the Switch 2’s $450, but that’s only part of the story. Valve also runs a certified refurbished program that offers used Decks with only cosmetic blemishes for as low as $279. Restocks are infrequent, since Valve is only able to sell as much as gets sent back to it, but when they do happen, it's a heck of a great deal.That said, there is one catch. The Steam Deck OLED, which offers a bigger, more colorful screen and a larger battery, is more expensive than the Switch 2, starting at $549. However, it’s maybe a bit unfair to compare the two, since the Switch 2 does not use an OLED screen and comes with less storage. If all you care about is the basics (I’m perfectly happy with my LCD model), the base Steam Deck is good enough—it’s got the same performance as the more recent one. And that performance, by the way, ended up being about on par with the Switch 2 in my testing, at least in Cyberpunk 2077 (one of my go-to benchmark games).The Steam Deck is more comfortable to hold than the Switch 2This one is a bit of a toss-up, depending on your preferences, although I think the Steam Deck takes a slight lead here. While the Nintendo Switch 2 aims for a completely flat and somewhat compact profile, the Steam Deck instead allows itself to stretch out, and even though it’s a little bigger and a little heavier for it, I ultimately think that makes it more comfortable.At 11.73 x 4.60 x 1.93 inches against the Switch 2’s 10.7 x 4.5 x 0.55 inches, and at 1.41 pounds against the Switch 2’s 1.18 pounds, I won’t deny that this will be a non-starter for some. But personally, I still feel like the Steam Deck comes out on top, and that’s thanks to its ergonomics.I’ve never been a big fan of Nintendo’s joy-con controllers, and while the Switch 2’s joy-con 2 controllers improve on the Switch 1’s with bigger buttons and sticks, as well as more room to hold onto them, they still pale in comparison next to the Steam Deck’s controls. Steam Deck in profile (above) vs. Switch 2 in profile (below) Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt On the Switch 2, there are no grips to wrap your fingers around. On the Steam Deck, there are. The triggers also flare out more, and because the console is wider, your hands can stretch out a bit, rather than choking up on the device. It can get a bit heavy to hold a Steam Deck after a while, but I still prefer this approach overall, and if you have a surface to rest the Steam Deck against (like an airplane tray table), weight is a non-issue.Plus, there are some extra bonuses that come with the additional space. The Steam Deck has large touchpads on either side of the device, plus four grip buttons on the back of it, giving you some extra inputs to play around with. Nice.It’s a bit less portable and a bit heavier, but for my adult hands, the Steam Deck is just better shaped to them.The Steam Deck has a bigger, cheaper library than the Switch 2This is the kicker. While there are cheap games that can run on the Switch 2 courtesy of backwards compatibility and third-party eShop titles, the big system draws (Nintendo-developed titles like Mario Kart World, for example) can get as pricey as $80. Not to say the Steam Deck doesn’t have expensive games as well, but on the whole, I think it’s easier to get cheap and free games on the Steam Deck than on the eShop.That’s because, being a handheld gaming PC, the Steam Deck can take advantage of the many sales and freebies PC gaming stores love to give out. These happen a bit more frequently on PC than on console, and that’s because there’s more competition on PC. Someone on PC could download games either from Steam or Epic, for instance, while someone on the Switch 2 can only download games from the Nintendo eShop.So, even sticking to just Steam, you’ll get access to regular weekend and mid-week sales, quarterly event sales, and developer or publisher highlight sales. That’s more sales events than you’ll usually find on the Nintendo eShop, and if you’re looking for cheaper first-party games, forget about it. Nintendo’s own games hardly ever go on sale, even years after release.But that’s just the beginning. Despite being named the Steam Deck, the device can actually run games from other stores, too. That’s thanks to an easily installed Linux program called Heroic Launcher, which is free and lets you download and play games from your Epic, GOG, and Amazon Prime Games accounts with just a few clicks. Credit: Heroic Games Launcher This is a game changer. Epic and Amazon Prime are both underdogs in the PC gaming space, and so to bolster their numbers, they both regularly give away free games. Epic in particular offers one free PC game every week, whereas if you’re a Twitch user, you might notice a decent but more infrequent amount of notifications allowing you to claim free Amazon Prime games. Some of these are big titles, too—it’s how I got Batman: Arkham Knight and Star Wars Battlefront II. With a simple install and a few months of waiting, you could have a Steam Deck filled to the brim with games that you didn’t even pay for. You just can’t do that on Nintendo.And then there’s the elephant in the room: your backlog. If you’re anything like me, you probably already have a Steam library