What is the best lithium-ion jump starter on the market today? That’s what we will answer in this top 5 review round-up.

There’s certainly a wide range of choices available. And with differing power capacities, budgets, and add-ons (flashlights, USB sockets, and more) it can be difficult deciding on which model to opt for.

To help you, we have taken 5 top-rated chargers to suit all wallets to bring you the ultimate low down.

For our findings at a glance, head to the summary panels below. For in-depth reviews on each of our choices, plus a detailed buyer’s guide, keep on reading.

Best Lithium-ion Jump Starters

TOP PICK: Rugged Geek RG1200 Lithium-ion Jump Starter

No products found.

The Rugged Geek RG1200 is a high-performance portable lithium-ion jump starter battery that can crank gasoline-powered and diesel-powered engines with effective total capacities of 7L and 3.5L respectively.

This smartphone-sized LiB has an extraordinarily high power-to-weight ratio, which allows it to serve as a dual-purpose LiB – as a jump starter battery and a consumer-grade power supply for charging mobile phones and laptops.

In our opinion, the reliable high-performance along with its durable build quality makes the Rugged Geek RG1200 the best lithium-ion jump starter on the market today.

NOTABLE MENTION: NOCO GB40 Genius Boost Plus

Sale

NOCO Boost Plus GB40 1000A UltraSafe Car Battery Jump Starter, 12V Battery Pack, Battery Booster, Jump Box, Portable Charger and Jumper Cables for 6.0L Gasoline and 3.0L Diesel Engines

• Start Dead Batteries - Safely jump start a dead battery in seconds with this compact, yet powerful, 1000-amp lithium battery jump starter - up to 20 jump starts on a single charge - and rated for gasoline engines up to 6.0-liters and diesel engines up to 3.0-liters.
• UltraSafe - Safe and easy-to-use car jumper starter and jump pack without worrying about incorrect connections or sparks. Safely connect to any 12-volt vehicle with our mistake-proof design featuring spark-proof technology and reverse polarity protection.
• Multi-Function - It's a car jump starter, portable power bank, and LED flashlight. Recharge smartphones, tablets, and other USB devices. It's easily rechargeable from any powered USB port in 3-hours at 2.1-amps. Plus, an integrated 100-lumen LED flashlight with seven light modes, including emergency strobe and SOS.
• Advanced Design - Our most advanced car battery charger jump starter ever. Featuring high-discharge lithium technology for safe operation in any climate. A rugged and water-resistant enclosure rated at IP65. A rubberized over-molded casing to prevent scratching or marring of surfaces. And an ultra-compact and lightweight design weighing just 2.5 lb.
• In The Box - GB40 UltraSafe Portable Car Jump Starter, Heavy Duty Booster Clamps, 12-Volt Car Charger, Micro USB Charging Cable, Microfiber Storage Bag, User Guide, 1-Year Warranty, and Designed in the USA.

$99.95

View on Amazon

The NOCO GB40 Genius Boost Plus is another high-performance, and durable jump starter LiB that can deliver 1000A of CCA; and is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 6L and 3L respectively.

Its high power-to-weight ratio allows it to serve two purposes: to jump start car batteries and to operate as a consumer-grade power supply for charging mobile phones and laptops.

It has a CCA of 1000A. Its great features and power without the price make it another top quality unit, worthy of mention.

BEST BUDGET PICK: Battery Tender, 800 Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter

Battery Tender 800 AMP Peak Jump Starter for Up to V8 Engines: Portable Jump Starter for Cars, Pickup Trucks, SUVs, ATVs - 7200mAh Power Pack with USB Device Charger 030-1010-WH

• Compact and powerful 800 AMP lithium jump starter - up to 20 jump starts on a single charge. *For optimal performance, charge jump starter fully before first use

View on Amazon

The Battery Tender 800A is a low-budget, yet reliable lithium-iron-phosphate jump starter battery with a CCA of 800A.

This unit can be used in extreme environmental temperatures. Moreover, its cigarette lighter plug supports a maximum current draw of 15A.

It is portable and easy to use and at the current price point our number one budget pick for 2021.

Lithium-ion Jump Starter Reviews

There are different models, qualities, and types of jump starter LiB in the market today. Even so, they can be rated based on their build quality, materials used, lifespan, added extras, and of course overall value for money.

What follows are our top 5 picks, we have an overall winner, a top pick budget option, and our best buy premium choice.

1. TOP PICK: Rugged Geek RG1200 Lithium-ion Jump Starter

The Rugged Geek RG1200 is a high-performance, portable lithium-ion jump starter battery that can crank gasoline-powered vehicles with an engine capacity of 7,000cubic centimeters(cc) or 7 liters, as well as diesel cars with engine capacities not exceeding 3.5liters (L).

This smartphone-sized LiB has an extraordinarily high power-to-weight ratio, which allows it to serve as a dual-purpose LiB, jump starter battery, and a consumer-grade power supply.

It also comes with 2 USB charging ports with each port delivering 5volts at 2.1amperes, which allows for fast charging of mobile phones.

There is also a 12-volt laptop charging port. Likewise, because of its portability, compact build, and high energy density, it can be used to jump-start boat engines.

This model is encased in a hard air-tight shell; and is designed and made by Rugged Geek, a company started by technology enthusiasts.

Main Specifications

This lightweight portable device weighs about 15.8ounces, and is 6.3inches long, 2.9inches wide, and 1.3inches thick. Its power rating is 39W.h, which is equivalent to 3250mA.h.

It has a CCA of 1200Amps. It can also serve as a battery booster pack to top-up the car LA battery charge. It also comes with a 3-in-1 USB cable that features both USB-C and micro-USB ports.

There is also a digital LCD panel that displays charge level and output voltage.

This model allows one to select the laptop charging port voltage output from 3 options; 12volts, 16volts, or 19 volts.

Intelliboost Technology

This model also comes with Intelliboost technology which ensures that power is only delivered to the car battery when it is safe to do so.

This serves to make the jump starting procedure a safe exercise. Intelliboost is enclosed in a smart device that plugs into the LiB, and on the other end issues, the 2 jump leads, with each lead terminating into an insulated alligator clip.

Even so, these alligator clips fit poorly on the terminals of some LA starter batteries. The thick jumper cables encase 8-gauge thick electric wire, and to prevent short-circuiting, the wires are well-insulated with safe, spark-proof insulation sheath.

2. NOTABLE MENTION: NOCO GB40 Genius Boost Plus

This high-performance and durable jump starter LiB can deliver 1000A of CCA; and is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 6L and 3L respectively.

It is a compact, portable model whose high energy density allows it to serve 2 functions; to jump-start vehicles and to charge consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptops.

Its design-build is IP65 compliant, and it comes with rubber covers that seal the charging ports when they are not in use.

This model is encased in a hard air-tight shell; and is designed and made by NOCO, (its model number is GB40).

Versatile USB function

There are 2 USB ports, a USB IN that allows the LiB to be charged with a powered USB device, and a USB OUT port that allows this battery to provide steady power to mobile phones and laptops.

The USB OUT port delivers 5volts at 2.1amperes which allows for the fast charging of mobile phones. This model can also be used to jump-start boat engines.

Main Specifications

This compact, portable LiB weighs about 2.4pounds, which makes it much heavier than the Rugged Geek RG1200. The NOCO GB40 is 8.3inches long, 4.6inches wide, and 4.1inches thick.

It is can also serve as a battery booster pack to top-up the car LA battery charge. There is also 4 indicator lights that notify one on the state of charge of the battery. Its color scheme is black.

Its thick jumper cables feature safe, spark-proof insulation sheaths. The unit It also benefits from a 12-months warranty.

3. NoOne KPJS001-3 Lithium-ion Jump Starter

This jump starter has a CCA of 800A and a capacity rating of 12600mAh.

It comes with 7 protection features which include protection against overcharge, over-discharge, short circuit, high temperature, low temperature, and wrong connection protection, as well as reverse current protection.

Operationally, it is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 6.5L and 5.2L respectively.

This portable packs a high energy density that allows it to serve 2 functions; as a jump starter LiB and as a power bank for charging consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptops.

As a jump starter battery, it can also crank both vehicle and boat engines.

As a power-bank, it comes with a single USB charging port that can deliver 5V at 2.1A which makes it suitable for fast-charging mobile phones and power banks.

Its hard exterior shell has a smooth finish. This LiB model is designed and made by NoOne.

Main Specifications

This affordable model weighs 3.18 pounds; and is 11inches long, 4.9inches wide, and 4.9inches thick. This makes larger and heavier than NOCO GB40, though without providing as much cold cranking amperage.

Nonetheless, this NoOne model is suited to serve as a battery booster pack as it can to top-up the charge in a partially-discharged car LA battery.

