Bluetti FridgePower review: This slim battery could save your freezer in a blackout

Autumn and winter are looming large, and the stormy season is already underway. It's a time when big swathes of Britain might be facing the prospect of power outages.

Keeping appliances powered during a blackout is becoming an increasing priority, with backup solutions selling strongly. Owners of desktop PCs, for example, will more than likely have considered an Uninterruptable Power Supply (UPS) before.

But what about that other indispensable household staple, the fridge freezer? Backup power specialists Bluetti thinks it has the answer, in the shape of its new FridgePower system, which is designed to tuck away in an unused crevice in the kitchen, ready to cut in and keep your fridge running if and when the power goes out.

Harnessing the best of Bluetti's technology, borrowed from its portable power stations, it has the same sort of flat proportions as a smartphone, which enables it to tuck away above appliances, but it has enough power to keep a fridge freezer running for days.

There's a substantial 2,016Wh battery inside, with a continuous output of 1,800W. And the cost? We've seen it on Amazon for £1,099. An expensive way to ensure the freshness of your frozen peas, perhaps, but there's more to it than that.

What I liked about the Bluetti FridgePower

The shape and size of the Bluetti FridgePower power station is perhaps one of its most appealing attributes. It's just 75mm thick, so it is really discreet and, while it obviously weighs a fair bit, it'll sit silently preparing itself for when it's required.

And the really clever bit is that it doesn’t depend on you being at home when something goes wrong. A conventional portable power station can keep a fridge running, but if it is sitting in the garage waiting for somebody to connect it, that isn’t particularly helpful while you’re away.

The FridgePower is designed to remain connected between the appliance and the wall socket. During normal operation, mains electricity supplies the appliance. Lose that supply and it switches to battery power, with a changeover time of no more than 10 milliseconds.

When the electricity returns, it goes back to mains operation and recharges.

This is a clever solution, then. The best backup equipment should require very little attention at precisely the moment everything else has become inconvenient.

Exactly how long it lasts depends on the appliance, the temperature, how often you open the door and the battery’s own losses. A fridge compressor doesn’t usually run continuously, so its daily consumption is more useful than simply looking at its maximum wattage.

If you wanted to, you can expand the system. Adding up to three expansion batteries takes total capacity to 8,064Wh, giving you the option of buying more endurance later. I'm not convinced we really need that sort of cover in the UK, but you never know.

I know what you're thinking, this all seems like a lot of overkill for keeping our fishfingers safe in an occasional powercut. But while it's called a "FridgePower", it can easily power other devices that plug into AC.

With its 1,800w output the possibilities become rather endless, and potentially very important. Your router, for example, would no longer cut off your broadband supply. Or you could keep your lighting running in an important room. Or you could run an entire home office setup during an outage.

It goes further than that, too. Tropical fish keepers, or reptile enthusiasts will know the concerns that can arise when power is cut to tanks and terrariums and, of course, many people have medical reasons to be near to a live three-pin plug. Battery backup is becoming increasingly important, so there's a growing market for an uninterrupted supply.

As with most smart devices, and pretty much all Bluetti devices, there's live monitoring available through a thoroughly decent app. If you have tucked the battery somewhere unobtrusive, checking its charge and power consumption from your phone makes more sense than crawling around the kitchen to inspect it.

There is an optional wireless display as well, offering a more convenient way to keep an eye on the system. It's all just a really clever bit of design, and a simple solution to a potentially crippling problem.

What I didn’t like about the Bluetti FridgePower

The obvious sticking point is the cost. At its £1,299 listed price, this is a substantial purchase for something you might rarely need. Even at Amazon's current £1,099 it's a big outlay.

If power cuts are an occasional, short-lived inconvenience where you live, the financial justification is difficult.

The argument becomes stronger if outages are frequent or prolonged, but I wouldn’t buy it on the assumption that avoiding one spoiled freezer will recover the investment.

Its slimness also needs putting into context. This is still a 19.7kg battery, with a surface area roughly comparable to a large tray. Finding somewhere suitable could be awkward in a fitted kitchen, particularly with integrated appliances. Thin doesn’t necessarily mean easy to accommodate.

The socket positioning deserves attention, too. Bulky plugs and the mains cable can compete for space, so I would check the arrangement against your appliances before deciding exactly where it will live.

It's a shame there aren't any other outlets, such as USB sockets. You can use a mains charger to power a phone, but Bluetti is brilliant at providing off-grid 12v power, and there's nothing available on these units. Additional accessories broaden its capabilities, but at additional cost.

Overall verdict - should you buy the Bluetti FridgePower?

The Bluetti FridgePower is a thoughtful answer to a specific problem we hope we never have to face. I like the automatic operation, the substantial capacity, and the attempt to make battery backup easier to accommodate indoors.

It feels more appropriate for a permanent role than repeatedly dragging a camping power station into the kitchen.

But the price is a significant consideration. For a household regularly affected by power cuts, particularly somewhere rural, there's a convincing practical argument for having essential appliances protected automatically.

For someone who wants a battery for weekends away, occasional DIY jobs, and charging every conceivable gadget, a more conventional power station will obviously offer a better selection of connections. And it'll do a reasonable job of providing backup power - as long as you've remembered to charge it.

The FridgePower’s greatest achievement is making backup power something you can largely leave alone. Whether that reassurance is worth the money depends on how often your electricity supply gives you a reason to worry. But if you do have a reason to worry, this would buy you some welcome peace of mind.