Head-to-head test
BLUETTI AC240P vs BLUETTI Apex 300
The Apex 300 beats the AC240P on every number that matters — more capacity, more output, a lower cost per lifetime kWh, and $140 cheaper — the only thing the AC240P wins is an IP65 rating that lets it live somewhere the Apex 300 can't.
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
BLUETTI
AC240P
3,528Power Score · Appliance Class
$1,461.99 list · direct from BLUETTI
BLUETTI
Apex 300
5,062Power Score · The AC & Fridge Zone
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
Spec deltas
The Apex 300 costs $140 less than the AC240P and delivers 921.8Wh more capacity — 2,764.8Wh against 1,843Wh — which alone would settle most comparisons.
It backs that up everywhere else too: 3,840W continuous output against the AC240P's 2,400W, 7,680W surge against 3,600W, and a cost per lifetime kWh of $0.19 against $0.30. The AC240P's answer is a feature the Apex 300 simply doesn't have — IP65 water and dust resistance, tested and confirmed in real rain and saltwater spray.
If you need a power station that lives on a boat deck or in an open truck bed through weather, that one spec changes the calculus. If it's living indoors, in an RV, or under any kind of cover, the Apex 300 is more capacity, more output, and less money.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
That gap shows up directly in the scenarios that matter most: Weekend Camping needs 2,100Wh, which the AC240P can't supply at all (134% of its capacity) while the Apex 300 covers it at 89% with room left. Same story on an 8-Hour Blackout — the AC240P needs 105% of its capacity and comes up short, the Apex 300 needs 70% and clears it.
AC240P capacity is 1,843Wh; Apex 300 capacity is 2,764.8WhAC240P costs $1,939; Apex 300 costs $1,799
Why it mattersAnyone comparing these two on price alone is already choosing wrong — the cheaper-looking unit is the more expensive one per watt-hour, and it fails scenarios the pricier-looking one passes.
But that protection only holds with the port covers closedA1 — plug in a cable and the rating stops applying, so it protects the unit sitting idle in weather, not the unit actively running a load in weather.
AC240P is IP65 rated; Apex 300 has no listed IP ratingAC240P survived a 6-hour rainstorm with a bone-dry interior and constant saltwater spray on a sailboat with no moisture intrusionA2
Why it mattersBuy the AC240P specifically for the scenario where the unit sits exposed and unattended — a boat, an open job site, storm prep — not as a general hedge against rain that you'd also solve by putting either unit under a tarp.
continuous output
A fridge or AC compressor can pull 2–3x its rated draw for the first second of startup; the Apex 300's deeper surge margin gives it more room to absorb that spike without tripping, on top of already having more continuous watts to work with.
AC240P surge is 3,600W on 2,400W continuous (1.5x)Apex 300 surge is 7,680W on 3,840W continuous (2x)
Why it mattersIf either unit is starting a compressor appliance from a cold start, the Apex 300's surge ratio is the more forgiving spec, not just the bigger number.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: AC240P fails two scenarios outright that the Apex 300 clears with margin.
The AC240P can't cover Weekend Camping or an 8-Hour Blackout on its own — it needs 134% and 105% of its capacity respectively, both over the line. The Apex 300 clears the same two scenarios at 89% and 70%.
Both units handle CPAP Overnight, Remote Workday, and Tailgate Party comfortably, and neither can cover full Van Life Daily use alone. The real separation happens exactly where it matters most: overnight and multi-day scenarios, not the small stuff.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: Cost-per-kWh gap is wide and directly tied to the capacity/price difference.
cost / lifetime kWh
$0.30 per lifetime kWh for the AC240P against $0.19 for the Apex 300 is a real gap, and it's driven by capacity as much as price — the Apex 300 delivers more watt-hours per dollar over its rated 3,500 cycles even before the $140 price difference is counted.
The AC240P does carry a longer 6-year warranty against the Apex 300's 5, which softens the math slightly, but not enough to close a $0.11-per-kWh gap.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Surge ratio and UPS speed both fire as real advantages for the Apex 300.
Two real advantages for the Apex 300 here: its surge-to-continuous ratio is deeper (2x versus the AC240P's 1.5x), giving compressor loads more room to start, and its transfer switchover is faster at 10ms against the AC240P's 15ms — the difference between a UPS that catches a power blip and one that's merely fast.
Neither is dramatic on its own, but stacked with the capacity and price gap, they're one more reason the AC240P's case rests almost entirely on its weatherproofing.
Growth Path
Selected because: Both expandable, but solar ceiling differs meaningfully.
solar input
Both units are expandable, so neither locks you out of adding capacity later. The real difference is charging headroom: the Apex 300 accepts up to 2,400W of solar against the AC240P's 1,200W, so an expanded setup refills twice as fast under the same sun.
