The Fanttik EVO 300 is a portable power station that pairs nicely with the Fanttik 100W solar panel. The set features a premium design, appearing both elegant and durable. With the battery having a capacity of almost 300Wh, and the solar panel wielding a charging power of up to 100W, this bundle could be the perfect companion for your next outdoor adventure, even if it's just the park or the far end of your yard.

Is it the perfect package for you—and what makes the Fanttik EVO 300 stand out from the crowd of small solar generators? Let's dig in to find out.

What's in the Box?

The Fanttik EVO 300 portable power station comes with a 90W-rated power supply, a USB-C to USB-C cable, a car cigarette charging cable, and a soft accessory bag. The 100W portable solar panel includes a zipper cable bag and an Anderson charging cable.

Fanttik didn't skimp on cables. Instead, they kept the amount of paper to a minimum. The power station didn't include a user manual at all, though the specs were printed on the box. However, we received an open box review unit, so the manual might have gotten lost in transit.

Build, Design, and Features

The Fanttik EVO 300 and the 100W solar panel make a great first impression.

The Fanttik EVO 300 looks like your average power station; a compact box, gray-colored, with yellow highlights. It's not ruggedized, but it feels solid and well-built.

One of the EVO's highlights is its large LCD screen on the front. It displays the battery charging status, DC and AC status, the input/output wattage, and time remaining to full charge or discharge. It's sufficiently bright to be visible in daylight, but, like most LCD screens, you'll struggle to see it in bright sunlight. When the light is right, the lettering is large enough to be seen from a bit of a distance.

Below the screen, you'll find three buttons and a selection of input/output ports.

Push the button in the center to turn the screen on or off. Use the buttons to its left and right to switch the DC and AC ports on or off. The AC on/off button controls the two AC ports on the right. The DC on/off button controls six of the DC ports on the left, but it doesn't switch off the in/out USB-C port, as that can also be used to charge.

The back of the unit holds a large floodlight. With the button to its left, you can switch from lower to high brightness and to SOS signaling mode. To the right of the light are two power input ports.

The EVO 300 carries the following input/output ports:

• 12V/10A (out)
• USB-C PD 60W (in or out)
• USB-C 5V/3A (out)
• USB-A QC 3.0 (out)
• USB-A 5V/2.4A (out)
• 2 x DC jack 12V/5A (out)
• DC 7909 (in; on the rear)
• Anderson (in; on the rear)

The power station sits on two broad rubber feet that give it a stable position. Cooling is provided through internal fans and vents on both sides of the unit. You can pick the EVO 300 up by the large handle on its top.

The Fanttik 100W solar panel appears equally well-designed. When you fold the panel, the two sides of the panel snap together thanks to strong magnets built into the sturdy carrying handle. One of the handles contains an Anderson output port. This is unusual; most portable solar panels have cabling built-in, but this is ultimately better for longevity in case you damage the cables.

Magnets also hold the kick-stands in place when the panel is folded up. Unfortunately, they're not super strong, so the stands may swing open and move around slightly when carrying the panel. The solution is to strap the included cable bag around the panel for transport. You can use the grommets to the left and right of the handles to hook in a carrying loop (not provided) or hang the panel up.

In its unfolded state, the solar panel rests on two kick-stands that are held in place by partially elastic straps. While it's a clever design, it's the only part of this setup that doesn't feel particularly stable. We're also concerned that the elastic straps will loosen and break down over time.

The SunPower solar panel consists of separate monocrystalline silicons. They operate independently of each other, meaning damage to one won't render the entire panel useless. The built-in MPPT (maximum power point tracking) technology maximizes energy extraction under variable conditions.

The panel is ETFE-laminated and IP65-rated, which makes it resistant to water jets from any angle. However, Fanttik recommends keeping it dry to expand its lifespan to up to 25 years.

Battery Life, Output, and Charging

The Fanttik EVO 300 power station runs on lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery cells with a total capacity of 299.52Wh. Generally, Li-ion batteries offer a lifespan of up to 500 charge cycles, or three years. It's not enough power for off-grid living by any means, but it's sufficient to keep the lights on, your phone and laptop topped up, and enjoy some entertainment at the same time.

How to Charge the Fanttik EVO 300

You can charge the EVO 300 via the DC 7909 and Anderson input ports on the back and the USB-C input port on the front. While the maximum input is 120W, the included power supply that plugs into the DC 7909 port maxes out at 90W. However, you can increase the input by simultaneously charging via the input USB-C port; theoretically, that should give you 150W of input, but we didn't see it cross 146W in our tests. When we plugged a third-party 200W solar panel into the Anderson port, the Fanttik EVO 300 was only able to use 116W, although the panel was producing over 190W when connected to a different battery.

