Portable Power Station vs Power Bank

Choose a power bank when your main goal is charging portable electronics such as:

• phones
• tablets
• cameras
• handheld gaming devices

USB-C laptops.

Choose a portable power station when you need substantially more stored energy, household-style AC outlets, 12V/DC outputs, solar charging, outage backup, or enough inverter power to operate compatible appliances.

The difference is no longer as simple as:

power bank = phone charger

and:

power station = big battery.

Modern power banks can be surprisingly capable.

A current Anker 25,000mAh power bank, for example, stores 90Wh, can deliver up to 165W total USB output, and supports up to 100W from an individual USB-C connection.

At the other end, a compact current portable power station such as the BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 stores 288Wh, provides 600W continuous AC output, includes up to 140W USB-C, offers nine output connections, and supports solar charging and automatic backup behavior.

So there is real overlap.

The most useful distinction is functional:

Power bank → primarily portable DC/USB energy for electronics

Portable power station → broader electrical system with substantially more energy and usually an AC inverter

Power Station Scout's existing architecture makes the same distinction: the exact product-category boundary can vary, but greater stored energy, higher output, AC outlets, and broader device support are common characteristics of portable power stations compared with ordinary phone-focused power banks.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank at a Glance

The exact border is fuzzy.

There is no universal consumer rule that says:

99Wh = power bank

and:

100Wh = power station.

Product architecture matters more than one watt-hour threshold.

What Is a Power Bank?

A power bank is a rechargeable external battery intended primarily to supply DC power to portable electronics.

Common outputs include:

• USB-A
• USB-C

USB-C Power Delivery.

Modern higher-end units can power much more than phones.

For example, Anker currently specifies its 25K 165W power bank at:

• 25,000mAh
• 90Wh
• 165W maximum total output
• up to 100W from USB-C
• four-device charging capability

about 595g / 20.99 oz.

That is powerful enough for many laptops.

Yet it remains a power bank because its architecture centers on:

USB power delivery

rather than:

household AC appliance power.

What Is a Portable Power Station?

A portable power station is a rechargeable electrical energy-storage system that typically combines:

• a larger battery
• battery-management system
• AC inverter
• AC receptacles
• USB outputs
• DC outputs
• charging electronics

display/control system.

Many current models also add:

• solar input
• vehicle charging
• UPS/EPS operation
• app control

expansion batteries.

The BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 shows how far even compact stations have moved beyond a conventional power bank.

BLUETTI specifies:

• 288Wh battery capacity
• 600W continuous AC output
• nine outputs
• 140W USB-C
• 200W maximum solar input
• AC charging
• vehicle charging

≤10ms UPS switching.

That is a broader electrical system, not simply a larger phone charger.

There Is No Perfect Category Boundary

This is important because product names are partly marketing conventions.

You can now find:

• power banks near 100Wh with 100–250W USB output
• tiny power stations around 200–300Wh
• battery products with AC outlets marketed under several names

USB-C power stations that overlap heavily with large power banks.

So it is better to ask:

What functions does the product provide?

rather than:

What word is printed on the box?

A useful practical boundary is:

Power Bank Characteristics

Usually:

• optimized for phones/laptops
• USB-focused
• no household AC inverter
• compact enough for bags
• battery size often optimized around airline travel

output generally in tens to low hundreds of watts.

Portable Power Station Characteristics

Usually:

• larger Wh capacity
• AC inverter
• household outlets
• broader DC outputs
• higher continuous power
• appliance support
• solar/vehicle charging

backup-power features.

Those are tendencies, not legal definitions.

mAh vs Wh: The Most Important Comparison Problem

Power banks are commonly marketed in:

mAh

while portable power stations are usually marketed in:

Wh.

Those units are not interchangeable.

Milliamp-Hours

mAh describes electrical charge.

It does not tell you energy until voltage is included.

Watt-Hours

Wh directly expresses battery energy.

Formula:

Wh = V × Ah

and:

Ah = mAh ÷ 1,000

Current Power Bank Example

Anker's current 25K power bank is:

25,000mAh at 3.6V

Convert:

25,000mAh ÷ 1,000 = 25Ah

Then:

25Ah × 3.6V = 90Wh

That matches Anker's published 90Wh specification.

