Quick verdict: for most people, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 is the better 1 kWh power station: it has more output (2,000 W vs 1,500 W), more AC outlets, 600 W of solar input instead of 400 W and a faster 10 ms UPS. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 wins if size and weight come first: it’s the more compact box, a little lighter, charges at temperatures up to 113°F and has a dedicated quiet charging mode. Capacity and runtime are nearly identical.
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Buy it if | You’ll run a kettle, microwave or several devices at once; you want more solar | You carry it often, want the smallest 1 kWh box, or charge in hot places |
| Skip it if | Every inch of space counts | You need more than 1,500 W or more than three AC outlets |
| Key numbers | 1,024 Wh · 2,000 W · 600 W solar · 24.9 lb | 1,070 Wh · 1,500 W · 400 W solar · 23.8 lb |
| Average fridge (est.) | ~12 hours | ~12.5 hours |
How we compared: a specification comparison based on Anker’s official pages, Jackery’s published specifications and an independent review, plus our own runtime math. We haven’t tested these units hands-on. See How We Test. Prices change often; compare current listings. New to spec sheets? Read power station specs explained.
Full specs side by side
| Specification | Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,024 Wh | 1,070 Wh |
| Chemistry and cycles | LFP, 4,000 cycles to 80%+ | LFP, 4,000 cycles to 70%+ |
| AC output (peak) | 2,000 W (3,000 W) | 1,500 W (3,000 W) |
| AC outlets | 5 | 3 |
| USB-C | Up to 140 W per fast port | 100 W + 30 W |
| USB-A | 1 × 12 W | 1 × 18 W |
| 12 V output | Car socket, 12 V 10 A (120 W) | Car port, 12 V 10 A |
| AC charging | 1,200 W standard; 1,600 W UltraFast, full in 49 min | Full in ~1.6 h standard; ~1 h in Emergency mode |
| Solar input | 600 W (11–60 V, XT60i) | 400 W (two 8 mm DC ports) |
| Charging while driving | Optional alternator charger, full in ~1.8 h (Anker); check Anker for car-outlet charging | ~12 h to full from a car outlet |
| UPS switchover | 10 ms | ≤20 ms |
| Noise | Anker rates 20 dB under 200 W of output | Quiet charging mode (~30 dB) |
| Charging temperature | 32–104°F | 32–113°F |
| Discharging temperature | -4–104°F | 14–113°F |
| Dimensions | 15.1 × 8.2 × 9.6 in | 12.9 × 8.8 × 9.7 in |
| Weight | 24.9 lb | 23.8 lb |
| Expandable | No | No |
| App | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth | Wi-Fi and Bluetooth |
| Warranty | Check Anker’s current terms | 3 years + 2 extended |
Pros and cons
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 |
|---|---|
| ✅ 2,000 W output runs a kettle or microwave | ✅ Most compact 1 kWh footprint of the two |
| ✅ Five AC outlets | ✅ Slightly lighter (23.8 lb) |
| ✅ 600 W solar input | ✅ Charges up to 113°F |
| ✅ 10 ms UPS | ✅ Quiet charging mode |
| ✅ Full recharge in 49 minutes | ✅ 3 + 2 year warranty |
| ❌ Longer footprint (15.1 in) | ❌ 1,500 W limit for kitchen appliances |
| ❌ Only one USB-A port | ❌ Only three AC outlets |
| ❌ Charging stops above 104°F | ❌ 400 W solar and proprietary 8 mm inputs |
| ❌ Not expandable | ❌ UPS up to 20 ms; not expandable |
Output and ports: what you can plug in
The biggest practical difference is output. At 2,000 W, the Anker runs a 1,500 W kettle or a microwave that draws about 1,500 W, with a little room left for a fridge or router. The Jackery’s 1,500 W is exactly at the limit for those appliances, so you’d run them alone or not at all. For everything else, both are fine.
| Port | What to plug in | Anker | Jackery |
|---|---|---|---|
| AC outlets | Fridge, CPAP (via its power supply), TV, kitchen appliances | 5, 2,000 W total | 3, 1,500 W total |
| Fast USB-C | Laptops, tablets, phones (more efficient than AC) | Up to 140 W | 100 W |
| USB-A | Older phones, lights, small gadgets | 12 W | 18 W |
| 12 V car socket | 12 V fridges, tire inflators, CPAP DC cables | 120 W | 12 V 10 A |
For more on kitchen appliances, see can a power station run a microwave and can a power station run a coffee maker or kettle.
Charging: wall, solar and car
Wall: a tie in practice. Anker lists a full charge in 49 minutes with UltraFast mode (set in the app); Jackery lists about an hour in Emergency mode and about 1.6 hours normally.
Charging times for every method, with the math: how long does it take to charge a power station.
Solar: the Anker’s 600 W input is 50% more than the Jackery’s 400 W. With 800 W of panels producing about 600 W in strong sun (75% of rating), the Anker refills in roughly 1.7 hours; the Jackery, capped at 400 W, takes about 2.7 hours. With smaller arrays (400 W of panels or less), the difference disappears. See how many solar panels you need.
Car: the Jackery charges slowly from a car outlet (Jackery lists about 12 hours to full). Anker sells an alternator charger bundle that it says refills the C1000 Gen 2 in about 1.8 hours of driving, a real advantage for road trips; check Anker’s page for other car-charging options. See our van life and RV picks.
How long does each run your devices?
