{"id":541152,"date":"2026-04-20T14:21:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-20T14:21:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/541152\/"},"modified":"2026-04-20T14:21:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-20T14:21:15","slug":"djis-latest-power-station-is-proof-that-good-things-come-in-mini-packages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/541152\/","title":{"rendered":"DJI\u2019s latest power station is proof that good things come in mini packages"},"content":{"rendered":"

As an avid vanlifer, I have to carefully curate everything I carry in order to eke out every square inch of storage I can to support life off the grid for weeks at a time. That\u2019s why I jumped at the chance to review DJI\u2019s latest power station.<\/p>\n

The DJI Power 1000 Mini<\/a> is almost half the size of the original DJI Power 1000<\/a> released two years ago with the same 1kWh battery capacity. And from my calculations, it\u2019s also the smallest 1kWh power station from the major brands that money can currently buy.<\/p>\n

DJI\u2019s little power station also has a few tricks up its sleeve, including a built-in retractable USB-C cable, a light that can be controlled remotely, an integrated MPPT controller that turns it into a solar generator, and the option to fast-charge off my van\u2019s alternator when wired up to the starter battery. Hoozah!<\/p>\n

I found myself using the little DJI power station far more than expected in my two months of testing, despite traveling with a giant 8kWh battery system<\/a>. The Power 1000 Mini is so small that I don\u2019t hesitate to grab it whenever I need to power a projector for an outdoor movie night, keep my Starlink Mini internet running in a field, or power an air compressor to inflate my tires after leaving a sandy beach.<\/p>\n

The \u20ac579 \/ \u00a3449 Power 1000 Mini\u2019s diminutive size does come with a few tradeoffs \u2014 dongles, ugh! \u2014 but I think DJI has struck an excellent balance between portability, versatility, and power.<\/p>\n

Right now, it\u2019s unclear if it\u2019ll get approved for sale in the US because \u201cthe application for authorization is still pending,\u201d according to DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

$607<\/p>\n

The GoodThe smallest 1kWh power station availableCan fast-charge off car alternator Built-in solar MPPT controllerBuilt-in retractable USB cableThe BadRelatively weak AC outputUSB-C maxes out at 100WDonglesUnclear if it\u2019ll get approved for US<\/p>\n

Most people still think of DJI as a drone company, but the Chinese tech giant has branched out into several product categories, where it\u2019s introduced real innovation. For example, the incredibly small and powerful Avinox e-bike drive system<\/a> it developed has radically transformed what mountain bikers expect in terms of performance.<\/p>\n

Similarly, the DJI Power 1000 Mini resets expectations about how large a 1kWh power station should be. Just look at how it stacks up to the competition.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite shrinking the footprint, DJI couldn\u2019t do much with the weight, but most of that can be attributed to the industry settling on long-lasting LFP batteries.<\/p>\n

Power StationCapacityWeightDimensions (L \u00d7 W \u00d7 H)Est. VolumeDJI Power 1000 Mini1008 Wh11.5 kg (25.3 lbs)314 \u00d7 212 \u00d7 216 mm~14.3 LitersJackery Explorer 1000 v21070 Wh10.8 kg (23.8 lbs)327 \u00d7 224 \u00d7 247 mm~18.0 LitersAnker SOLIX C10001056 Wh12.9 kg (28.4 lbs)376 \u00d7 205 \u00d7 265 mm~20.4 LitersEcoFlow DELTA 21024 Wh12.0 kg (27.0 lbs)400 \u00d7 211 \u00d7 281 mm~23.7 LitersBluetti AC1801152 Wh16.0 kg (35.2 lbs)340 \u00d7 247 \u00d7 317 mm~26.6 Liters<\/p>\n

Some of DJI\u2019s space savings are the result of using a less powerful inverter. On paper, DJI says the Power 1000 Mini can produce a continuous 800W of AC output (with a 1000W peak). That\u2019s enough to power appliances like a small microwave or Instant Pot, but not a hair dryer set to max or power tools at a job site. For comparison, EcoFlow\u2019s 1kWh Delta 2 and Anker\u2019s Solix C1000 both offer 1800W of continuous output.<\/p>\n

