Segway Cube 2000 Portable Power Station Review: Durable and Expandable Power on the Go

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To say the portable power station market has exploded in recent years would be an understatement. As the demand for mobile power and home backup energy solutions has surged, so too has the number of options available to consumers. Many of those options are just cheap knockoffs of better, more established brands that don’t bring anything new to the table. But on occasion, we do get a new entry that brings some fresh ideas and interesting features. Such is the case with the Segway Cube 2000, a portable power station with outstanding potential at home and the campsite.

Best known for its electric scooters and e-bikes, Segway has recently been branching out into other markets. In addition to power stations, the company also makes robotic lawnmowers, ATVs, and a slew of other fun and interesting products. Among them is the Cube line of portable solar generators, which offer excellent performance and features at a solid price.

Recently, we got our hands on the Segway Cube 2000 portable power station and had a chance to put it through its paces. We found that it delivered excellent specs, both in terms of output and capacity. Here’s what you need to know:

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Gleaming the Cube

The standard edition Cube 2000 offers 2,000Wh of storage capacity and a sustained output of 2,200W, with peak performance going up to 4,400W when needed. Segway says that’s enough to power 90% of all appliances and gadgets, and we tend to agree with them. The unit might struggle to turn on a high-capacity air conditioner, but it will easily run things like a coffee maker, LCD TV, or a mini-fridge. It goes without saying that it can charge mobile devices, tablets, and laptops without breaking a sweat.

The Cube’s built-in power ports include three 120V AC outlets, a 12V vehicle port, four USB-A fast charging ports, and two USB-C 100W PD ports. It also has two 12V DC5525 ports, although those are seldom used by most people. That allows users to plug in as many as 12 items simultaneously, although in reality, you’ll probably only use three or four ports at a time. Our only knock is that we’d like to see power station manufacturers start to move away from USB-A in favor of more USB-C ports, as that is the future of charging for nearly every new electronic gadget.

This combination of ports, power storage, and output capacity allows the Cube 2000 to recharge a smartphone 170+ times or a laptop over 30 times. It can also power a microwave for 2.5+ hours or a refrigerator for 10+ hours. Segway indicates it will also run a washing machine for 14.2 hours, but that was one test we didn’t try.

Photo Credit: Segway

Rugged and Expandable

The above specs are certainly worth noting, but they are also mostly table stakes in the portable power station space these days. In other words, most of the competition offers similar functionality, so if you want to stand out, you’d better have more to offer. Fortunately, the Cube 2000 does have a few other features that allow it to do just that.

For instance, thanks to a magnesium alloy shell, the Cube 2000 is extremely durable. In fact, this power station is as impressively built as anything we’ve seen, nicely resisting the elements and standing up to use in a wide variety of environments, including campgrounds and busy job sites. Segway says the Cube’s battery packs are even IP56-rated, meaning they offer solid protection from dust and water, although, as you would expect, the power cells aren’t fully immersible.

The other unique feature that the Cube series brings to the table is cordless expandability. We’ve tested other expandable power stations in the past, but usually, those models require expansion batteries to be plugged into the main unit—and daisy-chained to one another—using thick cables. Segway’s approach is more modular, allowing owners to easily add another battery to the stack without the need for bulky cables. It does require the use of some tools, but if you can use an Allen wrench, you can complete the task and end up with a cleaner-looking, more integrated system.

Up to three additional battery packs can be added to the Cube 2000, increasing its storage capacity from 2kWh to 5kWh. That’s a sizable gain in capacity that does not impact the power station’s sleek design. It also prevents connecting cables from being damaged, especially if you’re moving the power station around regularly. The downside is that each battery adds 22 lbs. of weight to the device, substantially increasing its bulk.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Reliable Power on the Go

Most power station manufacturers use lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries these days, and Segway is no exception. This type of power cell offers the best balance of safety, reliability, performance, and longevity compared to other options. LiFePO4 batteries are far less likely to spark a fire, and they have a lifespan of more than 4,000 charge cycles. That means you can use the power station every day for ten years before seeing an appreciable drop in performance.

The Cube 2000 can be recharged via a 120V AC home outlet, a 12V vehicle port, or using up to 800W of solar power. Unsurprisingly, during our testing, the power station recharged the fastest when plugged into a wall outlet, typically going from zero to an 80% charge in about an hour. As usual, the 12V port proved to be the slowest, taking several hours to complete the process. In fact, on a couple of test outings, we usually arrived at our destination before the batteries were replenished.

Segway included a 200W solar panel with our test unit, and on a bright, warm summer day, it performed exceptionally well. It provided a steady stream of free electricity to the Cube 2000, taking it from 20% to 80% full in a little over four hours. As we always note in these reviews, solar charging times can vary greatly according to cloud cover, shade, direct sunlight, and other conditions. You may also have to adjust the angle and direction of the panel to achieve maximum efficiency.

Photo Credit: Segway

A Weighty Issue

After spending some time with the Segway Cube 2000, we can honestly say that there is a lot to love here. It is an extremely well-built power station with solid performance and a good array of power ports. That said, our one complaint about the device is that it is fairly heavy, even before you add any additional battery packs.

At 57.5 lbs., the Cube 2000 is heavier than most of its competitors. That’s due in part to the magnesium alloy casing, which provides excellent protection but adds extra weight. That armored shell is somewhat of a tradeoff, as it really does make this one of the most durable power stations we’ve seen, and it gives the Cube its own distinctive look. You’ll just happen to notice it a bit more when lugging it around.

We’d be remiss if we didn’t note that the Bluetti AC240, which we reviewed a while back, is the only other portable power station we’ve encountered with an IP65 dust and water resistance rating. We also knocked it for its weight, which is actually 15 lbs. more than the Cube 2000.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

A Complete Package

The Cube 2000 offers additional features such as a clean, bright, easy-to-read digital display, near-silent operation, and remote monitoring and control via a smartphone app. These are all things you should expect from a modern power station, but Segway has implemented them really well, especially for its first entry into the space. The unit is also backed by a five-year warranty, which is an indication of how well the company stands by its products.

We love the Cube 2000’s rugged package—weight and all—excellent performance and cordless expandability. It offers a complete set of features to compete with the more established brands in the power station space, possibly making more than a few of them nervous. This isn’t a cheap knock-off looking to take advantage of the expanding demand for these products. Instead, it is a well-designed and built option that should draw plenty of attention from consumers.

If you’re in the market for a portable power station that offers plenty of power output and storage capacity—with room to grow—the Segway Cube 2000 is a great option. It’s especially useful in the outdoors, where compromising a little extra weight for added durability is a worthy tradeoff. In the backyard, at the campground, or on a job site, this is a device you’ll be able to rely on and expand should you need it. Some of the other brands in this space should take note.

The Segway Cube 2000 is priced at $1699.99, which is very competitive for everything it has to offer. To find out more, visit the Segway website.

Note: Our publication date coincides with Amazon Prime Days, which means Segway is offering the entire Cube power station line at substantial savings. For July 16 and 17, the current pricing is as follows: