Sporting a surprisingly sleek design considering its purpose, the Delta Mini Power Station from EcoFlow offers versatility and functionality while featuring all the ports and sockets that you might expect from such a device that costs $999 in the US. We've had the Delta Mini Power Station in for review so join us after the break for our thoughts on the portable power station.
Design
Besides looking like a premium product, the EcoFlow Delta Mini feels like a premium product with its hard-wearing two-toned plastic construction. Roughly the size of a 12V car battery, the Delta Mini has handles front and back that make it easy to move around. The front boasts an easy-to-read LCD display that shows the output and input of juice from the device, how long it will last, temperature warning and fan indicators, and which options have been toggled on.
You'll find the 100W USB-C port, a couple of USB-A ports (12W max), and an 18W USB-A charging port located beneath the display, with the Power button below and the IoT Reset button just above. The rear of the Delta Mini is where the heavy-duty connections are located, with a protective flap covering the solar charging inputs, AC charging speed toggle, kettle plug socket, and the Reset button. Below the flap, you'll find the AC On/Off switch along with the AC sockets which number as many as five on the US variant although the EU and UK versions make do with just a couple of outlets. The 12V cigarette light plug sits at the bottom with the 12V On/Off button and a pair of DC5521 ports.
It's not exactly light but at 23.6lbs/11kg, it's still quite portable and can be easily picked up using a single hand.
Specifications
| EcoFlow Delta Mini | |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 882Wh |
| Cycle Life | 800 Cycles to 80%+ capacity |
| Dimensions | 37.0 × 18.3 × 23.6 cm |
| Weight | 11kg |
| Charge Method | AC Wall Outlet, 12V/24V Car Charger, Solar Panel |
| AC Charge Input (Power) | X-Stream Fast Charge 900W max |
| Full Recharge Time | 1.6 Hours (AC) 9.5 Hours (12V Car Charger), 3.3-6.6 Hours (Using 3x 110W Solar Panels) 3.7-7.4 Hours (Using 2x 160W Solar Panels) |
| USB-A Output (x2) | 5V 2.4A, 12W max, per port |
| USB-A Fast Charge (x1) | 5V/2.4A, 9V/2A, 12V/1.5A, 18W Max |
| USB-C Output (x1) | 5/9/12/15/20V 5A, 100W max |
| Car Power Output (x1) | 12.6V/10A, 126W max |
| DC5521 Output (x2) | 12.6V/3A, per port |
| AC Output (EUx2/USx5) | Pure Sine Wave, 1400W total (surge 2100W), 120V~ (50Hz/60Hz) |
| Management Systems | BMS, Over Voltage Protection, Overload Protection, Over Temperature Protection, Short Circuit Protection, Low-Temperature Protection, Low Voltage Protection, Overcurrent Protection |
Performance
For a portable power station, we've come to the most important part of the review process. Thankfully, EcoFlow's Delta Mini performs like a trooper, able to power appliances such as a microwave or mini-fridge. Capable of outputting 1400W continuously, the Delta Mini has the power you need when you want it. It's capable of powering a small car refrigerator for around 12 hours, charging your phones, tablets, and laptop, and thanks to EcoFlow's X-Boost technology, you can even power a device that needs up to 2100W of charge. The X-Boost feature will automatically turn on when a device needing more than 1400W is plugged in, and you can toggle it on or off via the EcoFlow app on your smartphone. As an example, the Delta Mini is capable of powering a desk lamp for upwards of 45 hours, which is pretty impressive.
Fully charged, the Delta Mini will sit quietly for up to a year before needing to be topped-up, and EcoFlow claims an 800 cycle life before the battery capacity starts to degrade. As you might expect with such a device, there are multiple safety, overload, and over-voltage features built-in to the Delta Mini which you can also monitor via the app.
Whilst ostensibly a ‘quiet' portable power station, you will notice the sound when the fans ramp up to keep the Delta Mini cool. It's not terribly intrusive but it's something that you'll notice when trying to sleep.
It's great having a big battery but how long does it take to fully recharge? Well, that depends. If you connect the Delta Mini up to AC power directly and enable the Fast Charge option (900W), you can fully charge the portable power station in just 90 minutes, which is faster than it takes to charge a Pixel 6 Pro. If you aren't in a rush, though, you can choose to recharge the device at a rate of 200W (5 hours for a full charge) up to 900W. Bear in mind that choosing the fastest recharge speed can impact the battery's overall life, though. You can also charge the unit using solar panels which you can source directly from EcoFlow, and provided you've got enough daylight you'll be able to get a 100% charge in around 8 hours or so.
The EcoFlow app (iOS & Android) lets you monitor the remaining charge, toggle X-Boost on and off, choose how fast to recharge the device, and set discharging limits remotely. The app is also used to update the firmware on the Delta Mini, yup, you read that right. Even portable power stations get firmware updates nowadays.
What do you use it for?
If you think of it as an over-sized power bank on steroids you wouldn't be far wrong. It's relatively small and light for a power station (hence being described as portable), and is perfect for use in the garage or workshop, and even as a small office backup power source during power outages and such. It's great for camping, letting you keep everything charged as well as powering a griddle or outdoor lamps.
Verdict
There are a couple of things I would change about the Delta Mini such as quieter fans, the addition of a wireless charging pad on the flat top of the device, and possibly a built-in emergency light. But those are minor complaints on my part and don't impact the actual purpose of the unit.
As a portable power station, the Delta Mini from EcoFlow performs admirably. Offering pretty much every type of port that you might want and with 882Wh of juice plus the ability to fully charge in less time than your smartphone, the Delta Mini Portable Power Station delivers on every point.