In my testing, the Power 1000 Mini could power my 800W water boiler and, surprisingly, even my Nespresso coffee machine, which can briefly pull as much as 1200W. But it can\u2019t power them simultaneously unless the power station is plugged into an AC wall jack. Then its bypass mode kicks in to deliver as much as 2200W of output to my 240V European model, which drops to 1440W for 120V US models.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Powering my hot-water shower pump with the help of a 12V barrel dongle attached to the power station\u2019s SDC jack.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The built-in, retractable USB-C cable is long enough to charge my laptop at up to 100W.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s barely bigger than Anker\u2019s portable projector, which lacks a battery of its own.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The built-in light is useful for some early morning spelunking while my wife sleeps.<\/p>\n

Whenever I exceeded its maximums, the Power 1000 Mini shut down gracefully with an \u201coverload\u201d message on the display, and a more detailed error report in the DJI Home app. It cleared with a simple on\/off toggle of the power station.<\/p>\n

DJI\u2019s power station also saves space by relying upon an SDC (Smart DC) connector to add I\/O to the unit. By plugging in a variety of dongles, the SDC port can transform into a 12V barrel jack output or an MC4 connector for up to 400W of solar panel input.<\/p>\n

\"It\u2019s<\/a><\/p>\n

It\u2019s grab-and-go portable.<\/p>\n

Uniquely, DJI also sells an SDC Power Car Battery Charging Cable that you can snake up to your car\u2019s starter battery to charge the Power 1000 Mini at up to 400W while driving. That\u2019s over three times faster than charging off your car\u2019s 12V cigarette lighter socket, meaning you can take the Power 1000 Mini from empty to full in just over two hours of driving. I did not have an opportunity to test this.<\/p>\n

Naturally, this DJI battery also offers several proprietary SDC adapters that will charge DJI\u2019s drones faster than any other power station on the market. If you\u2019re already big into DJI gear then getting one of their power stations is pretty much a no-brainer.<\/p>\n

One of the best features of the Power 1000 Mini is the integrated 100W USB-C cable that retracts with a tug and magnetically folds into place. I like that it\u2019s long enough to reach a table top when the power station is on the ground. I dislike that it, and the unit\u2019s integrated USB-C jack, don\u2019t support 140W like DJI\u2019s original Power 1000. Fortunately, both USB-C jacks are bidirectional, so they can also be used to charge the mini DJI battery.<\/p>\n

Power stations have had lights integrated since forever, and can be very useful at the end of an all-day shoot when you\u2019re trying to pack up. I like that I can remotely trigger it from the app while I\u2019m still in bed. That way I can illuminate the van just enough for a little late-night spelunking while my wife is asleep.<\/p>\n

1\/12A closer look at DJI\u2019s proprietary Smart DC (SDC) port. Just add dongle.<\/p>\n

I gotta say, I wasn\u2019t expecting a 1kWh battery to be so useful while traveling around southern Europe over the last several weeks. I\u2019ve used many similarly specced power stations before, but their size never made it a grab-and-go device, causing me to carry a few smaller, but very capable, power banks<\/a> instead. DJI\u2019s Power 1000 Mini changes the equation for me, and anyone else that values portability and adaptability over raw power.<\/p>\n

Specs: DJI Power 1000 Mini<\/p>\n

Capacity: 1008 Wh (~1 kWh).Chemistry: Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4).Cycle Life: Rated to retain at least 80% of its original capacity after 4,000 complete charge cycles.Output Power: Delivers 800W of continuous power, with a maximum rating of 1000W (and up to 1200W in boosted output modes).AC Output: Features 2 AC sockets in regions like the EU, UK, and Australia, or 4 AC sockets in the US and Japan.Retractable USB-C Cable: Features a built-in, magnetically secured, and bidirectional USB-C cable that supports up to 100W fast charging.Standard USB-C: One standard 100W USB-C port.USB-A: Two standard 12W USB-A ports.SDC Port: One proprietary DJI SDC port that supports up to 400W input (9-28V) and 300W output.Smart Tech: Includes Bluetooth 5.0 and Wi-Fi for monitoring and control via the DJI app.Speed: Capable of recharging from 0% to 80% in approximately 58 minutes, and reaching a full charge in roughly 75 minutes.Methods: Can be recharged via AC wall outlets, USB-C, solar panels (up to 400W using the built-in MPPT module), or car alternators (up to 400W via the SDC port).Weight: Approximately 11.5 kg (25.4 lbs).Dimensions: 314 mm x 212 mm x 216 mm (12.4 x 8.3 x 8.5 inches).Extra Features: Includes a built-in LED light with an SOS flashing mode, UPS mode for seamless backup power during outages, and an integrated carrying handle.<\/p>\n

Photography by Thomas Ricker \/ The Verge<\/p>\n

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