Hours = (battery Wh × 0.85) ÷ (device watts + 10 W inverter). Example for an average fridge (62.5 W average) on the Jackery: 1,070 × 0.85 ≈ 910 Wh usable; 910 ÷ (62.5 + 10) ≈ 12.5 hours.
| Device | Anker C1000 Gen 2 (1,024 Wh) | Jackery 1000 v2 (1,070 Wh) |
|---|---|---|
| Average fridge (1.5 kWh/day) | ~12 h | ~12.5 h |
| Efficient fridge (1.0 kWh/day) | ~17 h | ~17.5 h |
| Fridge + Wi-Fi + lamp + phones (~95 W) | ~9.2 h | ~9.6 h |
| CPAP, no humidifier (~320 Wh/night) | ~2.7 nights | ~2.8 nights |
| CPAP with humidifier (~520 Wh/night) | ~1.7 nights | ~1.7 nights |
| Wi-Fi router (~15 W) | ~35 h | ~36 h |
| Laptop via AC (~60 W) | ~12 h | ~13 h |
| Box fan (~30 W) | ~22 h | ~23 h |
| 50-inch TV (~50 W) | ~14.5 h | ~15 h |
| Microwave or kettle (~1,500 W) | ~35 min of use | At its 1,500 W limit |
Three real-world scenarios
1. Overnight outage: fridge and Wi-Fi
At about 95 W of essentials, both last roughly 9–10 hours, enough for a typical night. The Anker’s 10 ms UPS is slightly more forgiving for a desktop PC or router left plugged in; both recharge from the wall in about an hour when power returns. See how long a power station runs a refrigerator.
Need a full day or more for the fridge? Compare 2 and 3 kWh options in our best power stations for a refrigerator.
2. Morning coffee with the fridge running
A 1,500 W kettle plus a running fridge (about 150 W while the compressor runs) totals roughly 1,650 W: within the Anker’s 2,000 W, over the Jackery’s 1,500 W. With the Jackery, unplug the fridge for the two minutes the kettle runs.
3. A weekend of solar camping
With a single 200 W panel (about 150 W real), both refill about 600 Wh on a 4-sun-hour day, so they perform the same. With a big 800 W array, the Anker refills a full battery about an hour faster. If you carry it from the car, the Jackery’s smaller footprint is easier. See our camping picks.
How they compare with other 1 kWh rivals
| Anker C1000 Gen 2 | Jackery 1000 v2 | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,024 Wh | 1,070 Wh | 1,024 Wh | 1,024 Wh |
| Output (peak) | 2,000 W (3,000 W) | 1,500 W (3,000 W) | 1,800 W (3,600 W) | 1,800 W (3,600 W) |
| AC outlets | 5 | 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Fastest wall charge | Full in 49 min | Full in ~1 h | Full in 56 min | 80% in ~45 min |
| Solar | 600 W | 400 W | 1,000 W | 1,000 W |
| UPS | 10 ms | ≤20 ms | <10 ms | 10 ms |
| Weight | 24.9 lb | 23.8 lb | 27.6 lb | 25.3 lb |
| Expandable | No | No | Up to 5 kWh | Limited |
If you might need more than 1 kWh later, neither the Anker nor the Jackery expands; the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus grows to 5 kWh. For a 2 kWh Anker, see the SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 review. More brand matchups: EcoFlow vs Jackery and Anker C1000 Gen 2 vs EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus.
Who should buy which
| If you… | Choose |
|---|---|
| Want to use a kettle, microwave or coffee maker | Anker C1000 Gen 2 |
| Plan to add a large solar array | Anker C1000 Gen 2 |
| Road-trip often and want an alternator charger option | Anker C1000 Gen 2 |
| Need a compact unit to carry and store | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 |
| Charge it in a hot garage or car (above 104°F) | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 |
| Mostly run a fridge, router and phones | Either; runtimes are nearly equal |
Common mistakes when choosing between them
- Picking by capacity alone. 1,024 vs 1,070 Wh is a 4% difference; output (2,000 vs 1,500 W) matters more.
- Assuming you can add a battery later. Neither of these expands.
- Buying more panels than the input accepts. Beyond 400 W (Jackery) or 600 W (Anker), extra panels only help on cloudy days.
- Forgetting the connector. The Jackery uses 8 mm DC solar inputs; the Anker uses XT60. Check your panel’s plug.
Frequently asked questions
Is Jackery or Anker SOLIX better?
At the 1 kWh size, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 offers more output, outlets and solar input, while the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is more compact and charges in a wider temperature range. For most home-backup buyers, the Anker is the stronger all-rounder.
Which lasts longer on a charge?
The Jackery, by about 4%, thanks to its 1,070 Wh battery. For an average fridge, that’s about 12.5 hours versus 12 hours in our estimates.
Can either one run a CPAP all night?
Yes. Both cover about 2.7 nights without a humidifier and about 1.7 nights with one, by our estimates. See best power stations for CPAP.
Do both work as a UPS?
Yes. The Anker switches in 10 ms and the Jackery in up to 20 ms. For a desktop computer, see power station vs UPS for a home office.
Which is better for camping?
If you carry it and use modest loads, the Jackery’s compact size helps. If you run a kettle or rely on a big solar array, the Anker is more capable.
The bottom line
Choose the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 for more power, outlets and solar at almost the same weight. Choose the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 if a compact box and hot-weather charging matter more than running kitchen appliances. Full reviews: Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 and Jackery Explorer 1000 v2.
Sources
- Anker SOLIX, C1000 Gen 2 product page, basic specifications and alternator charger bundle (official).
- Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 specifications as listed by a retailer and TechRadar’s review.
- EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus and BLUETTI Elite 100 V2: see our linked reviews and their sources.