This is why:

25,000mAh

cannot be directly compared with:

288Wh

until you convert both to the same energy unit.

A 25,000mAh Power Bank Is Not a 25,000Wh Battery

This error is surprisingly common.

A:

25,000mAh

power bank is not:

25,000Wh.

Using the current Anker example:

25,000mAh = 25Ah

at:

3.6V

therefore:

90Wh.

The voltage matters.

For cross-category battery comparison, use:

watt-hours.

See Portable Power Station Watts vs Watt-Hours for the full distinction.

Output Watts Are Not Battery Watt-Hours

Another easy mistake is comparing:

165W power bank

with:

288Wh power station

as though those numbers describe the same thing.

They do not.

For the Anker power bank:

165W = maximum output rate

while:

90Wh = stored battery energy.

For the BLUETTI Elite 30 V2:

600W = continuous AC output

while:

288Wh = stored battery energy.

So ask two separate questions:

Can it power the device?

Requires enough:

W

Then:

How long can it power the device?

Requires enough:

Wh

Power Station Scout uses this separation throughout the sizing framework.

Portable Power Stations Usually Have Much More Battery Energy

Consider the two current examples.

Power Bank

Anker 25K:

90Wh

Compact Portable Power Station

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2:

288Wh

The power station stores:

288 ÷ 90 = 3.2×

as much rated battery energy.

That is a transparent rated-capacity comparison.

It does not mean it provides exactly 3.2 times the runtime for every device because:

• conversion paths differ
• inverter losses differ
• USB efficiency differs

standby consumption differs.

But it illustrates the capacity-scale change.

Larger portable power stations can then move to:

• 500Wh
• 1,000Wh
• 2,000Wh
• 5,000Wh

much larger expanded systems.

Power banks generally stay much closer to personal-electronics energy requirements.

Portable Power Stations Have AC Inverters

This is often the clearest functional dividing line.

A conventional power bank outputs low-voltage DC through:

USB;

occasionally other dedicated DC connections.

A portable power station commonly includes an inverter that produces household-style AC.

That enables it to run compatible equipment such as:

• monitors
• televisions
• refrigerators
• CPAP equipment
• fans
• coffee makers
• selected microwaves

tools.

Whether any exact appliance works depends on:

• continuous watts
• startup demand
• voltage
• waveform

capacity.

Do not assume:

AC outlet = can run every appliance.

For qualification, use What Appliances Can a Portable Power Station Run?.

Can a Power Bank Have an AC Outlet?

Some battery products blur the category boundary.

A manufacturer may market a relatively small battery with:

• USB
• AC output
• compact form factor
• using language such as:
• power bank
• portable charger

mini power station.

That is why AC output is a strong category signal, not a universal dictionary rule.

When the label is ambiguous, ignore the marketing category and record:

• battery Wh
• continuous AC W
• USB-C W
• available outlets
• weight

recharge methods.

Then choose from capability.

USB-C Has Made Power Banks Much More Capable

USB-C Power Delivery is the biggest reason the two categories overlap more than they used to.

A modern power bank can supply:

• 65W
• 100W
• 140W

or other high-power USB-C levels depending on the exact design.

Anker's current 25K model supports up to:

100W from a USB-C connection

and:

165W total output.

That is enough to power many modern laptops directly.

Meanwhile the BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 provides:

140W USB-C

in addition to its AC inverter.

So for:

laptop charging

the distinction can become surprisingly small.

For:

AC appliances

the distinction becomes large again.

Which Is Better for a Phone?

A power bank.

A phone usually needs:

• modest energy
• USB charging

high portability.

Using a 10-pound power station simply to charge one phone usually adds unnecessary:

• weight
• bulk

cost.

A power bank fits the use case more naturally.

A portable power station makes more sense when the phone is only one load among:

• laptops
• lights
• networking
• appliances

other devices.

Which Is Better for a Tablet?

Usually a power bank.

Modern USB-C power banks can provide enough:

• energy
• charging power

for tablets while remaining dramatically easier to carry.

A PPS becomes useful when the tablet is part of a larger backup system.

Which Is Better for a Laptop?

This is where the answer depends on runtime.

Power Bank Wins When

You need:

• one or several laptop recharges
• minimal bag weight
• travel portability

USB-C only.