For anyone building toward a larger off-grid system, that solar ceiling compounds — it's not just more battery later, it's a faster recharge on whatever you eventually add.
Strengths & trade-offs
BLUETTI AC240P
Strengths
- +Costs $237 less
- +Lighter by 11.8 lb
- +Longer warranty
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-1,440W) limits appliance compatibility.
BLUETTI Apex 300
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- –Significantly heavier (+11.8 lbs), making it harder to move.
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 · 2 nights · needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Apex 300
The AC240P runs out of juice. It only has 1,567Wh usable, but this scenario needs 2,100Wh. The Apex 300 covers it and still has 17h of phone charging left over.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger 15W×6h · LED Lights 40W×8h · Box Fan 75W×14h · CPAP Machine 40W×16h
SCN-02 · 8 hours · needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Apex 300
The AC240P runs out of juice. It only has 1,567Wh usable, but this scenario needs 1,645Wh. The Apex 300 covers it and still has 47h of phone charging left over.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Fridge 150W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40W×6h · Phone Charger 15W×3h
SCN-03 · 8 hours · needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption — the #1 medical use case
Either unit
Both are wildly overqualified for CPAP. You're using 20% or less. Save your money and buy whichever is cheaper; the extra capacity is completely wasted on a 40W overnight load. Put the savings toward a second battery for multi-night trips.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD CPAP Machine 40W×8h
SCN-04 · 8 hours · needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Apex 300
The Apex 300 gives you a comfortable buffer at 39%. Enough to work late, join extra video calls, or charge a second device without worry. The AC240P at 58% works but leaves less room for the unexpected. For daily remote work, that peace of mind matters.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Laptop 60W×8h · External Monitor 30W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · Phone Charger 15W×2h
SCN-05 · 4 hours · needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Apex 300
Both handle game day, and the Apex 300 does it with more in reserve — 29% used against 43%. Tailgating is a light load, so that headroom counts for less here than the 12 lbs you'll actually carry across the parking lot.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Blender 400W×0.5h · LED TV (55") 80W×4h · Bluetooth Speaker 15W×4h · Phone Charger (×3) 45W×2h
SCN-06 · 24 hours · needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living — the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 4,685Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh × 0.85) ÷ LOAD
None of the six scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
For this load: Apex 300 runs 11.5h vs 7.6h.
$1,699 list · direct from BLUETTI
Modeled from the spec record — same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.¹
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0–156.7hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–31.3hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–2.4h¹ Runtime = (capacity × 0.85) ÷ appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads — see methodology.
Conclusion
July 15, 2026
Verdict: the Apex 300, on Power Score margin
The Apex 300 wins on nearly every axis: 2,764.8Wh against the AC240P's 1,843Wh, 3,840W continuous against 2,400W, and a $140 lower price at $1,799 against $1,939. Its cost per lifetime kWh comes in at $0.19 against the AC240P's $0.30 — a real gap that compounds every time either unit is cycled. The AC240P's one genuine advantage is IP65 weatherproofing, verified in real rainstorms and saltwater spray — a feature the Apex 300 doesn't have at all. Unless you specifically need that rating, the Apex 300 is the better buy at a lower price.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of July 15, 2026. The links below open BLUETTI's current price.
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
or check the AC240P price$1,461.99 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 15, 2026
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): Tailgating.
Full specifications
ᵈ Derived: price ÷ rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons →
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool →How these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it — no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews — see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity × 0.85 inverter efficiency) ÷ device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page →Class ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews — no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5★. Here, AC240P rates 4.2/5 (52nd percentile of 24 Everyday-class units), and Apex 300 rates 4.9/5 (92nd percentile of 25 Large-class units).
How the class ranking is computed →Test Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
Weight Reality Check
Neither unit is grab-and-go. The AC240P (72 lbs) is manageable solo but heavier than a large checked suitcase. The Apex 300 (83.8 lbs) is noticeably heavier. That's a 12 lb difference.
Fan Noise Under Load
The AC240P runs at 45dB (like a running refrigerator), while the Apex 300 hits 45dB (like a running refrigerator). Most people find anything above 45dB disruptive for sleep. Worth considering if you're running a CPAP or camping in a tent nearby.
Surge Power: Inverter Quality Indicator
The Apex 300 has a 2× surge-to-continuous ratio vs the AC240P's 1.5×. A higher ratio (≥2×) means the inverter handles motor startup surges better. That's critical for fridges, AC compressors, and power tools that briefly draw 2-3× their rated wattage. The AC240P may trip when starting these appliances even though its continuous wattage looks sufficient.