It features 5 LED indicator lights for notifying the user about the state of LiB charge. There is also an LCD display for showing the voltage level. Its color scheme is blue and black.

The thick jumper cable feature safe, spark-proof insulation sheaths, which also extend to the handles of the battery clamps.

This LiB also benefits from a 12months warranty.

Bottom-line

The NoOne KPJS001-3 is an affordably-priced, high-performance, and durable jump starter LiB with a CCA of 800A and a capacity rating of 12600mAh.

It comes with 7 protection features. It is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 6L and 5.2L respectively.

Its high power-to-weight ratio allows it to jump start car batteries, as well as serve as a consumer-grade power supply for charging mobile phones and laptops.

• Related Content: Car Key Programmers Reviewed – Top 5 for 2021

4. BEST BUDGET PICK: Battery Tender, 800 Amp Lithium Ion Jump Starter

This is a high-grade lithium-iron-phosphate jump starter battery with a CCA of 800A, and a battery capacity of 12000mAh.

This is an affordable model that can be used in ice-cold (temperature) environments, and sun-baked desert environments (as long as the ambient temperature does not exceed 40 degrees Celsius).

Its cigarette lighter plug supports a maximum current draw of 15A. Its extraordinarily high power-to-weight ratio allows it to operate as a dual-purpose LiB – as a jump starter battery and a consumer-grade power supply.

Even so, it lacks a dedicated USB port, and one needs to use an adapter provided with the battery pack to charge mobile phones and laptops.

It is encased in a hard air-tight shell, which allows it to be used in moist environments, for instance, when charging a boat engine.

This model is designed and manufactured by Deltran Battery Tender as part of its Jump Starter 800 series.

The device can serve as a battery booster pack for topping up the charge in a partially-discharged LA car battery.

There are indicator lights that show the charging status, as well as notify the user if the jumper leads are connected improperly to the LA battery. Its color scheme is green and black.

The thick jumper cables encase thick electric wires in a safe, spark-proof insulation sheath. This model comes with a 12months guarantee.

• Related Content: Best earth ground resistance testing units for 2021

5. WEEGO N22S Jump Starter

This is a compact jump starter with a CCA of 300A and a peak amperage of 1700A.

It comes with built-in protection features including surge protection, anti-spark protection, reverse-polarity, overcharge, over-discharge, and short circuit protection.

It is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 5L and 2.5L respectively.

It has a high energy density that allows it to serve 2 functions; as a jump starter LiB and as a power bank for charging consumer electronics such as mobile phones and laptops.

In fact, it comes with a micro-USB charging port. Its hard exterior shell has a smooth finish. This model is designed and made by WeeGo.

Main Specifications

This durable model weighs 1.63 pounds which makes it lighter than all the models reviewed above, with the exception of Rugged Geek RG1200.

WeeGo N22S is 5.5inches long, 3inches wide, and 0.6inches thick, which makes it a compact, smartphone-sized jump booster.

Even so, this model can serve as a battery booster pack as it can to top-up the charge in a partially-discharged car LA battery. It features 5 LED indicator lights for notifying the user about the state of LiB charge.

On the downside, it comes without an inbuilt flashlight, and this necessitates one to always carry a portable rechargeable torch. This DC torch can even be charged by this LiB.

This LiB also benefits from a relatively long guarantee provided by its 18months warranty.

Bottom-line

The WeeGo N22S is a high-quality, high-performance and durable jump starter LiB with a CCA of 300A and comes with inbuilt protection features.

It is designed to crank gasoline and diesel engines whose engine capacities are 6L and 5.2L respectively. On the downside, it lacks an inbuilt flashlight.

Nonetheless, its high power-to-weight ratio allows it to jump start car batteries, as well as serve as a consumer-grade power supply for charging mobile phones and laptops.

Lithium-ion Jump Starter Buyer’s Guide

To help you in your search for the best jump starter for you, here’s a buyer’s guide detailing some of the factors you should consider when buying one.

First off, let’s take a look at the 2 main types of jump starter available.

Types of Jump Starters

The Lithium-ion Jump Box Starter

A jump box starter is the best option if you need to get your car going again independently. Without the need of cables of another car, you can use the jump box to start the engine.

The jump box is a sealed lithium-ion or lead-acid battery as in the 5 examples reviewed above. It is small enough to keep in the car and will jump a car battery several times before needing a recharge.

You do need to keep it charged to work, however.

