Growatt VITA 550 Power Station (Hardware)
Official GBAtemp Review
Product Information:
When you're on the go or need power in an emergency situation, sometimes a pocket-sized power bank isn't enough. So where do you go from there? A portable power station, which is a massive battery that can charge up and power just about anything you need. Whether it's for camping or serious outages, a power station can be an invaluable addition to your tech arsenal.
The Growatt Vita 550 packs a whopping 11 outlets into its rather elegant form. Everything is nicely labeled and easy to see, with a digital display that tells you the input, output, and remaining battery life at a glance. I'm more accustomed to clunky-looking gas generators, so the sleek, streamlined look of the Vita is impressive.
As for what's going on inside, the power station uses a 538Wh battery, which can output 600W. You'll get about 10 years of use out of the Vita 550, and its LiFePO4-type battery. The capacity and output is fairly standard for power stations, but Growatt takes things a bit further, offering something they call "Watt+", which lets you kind of (safely) overclock the Vita 550, powering devices that pull a maximum of 1050W.
- Charge Time (Outlet): 1.6hrs
- Charge Time (Solar 100W): 5.4hrs
- Charge Time (Solar 200W): 2.5hrs
- Battery Life: 3,000+ cycles
- Charging Input: AC (500W)
- Warranty: 2yrs
For example, if I tried to power something that takes a ridiculous amount of power usually, like a heater or air conditioning unit, it would trip the Vita 550 whenever it tried to draw more than 600W continuously. However, if you activate the Watt+ feature, you can nearly double the output. I don't think this is something you should be using regularly, but if you ever run into a situation where you need something that uses a lot of wattage for a short amount of time--say a corded lawnmower or an espresso machine--you have the ability to do so in a pinch. This can be incredibly useful if you find yourself needing to do something just out of the range of an extension cable, or for keeping an appliance (a fridge or freezer) powered through a short outage to prevent spoiled food.
At just a smidge under 18lbs, the Vita 550 is fairly easy to transport around. This makes it light enough to take with you on camping or road trips, or just makes it hassle-free to move around for any household need you might have of it. There's a small, yet super bright light on the front of the device, which helps illuminate the ports late at night, or during a power outage. Everything about the Vita 550 is designed well.
Ports:
- 3 USB-A
- 2 DC
- 1 USB-C PD
- 1 Wireless charging pad
- 3 AC
- 1 Car/Lighter port
That bonus feature is tied exclusively to Growatt's mobile app. On the back of the device is a QR code so you can download it the moment you unwrap the Vita 550 from its packaging, clearly signaling that Growatt wants you to take advantage of the app. While I am normally skeptical of being tied to an app to get the most out of any product, it's a super useful app, giving you a lot of control over the power station. From it, you can toggle and manage just about every setting, while also checking in on the current input and output, remaining capacity, etc.
Despite the large capacity, Growatt's Power Station charges up super quickly. It takes about 2 hours to fully charge it up from 0%, meaning you don't have to worry too far in advance about making sure it's topped up for any outings. Growatt also offers a solar panel to pair with the power station, which is the ideal use case for the Vita 550. Being able to charge it up and have continual power without relying on the grid is a fantastic feature, though a pricey one.
You can get a Vita 550 for a little under $400 when it's on sale. That's a huge investment for any kind of product, but if you live somewhere where power outages or emergency situations might arise, it's a reasonable price to pay to be able to ensure you have your essentials powered for a short time. Growatt's rapid charging times and interesting pseudo overclock Watt+ feature make the Vita 550 an alluring purchase.
Verdict
- Super quiet in use
- The Watt+ feature is useful
- Lots of ports for versatility
- Charges quickly (both wired or solar)
- Surprisingly compact and easy to carry around
- Doesn't have a UPS function
- Can't passthrough charge while the 550 is charging via cord