AC180
- it travels: 35.3 lb, a carry handle
- you need USB and 12V ports
- you save $450
FridgePower
- it guards a fridge full time
- 10ms switch, Wi-Fi alerts
- grows to 8,064Wh
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 12, 2026 at 7:59 PM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
One goes camping. The other never leaves the kitchen, and that is the point.
The BLUETTI AC180 is a 35.3 lb portable: 1,152Wh, 1,800W from four outlets, a USB-C port, four USB-A, a 12V socket, a wireless pad and solar and car cables in the box. The BLUETTI FridgePower is a 3-inch slab that sits on the fridge or hangs on the wall: 2,016Wh, the same 1,800W from only two outlets, a 10ms switchover, Wi-Fi alerts and room for three BlueCell 200 batteries, for 8,064Wh. If the station has to travel, the AC180; if its job is to keep the fridge cold through every outage without you touching it, the FridgePower.
Below: every difference with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, seven modeled situations, a third option that does both jobs, and what published tests found on each.
The FridgePower costs $450 more and gives you 864Wh more battery, a 10ms switchover, Wi-Fi alerts and a port for up to three extra batteries, in a slim case made to sit on a fridge or a wall. The AC180 is the portable: 8 lb lighter, with a carry handle, USB, a 12V socket and its cables in the box.
- it goes camping or in the car
- you charge phones and laptops
- you run a 12V cooler
- it guards a fridge 24/7
- you want a 10ms switch
- you’ll grow to 8,064Wh
The five differences that decide it
Both are BLUETTI LFP units with 1,800W of continuous output, Power Lifting for heaters, pass-through charging and a 5-year BLUETTI US warranty. These five gaps decide it.
Will it run your setup? Check in 20 seconds
Estimates use 85% usable capacity and 70% of rated solar output. Real results vary with temperature, inverter load, shade and appliance cycling. Fridge and freezer watts are daily averages and do not include compressor startup surges.
Runtime by appliance, one at a time
Simple energy estimates, not measured runtimes. About 979Wh usable on the AC180 and 1,714Wh on the FridgePower before extra batteries. Reviewers measured 950 to 1,030Wh out of the AC180 and 1,558 to 1,749Wh out of the FridgePower.
Appliance for appliance, the FridgePower lasts 75% longer than the AC180.
Same appliance, same watts: the gap is always the size of the battery.Get the 1-page outage plan
What to plug in first, how long a fridge really runs on a battery, and the 3 safety rules for connecting a power station to your home. Printable, sent by email.
About one email a week. Unsubscribe in one click. We may earn a commission when you buy through our links, at no extra cost to you. Privacy Policy
The price gap, in numbers
The BLUETTI FridgePower costs $450 more than the BLUETTI AC180 and adds 864Wh: that is $0.52 per extra Wh, against $0.43 per Wh for the AC180.
Prices refresh daily from BLUETTI US.What the $450 buys: 864Wh more battery (2,016Wh vs 1,152Wh), a 10ms switchover, Wi-Fi alerts and a port for up to 8,064Wh.
1 × FridgePower (2,016Wh) costs $49 less today.
BLUETTI rates the AC180 at 3,500+ cycles and the FridgePower at 4,000, both to 80%. Read the lifetime figure as a ranking, not a bill. Two AC180s hold a little more energy than one FridgePower, but as two separate boxes with no automatic hand-off between them, and neither switches in 10ms.
The third option: the BLUETTI Elite 200 V2 at $899
BLUETTI Elite 200 V2: $899 today
If you want the FridgePower’s 2kWh but still need to carry it now and then, the Elite 200 V2 stores 2,073.6Wh and delivers 2,600W from four 20A outlets, with two 100W USB-C ports and a 12V socket, at 53.4 lb. It switches in 15ms, takes 1,000W of solar and is rated for 6,000+ cycles. It has no battery port, so 2kWh is its ceiling, and it is a box rather than a slab. Our Elite 200 V2 review goes deeper. See the Elite 200 V2 at BLUETTI.
Seven modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above, with no extra battery unless stated. The fridge averages 60W, about 525kWh a year, in the range printed on typical EnergyGuide labels; that average does not include compressor startup surges.
24-hour outage, essentials only
The FridgePower carries the evening, the night and the next morning; the AC180 the evening and part of the night. Phones and the laptop charge through the FridgePower’s AC outlets, since it has no USB ports.
The fridge alone, for as long as it takes
About 16 hours on the AC180 and 29 on the FridgePower. Reviewed (USA Today) kept a full-size fridge running for more than 30 hours on the FridgePower; one BlueCell 200 doubles that.
A sump pump through a storm
Both start and run it. The FridgePower takes over in 10ms when the grid drops, so a pump that starts mid-switch doesn’t stall, and its app alerts you to the outage. On the AC180, leave Grid Enhancement off.
