Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX C800 vs Anker SOLIX C800 Plus
Anker SOLIX C800 vs Anker SOLIX C800 Plus: the plain C800 is no longer sold, so buy the C800 Plus if you want its pop-up light pole on the same 768Wh battery, and look at the SOLIX C800X, Anker's replacement for the C800, if you don't need the light.
Full profiles: Anker SOLIX C800 → · Anker SOLIX C800 Plus →
Looking for a different matchup? Anker SOLIX C800 Plus vs SOLIX C800X
Written by Ian SchneiderUpdated
Solar & Off-Grid Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
Anker no longer sells the plain SOLIX C800, and the SOLIX C800X has taken its place. That leaves the C800 Plus as the only one of these two you can buy new, at $649. If you own a C800, or found one on a shelf, the question is what the Plus adds.
Electrically they're the same machine, 768Wh behind a 1200W inverter. Solar input and cycle rating match, the weight is within a fraction of a pound, and every runtime on this page ties.
The difference is on the roof. The Plus has a retractable pole with camping lights built in. The plain C800 has a storage cubby there insteadA13, and one reviewer of the Plus found nowhere to keep the cordsB3. At my cabin a light on a pole would earn its keep at the woodpile on winter evenings. Somewhere with a ceiling light, I'd rather keep the cubby.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Reviewers split on that trade. One camper stopped packing separate lanternsB14. Another found the pole a little over the topB2.
The base C800's top surface is 'an empty storage area for keeping your smaller gear'A13On the Plus, 'there's nowhere to keep the cords when not using them'B3
Why it mattersCampers who work after dark get something real from the Plus. Everyone else loses a place to keep cords.
768Wh is a ceiling you live with for the life of the unit. It suits one or two loads through a night.
Both hold 768Wh and are not expandableThe Weekend Camping scenario needs 2,100Wh and the 8-Hour Blackout 1,645Wh
Why it mattersIf the job is a whole outage with a fridge, size up before you think about lights.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: Both deliver the same lifetime energy; only the Plus can still be bought.
Both come to the same 2,304 lifetime kWh, which is 768Wh across 3,000 cycles. Only the Plus is sold, so only the Plus carries a price here. It works out to $0.28 per lifetime kWh.
A C800 owner has no lifetime reason to trade up.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Both share a 768Wh ceiling that falls short of most multi-appliance scenarios.
Both fall short on the same rows by the same amounts. The tailgate list misses by a whisker, and leaving one appliance at home closes it.
Where they do well is one load through the night. A CPAP leaves about 333Wh in the tank by morning. One reviewer's fridge-freezer used about a tenth of the Plus over eight hoursB6. Another still called the capacity an awkward middle groundB12.
Growth Path
Selected because: Neither expands, so the capacity choice is permanent.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Warranty and published noise tie; one tester's UPS check adds something.
Both are rated to switch to battery in no more than 20ms when the wall power drops. One tester pulled the Plus's plug with a monitor attached and saw no flickerB4. That's one test on one monitor, and a good sign for routers and screens.
Strengths & trade-offs
Anker SOLIX C800
Strengths
- +Lighter by 0.2 lb
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Anker SOLIX C800 Plus
Strengths
- Solid all-rounder with standard specs.
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 · 2 nights · needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
Neither unit
Two nights off-grid wants about 2,100Wh, and 768Wh doesn't stretch that far. The pole light on the Plus adds no watt-hours. For real multi-night camping, size up.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Phone Charger 15W×6h · LED Lights 40W×8h · Box Fan 75W×14h · CPAP Machine 40W×16h
SCN-02 · 8 hours · needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
Neither unit
A fridge-plus-essentials blackout needs about 1,645Wh, more than double what either unit holds. They'll keep a fridge cold for part of the night but won't carry the whole list.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Fridge 150W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40W×6h · Phone Charger 15W×3h
SCN-03 · 8 hours · needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption — the #1 medical use case
Either unit
The one job both handle easily. A 40W CPAP uses about half the usable battery overnight.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD CPAP Machine 40W×8h
SCN-04 · 8 hours · needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Neither unit
A full day at the desk asks for about 910Wh. Either covers roughly three quarters of it, so you'd trim a load or top up.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Laptop 60W×8h · External Monitor 30W×8h · Router + Modem 20W×8h · Phone Charger 15W×2h
SCN-05 · 4 hours · needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Neither unit
Game day lands right on the edge. Both come up a few watt-hours short of the full list, so leaving one appliance at home gets you there.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Blender 400W×0.5h · LED TV (55") 80W×4h · Bluetooth Speaker 15W×4h · Phone Charger (×3) 45W×2h
SCN-06 · 24 hours · needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living — the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Not close for either. A van-life day wants about 4,685Wh. This calls for a bigger system with real solar and expansion.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOAD Mini-Fridge 150W×24h · Laptop 60W×4h · Phone Charger 15W×3h · LED Lights 40W×5h · Fan 75W×8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh × 0.85) ÷ LOAD
None of the scenarios above exactly yours? Build it. Toggle what you'd plug in; both units are tested against the combined draw.