A current 90Wh / 100W-USB-C power bank is already a strong laptop accessory.

Portable Power Station Wins When

You need to power:

• laptop
• monitor
• router
• dock
• other office electronics

for several hours.

The PPS provides much more stored energy and often multiple AC/DC outputs.

For a full workstation calculation, see What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Laptop and Monitor?.

A Power Bank Charger Rating Is Not Laptop Runtime

Suppose a power bank can output:

100W USB-C.

That does not mean a laptop will consume:

100W continuously.

The USB-C rating tells you the power bank's output capability.

Actual laptop consumption varies with:

• workload
• battery SOC
• CPU/GPU use
• display brightness

peripherals.

Exactly the same distinction applies to a PPS USB-C port.

Do not calculate runtime using:

maximum USB-C port rating × hours

unless the device actually draws that power continuously.

Which Is Better for a Monitor?

Portable power station.

Most conventional desktop monitors expect:

AC wall power

or a dedicated DC adapter not normally served directly by a generic power bank.

Some USB-C monitors can be exceptions depending on:

• power architecture
• required voltage

supported USB-C protocols.

But for ordinary monitor backup, an AC-equipped PPS is substantially more flexible.

Which Is Better for a Router or Modem?

Either can work depending on the voltage and connection.

A USB-powered travel router can be ideal for a power bank.

A home:

• router
• cable modem
• fiber ONT

often uses dedicated AC adapters.

A portable power station can run those adapters directly from AC.

However, using AC for a tiny load introduces inverter overhead.

If suitable DC conversion is available and manufacturer-supported, a direct DC approach may use energy more efficiently.

For full sizing, see What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Wi-Fi Router and Modem?.

Which Is Better for a CPAP?

Usually a portable power station for overnight backup, especially when:

• humidification
• heated tubing
• long runtime
• multiple nights

are involved.

A sufficiently large USB-C/DC power bank can potentially work with particular CPAP systems if the exact voltage/protocol is supported.

But this is highly device-specific.

Do not connect a medical device to an improvised voltage adapter simply because the connector fits.

Use manufacturer-supported power accessories.

Which Is Better for a TV?

Portable power station.

Most televisions are designed for household AC.

A PPS with enough:

• continuous watts
• watt-hours

can support one.

A conventional USB power bank cannot.

See What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a TV?.

Which Is Better for a Refrigerator?

Portable power station.

A refrigerator introduces requirements a normal power bank is not built around:

• household AC
• compressor running watts
• startup demand

hundreds of Wh to more than 1kWh/day depending on appliance.

A power bank's large USB wattage number does not solve those problems.

For example:

165W USB output

does not mean:

165W AC refrigerator support.

Different output architecture.

For the proper method, see What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Refrigerator?.

Which Is Better for a Coffee Maker or Microwave?

Portable power station—but only a sufficiently powerful one.

Coffee makers and microwaves commonly need:

1,000W+ class AC input;

potentially much more depending on exact appliance.

A normal power bank is not designed for these household AC loads.

Even many small portable power stations are too weak.

Use the exact appliance input.

See:

What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Coffee Maker?

and:

What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Microwave?.

Which Is Better for Power Tools?

It depends on whether the tool is corded or cordless.

Cordless Tool Battery Charging

A power bank may be able to run some USB-C-compatible tool batteries or charging equipment if the manufacturer specifically supports that path.

But conventional cordless-tool chargers often expect:

AC input.

A PPS is more flexible.

Corded Tools

Portable power station.

Corded saws, grinders, drills, compressors, and similar equipment need an AC inverter with adequate:

continuous output;

transient/startup capability.

See What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for Power Tools?.

Power Banks Win on Weight

This is their strongest practical advantage.

The current Anker 25K power bank weighs approximately:

595g / 20.99 oz

or about:

1.31 lb.

The current BLUETTI Elite 30 V2, despite being exceptionally compact for a PPS, is approximately:

4.3kg

or:

9.48 lb.

That is more than seven times the mass.

The PPS also carries:

• AC inverter
• larger battery
• outlets
• charging electronics
• cooling hardware

structural enclosure.

For walking through an airport or carrying a laptop bag:

power bank wins decisively.