A weekend of camping
The AC180 has the 12V socket, the USB ports, a carry handle and its car cable in the box. The FridgePower has two AC outlets, no handle and an IP20 indoor rating: it stays home.
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
Close: the FridgePower takes twice the panels for almost twice the battery. The AC180 ships with its solar cable; the FridgePower’s is sold separately.
Home office through an outage
Only the FridgePower is comfortable with a desktop PC: its switchover is 10ms or less, inside the roughly 16ms an ATX power supply rides through, and CyberShack’s 400W PC kept running when the wall was cut. The AC180’s 20ms is borderline.
Growing the system
Only the FridgePower grows: about four days for a 60W fridge with three BlueCell 200. A BLUETTI battery can recharge an AC180 in Power Bank Mode, but that doesn’t make it a bigger station.
Eight more differences, the spec sheet and the box
Smaller gaps that rarely decide the purchase, then the full specifications and what ships in the box.
AC180 and FridgePower weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 35.3 lb for the AC180 and 43.4 lb for the FridgePower. Dimensions: 13.4 × 9.7 × 12.5 in and 22.83 × 13.78 × 3.07 in. Everything else is in the sheet below.
BLUETTI AC180 and BLUETTI FridgePower full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
AC180
- AC180 power station1,152Wh, 35.3 lb
- AC charging cable1.8 m
- Solar charging cable1.5 m
- Car charging cable0.72 m
- Manual and grounding screw
FridgePower
- FridgePower2,016Wh, 43.4 lb
- AC charging cable2.5 m
- Wall bracket, screws and anchorsplus four leveling feet and a handle strap
- Solar cable sold separately
From the brands’ US product pages and manuals.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
AC180: Turbo 1,440W, Standard about 1,000W, Silent 260WFridgePower: Turbo 1,440W, Standard 1,000W, Silent 600W (US)
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
AC180
FridgePower
Practical consequence: the FridgePower is two AC outlets for a fridge and one more appliance; everything with a USB cable needs its own charger plugged in. The AC180 has a port for every small device, plus a 12V socket.
09 · NoiseNoise and heat: AC180 vs FridgePower
Neither is loud. The Technology Man measured the BLUETTI FridgePower just under 45dB at 1 m at a full 1,800W, and the BLUETTI AC180 at 37dB in silent charging and 50dB at full output.
The FridgePower’s fan cycles at light load (Trusted Reviews); the AC180’s fans stay off below about 100W (PCWorld).Every figure we found, with its source
What reviewers heard: A noisy fan is listed among its cons (OutdoorGearLab); fans already spin at a 200W load, at a fairly quiet 40 dBA (PCWorld).
What reviewers heard: Barely audible at typical loads, under 45 dB at 1 m at 1,800W (The Technology Man, UK unit); the fan cycles on and off at light load (Trusted Reviews) and ramps up when charging fast (CyberShack).
Measured by a tester Brand figure
- Charge in Silent mode overnight: 600W on the FridgePower, 260W on the AC180.
Cold, heat and storage: AC180 vs FridgePower
The BLUETTI AC180 and the BLUETTI FridgePower share the same ranges: charging 32°F to 104°F, discharging −4°F to 104°F. The AC180 drops to 1,500W above 86°F; the FridgePower is rated IP20, indoor use.
Figures from BLUETTI US pages and the manuals of both models.AC180: output drops to 1,500W above 86°F.
- Charge either one above freezing.
- Store the FridgePower at 40 to 60% and run a full cycle every 3 months, per BLUETTI; in a garage, keep it between 14°F and 95°F.
App, UPS and smart features
The BLUETTI FridgePower is the smarter home backup: a 10ms switch, Wi-Fi alerts, UPS modes and a battery port. The BLUETTI AC180 is Bluetooth only and fixed at 1,152Wh.
Same app, same Power Lifting idea. The gap is Wi-Fi, switchover time and expansion.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can you add a battery later? The BLUETTI AC180 has no battery port; the BLUETTI FridgePower takes up to three BlueCell 200 batteries, for 8,064Wh.
Can it charge off-peak? BLUETTI lists no off-peak mode for the BLUETTI AC180; the BLUETTI FridgePower has a Time Control mode, though Trusted Reviews saw it keep drawing about 60W from the grid at peak.
Does it prepare for storms? BLUETTI lists no storm mode for the BLUETTI AC180; the BLUETTI FridgePower fast-charges ahead of storms from local weather data.
Does it work as a UPS? The BLUETTI AC180 switches in 20ms or less, with Grid Enhancement off; the BLUETTI FridgePower switches in 10ms or less (The Technology Man measured 6.2ms).
