Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET Follow ZDNET: Add us as a preferred source on Google. ZDNET's key takeaways The Power 1000 V2 is an expanded version of one of my favorite rugged power stations: the Power 1000. Unfortunately, the Power 1000 V2 is not yet available in the US. However, the original version, the Power 1000 is, for an accessible $499 When DJI unveiled their new power station lineup last year, I was intrigued to say the least. DJI makes the best consumer and prosumer drones, gimbals, and their action cameras are among the best. So, when they suddenly came on the scene with power stations, I knew they'd be among the best. Not only that, but I knew that they'd be engineered for drone operators and outdoor enthusiasts. The power station I tested didn't just live up to my expectations, it exceeded them. Also: The best portable power stations to last through power outages Because of that, the Power 1000, along with the expansion battery (easy way to add 2,048Wh of capacity!), have been riding in various cars, trucks, and vans for over a year, and I've had no problems with it whatsoever. It's handled baking and freezing in a vehicle, being carried about, bounced about, and used like a seat, stepstool, or table many times. The DJI Power 1000 and Power Expansion Battery 2000 doing what they do best -- powering gadgets when there's no power outlet nearby! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET It's been used and abused. So, when DJI announced the V2 follow-up model, I jumped at the chance to test it. It's great, but... I'm not going to lie to you, it's a great follow-up to the original. DJI have taken the Power 1000 and put it into a chassis that's a bit heavier, a bit more robust, and with a bit better airflow than its predecessor. The batteries have been upgraded and will now maintain 80% capacity after 4000 cycles (the Power 1000's cells would be down to 70% after the same number of cycles). The Power 1000 V2 is supplied in a tough, fire-retardant polymer shell that can support up to a ton static load, and, like the earlier version, it has been lab-tested by SGS in Switzerland to see how well it resists knocks, bumps, crushing, and vibration. The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a tough unit for sure! Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET The port loadout is the same. There are the two 140W max USB-C ports, which combined with the two 24W max USB-A ports, an SDC and SDC Lite port used to charge drone batteries (with optional charge cables), and an AC inlet, make this a perfect power station for modern workloads. And it's quiet. At only 26dB, around the sound level of a whisper, the unit is a tiny bit louder than its predecessor, but still perfect for running things around sleeping humans. It's one of the quietest power stations on the market. Also: I can't recommend this rugged power station enough to drone users (and it's at the lowest price ever) I've been using the Power 1000 V2 for several weeks now, and I like it, especially for the money. The Power 1000 V2 is cheaper than the Power 1000 here in the UK (£629 vs £699, roughly $850 vs $950). The only problem is that readers in the US can't get their hands on the V2 because of what seems to be regulatory issues, which is a shame. But there's a bright side to all this, and that's the fact that you can still get the first-generation Power 1000, and in my books that's a fantastic power station for the price. The DJI Power 1000 has been a fantastic workhorse. Adrian Kingsley-Hughes/ZDNET ZDNET's buying advice At only $499, the DJI Power 1000 is an exceptional power station, and when I had both side-by-side here, I'm hard-pressed to really see a difference. That's a bargain price, especially considering how much the same unit costs here in the UK. In fact, in the 1,000Wh capacity power station market, the Power 1000 is hard to beat. Bottom line, old versus new, they're both fantastic units, and perfectly designed to fulfil the demands of content creators who find themselves off-grid regularly. I've put the Power 1000 through more than what most people would put their power station though, and if it can survive that, I'm confident it will survive what you can throw at it.