For running a refrigerator:

the weight savings are irrelevant if the product cannot perform the task.

Airline Travel Creates a Major Practical Boundary

For U.S. passenger air travel, this is one of the strongest differences between typical power banks and typical portable power stations.

FAA guidance updated August 11, 2026 says rechargeable lithium batteries:

• 0–100Wh are generally allowed on passenger aircraft
• 101–160Wh require airline approval, with limits on larger spare batteries

over 160Wh are prohibited on passenger aircraft under ordinary passenger-baggage rules.

FAA also says spare lithium batteries, including power banks and portable chargers, must remain in carry-on baggage, not checked baggage.

TSA likewise lists lithium-ion power banks as carry-on-only items.

Current Power Bank Example

Anker 25K:

90Wh

This fits under the ordinary:

≤100Wh

FAA threshold.

Airline-specific restrictions can still be stricter.

Current Power Station Example

BLUETTI Elite 30 V2:

288Wh

That exceeds:

160Wh.

FAA explicitly says lithium battery-powered power stations/generators over 160Wh are not allowed on passenger aircraft under ordinary baggage rules.

Therefore:

compact enough to carry

does not mean:

legal to fly with.

Can You Check a Power Bank in Your Luggage?

Under current U.S. guidance:

No.

Spare lithium batteries and power banks must be carried in the cabin.

If your carry-on bag is gate-checked, FAA says spare batteries and power banks must be removed and kept with the passenger.

Always check the airline's own rules before travel because airlines can impose additional restrictions.

Can You Fly With a Portable Power Station?

Most conventional PPS models:

No, not as ordinary passenger baggage.

The reason is not that the product is called a:

power station.

It is battery energy.

FAA prohibits passenger batteries above:

160Wh

outside special categories such as certain mobility-device provisions.

Since even compact PPS products commonly exceed:

200Wh

they normally fall beyond the passenger limit.

This makes airline travel a major reason to choose a power bank rather than a portable power station.

Solar Charging: Power Stations Usually Win

Many portable power stations include a dedicated solar/DC input.

The Elite 30 V2, for example, supports up to:

200W solar input.

This lets a compatible solar panel charge the station directly within its voltage/current/input limits.

Power banks generally focus on:

USB-C input.

A solar panel with the correct regulated USB-C output may be able to recharge a compatible power bank.

But that is different from having a dedicated:

• MPPT/DC input
• specified PV voltage range

high-power solar charging architecture.

For serious off-grid energy, PPS usually wins.

See How to Charge a Portable Power Station With Solar Panels.

Vehicle Charging: Power Stations Usually Offer More Options

A power bank can easily recharge from:

vehicle USB;

USB-C adapters.

A PPS may add:

• 12V vehicle charging
• high-power alternator chargers

dedicated DC inputs.

That makes the PPS more suitable for:

• RV travel
• overlanding
• long road trips

off-grid work.

But exact vehicle input speed varies dramatically.

A standard 12V accessory socket can be much slower than:

AC;

high-power alternator charging.

A Power Bank May Be More Efficient for USB Devices

If all you need to power is:

USB-C laptop + phone

a power bank can be a very efficient architecture.

Energy path:

battery → DC conversion → USB device

A power station running the same laptop through an AC outlet may use:

battery → inverter AC → laptop charger → DC

which introduces extra conversion stages.

However, many power stations also provide direct USB-C.

If you use the PPS's USB-C output:

battery → DC conversion → USB device

the architecture becomes much closer to the power bank.

Do not apply a universal efficiency percentage.

Exact conversion efficiency and idle consumption vary.

AC Inverter Overhead Can Make a PPS Inefficient for Tiny Loads

A portable power station may consume energy simply keeping its AC inverter enabled.

That matters if the connected device uses only:

• 5W
• 10W

20W.

A power bank powering that same device directly through USB/DC avoids a household AC inverter entirely.

This is why Power Station Scout's existing troubleshooting methodology warns that AC-inverter overhead can materially affect low-load runtime.

For USB-only devices:

turning on a large AC inverter may be unnecessary.

Can a Power Bank Run a Laptop All Day?

Potentially, if:

• the laptop is efficient
• the battery starts charged
• workload is light
• the power bank is large enough

USB-C output is compatible.