Essentials
Comfort & Convenience
High-Draw Appliances
Test duration
8h
Continuous draw
205W
Projected runtime
Dead heat — both run this 205W load for roughly 3.2h. Pick on price, weight, or ports.
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sized →
Modeled from the spec record — same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.¹
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0–43.5hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–8.7hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–0.7h¹ Runtime = (capacity × 0.85) ÷ appliance watts. Within each group, all bars share one time scale (the group's longest runtime), so lengths are comparable across appliances; identical runtimes collapse into a single blue/orange bar. Actual runtime varies with battery age, temperature, and simultaneous loads — see methodology.
Conclusion
October 25, 2026
Verdict: the Anker SOLIX C800 Plus
Buy the SOLIX C800 Plus, because it's the one you can still buy new. Anker no longer sells the plain C800, and the SOLIX C800X has taken its place. The two C800s are electrically the same. The Plus adds a pop-up light pole and gives up the C800's top storage cubby to fit itA13B3. If you own a C800, nothing here is a reason to replace it. If you're shopping new and the light means nothing to you, look at the C800X.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 25, 2026. The links below open Anker's current price.
$649.00 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Written by Ian Schneider, Solar & Off-Grid Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday · 26 days out
Price to beat:SOLIX C800 Plus $649
We have never seen it discounted, so any real cut would be a first.
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Full specifications
ᵈ Derived: price ÷ rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons →
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool →How these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it — no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews — see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity × 0.85 inverter efficiency) ÷ device wattage. Solar recharge estimates assume panels deliver 70% of rated output. Cold weather, battery age, and stacked loads reduce real-world results.
Power Score
Computed from 14 published spec dimensions, weighted per use-case bench. Higher is better; a unit must meet a bench's minimum threshold to be rated.
See the full weight table and data sourcing on our methodology page →Class ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews — no buyer opinions feed it. We score every station on size-independent quality (value, output, portability, endurance, ports, warranty, and more), then percentile-rank it against the other units in its capacity class, so a class-leading compact unit and a class-leading whole-home unit can both earn 5★. Here, SOLIX C800 rates 4.1/5 (47th percentile of 20 Compact-class units), and SOLIX C800 Plus rates 3.8/5 (32nd percentile of 20 Compact-class units).
How the class ranking is computed →Test Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
Same 45dB on Both
Both list 45dB. It's the same maker's figure printed on two boxes, so it can't decide anything here.
Five Years on Both
Both carry a five-year warranty. Coverage isn't a tiebreaker.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX C800 Plus.
Check SOLIX C800 Plus price →Ownership Analysis
What happens after you buy — true cost of ownership, brand trust, and growth potential.
Lifetime value
Service lifeyears at one full cycle per day
Lifetime energy delivered
Cost per delivered kWh
│ warranty ends · Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains — degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The SOLIX C800 is no longer sold, so there is no price to work its cost per kWh from, and this comparison doesn't quote one. On what you can actually buy today, the SOLIX C800 Plus works out at $0.28/kWh over its rated life. If you already own the SOLIX C800, the hardware comparison still holds: each delivers about 2,304 kWh over its rated life. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 3,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise — the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
Growth path
SOLIX C800
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 768Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 300W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
SOLIX C800 Plus
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 768Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 300W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Growth only counts if you can still buy in, and the SOLIX C800 is no longer sold (Anker points owners to the SOLIX C800X). That leaves the SOLIX C800 Plus: it is sealed at 768Wh, so buy the size that covers you now. The SOLIX C800's fixed 768Wh still matters if you already own one, but it isn't a reason to pick it over the SOLIX C800 Plus.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
Anker SOLIX C800
Field data on the plain C800 comes from review desks rather than owner forumsA0. The praise that repeats is the fast AC recharge, clocked at about 58 minutesA9A15. One tester dropped it off a tailgate onto gravel and found only scuffingA1. The same review notes it has no IP weather rating, so keep it covered outdoorsA2.
