Best portable power stations under $500 for home backup and camping

Nothing I found hits 1,240 Wh under $500 — that capacity usually starts well above this budget, so treat these as the closest matches and check each card's capacity before you commit.

• Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 — my pick of the group: the biggest battery and strongest output here, with a 2,000W inverter that can carry a fridge or a space heater's smaller loads, and a fast solar recharge. Best for home backup where you want headroom.
• BLUETTI AC180 — the one to pick for camping: lighter and simpler to carry, still enough for a cooler, lights and phones, and the best-loved of the bunch by owners.
• BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 — for a small apartment kit or a weekend tent setup where weight matters more than run time.
• Dabbsson 1000L — a budget-leaning middle option if you mainly need lights, laptops and a fan.

If 1,240 Wh is a hard floor, expect to raise the budget or look at a bigger class of unit.