that’s hundreds of games large. It was maybe even like this before the Switch 1 came out—regular sales have a tendency to build up the amount of games you own. By choosing the Steam Deck as your handheld, you’ll be able to play those games on the go, instantly giving you what might as well be a full library with no added cost to you. If you migrate over to the Nintendo Switch 2, you’re going to have to start with a fresh library, or at least a library that’s only as old as the Nintendo Switch 1.Basically, while the Switch 2’s hardware is only $50 more expensive than the Steam Deck, it’ll be easier to fill your Steam Deck up with high quality, inexpensive games than it would be on the Switch 2. If you don’t care about having access to Nintendo exclusive games, that’s a huge draw.TV Play is a mixed bagFinally, I want to acknowledge that the Steam Deck still isn’t necessarily a better option than the Switch 2 for everyone. That’s why I’m writing from a personal perspective here. Like all gaming PCs, it’ll take some fiddling to get some games to run, so the Switch 2 is definitely a smoother experience out of the box. It’s also got less battery life, from my testing. But the big point of departure is TV play.Playing your portable games on a TV on the Switch 2 is as simple as plugging it into its dock. With the Steam Deck, you have to buy a dock separately (the official one is $79), and even then, you have to connect your own controller to it and manually find suitable TV graphics settings for each game on its own. It’s not nearly as easy or flexible.And yet, for folks like me, I’m willing to say that even TV play is better. Or, depending on what type of PC gamer you are, monitor play.That’s because you’re not limited to playing your Steam Deck games on the Deck itself, dock or not. Instead, you can play on the Deck when you’re away from your home, and then swap over to your regular gaming PC when you’re back. Your Deck will upload your saves to the cloud automatically, and your PC will seamlessly download them. While not as intuitive as plugging your Switch 2 into its dock, the benefit here is that your non-portable play isn’t limited by the power of your portable device, whereas docked Switch 2 play is still held back by running on portable hardware.The tradeoff is that maintaining a dedicated gaming PC in addition to a Steam Deck is more expensive, but maybe more importantly, requires more tinkering (there are ways to build a cheap gaming PC, after all). And I think that’s the key point here. If you want a simple-to-use, pick-up-and-play handheld, the Switch 2 is a great choice for you. But if you’re like me, and you’re not afraid to download some launchers and occasionally dive into compatibility settings or swap between two devices, the Steam Deck might still be the best handheld gaming device for you, even three years later.

Switch 2 turned up on our doorstep this afternoon and here's what you can look forward to if you plug yours in at just past midnight tonight - including one warningTech21:32, 04 Jun 2025Updated 21:32, 04 Jun 2025Here's what Nintendo sent usAfter months of writing about the Nintendo Switch 2 daily (and getting very excited for Mario Kart World), it was a bit of a strange feeling to have the console dropped off at my doorstep earlier today.While I had preordered, Nintendo sent out the console and some peripherals, so I'm in a position to tell you what you can expect if you're attending a midnight launch, or if you're currently queuing outside your store.‌Looking for a more detailed preview of the hardware? You can find that here, and we've also got hands-on impressions of Mario Kart World and Nintendo Switch Welcome Tour.‌Mario Kart World is Nintendo's big Switch 2 launch title(Image: Nintendo)When powering on your Switch 2, you'll need to connect to the internet to download the all-important firmware update that turns it from a pricey paperweight into a nifty console.The console will also introduce you to some of its features and prompt you to add a MicroSD Express card (doing so will format it so it's ready for use).Article continues belowYou can complete the setup with any version of the Switch 2 controllers, and you'll be prompted to start a system transfer from your original console if you have one.We'd recommend doing so, because it'll transfer your saved data to your new system, but it does come with an inconvenience tied to our biggest Switch 2 bugbear so far: painfully slow download speeds.Logging into the console and updating the firmware took about 20 minutes, but downloads move glacially slow.‌Add to that the console trying to download everything from your Switch 1 at once, and I had to spend a few minutes closing downloads down.Even the more modestly-sized games like Puyo Puyo Tetris were dragging on my gigabit Wi-Fi, although I'd imagine it's down to the 'pipes being clogged' as far as servers go.Still, if you're planning to play anything tonight, you might want to stick to physical media for a bit.Article continues belowWhile the Joy-Con are great, I'm massively impressed by the Pro Controller. We'll have a full live blog running most of the day tomorrow to talk more about Switch 2 on its official launch day, but I'll be leaning towards the more traditional pad for my Zelda playthroughs and more.For now, though, I'm pretty pleased I have a physical copy of Mario Kart World to keep me going until Sony's State of Play tonight. Don't forget to check out our predictions.For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletters.‌‌‌