One tester ran a space heater past the C800's rating for a while before it throttledA8. Another cautioned that it won't carry a full-size fridge alongside other loads for longA11. Two reviews mark it down on weightA4A12.
“We dropped it from a tailgate (30 inches) onto gravel—only minor scuffing, no damage.”
Sources
backuppowerhub.com · portablepowergeek.co.uk · batteryskills.com · batteryessence.com · toolsandtoys.net · bikmantech.com
Anker SOLIX C800 Plus
Research on the Plus also comes from professional reviews, with no long-term or CPAP-specific reportsB0. The app won over a tester who had never used one on a power stationB7B15. The light pole divides themB14B2.
The recurring knock is capacity. One review called it too small for kettles or some coffee makers, and another an awkward middle ground against rivals with more watt-hoursB5B10B12. Fan noise shows up under heavy charging or a hot room at high loadB1, and one reviewer found it manageable at arm's lengthB11.
“The pole light felt is a little over the top and unnecessary.”
Sources
dustinabbott.net
Sources & Research Notes
Every owner claim in this report is traceable to a published source. The bracketed references above resolve here.
Recurring owner themes
- Build quality/chassis is repeatedly called solid and drop-resistant, but reviewers flag the lack of an IP weather rating as a real-world caveat for outdoor use. [SOLIX C800 · 3 entries]
- The 58-minute AC fast-recharge is the single most-mentioned standout feature, praised as faster than rivals like the Jackery 700. [SOLIX C800 · 2 entries]
- Reviewers note the unit can briefly exceed its 1200W rating for heavy appliances, but caution it can't sustain full-size continuous loads like a full-size fridge. [SOLIX C800 · 2 entries]
- Long 5-year warranty and strong retailer star ratings are cited as reassurance/value signals. [SOLIX C800 · 2 entries]
- Weight (~23-24 lbs) is repeatedly flagged as a downside relative to lighter rivals despite the compact footprint. [SOLIX C800 · 2 entries]
- Fan noise is consistently reported as noticeable during fast AC charging or high sustained wattage, though most reviewers call it 'manageable' rather than a dealbreaker. [SOLIX C800 Plus · 2 entries]
- The companion app is repeatedly praised for remote monitoring/control and firmware delivery, with no reviewers reporting connectivity or crash complaints. [SOLIX C800 Plus · 3 entries]
- 768Wh capacity is flagged by multiple reviewers as the unit's main limitation for heavy appliances and against same-price competitors, even though real-world light loads (fridge, gadgets) performed well. [SOLIX C800 Plus · 4 entries]
- The signature 'Plus' camping-light pole/torches are polarizing: some reviewers call the feature genuinely useful and a lantern-replacement, others call it an unnecessary gimmick that sacrifices the C800's cable-storage cubby. [SOLIX C800 Plus · 3 entries]
- A1
“We dropped it from a tailgate (30 inches) onto gravel—only minor scuffing, no damage.”
backuppowerhub.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Review: Best Budget Power Station? · 2025-12 · [positive]
- A2
“However, the C800 lacks IP weather rating. Keep it covered when camping.”
backuppowerhub.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Review: Best Budget Power Station? · 2025-12 · [negative]
- A4
“The Solix C800 is nearly 3kg heavier than the River 2 Pro, and 2.5kg heavier than the Grecel T1000.”
portablepowergeek.co.uk — Anker Solix C800 Review · 2024-11 · [negative]
- A5
“Only allows a middling amount of solar charge at 300W max solar panels, when compared to its equivalently-sized models.”
portablepowergeek.co.uk — Anker Solix C800 Review · 2024-11 · [mixed]
- A7
“Zero fan noise under 500W loads, unlike louder competitors (e.g., Bluetti EB55). Only a mild hum at max load.”
batteryskills.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station Review · 2025-10 · [positive]
- A8
“Powered a 1500W space heater (surpassing its 1200W rating) for 25 minutes before throttling—unexpectedly robust for its size.”
batteryskills.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station Review · 2025-10 · [positive]
- A9
“Achieved a full charge in 58 minutes using a 600W AC adapter (matching Anker's claim), while competitors like the Jackery 700 take 2+ hours.”
batteryskills.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station Review · 2025-10 · [positive]
- A11
“The 1200W output won't run a full-size refrigerator (700-800W startup) plus other essentials for long.”