But calculate energy.

Suppose a laptop averages:

30W

for eight hours.

Energy:

30 × 8 = 240Wh

A:

90Wh

power bank cannot supply 240Wh from one charge.

Even before conversion losses:

90Wh < 240Wh.

A roughly 300Wh-class PPS is much closer to that workload.

If the laptop's own internal battery supplies part of the day, the upstream battery requirement falls.

For a complete laptop-and-monitor calculation, use What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for a Laptop and Monitor?.

How Many Laptop Charges Can a Power Bank Provide?

Use the laptop battery's:

Wh

not the laptop charger's:

W.

Suppose:

Power bank rated battery:

90Wh

Laptop internal battery:

60Wh

The theoretical maximum number of battery equivalents is:

90 ÷ 60 = 1.5

But actual full recharges will be lower because:

• power conversion is not lossless
• the laptop may consume energy while charging

usable battery energy can differ from rating.

Therefore:

1.5 is theoretical, not observed recharge count.

The same logic applies to a PPS.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank for Power Outages

Phone-Only Outage

Power bank wins.

Phone + Laptop

Large USB-C power bank may be enough.

Laptop + Monitor + Router

Portable power station becomes much more useful.

Refrigerator + Router + Lights

Portable power station.

Multiple Household Essentials

Portable power station—potentially a much larger one.

The category decision therefore follows:

load architecture + required energy

not simply outage duration.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank for Camping

Power Bank Is Better For

• backpacking
• phone
• GPS
• camera
• headlamp

USB electronics.

Portable Power Station Is Better For

• car camping
• powered cooler/refrigerator
• laptops
• fans
• lights
• Starlink-type equipment
• AC appliances

larger solar setup.

The portability tradeoff is significant.

A:

1–2 lb power bank

fits in a pack.

A:

10–30 lb power station

is better suited to:

vehicle-supported camping;

base camps.

For full trip sizing, see What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for Camping?.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank for RV Travel

Portable power station usually wins for the main energy system.

An RV setup may need:

• refrigerator
• laptops
• Starlink/router
• lights
• 12V equipment

AC devices.

A power bank remains useful as a smaller companion battery for:

• phone
• tablet
• laptop

camera.

The two categories can complement each other.

The PPS handles the campsite energy system.

The power bank leaves the RV with you.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank for an Apartment

Both can be useful.

Power Bank

Best for:

• phone
• tablet
• laptop

personal electronics.

PPS

Best for:

• refrigerator
• router/modem
• monitor
• lights
• fan
• TV

multiple simultaneous loads.

A small apartment backup strategy can sensibly include both.

The power bank remains:

personal electronics reserve

while the PPS serves:

shared household loads.

See What Size Portable Power Station Do You Need for an Apartment?.

Can a Power Bank Replace a Portable Power Station?

Yes—when your actual requirement is small enough.

If you only need:

• phone
• laptop
• camera
• USB light

a large PPS may be unnecessary.

A high-power USB-C power bank is:

• lighter
• easier to travel with
• easier to carry

often simpler.

Do not buy a power station simply because it is the larger product category.

Can a Portable Power Station Replace a Power Bank?

Technically, often yes.

Practically, not always.

A PPS can charge:

• phone
• tablet

laptop.

But carrying a:

10-pound box

instead of a:

1.3-pound battery

through an airport, conference, or city is inconvenient.

Also, most PPS products exceed passenger-aircraft lithium-battery limits.

So the PPS may replace a power bank electrically while failing to replace it functionally.

Do You Need Both?

For some users, yes.

A good division of labor is:

Power bank

• bag
• airplane
• phone
• laptop

daily carry.

Portable power station

• home
• car
• camping
• outages
• appliances

longer runtime.

That is not redundant.

The devices solve different scales of portable energy.

Power Banks and PPS Batteries Can Use Different Chemistries

Do not assume:

power bank = NMC

and:

PPS = LiFePO4.

Exact battery chemistry varies.

Many modern portable power stations increasingly use:

LFP/LiFePO4

because long cycle-life characteristics can be valuable.

Compact power banks often prioritize:

• energy density
• weight

thin form factor.

But chemistry is product-specific.