The joy of going camping is usually found in going off-grid for a few days and reconnecting with nature. However, having creature comforts like light and warmth, and even access to medical devices like a CPAP machine, make it worthwhile taking a portable power solution with you. That's where portable power stations come in. Think power banks, only bigger. Power stations come in a variety of power capacities and sizes, and that means that you can find a portable power station for every type of camping, no matter whether you're a backpacker, a car camper, or an RVer.  What is the best portable power station for camping right now?  We've tested dozens of portable power stations in a lab setting and have also done hands-on testing during camping trips and road trips. Based on both experiences, our pick for the best portable power station for camping overall is the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus, thanks to its versatility and the amount of power it provides. As an avid camper myself, I've also included other portable power stations from brands like EcoFlow and Bluetti so you can improve your next camping experience. Sort by All The best portable power stations for camping in 2025 Show less View now at Amazon Jackery is a well-known brand in the power station space, and for good reason. Its versatile power stations consistently rank among our best products, thanks to the enormous power these devices provide and their flexibility in setup, especially in a camping scenario.Steve Conaway, the director of CNET Test Labs, at our sister site, has tested dozens of power stations and said the Jackery is one of his top picks. "The versatility of modularity is what makes this power station so impressive," Conaway said. "You can choose to take just the one unit for regular camping, but if you wanted a bigger setup to power a cabin, you could easily add on more units."Review: This portable battery station can power your home for 2 weeksAnd the great thing about this unit is that if you need more power storage capacity, you can add on the PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack for an additional 2042.8Wh of electrical storage capacity to the system.Jackery has a long track record of building quality, durable, and long-lasting power stations -- which is exactly what you need if you are spending the big bucks on a power station.Remember that the more additions you add to this setup, the heavier it will be. On its own, it weighs 41.9 pounds but can reach well over 100 pounds with more units. Despite the weight, Reddit users note that the solar additions, in particular, have been useful in camping and outdoor situations.Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus specs: Watts/hr: 2042.8W | Continuous watts: 3000W | Surge watts: 6000W | Solar input (W): 1400 | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 61.5 pounds Pros Clean, easy-to-read LCD display Expansion battery modules Solar panels are durable and highly efficient Wheels make moving it a lot easier Cons Expensive Jackery is a well-known brand in the power station space, and for good reason. Its versatile power stations consistently rank among our best products, thanks to the enormous power these devices provide and their flexibility in setup, especially in a camping scenario.Steve Conaway, the director of CNET Test Labs, at our sister site, has tested dozens of power stations and said the Jackery is one of his top picks. "The versatility of modularity is what makes this power station so impressive," Conaway said. "You can choose to take just the one unit for regular camping, but if you wanted a bigger setup to power a cabin, you could easily add on more units."Review: This portable battery station can power your home for 2 weeksAnd the great thing about this unit is that if you need more power storage capacity, you can add on the PackPlus E2000 Plus battery pack for an additional 2042.8Wh of electrical storage capacity to the system.Jackery has a long track record of building quality, durable, and long-lasting power stations -- which is exactly what you need if you are spending the big bucks on a power station.Remember that the more additions you add to this setup, the heavier it will be. On its own, it weighs 41.9 pounds but can reach well over 100 pounds with more units. Despite the weight, Reddit users note that the solar additions, in particular, have been useful in camping and outdoor situations.Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus specs: Watts/hr: 2042.8W | Continuous watts: 3000W | Surge watts: 6000W | Solar input (W): 1400 | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 61.5 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Camping takes all sorts of forms, and there's a power station to suit everyone. For those who head outdoors in an RV or to a remote cabin, the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra (DPU) is a powerful option. EcoFlow debuted the Delta Pro Ultra at CES this year, and compared to the EcoFlow Delta Pro model, the Ultra has double the power and charges, a dedicated 4G LTE modem port to access the app in remote areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, and a 32-minute faster recharge time.ZDNET editor Maria Diaz went hands-on with this unit and called it the "Swiss Army Knife of home backup systems," and its impressive specs back that claim up. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity, 7200W output, and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity.This great power packs a lot of weight,186.4 pounds, to be exact. However, it can be divided into two pieces: the inverter, the top portion, is 70 pounds, and the battery, the bottom portion, is 116 pounds. Diaz noted that her family experienced a power outage recently, and her husband was able to transport the battery part much more easily by separating the pieces.EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra specs: Watts/hr. 7200W | Continuous watts: 6kWh | Surge watts: 10.8 kW | Solar input (W): 5.6kW | Ports: 2×USB-A, 2×USB-C (100W), 6×AC Output, 1×DC output | Weight: 186.4 pounds AC outputs 9 Total capacity 10 Expansion ready 10 USB ports 9 Max output 10 Pros Expandable to up to 90kWh Consumption insights in EcoFlow app Modular design Cons Expensive Heavy EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra Best portable power station for RV camping 4.8 / 5 Score Camping takes all sorts of forms, and there's a power station to suit everyone. For those who head outdoors in an RV or to a remote cabin, the EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra (DPU) is a powerful option. EcoFlow debuted the Delta Pro Ultra at CES this year, and compared to the EcoFlow Delta Pro model, the Ultra has double the power and charges, a dedicated 4G LTE modem port to access the app in remote areas with weak Wi-Fi signals, and a 32-minute faster recharge time.ZDNET editor Maria Diaz went hands-on with this unit and called it the "Swiss Army Knife of home backup systems," and its impressive specs back that claim up. The single unit has a 6kWh capacity, 7200W output, and 5.6kW solar input, allowing it to run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity.This great power packs a lot of weight,186.4 pounds, to be exact. However, it can be divided into two pieces: the inverter, the top portion, is 70 pounds, and the battery, the bottom portion, is 116 pounds. Diaz noted that her family experienced a power outage recently, and her husband was able to transport the battery part much more easily by separating the pieces.EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra specs: Watts/hr. 7200W | Continuous watts: 6kWh | Surge watts: 10.8 kW | Solar input (W): 5.6kW | Ports: 2×USB-A, 2×USB-C (100W), 6×AC Output, 1×DC output | Weight: 186.4 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less Looking for something more compact for overnight camping or hiking? The EcoFlow River 2 Max 500 weighs just 13.1 pounds but has a battery capacity of 500Wh. In addition, you can recharge the unit using one of four methods: AC, solar, 12V in-car, or USB-C. If you choose AC, the unit can go from zero to 100% in an hour, which means you can leave charging to the last minute while camping.The company claims that one full charge of the River 2 Max can charge an iPhone 41 times, a drone 10 times, and an electric blanket eight times.ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and called it "compact enough to be portable, big enough to be practical." "If you want to go totally off-grid, EcoFlow offers a 160W solar panel that can recharge the River 2 Max in about four hours," he wrote. "The panel is durable and waterproof to IP68, so it's the perfect adventure companion for the River 2 Max 500."Verified Amazon customers note that this compact unit has been helpful for everything from camping festivals to powering a CPAP machine in primitive areas.EcoFlow River 2 Max specs: Watts/hr: 500W | Continuous watts: 500W | Surge watts: 1000W | Solar input (W): 220W | Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 13.14 pounds Pros Compact and lightweight Durable build Inexpensive Cons More limited ports and power Looking for something more compact for overnight camping or hiking? The EcoFlow River 2 Max 500 weighs just 13.1 pounds but has a battery capacity of 500Wh. In addition, you can recharge the unit using one of four methods: AC, solar, 12V in-car, or USB-C. If you choose AC, the unit can go from zero to 100% in an hour, which means you can leave charging to the last minute while camping.The company claims that one full charge of the River 2 Max can charge an iPhone 41 times, a drone 10 times, and an electric blanket eight times.ZDNET's Adrian Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and called it "compact enough to be portable, big enough to be practical." "If you want to go totally off-grid, EcoFlow offers a 160W solar panel that can recharge the River 2 Max in about four hours," he wrote. "The panel is durable and waterproof to IP68, so it's the perfect adventure companion for the River 2 Max 500."Verified Amazon customers note that this compact unit has been helpful for everything from camping festivals to powering a CPAP machine in primitive areas.EcoFlow River 2 Max specs: Watts/hr: 500W | Continuous watts: 500W | Surge watts: 1000W | Solar input (W): 220W | Ports: 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C, 4 AC | Weight: 13.14 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less View now at Amazon Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti currently retails at only $359 for Amazon Prime members, making it a great budget pick. Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. Kingsley-Hughes also tested this model and praised it for delivering enough power to energy-intensive devices during a road trip. "It has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days," he wrote, adding, "I've relied on the power station to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently."In his testing, he also found that charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not drained too much.Verified customers praised the AC70 on Bluetti's website, with most of the reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose. Bluetti AC70 specs: Watts/hr: 768W | Continuous watts: 1000W | Surge watts: 2000W | Solar input (W): 500W | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 2 AC | Weight: 22.5 pounds Pros Turbocharge feature Affordable price Cons Some of the better features are only available by using the app Portable power stations can get pretty pricey, but this one from Bluetti currently retails at only $359 for Amazon Prime members, making it a great budget pick. Plus, it charges quickly, especially when utilizing its turbocharging feature. Kingsley-Hughes also tested this model and praised it for delivering enough power to energy-intensive devices during a road trip. "It has enough capacity to meet the needs of a small group for several days," he wrote, adding, "I've relied on the power station to charge my smartphone, cameras, drones, and laptops efficiently."In his testing, he also found that charging the station from a car's 12V outlet is particularly efficient for keeping the unit charged, as long as the battery is not drained too much.Verified customers praised the AC70 on Bluetti's website, with most of the reviewers saying they bought it for camping and were pleased with the experience of using it for this purpose. Bluetti AC70 specs: Watts/hr: 768W | Continuous watts: 1000W | Surge watts: 2000W | Solar input (W): 500W | Ports: 2 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 2 AC | Weight: 22.5 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less Show less What makes this portable power station so versatile for camping is the amount of power and port options. There's a 100W and 60W USB-C port on the front, along with four USB-A ports, so all your devices are covered. There is also a 12V car socket capable of outputting 120W of power and six AC outputs, each capable of 1500W or 2400W in a power surge.Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and said in his review that the Anker 757 Powerhouse is "well thought out, not overly complicated, built with ergonomics in mind, and packs quite a lot of power." Review: Anker 757 PowerhouseAnker is a company that has been in the portable power market for many years, starting out with chargers and power banks, and then later making the leap to power stations. That long heritage is obvious when looking at the overall build quality of the Anker 757.Customer reviews note that adding portable solar panels allows for greater battery charge retention, especially while camping. Kingsley-Hughes said that while he wouldn't carry this 43.9- pound unit too far, the ergonomic handles distribute the weight well, so it's well built for moving from the garage to a truck or RV.Anker 757 Powerhouse specs: Watts/hr: 1229W | Continuous watts: 1500 | Surge watts: 2400 | Solar input (W): 600W | Ports: 4 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 6 AC | Weight: 43.9 pounds Pros Ergonomic design Lots of ports Large display Cons Solar charging could be better What makes this portable power station so versatile for camping is the amount of power and port options. There's a 100W and 60W USB-C port on the front, along with four USB-A ports, so all your devices are covered. There is also a 12V car socket capable of outputting 120W of power and six AC outputs, each capable of 1500W or 2400W in a power surge.Kingsley-Hughes tested this unit and said in his review that the Anker 757 Powerhouse is "well thought out, not overly complicated, built with ergonomics in mind, and packs quite a lot of power." Review: Anker 757 PowerhouseAnker is a company that has been in the portable power market for many years, starting out with chargers and power banks, and then later making the leap to power stations. That long heritage is obvious when looking at the overall build quality of the Anker 757.Customer reviews note that adding portable solar panels allows for greater battery charge retention, especially while camping. Kingsley-Hughes said that while he wouldn't carry this 43.9- pound unit too far, the