Plug-in Battery Starter

A plug-in car battery jump starter hooks up to a power outlet, offering a fast and efficient way of getting your car started should the battery run flat at home.

These units not only provide the quick jump to get the vehicle started, but they also offer a trickle charge feature, meaning you fully charge the battery over time.

The obvious disadvantage of these types of units is that they are no use if you become stranded with a flat battery somewhere. You need to be near mains power.

We will look more at the way each of these systems works later on. For now, let’s take a look at the price points of various jump box starter kits and what you can get for your money.

Jump Starter Pricing

What to look for when buying a jump starter

Car exhaust wafts around commuter traffic in 3 degree weather in Omaha, Neb., Friday, Feb. 1, 2013. A wind chill advisory was issued for much of the Midwest. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Now we have established the two main types of starter unit, let’s talk about what you should look for when buying a lithium-ion jump starter.

Power Output

Power capacity is clearly very important when analyzing the specifications of a starter you might buy.

To add to the potential confusion, jump starters state their power output in a few different ways.

The two you should pay attention to are cranking amps and cold cranking amps. The cranking amps provide details of the amount of power a starter can discharge in a short amount of time; in other words, this is the “jump” power capacity, that will get your car started.

The larger your vehicle (truck or SUV for example), the more cranking amps you will need to fire the engine.

You will also see peak amps described. This is the highest continuous amp output and will not correspond to the amount you need to jump-start your vehicle.

Reverse Polarity Protection

When dealing with high amp bursts, you want the reassurance that you and your car battery/engine will be safe.

To this end, you should ensure that the jump starter you buy has reverse polarity protection as a safety feature.

This will stop any damage or accidents occurring should the cable clamps be positioned incorrectly.

Reverse polarity protection will cause the starter to sound an alarm, should anything be awry.

Build Quality

Build quality is very important. When you think of the conditions where you might need to use a jump starter (cold temperatures, in the pouring rain, outdoors at night), it is vital that the device won’t let you down.

To this end, the starter should be waterproof and able to take a knock. Depending on where you live, it could also need to function in cold climates.

Essentially, your jump starter has to be durable enough to survive varying different conditions.

Size of device

Portability and ease of storage are important attributes for a lithium-ion starter, especially if you are buying one for a motorcycle.

Whatever your intended use, a unit that is strong yet streamlined will be beneficial. A device for smaller cars could fit in the glovebox for instance.

These days, lithium-ion starters have really been reduced in their design size. Even larger power models should not take up too much space.

Extra Features

Mid to high-priced jump starters today come with a host of extra features. Whether its LCD screens for function and alerts, lights, air compressors, even radios. While these extras can be a real bonus for some, others may find them superfluous and unnecessary.

When buying a starter, think carefully about what extras you need. If you fall into the latter camp, you can save money by buying a unit that doesn’t have the bells and whistles.

Extra features can also impinge on the weight and portability of a jump starter, so consider that too.

Benefits of Owning a Lithium-ion Jumpstarter

The two main benefits of a lithium-ion jumps starter are that it gives you the option to start your car, wherever you are, without the need for assistance.

There’s no need for another vehicle and cables to jump from, you don’t need to be connected to electrical mains to power it.

This in itself is a very good reason to have one, fully charged in your vehicle. You will benefit from great peace of mind as a result.

Beyond this, you will be in a position to easily help others.

And finally, if you purchase a starter with added extras such as portable USB ports or a built-in flashlight, you have access to these beneficial features too.

Overall, owning a lithium-ion jump starter is an extremely worthwhile thing to do

• Related Content: Choosing the best power inverter for your car

A Closer look at the Lithium-Ion Jump Starter

Now that the benefits of lithium-ion jump-starters have been discussed in terms of what you need to look for when buying, we shall now look at the actual unit in detail. (For the technical minded only…)

Lithium-ion Jump Starter – How they work

This is a secondary, rechargeable starter battery whose positive electrodes are made of intercalated lithium compounds that can accept lithium ions during discharge as the battery jump starts a vehicle.

It is this movement of lithium ions across the electrolyte medium during the charging and discharging process that allows for the charge to be stored, and for engines to be jump-started respectively; and for this reason, the battery is designated as a lithium-ion battery (LiB).

This battery has an exceptionally high (electrical) energy density, high energy-to-weight ratio, low self-discharge, and tiny memory effect.