UPS Speed: line-interactive (<10ms) vs standby (<20ms)
The Apex 300 switches to battery in 10ms (line-interactive (<10ms)), while the AC240P takes 15ms (standby (<20ms)). Safe for desktop PCs, routers, and CPAP machines. NAS drives are protected. This matters if you're using it as a home UPS for always-on equipment.
Warranty Value Comparison
The AC240P gives you 4.1 years of warranty per $1,000 spent, vs the Apex 300's 2.9 years. That's 1.4× more coverage per dollar. An underrated factor if you're keeping this unit for years.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the Apex 300.
Check Apex 300 price →or check the AC240P priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy — true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
│ warranty ends · Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains — degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The AC240P is cheaper to buy, but the Apex 300 is cheaper to own. At $0.18/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.23/kWh, the Apex 300's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years.
Growth path
AC240P
EXPANDABLESupports BLUETTI expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 1,843Wh.
Accepts up to 1,200W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Expansion batteries are BLUETTI-specific. You're investing in the BLUETTI ecosystem.
Apex 300
EXPANDABLESupports BLUETTI expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 2,765Wh.
Accepts up to 2,400W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are BLUETTI-specific. You're investing in the BLUETTI ecosystem.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Both expand, but the Apex 300's higher solar ceiling (2,400W vs 1,200W) gives it the stronger off-grid growth path — more panels can feed a bigger bank as it grows.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
BLUETTI AC240P
The AC240P's field reputation is almost entirely about weatherproofing, and it holds up. One review left it outside through a 6-hour rainstorm and found the interior bone dry, and another ran it on a sailboat through constant saltwater spray with no moisture intrusion after a wipe-downA2. The one caveat worth knowing: that IP65 protection only applies with the port covers closed — plug in a cable and you've compromised the seal, so it doesn't protect the unit while it's actively running exposed to rainA1.
Reviewers frame the AC240P as the premium, higher-capacity option in BLUETTI's IP65 line, 307Wh above the standard AC240, with fast charging and expansion to a large multi-kWh bankA3A4 — solid credentials, just built around a different priority than raw capacity per dollar.
“IP65 water- and dust-resistant, but the protection applies only when all port covers are closed; using it with cables plugged in compromises the rating, and it shouldn't be used in the rain that way.”
Sources
storagereview.com · backuppowerhub.com · makeuseof.com · techradar.com · fstoppers.com · bluettipower.com
BLUETTI Apex 300
Port complaints dominate the Apex 300's owner feedback. It ships with no built-in USB or DC ports, and reviewers call the required $300 Hub D1 accessory steep for what it deliversB7B11; connecting multiple units needs a separate $699 Hub A1 Parallel BoxB12. Firmware has also caused real friction — forum posts describe an update locking the unit into 'Backup' modeB1 and another triggering an Error 004 charging faultB2.
On the physical side, weight is the honest complaint: one reviewer says he could hardly carry it a few feet at a time and never got it onto a table aloneB8, though another calls it manageable thanks to the handles and modular designB6. Fan noise, at least, tested better than expected — relatively tame under load rather than the small-jet-engine sound some rival units produceB5.
“I was using Bluetti-bt until the latest Bluetti firmware update. I then started having disconnects.”
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- IP65 ruggedness proven in rain and saltwater, big expandability, and fast charging are the praise; the caveat is that water resistance only holds with port covers closed. [AC240P · 3 entries]
- Multiple owners report firmware updates causing app glitches, mode-lock issues, error codes, or Bluetooth/Home Assistant disconnects shortly after updating. [Apex 300 · 4 entries]
- Reviewers consistently flag the lack of built-in USB/DC ports as a design tradeoff requiring costly add-on accessories (Hub D1, Hub A1). [Apex 300 · 4 entries]
- The unit's extreme weight (~85 lbs) is repeatedly described as making it barely 'portable' and hard to carry alone. [Apex 300 · 2 entries]
- A1
“IP65 water- and dust-resistant, but the protection applies only when all port covers are closed; using it with cables plugged in compromises the rating, and it shouldn't be used in the rain that way.”
storagereview.com / backuppowerhub.com — BLUETTI AC240/AC240P review · 2026 · [mixed]
- A2
“Real-world weatherproofing held up — left outside in a 6-hour rainstorm, water beaded off and the interior stayed bone dry; used on a sailboat with constant saltwater spray, no moisture intrusion after wiping down the exterior.”
makeuseof.com / techradar.com — AC240/AC240P review · 2026 · [positive]
- A3
“The 1,843Wh AC240P is the higher-capacity option, adding 307Wh over the standard AC240, with distinctive orange IP65 branding; a solid choice if you need the extra capacity and prefer the more visible design.”
techradar.com / fstoppers.com — AC240P review · 2026 · [positive]
- A4
“Premium end of BLUETTI's lineup; LFP battery, a fast charge reaching most of full quickly, and expandable to a very large multi-kWh bank.”
bluettipower.com / techradar.com — AC240P specifications · 2026 · [positive]
- B1
“I updated my Apex 300 to the latest firmware yesterday. Now it's stuck in 'Backup' mode... Now when I go into the app to try to change it back, it flashes to...”