ergonomic handles distribute the weight well, so it's well built for moving from the garage to a truck or RV.Anker 757 Powerhouse specs: Watts/hr: 1229W | Continuous watts: 1500 | Surge watts: 2400 | Solar input (W): 600W | Ports: 4 USB-A, 2 USB-C, 6 AC | Weight: 43.9 pounds Read More Show Expert Take Show less What is the best portable power station for camping? Based on our hands-on experience and in-lab testing, the Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus is the best portable power station for camping. Its modularity makes it a versatile option for all types of camping. Show more Which portable power station for camping is right for you? It depends on the type of camping you prefer before you choose which portable power station will fit your needs. Consider what devices you want to bring with you and keep powered and whether you will be staying in an RV or cabin vs. a tent. Choose this portable power station for camping... If you want... Jackery Explorer 2000 Plus The best overall option. It packs a lot of power at 3000 continuous watts, and its modularity makes it versatile for camping. EcoFlow Delta Pro Ultra A powerful portable power station best for RV camping. It can run an entire RV or cabin, especially when stacked with other units for increased capacity. EcoFlow River 2 Max 500A compact portable power station for camping. It weighs just 13.4 pounds and features 60 minute fast charging. Bluetti AC70 A budget-friendly portable power station for camping. This unit also has 2,000W surge capability and a turbocharging feature, which allows for super fast charging that can take it from flat to 80% in 45 minutes. Anker 757 Powerhouse  A versatile portable power station for camping with lots of ports. It also has an ergonomic build, making it easier to carry despite its weight. Show more Factors to consider when choosing the best portable power station for camping: Power stations are a significant investment, but they can ultimately upgrade your camping experience to allow for power off-grid. Before making our top picks, we considered several factors.Weight: Bigger isn't always better, especially when it comes to camping. Will the portable power station be wheeled down a paved trail, or will you be moving it from your vehicle to your camp? Do you want something you could carry in a backpack for a day? Battery capacity: If you plan to power an RV or bigger devices from your power station, you want as much battery capacity as you can afford, but for off-grid adventures, it's important to bear in mind that there's a penalty here in the form of weight.Cost: Some units cost several thousand dollars, while others cost a couple hundred. Plus, add-ons like battery packs and solar panels also increase the price.Charging: How do you plan on charging your power station? Are you mostly going to use AC power from an outlet, or do you want the independence of solar?Battery Chemistry: Lithium-ion (Li-ion) is the traditional battery technology, but the newer lithium iron phosphate batteries (LiFePO4) are safer and have a much longer lifespan. Show more How did we test these portable power stations for camping? Over the past few years, we've tested well over 100 different portable power stations to find out which are the best of the best. To do this efficiently, because it takes days to do properly, we've developed a comprehensive testing structure. This not only ensures that manufacturers aren't playing fast and loose with their spec sheet data but also checks whether the units are safe and reliable. Here's an overview of how we test portable power stations.Unboxing and visual inspectionCapacity testsLoad testingUPS capability testingThermal testsSafety testsReal-world usageFor more detailed information on how these tests are carried out, check out this post, where we explore the process more thoroughly.  Show more FAQs on portable power stations How long will a power station last while camping based on its watts? To figure this out, you're going to need to get a pencil and do some back of the envelope calculations.  You're going to need a couple of bits of information.First, you need to know what devices you are going to power. List them all, because forgetting that coffee pot or heated blanket could make the difference between the power station lasting all day, or giving up the ghost on you before the day is over.Specifically, you want to know how much power, in watts, each device draws. This information is usually found on a label on the device. For example, a heater might draw 1,000W, while a CPAP machine might draw 60W. This figure represents the maximum power consumption, and you will find that the power consumption of some devices, such as CPAP machines, fluctuates greatly, while for other devices, like the heater, the power consumption remains quite stable.Next, you need to know how long you plan on running your devices during a day, or between recharges of your power station. Your heater might run for two hours, while the CPAP machine could run for eight hours.Power station capacities are measured in watt-hours (Wh). A device drawing 1,000W running for one hour uses 1,000Wh. Therefore, the same device running for two hours