Anker 521 Review

Anker's smallest power station offering, the 521, is designed to supplement your devices and electronics while away from a power source. Its durable design, LED display, and built-in light make this model a surprisingly good value.

Power Efficiency

We dedicated 35% of our overall score to power output for our most heavily weighted testing portion. Our first section on power output focuses on each power station's actual usable capacity compared to the manufacturer's stated battery capacity. Unfortunately, during our power efficiency test, the Anker 521 was one of our less impressive models and ranked near the bottom of the pack. Draining the 521 down to 0% under its standard rating resulted in an efficiency score of just 75%. Only having 192 watt hours available out of its 256 advertised watt hours takes away from what we consider otherwise a great little unit. While some of our favorite aspects of the 521 are its large screen and informative display, we'd suspect this plays a part in drawing power away and making it a less efficient unit overall.

This model fared slightly better in our max output run time test, where we used our light bar apparatus to run the 521 at its maximum wattage. It ran for 37 minutes before fully draining its battery, putting it in the middle of our test lineup rankings. Regarding ports, it includes multiple USB-A ports but only one USB-C port. With the prevalence of USB-C, it would have been better to see another port there. The 521 is equipped with two AC ports, which is a good tradeoff for only having one USB-C.

Charge Speed

To find charge times, we charged each station from 0% to 100% while also noting the time to reach 50%. We also accounted for the large variance in battery sizes between different models by finding the rate of charge for each power station. To ensure equal testing, we strictly used the AC charging cords supplied by the manufacturer. While the Anker can reduce its charge time with an additional 60 watts through the use of a USB-C cord, this was not reflected in our timed charge test.

Outside of its AC charging cord, it can also be charged through solar with input up to 65 watts and has an included DC car port charger.

Mobility

To test mobility, we weigh and measure the dimensions of each power station against the manufacturer's stated specifications. We then spend plenty of time tossing each power station into cars, campers, and garages, noting how they feel to move and lift. Our mobility metric combines the quantifiable data of each power station and the more objective data from our testers, which takes into account the overall feel and portability.

Thanks to its ultra-portable size, the Anker 521 was one of our most portable power stations tested. Aside from its weight of just 8.4 lbs, the design of the 521 is sleek, with a built-in handle and unibody outer. Its small form makes it one of our first choices when heading out and wanting to stash it in your bag or backpack for the day.

Ease of Use

To rank each power station on ease of use, we identified important features, considered the display and screen, and spent plenty of time interacting with the user interface. As expected, the Anker 521 has a limited set of features. A small power station is less likely to have certain features like UPS compatibility and wireless charging. It does have a built-in light that's useful during camping and power outages.

Where the 521 separates itself from other similarly priced options is in its display. A bright, informative LED display tells you everything you need to know about charge time and input/output. It also has custom charge settings, which are nice even for smaller power stations. Additionally, the Anker app is one of the more dialed apps we've used and can be connected to the 521 to control power functions and monitor battery status remotely.

Should You Buy the Anker 521?

If you're on a tighter budget and looking to try out a portable power station, the Anker 521 is a solid option. It will reliably keep electronics charged and run small appliances smoothly. Despite its limited power performance, Anker's reputation and 5-year warranty on the 521 is a tradeoff worth considering.

What Other Portable Power Station Should You Consider?