The Ugreen 1200 uses the stable LiFePO4 cells. As a result, the battery lasts practically “forever” and there is no risk of a lithium fire. Nevertheless, the box remains light and small. A highlight are solar bags, they can be folded up compactly.
Ugreen is not yet one of the “big brands” in the field of power boxes. But the Ugreen 1200 is quite impressive. With a storage capacity of 1024 Wh, it belongs in the middle segment of power boxes. Not as big and heavy as boxes with 2000, 3000 or even 4000 watt hours. But big enough that you can also operate devices with 230 volts with this memory. So far more powerful than the small boxes that can be used to extend the endurance of smartphones and laptops.
Lots of power for on the go
If you have never heard of power boxes or solar generators, here is a brief classification. A power box is something like a power bank for a mobile phone – just bigger, up to much bigger. A battery storage is installed in a compact housing, and there are plenty of inputs and outputs for 230 volt AC voltage, among other things. You can take your electricity anywhere.
The focus of the advertising is on outdoor activities and van life because it looks chic. But such boxes are also interesting for craftsmen and drone pilots. Or for allotment gardeners who want to save on the monthly basic fee. They help with an autonomous solar harvest and provide protection in the event that the public power grid causes problems.
Such boxes have only been around for a few years. Before that, you had to take a petrol generator with you if you needed electricity without a network, so the market is booming today. And now Ugreen wants a slice of that too. The company grew large with electronic accessories such as USB cables and chargers. BYD, the Chinese car and battery giant, helps with the start of the battery business.
Cell technology from BYD
In its class, the Ugreen scores with several special features. Normally it feeds up to 1200 watts, but sometimes 2500 watts in turbo mode. 2500 watts covers almost all devices with a plug. Of course, they only run for a short time until the battery is empty – but the performance boost makes perfect sense for tools. With 2500 watts peak, the Ugreen exceeds the level of other companies. “Turbo” also means, for emergencies. Anyone who usually exceeds 1200 watts should choose a larger box.
For this purpose, LiFePO4 cells are installed, which last significantly longer than lithium-ion cells. Here, 3000 full cycles are promised before the capacity drops to 80 percent. In the hobby or camping area, this can be translated as “forever”. And even craftsmen who suck the box completely empty every working day would come to about 12 years. In fact, the cells are said to be more stable than stated, i.e. they can handle more than 3000 cycles.
At 12 kilograms, the box is not particularly heavy. With the high turbo output (2500 watts) and charging from the mains by 80 percent in one hour, the Ugreen avoids the classic problems of LiFePO4 cells. What remains is that these cells are not only stable, but also the dreaded lithium fire is not possible.
The processing is at a high level – as with the competitors. We haven’t come across a rattle box yet. This box is kept in a dark gray, the material is firm, but still pleasant to the touch. The large handle fits comfortably in the hand. Ugreen states that the box is designed to be drop-proof. We have not tried this with drop tests. With the associated app, a self-test can be carried out after a mishap.
With fixed bracket and headlight
The degrees are very intuitive and clear. The two 230 volt connections are on one side, the inputs and the turbo button on the other. At the front are the control panel, the USB ports and the 12-volt vehicle connection. The two USB-C outputs each deliver 100 watts. The handle is firm and cannot be folded away. This feels more comfortable, but increases the pack size. There is also a headlight in the front – just like you know from the Jackery boxes. The app has some nice features. Among other things, an emergency mode, then the box switches off when there is a remaining capacity of seven percent. This means you can always keep an iron reserve for your laptop or smartphone when camping.
In practical operation, the comparatively low weight of the Ugreen 1200. The larger power boxes are noticeably heavier and correspondingly unwieldy. We could fire up all sorts of tools, from a drill to a large flex. The “big” kettle in the kitchen and the espresso machine also ran without any problems. In addition to charging via 230 volts or car plugs, the Ugreen can of course be charged using solar energy. It goes in with an X60 connector. It connects the company’s solar bags to the station. They deliver up to 200 watts. We only managed lower values in the rainy spring, but that was due to the weather and not to the panel.
Two bags with a total of 400 watts can be connected to the box with an X60 crossover. Then the box should be full in about four hours. Here you can also understand the concept of the Ugreen 1200. Measured against a maximum output of 2500 watts, the 1024 Wh memory is tight, but together with the panel you quickly fill up the memory again. The solar bag consists of four segments that are folded together. This results in the small and handy pack size of 57.5 x 54 x 5 cm. A nice detail is a built-in positioning aid to optimally place the panels in the sun. The box also works with panels or bags from other manufacturers.
comparison model
The Ugreen 1200 is roughly equivalent to the Ecoflow Delta 2. Even if the design and individual performance data differ, the Ugreen doesn’t have to hide here, but it can’t outclass the competing device either. A special feature of both devices is the so-called uninterruptible power supply. Only a few boxes offer that.
Here the box is plugged in between the end user and the network. If the correct current comes from the network, the box does nothing, if there are network problems, the Ugreen takes over in just 20 milliseconds. This feature is especially important in areas with network problems. In this way, you can protect computers, technical devices, but also medical equipment or your aquarium technology from the consequences of a hiccup in the power supply.
Long guarantee
For many users, the main differences between the Delta 2 and the Ugreen 1200 are the looks and the handling – in other words, in the area of personal taste. The Delta 2 is accused of a loud fan noise, even when only small amounts of power are drawn or fed. We couldn’t find that with the Ugreen 1200, it stayed as quiet as a mouse. With larger amounts, the fan naturally starts up, which is quite audible. But in the cases where we tapped more than 1000 watts, the consumer was always louder than the box.
That’s a respectable result for a newcomer. After all, Ecoflow is the top dog in the industry. In the list price, the devices are on the same level. In the market, the actual prices are determined by the promotions. Depending on when you look, you can find significant discounts. When we looked, the Ugreen 1200 box was just 200 euros cheaper. When it comes to the guarantee, Ugreen is also at the level of the best in the industry, it is five years.
This article contains so-called affiliate links. Further information are available here.