will need 2,000Wh. Heaters are some of the most power-hungry devices that people find themselves needing to run.Similarly, a CPAP machine that uses 60W will consume 60Wh per hour, so running it for eight hours would consume 480Wh.Your total energy usage over 24 hours would then be 2,480Wh.Based on this, you might think that a 2,500Wh capacity power station would be sufficient. However, in reality, nothing is perfect, and there are energy losses in the system. The rule of thumb is to add 20% to your total and then round up to the next highest capacity available. So, you'd be looking at a power station with a capacity of around 3,000Wh to ensure you have enough stored power for the day. Show more How can I make my power station run longer? Simple: Find your biggest power draws and replace them with more energy efficient alternatives. For example, you might find that you can replace that 1,000W heater with a heated throw that only takes 100W to power. That quilt would run for 10 hours on the power that the heater would use in an hour!Another big power hog is incandescent lights. Swapping these out for LEDs will result in huge power savings and dramatically boost your power station's runtime.   Show more What is the difference between a power station and a power bank? The main difference between portable power stations and portable power banks is the amount of power and what they can charge. Power stations have AC outlets and allow you to charge more and bigger devices, including life-saving ones like a CPAP machine, a cooler, or a floodlight for the campsite while going off-grid.Power banks are much smaller and are best for charging devices like phones, headphones, and smartwatches.  Show more Other portable power stations we've tested Further ZDNET Tech Coverage Smartphones Smartwatches Tablets Laptops TVs Other Tech Resources ZDNET Recommends

Any time a new console launches, it goes without saying that the actual hardware itself and the games that it is releasing with are always the top priorities for early adopters, but for a great number of the people who are hopping aboard that early, instant pickups of accessories are also usually high on that list. The Nintendo Switch 2’s release is right around the corner, and as you would expect, upon its release, a number of different accessories will also become available to allow players to optimize, customize, and supplement their Nintendo Switch 2 experience in a variety of ways. With the console’s release right around the corner, here, we’re going to talk about a few Switch 2 accessories that will be available alongside its release, and everything that you should know about them. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – $84.99 Same as with the Switch 1 (and the Wii and the Wii U), Nintendo will also offer a Pro Controller with the Switch 2, an option that many are likely to make use of. For the most part, you can expect the Switch 2 Pro Controller to be similar to the Switch 1 Pro Controller, though as you’d expect, Nintendo will offer a few upgrades and enhancements with the controller’s new version. Similar to the jump from the Switch 1 to the Switch 2 itself, you can expect iterative changes between the two controllers. Let’s talk about those… NINTENDO SWITCH 2 PRO CONTROLLER – NEW FEATURES On top of everything that you’d expect from its previous version, the Switch 2 controller will also come with its own set of new features, including GL and GR buttons on the back that you’ll be able to map different actions and inputs to, the improved HD Rumble 2, the GameChat-tied C Button, and a 3.5 mm audio jack so you can directly plug in headsets. JOYCON 2 CONTROLLERS AND STRAPS – $13.99 In case you want to have additional JoyCon 2 pairs available for multiplayer gameplay (or as backups in case your main pair stops working, even though Nintendo is promising hardier JoyCons this time around- but you never know). they will be available to pick up. For now, Nintendo has only one colour combo available for JoyCon 2 controllers. They will be sold with straps, though straps are purchasable separately as well. JOYCON 2 CHARGING GRIP – $39.99 Much like the original Switch, you can buy a separate JoyCon charging grip for your JoyCon 2 controllers, too, in case you want to be able to play with them while charging them. And much like the regular, non-charging capable JoyCon 2 grip that comes with the Switch 2 console out of the box, this grip will also have the extra GL and GR paddle buttons for players to be able to map any button or action to, and save a profile for on a per-game basis. JOYCON 2 WHEEL – $24.99 Nintendo has something of a tradition of offering steering wheel controllers with its consoles, and that will continue with the Switch 2. JoyCon 2 steering wheels are also available, and each purchase comes with two sets- a red and a blue, same as JoyCon 2 controllers. With Mario Kart World being the big Switch 2 launch title, many will presumably be picking up the steering wheel accessory (though it will of course work with other racing games as well). NINTENDO SWITCH 2 CAMERA – $54.99 One of the big signature features for the Switch 2, at least from Nintendo’s perspective, is Game