Renogy Phoenix 300 Review – A Unique Off-Grid Power Solution

Renogy is a leader in providing components and kits for off-grid solar systems, but their portable power station options are scarce. I wanted to see how Renogy’s models compared to ones from other brands, so I decided to review the Phoenix 300 to find out if it could be a reliable off-grid tool.

The Phoenix 300 is a micro solar generator that stores up to 337Wh of charge in its battery. At 6.4 lbs, the Phoenix 300 is one of the lightest portable power stations for its battery size. However, it doesn’t have an LCD screen, which is not ideal for monitoring power consumption.

Pros	Cons
Great value for the price	DC input is rated for only 50W max (slow recharging)
Unique D-Tap output (for camera/video equipment)	No LCD screen (nearly all other competitors have one)
Lightweight for its battery size	Below average AC output (200W)

Although its absent LCD screen is a major downside to this product, its low price and lightweight construction make it ideal for people wanting a budget-friendly portable backup system.

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Key Takeaways:

• Dual charging – While its eight output ports can charge your devices quickly, the generator itself can also be recharged at a faster rate by charging the device concurrently with both its AC adapter and a USB-C input (110W total).
• LEDs – On both sides of the device (on the handle), there are LED flashlights which allow for convenience when navigating in the dark.
• D-Tap port – Ideal in its simplicity for the casual daily user, it is also creative user friendly, featuring a D-Tap port for photography and videography equipment. This is an extremely rare feature to be included in solar-powered generators. Out of all of the models I’ve reviewed in the past (30+), this one is the first to have a D-Tap port.
• Quality USBs – Engineered with Power Delivery (PD) and Quick Charge (QC) technology, the Phoenix 300 is able to pump out 60 watts of power from its USB-C port for compatible devices and up to 18 watts of output power from its QC USB-A.

I personally use a solar generator similar to the Phoenix 300. It’s called the Jackery Explorer 300 and it’s one of my go-to power stations because it’s lightweight and can easily fit into my backpack.

I recommend checking out my review and testing of the Jackery 300 so you can compare it to the Phoenix 300. My post can be found here: Jackery Explorer 300 Review & Test (Plus Comparisons).

Phoenix 300 – general specs & features

The product specifications are unique and one-of-a-kind in the market today, marking it as a top choice for people looking for the included features.

The product specifications are as follows:

Battery Capacity	337Wh
Battery Cell Type	Lithium-ion
Battery Cycle Life	1,000 cycles to 80% capacity
USB Ports	2x USB-A: 5V/2.4A 1x USB-A QC: 18W max 1x USB-C PD: 60W max (in/out)
12V DC Ports	1x Car port: 11-17V/10A 1x D-Tap port: 11-17V/10A
AC Ports	2x AC ports: 200W continuous (350W surge)
Input Ports	1x USB-C PD: 5-20V (60W max) 1x DC input: 12-25V (50W max)
Weight	6.4 lbs
Dimensions	7.1 x 6.1 x 5.6 in
Source	Renogy Phoenix 300 manual

In terms of output power, the Battery Management System (BMS) controls the voltage, temperature control, short-circuit protection, and over-current protection to keep both the power station and your devices protected from malfunction.

As for input options, the Phoenix 300 can be charged via a standard wall outlet, USB-C (5-20V, 60W max), or solar input (12-25V, 50W max).

What it powers

The Phoenix 300’s battery will give you the freedom to charge the following:

• Laptop (50Wh): 5 charges
• Digital camera (10Wh): 30-35 charges
• Drone (30Wh): 8-9 charges
• Smartphone (12Wh): 22-24 charges
• Portable CPAP machine (30W): 10 hours

Physical properties

The Renogy Phoenix 300 is optimized to be as light as possible and weighs in at 6.4 lbs.

Its dimensions create a compact unit, measuring out at 7.1 x 6.1 x 5.6 inches. Its size and weight make it versatile, and bring along an exceptional power capacity.

The unit’s material is made from ABS, which has a great response to heating and withstanding high temperatures. The wise selection of incorporating ABS in the design has many advantages. ABS is durable because it has a high tolerance for corrosive substances and physical impacts.

The second material used in the structure is polycarbonate (PC). PC is known for its strength and high resistance to heat and electricity – an ideal choice for a portable power supply.

Similar: Goal Zero vs. Renogy: Solar Panels & Generators

Embedded lithium-ion battery

The battery used for the Renogy Phoenix 300 is a lithium-ion battery. lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries are unquestionably the most common form of consumer electronic rechargeable battery. They can be used for a range of items from cell phones to vehicles, and are superior to other rechargeable batteries in their performance.

There are several advantages and reasons for using a lithium-ion battery in the Renogy Phoenix 300 over other types of batteries. These advantages are listed below:

1. Lithium-ion batteries contain comparatively low levels of toxic heavy metals contained in other battery types, such as lead-acid and nickel-cadmium (NiCd) batteries. Excessive exposure to these metals and insufficient treatment can be hazardous to humans, animals, and plants.
2. Lithium-ion batteries also have a higher energy density compared to these battery types. For example, a standard 50Ah (ampere-hour) lithium-ion battery weighs roughly the same as a 24Ah lead-acid battery (about 13-15 lbs) but delivers over twice the power.

Renogy Phoenix 300 vs. competition

There are several similar power stations to the Phoenix 300 in terms of battery size; however, each model below has different characteristics that make them unique.

Although the Phoenix doesn’t charge as fast as the other options and also has the lowest AC output of the four, it is lighter and less expensive than all the others.

The price difference may be beneficial for you, but also note that the Phoenix doesn’t have an LCD screen. You may want to know the exact state of your battery and the input/output wattage, but unfortunately, the Phoenix barely has any of these features. It only has a battery status indicator that displays in 25% increments.

What’s most unique about this power station is its D-Tap port, which I’ve never seen on any other model I’ve reviewed. This can be an advantage if you need to use a port like this for your devices and electronics.

Plus, its car port output has the same 11-17V (10A) rating as the D-Tap, which makes it capable of higher output power than the typical 12V/10A output seen in most solar generators.

Final Thoughts

The Phoenix 300 struggles to charge fast, isn’t powerful in AC output power, and doesn’t have an LCD screen. These factors are crucial in estimating the overall value of a portable power station and it underperforms on all three of them.

The only situations where the Phoenix 300 can be beneficial are:

• If you need to have the D-Tap output port
• If you’re on a serious budget and just want the least expensive option

If you think this power station will get the job done for you, you can check out the Phoenix 300 via the links below.

Otherwise, I recommend the Fanttik EVO 300 or Jackery Explorer 300. The Jackery model is closest in size and weight to the Phoenix, and the EVO 300 is the closest in price, at $250.

You can read my reviews of these alternatives below, where I show you my testing results and each model’s subleties.

• Jackery Explorer 300 Review & Test (Plus Comparisons)
• Fanttik EVO 300 Solar Generator Review (Testing & Comparisons)

Alternative option from Renogy

If you’re looking for a more compact power station, Renogy has a model available called the Phoenix 200, which is about two pounds lighter than the Phoenix 300. Its port options are a bit different than the larger model, but its design is identical. If you could use additional portability, you can check out the Phoenix 200 here on Renogy’s website.