Choose the category first from:

load and energy requirement

then evaluate chemistry.

See LiFePO4 vs Lithium-Ion Portable Power Stations.

Does a Power Station Last Longer Than a Power Bank?

Not necessarily.

“Last longer” can mean:

Runtime Per Charge

Usually PPS wins because it commonly stores more Wh.

Cycle Life

Depends on exact battery chemistry and product specification.

Years of Ownership

Depends on:

• chemistry
• heat
• cycling
• storage
• electronics

product quality.

Do not infer lifespan from product category alone.

Is a Power Bank Safer Than a Portable Power Station?

Neither category should be treated as risk-free.

Both can use high-energy lithium-ion batteries.

Risk depends on:

• cell quality
• battery management
• physical damage
• charger quality
• temperature
• manufacturing defects

recalls.

A PPS contains substantially more stored energy in many cases, but product safety cannot be determined from capacity alone.

For air travel specifically, battery energy matters because aviation rules become more restrictive as Wh increases.

For general ownership, follow the exact manufacturer instructions and see the Portable Power Station Safety Guide.

Which One Is Better for Emergency Preparedness?

Usually:

both at different layers.

Power Bank Layer

Keeps personal communication alive:

• phone
• tablet
• laptop

small light.

Portable Power Station Layer

Supports household essentials:

• internet
• refrigeration
• lighting
• fans

work equipment.

A layered energy plan can provide better resilience than asking one battery to do everything.

Portable Power Station vs Power Bank Decision Matrix

Common Portable Power Station vs Power Bank Mistakes

Mistake 1: Comparing mAh Directly With Wh

Convert first:

Wh = V × Ah

Mistake 2: Confusing Output Watts With Battery Energy

A:

165W

power bank does not contain:

165Wh

unless the battery specification separately says so.

Current Anker example:

165W output / 90Wh capacity.

Mistake 3: Assuming a High-Wattage Power Bank Can Run AC Appliances

USB watts are not an AC outlet.

A 100W USB-C device cannot directly power a conventional:

120V coffee maker

just because the coffee maker happens to use a similar numeric wattage.

The voltage/interface architecture is different.

Mistake 4: Assuming Every Laptop Needs a Power Station

Many laptops can run very well from a high-power USB-C power bank.

Use a PPS when:

• more energy
• AC loads
• multiple devices

justify it.

Mistake 5: Assuming Every PPS Can Go on an Airplane

Most cannot.

Battery energy, not physical size, controls the lithium-battery limit.

FAA prohibits ordinary passenger batteries above 160Wh.

Mistake 6: Assuming a 25,000mAh Power Bank Is Huge Compared With a 300Wh PPS

At:

3.6V

25,000mAh equals only:

90Wh.

Always compare Wh.

Mistake 7: Assuming a PPS Is Always Better

If you only charge a phone and laptop, a large PPS may add unnecessary:

• weight
• cost

inverter hardware.

Mistake 8: Assuming Power Banks Cannot Charge Laptops

Modern USB-C power banks can supply:

100W+

on supported models.

Exact laptop compatibility still matters.

Bottom Line

A power bank is the better tool for portable electronics.

A portable power station is the better tool for portable electricity at appliance and outage scale.

The modern overlap is real.

A current high-end power bank can provide:

90Wh battery energy
→ 165W total USB output
→ 100W USB-C laptop charging

while weighing only about:

1.3 pounds.

A compact current power station can provide:

288Wh
→ 600W AC
→ 140W USB-C
→ household outlets
→ DC outputs
→ solar charging
→ UPS backup

but at much greater size and weight.

The correct decision chain is:

devices you need to power
→ USB/DC or AC requirement
→ maximum watts
→ required watt-hours
→ portability requirement
→ charging method
→ airline requirement
→ power bank or portable power station

Choose a power bank when:

• all loads are USB-compatible
• you want minimal weight
• you need airline-friendly energy capacity

phone/laptop charging is the main job.

Choose a portable power station when:

• you need AC outlets
• you need more stored Wh
• appliances are involved
• solar or vehicle charging matters

you need outage or camping backup.

And remember:

mAh does not tell the whole energy story.

For a fair comparison between the two categories, convert everything to:

watt-hours for energy

and compare:

watts separately for output.