How does the app connect? The BLUETTI AC180 connects over Bluetooth only; the BLUETTI FridgePower connects over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth and works with Alexa, Google Home and Home Assistant.
Can it run a heater or kettle above its rating? The BLUETTI AC180 runs heating loads up to 2,700W in Power Lifting, but not while charging from the wall; the BLUETTI FridgePower runs resistive loads up to 3,000W in Power Lifting, at 1,800W real output.
Warranty and support
BLUETTI US gives the BLUETTI AC180 and the BLUETTI FridgePower the same 5 years from the purchase date, with proof of purchase.
Same term. The FridgePower is rated for more cycles.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
BLUETTI rates the AC180 at 3,500+ cycles and the FridgePower at 4,000, both to 80% capacity: about 9.6 and 11 years at one full cycle a day. A backup that mostly waits on grid power cycles far less.
- Buy either one from BLUETTI or an authorized seller and keep proof of purchase: units from unauthorized resellers aren’t covered.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 14 published reviews found, with the source, author and date for each point. Reviews of UK and EU units are flagged: those models charge from 230V outlets and have different sockets, so their charge times and outlet findings don’t carry over to US units.
AC180: OutdoorGearLab (January 2026), PCWorld (June 2023), StorageReview (May 2023), Digital Trends (August 2023), The Technology Man (September 2023, UK unit), New Atlas (May 2023, Australian unit)FridgePower: Trusted Reviews (September 2026, UK unit), The Technology Man (August 2026, UK unit), Reviewed (June 2026), TechRadar (May 2026, UK unit), CyberShack (May 2026, Australian unit), Basic Tutorials (April 2026, EU unit), iPhone in Canada (April 2026, Canadian unit), CleanTechnica (March 2026 (updated May 2026))
Usable capacity
- AC180Reviewer Run at 80% load until empty on their light bar jig, it delivered 950Wh, 18% under the rated 1,152Wh, about 82% efficiency. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer With an 800W space heater it delivered 970Wh, 84% of the rated capacity. PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023
- FridgePowerReviewer In a constant-load drain test at the full 1,800W, the unit delivered 1,558Wh. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
- FridgePowerReviewer At a steady 1,000W load it delivered 1,696Wh, for a best round-trip efficiency of 84.3%. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
Charging
- AC180Reviewer Wall charging from 0% to full averaged 1.3 hours. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer A full 0 to 100% charge drew 1,360Wh from the wall, about 80% charging efficiency. StorageReview, Kevin OBrien, May 2023
- AC180Reviewer Measured wall draw: 1,458W in Turbo, 1,005W in Standard and 283W in Silent. StorageReview, Kevin OBrien, May 2023
- FridgePowerReviewer From empty, a Turbo recharge to 100% took 83 minutes and pulled 2,089Wh from the wall (UK unit, 1,800W Turbo; US Turbo is 1,440W). Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
- FridgePowerReviewer Silent mode drew 600W, took close to four hours and used 2,011Wh; Standard drew about 1,200W and took around two hours. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
Noise and heat
- AC180Reviewer A noisy fan is listed among the reasons to avoid it, next to weak battery efficiency. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer At 3 feet, about 45 dBA under a 1,500W load and 43 to 44 dBA at 800W. PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023
- AC180Reviewer Fans already spin at a 200W load, at a fairly quiet 40 dBA. PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023
- FridgePowerReviewer Not fully silent: even at light load the fan cycled on and off often, audible from across a living room. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
- FridgePowerReviewer After 20 minutes at a constant 1,800W, the exhaust vent read just under 58°C. The Technology Man, Gidon, August 2026, UK unit
UPS and output
- AC180Reviewer With a 20ms switchover, the testers would hesitate to use it as a true UPS for sensitive electronics. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer They confirmed the USB-C port delivers 100W USB-PD 3.0 with PPS, and the wireless pad reached its 15W rating. PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023
- AC180Reviewer They would still choose a purpose-built UPS for sensitive IT gear to avoid reboots. StorageReview, Kevin OBrien, May 2023
- FridgePowerReviewer With the fridge connected, cutting and restoring mains power had no noticeable effect on the fridge. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
- FridgePowerReviewer Only two mains sockets, with no USB or DC outputs on the main unit. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
Daily use and issues
- AC180Reviewer They weighed it at 36 lb: fine for car camping, but heavy for its capacity next to rivals. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer The reviewers now point readers to the successor, the Elite 100 V2, which they call smaller, lighter, quieter and faster charging. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026
- AC180Reviewer The app works in an offline Bluetooth mode, useful in an outage or with no phone signal. PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023
- FridgePowerReviewer In Time Control mode the unit kept drawing about 60W from the grid even during peak hours, which undermines off-peak savings. Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit
- FridgePowerReviewer BlueCell 200 cables are too short to stack batteries, so expansion packs must sit side by side. The Technology Man, Gidon, August 2026, UK unit
Practical limits before you buy
- The FridgePower has two AC outlets and nothing else. No USB, no 12V socket and no screen; you read it in the app or on the optional Display 1.