How long it takes to charge the power station from completely drained to 100% depends on the power input you choose:

• Wall outlet + USB-C: 2.5 hours
• Wall outlet by itself: 4 hours
• Car outlet (via DC 7909 port): 4 hours
• Solar input via the 100W solar panel: 3.5 to 6 hours, depending on light conditions

How Much Power Does the Solar Panel Provide

In theory, the solar panel can yield up to 100W. The real output depends on weather conditions and light exposure. You'll get the best results on a bright sunny day, with direct sun exposure, sometime between 11am and 4pm.

We tested charging via the solar panel in various conditions. On a rainy day, we only reached 1W of power. In full sunlight at 8am we saw 24W and at 10:20am, by then in slight haze, the panel yielded 50W. At noon on a perfectly sunny day, the panel even reached 105W, exceeding its rated power by 5%, which we could observe on both the EVO 300 and another power station.

At a steady input of 50W, the solar panel will charge the power station in about 7 hours due to the conversion inefficiencies. Hence, to achieve the 3.5 hour charging time listed above, you'd need excellent weather and perfect sun exposure on your panel.

If you want to switch to renewable energy full-time, look into a professional system. Here's what it costs to install solar panels on your house.

What You Can Charge and for How Long

Essentially, you can charge anything that plugs into the station and doesn't draw more than 300W of power, with a maximum peak of 600W. That means you can power or charge most of your electronics, including laptops, computers, and smartphones. You won't be able to power something like a hairdryer, microwave, or toaster, as these appliances draw too much power and also have massive peak surcharges. Be sure to check the label on the back of a device to check its rated power draw before you plug it in.

To calculate how long the power station will last when fully charged, divide its maximum capacity (299.52Wh) by the wattage you'll draw (e.g. 50W), and your result is the amount of hours the battery should last (just under 6 hours in this example).

Keep in mind that the input and output info isn't completely accurate, and if you're simultaneously charging while discharging, can be completely wrong. In our tests, we powered a projector while charging the power station with a lower power input (90W) than the projector was drawing (140W). The input and output wattage looked accurate, but it also said that the power station would last for 99.9 hours (i.e. indefinitely) and would take 2.x hours to a full charge. At the same time, since we took out more energy than we put back in, the charging percentage kept dropping. The estimated input/output time didn't change, even as the unit reached 0% capacity and shut down; it's not a perpetual energy generator after all.

Battery Cooling Fan Noise

The Fanttik EVO 300 features internal cooling fans that produce about 60 dB(SPL) of noise in an otherwise quiet environment. However, they only seem to kick in when the AC ports are turned on. Occasionally, we found the fans running, although the battery wasn't in use. When we pressed the AC on/off button, the fans turned off immediately. Fortunately, the fans don't automatically rev up just because you're using the AC ports, though the threshold temperature appears to be in the low 70s Fahrenheit (low to mid-20s Celsius).

Should You Buy the Fanttik EVO 300 Power Station and Solar Panel?

With the Fanttik EVO 300 portable power station and the 100W Fanttik solar panel, you get a perfectly matched setup to power you through outdoors adventures and transient power outages. While the battery can't run appliances that draw more than 300W, like a fridge, A/C, or heater, it can keep your essential electronics topped up and running. At 100W, the solar panel can charge the 299.52Wh battery in a few hours in full sun. Even when it's hazy, you'll be able to run a laptop and charge a couple of phones off of its power. Both items are portable, easy to store, and sturdy, which makes them the perfect companions on road trips, beach days, or afternoons in the park.

As a set, the EVO 300 power station and the solar panel are great. If you're looking into purchasing just the solar panel, note that the included Anderson PowerPole connector might not be compatible with a third-party power station. It's best to find a suitable adapter from the Anderson output to your desired input port first. Alternatively, you could build your own cable.

If your electricity frequently cuts out for extended periods of time, or if you need to power larger appliances, consider getting a power station with a larger capacity, such as the Oukitel P2001 with 2,000Wh of power. It's equipped with an Anderson input port that's compatible with Fanttik's solar panel. On the downside, it's quite heavy and hence less portable. For a more portable option, check out the Jackery Solar Generator 1500, which has a capacity of 1,534Wh. It's around 13lbs (6kg) lighter than the Oukitel, and if you purchase the Jackery solar panel bundle, the set will come with the necessary cables and adapters.

FAQ

Q: Is the Fanttik EVO 300 really portable?

Both the Fanttik EVO 300 power station and the 100W solar panel are reasonably light and easy to carry around. At 8.8lbs (4kg) and 10.4lbs (4.7kg), respectively, they're not flimsy, but still portable. Likewise, the size is manageable.

Q: Is the Fanttik EVO 300 waterproof?

No. While the solar panel is IP65-rated, the power station itself isn't waterproof or water-resistant at all. Use the included cables or invest in extensions to keep it at a safe distance from the elements.

Q: Does the Fanttik EVO 300 support UPS (uninterruptable power supply) mode?

Yes, in a way. You can charge the power station while at the same time drawing power from its AC and DC ports. The power output will continue, even when the input charge is cut off.