The BR300 is a decent power station for keeping smaller electronics topped up while on the go. It will fit nicely into your vehicle, and its small size and inconsequential weight make it excellent for shorter excursions.
The BR300 power station from Joyzis falls into this category. Weighing in at only 4.2 lbs, the BR300 is a lightweight unit that promises to keep mobile phones, laptops, and other portable gear topped up. But is it worth its $259 price tag? We’ll help you sort that out today.
Joyzis BR300 Build Quality and Design
The driving force behind the BR300 by Joyzis is delivering portable power in a small form factor. There are three USB-A ports on the face of the unit, two of which offer 5V/3A charging, and one of which offers 5V/9V stepped charging. In addition to these ports, the BR300 also provides a single 300W/110V output port for things that use AC power and a 12V DC port for anything that uses a standard cigarette-lighter style auxiliary power adapter.
There is also a 5.5mm DC output port offering 12V and a 3.5mm DC input port that will accept input up to 18V. A single PD 60W USB-C port offers both quick charging for USB-C devices and functions as the input for the included AC wall charger.
On the top of the unit is a 7.5W (Max 10W) Qi-wireless charger pad for phones that support wireless charging. Two lights bracket the unit’s shell. One light is touted as a reading light, and the other as an emergency light. The emergency light on the unit has three modes, including fast strobing, SOS mode, and strong light mode. The latter of which keeps the emergency light solid. The other light only offers on and of modes.
There are also four white LED indicators to monitor battery capacity in the middle of the unit’s face. These indicators fully illuminate when the unit is charged up and reduce from right to left as the power dwindles.
Surrounding the Qi charger are a pair of foldable plastic handles that make carrying the BR300 a bit easier. These handles have a textured underside for added grip and are comfortable to hold even when wearing gloves.
The entire shell of the BR300 is made from fire-retardant ABS resin, and power is supplied via a lithium-ion battery. The unit has an overall capacity of 296Wh or 80,000 mAh. The weight of the unit is 4.2 lbs or 1.95 kg.
On the bottom of the unit, four rubber feet prevent the BR300 from scratching any surfaces. Finally, the AC output port on this unit is a universal type which may be a bit different than some are used to. This universal plug allows the BR300 to work in many different countries that use 110V.
What’s in the Box?
In the box for the Joyzis BR300 power station, you’ll get:
The BR300 The owner’s manual A warranty card with a QR code that will extend the warranty to 24 months A special offer card for leaving a product review A 12V auto charger An AC wall adapter
What Can You Power With the Joyzis BR300?
Smartphone: about 30 charges TV: around 4 hours Laptop: about 4 charges Mini-fridge/freezer: Around 3 hours Digital Camera Battery: about 50 charges
Using the BR300
To use the device, press the power button until the center lights illuminate, then plug in the device you’d like to charge. If you’re using a 12V or USB device, then you won’t have to do anything, but if you’d like to activate the 110V output or the wireless charger, then you’ll have to press the button located near the appropriate output.
Lighting is also activated by pressing one of the corresponding buttons on the face of the unit. Each button has a small blue LED that switches on when the corresponding function is used, except for the Qi charger, which has a green LED. To access the strobe function, you’ll turn the strobe on, then momentarily press the strobe light button to switch through the modes. It’s important to note that if you are storing the BR300, you should ensure these modes are switched off, as continuous power to the LEDs can cause the internal battery of the power supply to drain.
Before you use the unit, Joyzis advises that you charge the BR300 fully using the included AC power adapter or the 12V DC car charger. From the wall outlet, you can expect the BR300 to charge fully in about 6.6 hours. Charging from the car takes a bit longer.
Finally, the maximum output for this unit is 300W, so it’s crucial that if you are using multiple devices, you do not go over this ceiling. While the unit has overload protection, it’s not designed for surge output or to operate power-hungry appliances like tea kettles or hair dryers.
Testing the Joyzis BR300
The BR300 powers a surprising amount of devices at the same time. During testing, we were able to connect an iPad Pro, an Aputure RGB panel light, an iPhone X, Scuf controller, Canon M50 camera, and a Kindle Paperwhite—all at the same time. We also activated both external lights in addition to these loads. Even with everything charging and both lights operational, the overload protection of the unit did not engage.