BLUETTI Community forum — 'Apex 300 stuck in Backup mode after last firmware update' · 2025-11 · [negative]
- B2
“When the system reached 97% charge, I decided to install the firmware updates. After the update completed, the charging stopped and I received Error 004.”
BLUETTI Community forum — 'Error E004 Apex 300' · 2025-11 · [negative]
- B5
“Some units sound like small jet engines under load, but the Apex 300's fans are relatively tame.”
Techspective — 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' · 2025-09 · [positive]
- B6
“It's heavy, no question, but the handles and modular battery design make it manageable.”
Techspective — 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' · 2025-09 · [mixed]
- B7
“Not having DC or USB ports on the face is a tradeoff. The Hub D1 solves the problem—but it's an additional $300 accessory that you then have to bolt on after the fact.”
Techspective — 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' · 2025-09 · [negative]
- B8
“In fact, it's so heavy I can hardly carry it more than a few feet at a time and have been unable to lift it onto a table.”
T3 — 'Bluetti Apex 300 review: transform your off-grid life' · 2025-11 · [negative]
- B11
“That Bluetti D1 Power Hub that gives you your DC and USB ports costs about $300, which is a steep price for what you're getting.”
TheSolarLab — 'Bluetti Apex 300 Review: Cheap, Practical Home Backup?' · unknown · [negative]
- B12
“Say you want to connect multiple Apex 300 power stations together, you'll need to buy the Bluetti Hub A1 Parallel Box, which retails for around $699!”
TheSolarLab — 'Bluetti Apex 300 Review: Cheap, Practical Home Backup?' · unknown · [negative]
Research compiled July 15, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the AC240P if you…
- →Anyone who needs the unit to sit exposed to weather unattended — a boat deck, an open job site, storm-adjacent outdoor use — where the IP65 rating (with covers closed) is the deciding factor.
- →Buyers who specifically value the AC240P's 6-year warranty over the Apex 300's 5-year term and can live with less capacity.
Buy the Apex 300 if you…
- →Anyone comparing these two on price who assumed the cheaper number meant less unit — it's actually more capacity, more output, and a lower cost per lifetime kWh.
- →Buyers who need Weekend Camping or an 8-Hour Blackout actually covered rather than theoretically close — the AC240P falls short on both.
If neither fits
Full-time off-grid users needing Van Life Daily-scale power (4,685Wh) should look elsewhere — the AC240P needs 299% of its capacity and the Apex 300 needs 199%, and neither number is survivable from a single unit.
The Bottom Line
Take the Apex 300 unless the unit specifically needs to survive rain or saltwater spray while sitting exposed — it beats the AC240P on capacity, output, and cost per lifetime kWh, for $140 less.
The AC240P isn't a worse power station; it's a specialist. Buy it for the IP65 rating, not for anything else on the spec sheet.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the BLUETTI AC240P worth the extra $140 over the Apex 300?
Only for its IP65 weatherproofing. The Apex 300 has more capacity (2,764.8Wh versus 1,843Wh), more output, and a lower cost per lifetime kWh ($0.19 versus $0.30) for $140 less. The AC240P's case rests almost entirely on surviving rain and saltwater exposure that the Apex 300 isn't rated for.
Does the AC240P's IP65 rating work while it's plugged in and running?
Not fully. The rating applies when the port covers are closed, and using it with cables plugged in compromises that seal. It's rated to sit exposed to weather while idle or between uses, not to run a load in active rain.
Can the AC240P handle a full weekend of camping power?
Not on its own — a typical Weekend Camping load of 2,100Wh is 134% of its 1,843Wh capacity. The Apex 300 covers the same load at 89% of its larger 2,764.8Wh battery, with margin to spare.
Which one starts a fridge or AC compressor more reliably?
The Apex 300, on paper. Its surge rating is 2x its continuous output (7,680W on 3,840W) against the AC240P's 1.5x (3,600W on 2,400W), giving it more headroom to absorb the startup spike that compressor-driven appliances briefly pull.
Is the Apex 300 too heavy to be a practical upgrade?
At 173 lbs it's a genuine handling consideration — one reviewer couldn't lift it onto a table alone. It's better suited to a fixed spot than frequent relocation, which is worth weighing against the AC240P's 72 lbs even though the AC240P loses on nearly every other spec.
Where to buy
BLUETTI AC240P
$1,461.99
$1,461.99 list · direct from BLUETTI
BLUETTI Apex 300Pick
$1,699.00
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.