It may seem like a big outlay, but the PowerHouse II 400 packs in the power, is extremely well built, and looks pretty good too.

It may seem like a big outlay, but the Anker PowerHouse II 400 packs in the power, is extremely well built (as you'd expect from Anker) and looks pretty good at the same time.

Sometimes in life, you need a big battery. The Anker PowerHouse II 400 is just that, promising 388.8Wh delivered from its substantial 108,000mAh capacity.

But, a battery is only as good as the things you can connect to it, right?

Good job that the PowerHouse II 400 has a car socket, multiple USB ports, and a regular AC socket, not to mention two different lights. Anker's giant portable battery befits its name perfectly and will keep you and your devices powered whether you're partying in the garden, camping with the family, or as a general backup power source.

If that sounds like your cup of tea, keep reading for the full PowerHouse II 400 review.

Getting straight into things, here is the full list of specs for the PowerHouse II 400's impressive battery and ports.

The combined eight ports mean you can charge up to eight different devices, perhaps plugging your laptop into the AC outlet, your tablet and smartphone into two of the USB ports, and a portable appliance into one of the DC ports.

Of course, how many devices you attach simultaneously affects the expected output of the PowerHouse II 400. Anker suggests that the battery can manage 23 charges for a 3,110mAh phone, five charges for a 60Wh laptop, or more than 20 charges for a 16Wh camera. Obviously, your mileage may vary, as you'll be plugging different hardware into the PowerHouse II 400, but taking those impressive battery specs and applying them to your hardware makes it easier to understand how it will hold up when you need it.

One thing to note about the PowerHouse II 400 is that it's not a "portable" battery that you'll chuck in your rucksack for a weekend's hiking. Weighing in at 10.2 lbs (4.62kg), it's not something you're likely to want to carry around on your back for a prolonged period. Granted, that's not outrageously heavy given the capacity, but my feeling is that if you're hiking, you're probably carrying a lighter battery option.

If you're driving out somewhere, walking down the garden (or even on a shorter walk where power is required), or have another form of transport, the PowerHouse II 400 is the perfect portable power station.

Although the PowerHouse does have a bit of weight to it, the battery housing is neat, measuring 148 x 255 x 139mm, and with a delightfully chunky carry handle to boot. The case is molded plastic but feels substantial, protecting its powerful innards from harm while you're out camping, while you'll find two rubber feet running along the underside of the unit.

On the back of the PowerHouse, you'll find a lamp with three different light levels, handy for camping, heading into your dark attic or basement, or anywhere else you need an impromptu light source. You'll also find a much brighter torch with two brightness levels at one end of the unit, plus a SOS mode to attract attention.

Understandably, it does take a while to charge the PowerHouse II 400 fully. Anker supply a 65W charger with the battery, and I found that it took roughly five to six hours to reach maximum charge. While charging, the LCD lights up and delivers critical information, such as the remaining charge percentage and how long it estimates the charge will take.

However, you don't have to use the supplied charger if you don't want to. Switching to a USB-C charger connected to a wall outlet drops the charge time significantly, something I must admit I didn't realize until the second time I charged the unit. Charging via USB-C reduced the total charge time by around 1.5 hours, meaning the PowerHouse II 400 was fully charged within about 4.5 hours.

For those that will use the PowerHouse battery as a camping tool and also own a portable solar panel, you're also well catered for. Anker suggests connecting a solar panel to the PowerHouse using one of the DC inputs, advising that full charge via full sunlight solar will take up to seven hours. However, you should be aware that the solar input is also limited to 65W maximum, with a working voltage of 11-28V at 5.5A. This limits your options when it comes to suitable panels.

At the time of review, it's not really camping season in the UK. That period has come and gone. However, there are still plenty of other opportunities to test out the PowerHouse II 400 and how it fares when you plug multiple devices in.

First up, a lengthy car trip, covering some 300 miles. Jumping into the car with the fully charged battery and multiple devices, the PowerHouse II 400 had everything up and running before long, charging the kids Android tablet, a Google Pixel 2, and a OnePlus Nord simultaneously without really breaking a sweat. It was a similar situation on the return journey a couple of days later. The PowerHouse II 400 again kept every device powered to the max throughout the journey without stuttering or even pretending it was going to run out of juice.

With the PowerHouse II 400 still holding good capacity after its first trip, it was time for the second round: sitting outside in the beautiful yet chilly sunshine with a power-hungry laptop. My 17.3" MSI laptop to be precise, which requires a 120W input and whose battery life isn't great due to years of use. I also plugged in my smartphone for good measure, but again, the PowerHouse was more than capable of delivering the demand, and I sat happily working for hours. The increased power demand reduced the remaining battery slightly further than I was expecting, mind.

However, after extensive use, the PowerHouse II 400 still had a decent amount of battery life left, enough to charge my smartphone several more times before eventually beginning to actually run low on juice.

Anker has squeezed a substantial battery into the PowerHouse II 400, and it delivers in spades.

One thing to note is that you do have to switch the battery off after use. It won't run down quickly, but on a couple of occasions, I forgot to press one of the blue-lit buttons to switch the power source off, causing unnecessary battery use.

The Anker PowerHouse II 400 has a lot going for it, but it does a few issues, too.

First up, it's an expensive bit of kit, coming in at $400. That is fairly competitive versus other portable power stations, but this leads to the next point: the 300W output is slightly limiting depending on what you're planning on doing. Capping output at 300W is reasonable, but there are many things you might want to plug into the PowerHouse II 400 that outstrip that wattage. I mean, who doesn't take a 500W drip coffee maker out into the wilderness?

Some of Anker's competitors offer a higher wattage, which could sway some potential buyers towards alternative options—but bear in mind that those other, more powerful options usually come with a bigger price tag. Alternatively, if you want to stay with Anker, you could upgrade to the Anker PowerHouse II 800, which has an improved 770W output, two AC outlets, two USB Type-C ports (see my next point!), and dual-input charging for rapid recharge.

Second up, although the PowerHouse does have a substantial array of ports, swapping out at least one of the USB Type-A ports for a second USB Type-C might have been the better call, given how many devices now use the latter. It's not an absolute game-changer, but worth considering.

If you're a regular outdoor person who does a lot of camping or otherwise, often requires an external power source but cannot run a cable to the location, or just has that feeling that a portable power station backup power source is a good idea, the PowerHouse II 400 is an excellent option. It's sturdy, well-built, and will keep your flashy fairy LED lights on for hours while you get the fire lit.

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Gavin is the Junior Editor for Technology Explained, a regular contributor to the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent product reviewer. He has a degree in Contemporary Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, and more than a decade of professional writing experience. He enjoys copious amounts of tea, board games, and football.

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