Because there isn’t a display on the unit to determine the amount of in-use wattage, it’s difficult to determine how far you can push this device before this protection engages. We did test an 1850-watt hairdryer to see if the device’s overload protection would engage. After less than one second of powering on, the Joyzis shut down, and the AC button began to blink, indicating overload.
Again, for devices that use a lot of power, the BR300 isn’t going to pass muster. However, what it will allow is the powering of some everyday items you might find on a family camping trip. iPads, Kindles, cell phones, even things like your family camera will benefit from packing this tiny power station on your next vacation.
We also tested the solar function on the unit using a single solar panel rated at 100W and 18V. That said, the solar capabilities of this charging station required the purchase of additional adapters to work. Additionally, because of the lack of display, it was difficult to determine what the input voltage was from our solar panel, but charging did seem to work well.
Solar is nice, and it can provide top-ups when in a pinch, but we found the best way to use this power station was to charge it before going on the road and just using it throughout the day.
The small charge capacity and low-wattage power threshold make this device purely supplemental. In other words, you aren’t going to want to use this as your only power supply for extended off-grid missions. However, for quick power to charge your phone or laptop at the beach or on a short camping trip, the BR300 works well.
Lighting the Way for Emergency Power Outages
One feature of the BR300 that is optimal for a unit this size is the dual flashlight function, which is enough to illuminate dark rooms. It’s light enough that you could use it as an emergency flashlight if there were no other options available. Turning the reading light on and standing the unit on its end also provided enough light in a dark room to keep from stumbling over things.
If there were an emergency where you were without light for a few hours, then the BR300 would serve you well. However, because of the small size of the unit, it isn’t meant to be used for days at a time. What may be more beneficial in the case of an emergency is to have a dedicated flashlight so that you’re not using your only power just to see in the dark.
Can You Repair the BR300?
This unit is sealed, and therefore not designed to be repaired. The owner’s manual of the product explicitly states that you should not attempt to open or repair the unit. In other words, if it goes out on you, you’ll likely be looking for another power station. However, the BR300 comes with a 365-day warranty.
If you visit the website indicated on the warranty materials, then you can extend this warranty to 24 months. Two years on a power station such as this is pretty standard and doesn’t seem to indicate low quality or poor construction. But, make sure you extend the warranty just in case something happens.
What Do We Love About the Joyzis BR300 Power Station?
The compact size is the standout feature of this power station. Its feathery weight and mid-range capacity are excellent for short trips and day outings. It’s also a nice unit to keep in your vehicle in case of emergencies, as long as your car is not exposed to long bouts of direct sun or high temperatures.
The carry handles provide a comfortable way to transport the unit, and the multiple flavors of USB ports allow for several devices to charge at the same time. That means you won’t be fighting the kids over whose device gets the juice. The Qi-wireless charger on the top of the unit is also excellent for folks who appreciate wireless charging over having to carry around additional cables or adapters.
Finally, the lights on the unit are useful, though we wonder why the BR300 needed to have two of them. If one light is enough for many larger power stations, adding a second is just a bit overkill.
What’s Not to Love?
The biggest complaint with the BR300 is that it has quite a few limitations on what it will and will not power. Once you start getting into larger devices, the unit starts to feel like a toy rather than a full-fledged power supply. However, this is going to be true from many power stations in this class.
There also isn’t any indication of battery life as the unit tallies up life cycles. There have been definitive specifications on the approximate number of cycles that the battery will tolerate before reducing in capacity and performance with other units. This information doesn’t seem to exist on any of the product documentation, nor could it be found through any online resources. That means the data either doesn’t exist or is a blind spot for this unit.
Finally, to use solar with this unit, you’ll need to purchase additional accessories. For those who already have solar panels, like me, this means buying additional adapters that will need to be managed along with the unit. Perhaps users could solve this by purchasing a solar panel directly from Joyzis, but that increases the overall cost.
Should You Buy the Joyzis BR300 Power Station?
All things considered, the BR300 is a decent power station for keeping smaller electronics topped up while on the go. It will fit nicely into your vehicle, and its small size and inconsequential weight make it excellent for shorter excursions.
But the lack of extensive testing documentation and the limited number of output watts are the device’s Achilles heel. For those who don’t already have a power station, we wouldn’t recommend putting all of your eggs in the BR300’s basket. That said, the BR300 isn’t a power station that you should overlook entirely. It fulfills its promise of ultra-portable extra power. For what it is, we feel the Joyzis BR300 offers a surprisingly robust package for such a diminutive device.
