Every roundup you find is a snapshot of one model year. The ranges get replaced, the review stays online, and you end up comparing a unit that is two generations old against one that is current. Compare specifications instead. Here is the short list that decides the outcome.
1. Chemistry and rated cycles
Lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4 / LFP) is the chemistry you want for an RV or a cabin: it tolerates partial charging and heat far better than the older pouch chemistries, and the cycle numbers are an order of magnitude higher. A manufacturer confident in its cells publishes a cycle count. Our Elite 200 V2 and Apex 300 listings both state LiFePO4; the Elite 100 V2 listing states over 4,000 cycles with a 10-year life.
2. Continuous AC output, not "surge"
The headline number on a box is often peak or "lifting" power for a second or two. What runs a microwave or a rooftop air conditioner is the continuous rating. Our listings state it plainly — 2,600W for the Elite 200 V2, 2,400W for the Elite 300, 3,840W for the Apex 300 — and where there is a separate lifting figure, it is named as one.
3. Capacity, and whether it expands
Buying a fixed-capacity unit means replacing it when your trips get longer. An expandable one lets you add battery modules to the same station. The Apex 300 listing states it starts at 2,764.8Wh and supports up to six B300K modules for 19,353.6Wh, with B500K modules of 5,120Wh also supported.
4. Charge inputs
Three matter: AC from shore or a house, solar, and the vehicle. Look for the combined number, because that is what gets you back to full over lunch. Our Elite 200 V2 listing states up to 1,800W AC, up to 1,000W solar, and up to 2,400W using both together.
5. UPS switchover
If anything in your rig should not blink — a CPAP, a router, a residential fridge — the changeover time is a hard requirement, not a nice-to-have. The Elite 200 V2 listing states 15ms or less. Any brand that does not quote a figure is telling you something.
6. A real 12V DC output
RV loads are mostly 12V. Running them through the inverter and back down through a converter wastes energy for no reason. Check whether the station has a high-current 12V port and whether the cable for it exists for your model.
Where we stand
We list BLUETTI because those six numbers are published, the part number is on every listing, and the stock ships from Bluetti's US warehouse with the manufacturer's warranty behind it. We also sell Victron and Renogy for builds that should be wired in instead of carried. We do not list brands we cannot support after the sale, which is the seventh criterion and the one no spec sheet shows.