- It is built to stay put. 43.4 lb in a 3-inch slab that sits on the fridge or hangs on a wall; there are handle holes and a strap, no carry handle.
- Leave it room to breathe: 3.94 in clear above and 1.97 in on the left. iPhone in Canada found that, on top of a fridge, it covers the space the fridge vents through.
- Turn ECO mode off for a fridge. BLUETTI warns it can cut the outlets during the compressor’s quiet phases.
- Charging stops at 90% by default on AC and solar; raise the limit in the app if you want the full 2,016Wh.
- Idle draw: BLUETTI says about 4W; The Technology Man measured about 12.1W with AC on and nothing plugged in.
- The AC180 can’t be expanded, and its switchover, 20ms or less, is borderline for desktop PCs.
- The AC180 drops to 1,500W above 86°F, per its manual.
- Power Lifting is for heating loads only on both; The Technology Man’s 3,000W kettle ran at only 1.3kW on the FridgePower.
- AC180, per its US documentation: Grid Enhancement mode must be off when used as a UPS, or switchover takes longer.
- AC180, per its US documentation: Power Lifting is unavailable while charging from a wall outlet or generator: AC input then bypasses the inverter to the loads.
- AC180, per its US documentation: 1,440W AC input only at 50 to 86F (10 to 30C); BMS lowers charging power with battery temperature and SoC.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the BLUETTI AC180 and the FridgePower?
The AC180 is a 1,152Wh portable power station with four AC outlets, USB, a 12V socket and a carry handle, at 35.3 lb. The FridgePower is a 2,016Wh slim backup for fridges and other home loads, with two AC outlets, a 10ms switchover, Wi-Fi and room for 8,064Wh, at 43.4 lb.
Is the FridgePower a refrigerator?
No. It is a battery backup that plugs in between the wall and your fridge, freezer or pump, and takes over in 10ms or less when the power goes out.
Which keeps a fridge running longer?
The FridgePower: about 29 hours for a 60W fridge, against about 16 on the AC180. Reviewed measured more than 30 hours on a full-size fridge.
Can I take the FridgePower camping?
It isn’t made for it: no carry handle, no USB or 12V ports and an IP20 indoor rating. The AC180 is.
Can either be expanded?
Only the FridgePower: up to three BlueCell 200 batteries, for 8,064Wh.
Which is better as a UPS for a computer?
The FridgePower, at 10ms or less. The AC180’s 20ms is borderline for desktop power supplies.
Which is cheaper?
The BLUETTI AC180 costs $450 less today: $499, against $949 for the BLUETTI FridgePower. Prices refresh daily; the price section above has the full breakdown.
How much do they weigh?
35.3 lb for the AC180 and 43.4 lb for the FridgePower.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not lab-tested these units. Specs come from BLUETTI US product pages and user manuals; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability were checked on October 31, 2026.
- Specs: BLUETTI US, AC180 and the AC180 user manual linked from it (US 120V column), and BLUETTI US, FridgePower and the FridgePower US user manual (EN-FR), read on October 31, 2026.
- Reviewer reports on the AC180: OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, January 2026, PCWorld, Gordon Mah Ung, June 2023, StorageReview, Kevin OBrien, May 2023, Digital Trends, Simon Sage, August 2023, The Technology Man, Gidon, September 2023, UK unit, New Atlas, Noel McKeegan, May 2023, Australian unit; on the FridgePower: Trusted Reviews, Simon Handby, September 2026, UK unit, The Technology Man, Gidon, August 2026, UK unit, Reviewed, Danielle DeSiato, June 2026, TechRadar, Jack Laurent, May 2026, UK unit, CyberShack, Scott Hunt, May 2026, Australian unit, Basic Tutorials, Simon Lüthje, April 2026, EU unit, iPhone in Canada, Austin Blake, April 2026, Canadian unit, CleanTechnica, Zachary Shahan, March 2026 (updated May 2026).
- Runtime = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. Solar harvest = min(panel watts, max input) × sun hours × 0.70. Cost per lifetime kWh = price ÷ (cycles × capacity in kWh).
The FridgePower adds 864Wh, a 10ms switch and a battery port for $450 more; the AC180 is the portable with USB and 12V.
Prices checked November 12, 2026 at 7:59 PM EST
Looking at other models? Browse all power station comparisons, or pick any two models on the hub and we point you to the right duel.
Originally published: November 11, 2026