review – Have you ever imagined yourself living a #vanlife life, on a scenic cliff, working on a laptop for hours before going out for a bike ride or surfing some great suits? This is probably why it happened. The Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600 M is a lightweight and sturdy (silent!) power bank that can power and charge all your electronic devices throughout the day, then charge yourself with a variety of inputs while you’re out and about.
What is it?
The Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600M (592Wh) Power Station is a small, lightweight, fanless 600Wh power plant Can generate up to 600W of continuous AC power.
What’s in the box?
- Zendure SuperBase M Power Station
- AC charging cable (power brick)
- cigarette lighter charging cable
- Quick Start Guide
- Warranty Card
Hardware Specifications
- size: 32.5 x 19.0 x 13.8 cm
- Weight: 6.4 kg/14.1 lbs
- Battery Type: Lithium Ion
- Battery capacity: 607 Wh
- Display: LCD display
- enter:
- DC: 18-24V 120W Max/
- Solar 18-24V Input 160W Max
- USB Type-C PD100W (input/output)
- Car socket: 12.6V/8A, 100.8W Max
- AC output (2 AC plugs, one with 3 holes):
- 600W (rated power)
- 1000W (surge power)
- DC output:
- USB-A (3): 5V/2.4A
- USB Type-C PD100W (input/output)
- Car socket output: 12.6V/10A, 126W Max
- DC Port(2): 12.6V/6A (126W Max Total)
- LED light mode:
- The first mode: maximum 5W
- The second mode: 10W MAX
- The third mode: SOS
- The fourth mode: warning light burst
Design and Features
The Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600M Power Station is probably one of the most attractive power stations I’ve seen. The design is simple, elegant and sturdy. The top, sides, and bottom are solid but lightly brushed aluminum casings that appear seamless. At least, I can’t find the seams. There are four large rubber feet on the bottom and a sturdy and comfortable handle on the top. The rear panel is full of LED lights. This leaves the front where all the action really happens. The control buttons are at the top of the front, and the ports are arranged in three vertical columns under the full-width display. The leftmost column is the input and DC output. The middle column is for all the USB ports, and the right column is for the two AC ports.
The unit I’m reviewing is the 600 Wh model, which is capable of producing up to 600 W of AC power. This may not be enough to power most heating appliances (ovens, hotplates, coffee makers, etc.), but it is enough to power most electronics. The USB-C port is a 100W PD (Power Delivery) port that can be used for input (to charge the battery) and output (to power your laptop)operate). A neat feature of this power base is that it can charge using multiple ports at the same time. For example, you can charge via an AC adapter and a 100W USB-C charger like the one for your MacBook Pro. You can recharge from the cigarette lighter and solar panel in the car when you are away from home. Simultaneous charging just charges the battery faster.
The Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600M Power Station’s display provides a visual battery indicator on the far left, battery percentage remaining, time to empty, wattage readings at our output (or network if charging and using at the same time), And the output is active for metrics. With the right cable configuration, the unit can also be used to start a car battery.
The Zendure SuperBase has cooling, so it doesn’t have a fan. This means that operation is completely silent, even under high load. The aluminum case plays a big role in dissipating heat, though I never really noticed the unit overheating.
Performance
This is an amazing powerhouse if you understand its limitations. Many people dream of living the life of a van, plugging a coffee maker or hair dryer into the power base to handle their morning routine. This unit is not suitable – it can only provide 600W of AC (Zendure makes another identical 1000Wh unit which produces 1000W of AC and can run some of these devices). However, if you are able to generate heat in other ways, this is a great unit for powering electronics. Imagine living the life of a van, plugging all your work supplies (phone, laptop, monitor, etc.) into this unit and letting it last at least 8 hours.
I have two WFH configurations in my home – one in my office and one that rolls out to the patio when the weather is nice. Both feature the same MacBook Pro laptop. The office features a 32-inch monitor, ring lights, powered speakers, and draws between 70 and 120W depending on the laptop’s state of charge. The outdoor configuration features a 27-inch display and draws between 50 and 120 watts depending on how the laptop is charged. I tested the Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600M Power Station in two configurations, using it exclusively for all of my day’s power needs. Charges and powers a laptop (sometimes two laptops!), powers a monitor, and charges two phones. My days are filled with many Zoom meetings that require a lot of processors and therefore consume a lot of power. I get a full charge every day. The Zendure SuperBase 600M provides enough power for 8-10 hours of work. I am very impressed. The casing feels a little warm to the touch, but never hot. And because it doesn’t have a fan, it’s quiet. For most of the day, I actually forget that I’m not plugged into a traditional wall AC outlet.
The rear LED lights are very powerful and easily illuminate most of my backyard in the brightest setting. The brightest setting only consumes 10W and lasts over 60 hours on a full charge!
what do I like
- It’s light for a large power base (thanks to the lithium-ion battery!)
- It can power all electronic devicesyes
- It has a variety of ports to cover almost everything
- it is silent
- It’s compact, sturdy and attractive
- LED lights are very bright
what would i change
There are 3 USB-A ports and 1 USB-C port. The world seems to be transitioning away from USB-A, so one way to future-proof this unit is to include more USB-C and fewer USB-A ports.
There are two AC ports, but only one is 3-pin. Two three-phase AC power sockets will provide more functionality.
final thoughts
If you’re looking for a power station that can handle all your electronics all day long, the Zendure SuperBase M-Series 600M is it. It can even run a small refrigerator for a long time. However, if you’re looking for a device to power your heat-generating equipment, look for something bigger. It’s compact, sturdy, light and silent. It’s also attractive, which can’t be said for many of the power base designs out there. Grab one and start living your #vanlife dreams today!
Price: $479
Where to buy: Zendur
Source: Samples for this review provided by Zendur.