Chat, the built in voice and video chat platform that will be offered to Switch 2 owners as part of a Nintendo Switch Online subscription. Obviously, the whole video chat aspect of that only makes sense with a camera, and since the Switch 2 doesn’t come with a camera built in, you can buy one separately if this is something that appeals to you. The good thing is that it seems like, at least initially, Nintendo plans to support this accessory in a fair few games too. Mario Kart World will support it right at launch, and Super Mario Party Jamboree is getting an updated native Switch 2 release to support it as well. So you should be able to get some good use out of it, if you do get it. HORI’S PIRANHA PLANT CAMERA FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 If you want a different, whackier version of the Switch 2 Camera, an officially licensed third party option is available courtesy of Hori, which is selling a Piranha Plant Camera for the console. As its name suggests, the accessory is a Switch 2 Camera that comes in the shape of Super Mario’s iconic Piranha Plant. GAMECUBE CONTROLLER – $64.99 The Nintendo Switch Online subscription will offer a brand new library of retro games on the Switch 2, with GameCube titles finally set to be added. The fan favorite console has been requested for retro compatibility on Nintendo consoles for what feels like forever now, so it’s great to see it finally happening here. Much like was the case for other home consoles added to Nintendo Switch Online, Nintendo will offer authentic recreations of GameCube controllers that subscribers can buy and use, if they want to really kick up their nostalgia into next gear. This controller will, like every other Switch 2 controller, include the C button on it. Confusingly enough, this GameCube controller will be totally separate from the GameCube controllers Nintendo has been selling for the last decade for Smash players; those, presumably, can still be used with these GameCube games, although they do lack this controller’s wireless functionality or C button. NINTENDO SWITCH 2 DOCK – $119.99 The Switch 2 will obviously come with a dock right out the box, but if you do need an additional or a spare (or, you know, a replacement in the worst case scenario), you will be able to purchase individual Switch 2 docks, just like with the Switch 1. And though this should really go without saying, do keep in mind that Switch 1 docks won’t work with the Switch 2, and vice versa. CARRYING CASES Carrying cases are something of a necessity with portable consoles for a great many people, and yes, official first party options are available with the Switch 2 as well. A first party carry case and screen protector are being sold by Nintendo, as is a larger All-in-one carrying case that will also let you carry a dock cables, controllers, and cards all together. Of course, plenty of third party carry cases and screen protector options are also available. SAMSUNG MICROSD EXPRESS CARD – 256 GB FOR NINTENDO SWITCH 2 – $59.99 The Switch 2, much like every other current generation machine on the market, comes with a built in SSD for its internal storage, to allow for quicker game streaming and loading times. But, much like on other systems, this poses a unique dilemma when it comes to expanding the storage space available- in fact, the problem is more pronounced for the Switch 2 because as a hybrid console, it can’t really rely on large SSD enclosures. The answer lies in its support for MicroSD Express cards- the “express” part of the name is important, because these cards read and write data incredibly fast, at speeds comparable to a solid state drive. These cards are the only microSD cards that will work on a Switch 2- the regular ones can be used to transfer or store screenshots and videos, but other than that, you need a microSD Express card. Currently, these cost a fair bit, but since this is a market standard format, hopefully the prices will go down very quickly over time. NINTENDO SWITCH ACCESSORIES COMPATIBILITY The most important point to keep in mind for Switch 2 accessories, arguably, is this one- every single Switch accessory and controller you already own is compatible and supported on the Switch 2. There are some obvious exceptions where those have been necessary- as mentioned, regular microSD cards won’t work on Switch 2 beyond in a very limited capacity, and obviously you cannot use you existing Switch 1 carrying cases or screen protectors for your much larger Switch 2. But those obvious exceptions aside, everything works on the Switch 2, other than when you need to use specific features that weren’t available with the Switch1. So, for instance, while your old Switch 1 JoyCons will work with the Switch 2,, you won’t be able to use any C button related features, since, well, there is no C button for you to use. Similarly, you can continue using your Switch 1 Pro Controller with the Switch 2, but you won’t be able to use it to power on your console. So if you’re not really in the mood to spend a lot of money on getting these accessories, which, let’s face it, are going to be pricey- well, you don’t have to. Most of your existing stuff will work just fine, with some caveats.