• Related Content: Vance & Hines Fuelpak FP3 Review

Self-discharge

Self-discharge occurs when internal chemical reactions cause the battery to lose a stored charge, and this is minimized in lithium-ion batteries by using a stable electrolyte.

The memory effect describes the phenomenon observed when recharging a partially-discharged battery which causes the battery to hold less electrical charge than its maximum energy capacity.

This is thought to occur because the battery ‘remembers’ the previous charge level and considers it to the maximum energy capacity.

A tiny memory effect means that one can recharge partially-discharged lithium-ion batteries for many cycles without the batteries substantially losing their maximum energy capacity.

Its high energy-to-weight ratio allows it to comfortably generate 3 volts-per-cell as compared to the LA battery cell and the Zinc -carbon dry cell which generates 2.1volts and 1.5volts respectively.

There are different types of LiB and their performance, cost, and safety profile varies depending on their construction, functional design, and most importantly, the chemistry of its electrodes and electrolytes.

• Related Content: A close look at the lithium-ion battery starter

The utility of a Jump Start LiB

Jump starting a vehicle only allows the engine to start running, but it does not mean that the jump starter battery can be used to power the other electrical devices in the car.

This is usually left to the alternator which generates the required electricity, as well as charges the car LA starter battery.

Likewise, this means that the portable lithium-ion battery cannot serve as the sole substitute for a bad battery.

It is therefore advisable that one connects the portable battery to the car battery so that it charges it, and then the car battery can start the vehicle.

Considerations During Jump Starting

As mentioned earlier, for one to jump-start any vehicle, there is a need to connect to batteries together and this is done by a pair of heavily-insulated jumper cables (also called jumps leads or booster cables) with copper or steel alligator clips attached at either end of each cable.

The key consideration to keep in mind here is to ensure that the positive terminals of the LiB are connected to the positive terminal of the car starter battery.

The second consideration is to ensure that the jump start LiB has the same voltage rating as the starter LA battery.

The third consideration is that one should never use a LiB to jump-start a discharged battery whose electrolyte is frozen as this can result in an explosion; as hydrogen gas that is produced during charging is trapped inside cavities in the frozen electrolyte till it attains sufficient pressure to break through the ice, and this pressure is usually so high as to heat up the flammable hydrogen hence the explosion.

• Related Content: Top tips – Choosing the correct power inverter for your vehicle 

Cranking Power

The power of jump start LiBs is measured in ampere-hours. This allows one to determine whether the LiB can jump-start an engine.

The power needed to jump-start an engine is determined by 2 construction factors – the engine type and size – along with an operational factor – the engine temperature. Naturally, as the engine temperature drops, then more cranking power is needed.

Therefore, it is advisable that one checks the cranking power that is listed for starting a cold engine.

This is usually rated as Cold Cranking Amperes (CCA) which describes the current that the battery can provide for 30seconds at 0 degrees Fahrenheit without the voltage dropping below a set value, which is usually 7.2 volts in 12-volt LiB.

For example, a CCA of 400A means that the LiB can sustain a burst of 400amperes for 30seconds at 0°F without its voltage charge dropping below 7.2volts.

Lithium-ion Jump Starter FAQs

Q. How high should the Cold Cranking Amps (CCAs)be on the starter that I buy?

This number does rely on the size of your vehicle. A small saloon will require far fewer amps than a large truck. Generally speaking, the more CCAs the better. You will be able to cater to a wider range of vehicles that way.

All the same, referring to the labels on the car battery will help you. This will show the CCAs required for the engine to start, allowing you to buy a unit with sufficient power.

Q. How often and how long does it take to charge a jump starter

A jump starter only takes a few hours to charge. A good rule of thumb is to charge it after anytime you have used it, and once every couple of weeks if it has sat dormant in your vehicle. A sensible way of doing so, is simply leaving it charging overnight to ensure the battery is at full capacity.

Q. Can a jump starter recharge a battery?

The answer is generally no. Most jump starters do just that, provide enough power to get the engine going (the alternator within the running engine should then charge your battery).

Q. Can a Lithium-ion jump starter be used on a hybrid?

Generally yes. However, you need to ensure that you jump the correct battery within the hybrid vehicle. This will normally be a smaller battery that starts the engine within the car. (The larger battery is what is used to power the electric motor). To be sure, you should consult the hybrid’s owners manual for details.

Q. Can a jump starter be used on different types of vehicles?

As long as the cranking amps are up to the task of the vehicle in question, you will have no problems using a jump starter on different model cars… just ensure it is fully charged.