batteryessence.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station 768Wh Review · 2026-03 · [negative]
- A12
“At 23.15 lbs (10.5 kg), this is too heavy for carrying far on foot. For hiking, a smaller, lighter power bank under 5 lbs is a better fit.”
batteryessence.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Portable Power Station 768Wh Review · 2026-03 · [negative]
- A13
“The top of the C800 is simply an empty storage area for keeping your smaller gear safe and organized.”
toolsandtoys.net — Anker SOLIX 'C800' and 'C800 Plus' Portable Power Stations · 2024 (CES 2024 launch coverage) · [neutral]
- A15
“The 58-minute fast charge means you can drain it all evening and have it ready by morning. No more planning days ahead for recharging.”
backuppowerhub.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Review: Best Budget Power Station? · 2025-12 · [positive]
- B1
“Once the temperature rose above 80F with a 1,030 average wattage, the fan noise was unavoidable and quite present in a quiet house.”
How-To Geek — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Review: A Power Station Prepared to Illuminate Nighttime' · 2024-03 · [negative]
- B2
“The pole light felt is a little over the top and unnecessary.”
How-To Geek — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Review: A Power Station Prepared to Illuminate Nighttime' · 2024-03 · [mixed]
- B3
“As it is, there's nowhere to keep the cords when not using them.”
How-To Geek — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Review: A Power Station Prepared to Illuminate Nighttime' · 2024-03 · [negative]
- B4
“Unplugged the power supply to the C800 Plus to simulate a power outage. No reaction on the monitor, no flicker, just continued operating.”
DustinAbbott.net — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Power Station Review' · 2024-03 · [positive]
- B5
“My lone concern on this front is whether or not the battery capacity is sufficient.”
DustinAbbott.net — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Power Station Review' · 2024-03 · [mixed]
- B6
“I connected the Anker and in 8 hours, my frig/freezer used 10% of the power.”
The Gadgeteer — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus power station review' · 2024-04 · [positive]
- B7
“My other power stations do not have a companion phone app. But after the first trip, I saw how this feature would come in handy.”
The Gadgeteer — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus power station review' · 2024-04 · [positive]
- B9
“With a maximum solar input of 300W at 11-60V, it's not designed to be used with large static panels.”
MakeUseOf — 'Anker Solix C800 Plus Review: The Ultimate Emergency and Camping Companion' · 2024-05 · [mixed]
- B10
“it doesn't have the outright storage or power to tackle more heavy duty appliances like kettles or some coffee machines.”
Trusted Reviews — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Review: A great camping companion' · 2024-04 · [negative]
- B11
“The fan does ramp up during fast charging, but the noise is manageable at roughly arm's length.”
The Power Pick — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Review: Camping Lights Meet Serious Power' · 2026-02 · [mixed]
- B12
“The 768Wh capacity sits in an awkward middle ground. It is significantly less than the 1,024Wh offered by the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus at the same $649 price.”
The Power Pick — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Review: Camping Lights Meet Serious Power' · 2026-02 · [negative]
- B14
“We stopped packing separate lanterns after the first week, streamlining our camping setup noticeably.”
BackupPowerHub — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Review: Best Mid-Range with Camping Lights' (45-day, 8-trip field test) · 2026 (article ~1 week old at time of research) · [positive]
- B15
“Through the app, you can easily install firmware updates that may include performance enhancements, bug fixes, or new functionalities.”
Greener Ideal — 'Anker SOLIX C800 Plus Portable Power Station Review' · 2024-08 · [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the SOLIX C800 if you…
- →Owners who already have one: it holds the same battery as the Plus, so there's no reason to trade up.
- →Owners who use the top cubby for cords and small gear, which the Plus gives upA13.
Buy the SOLIX C800 Plus if you…
- →Anyone buying new: Anker has replaced the plain C800, and the Plus is the live unit on this page.
- →Tent campers who'd use an always-attached light pole instead of packing a separate lanternB14.
If neither fits
If your real day includes a full 8-hour blackout with a fridge, a two-night camp or a van-life day, both units stop at 768Wh with no way to expand. Shop a bigger or expandable station.
The Bottom Line
The Anker SOLIX C800 and C800 Plus are the same 768Wh power station. The plain C800 has left Anker's range, so the Plus is the one to buy new, and its pole light is the only thing it adds.
If you own a C800, keep it. If you're shopping and want the light, buy the Plus. If you don't, look at the C800X, and if your real need is a full blackout, look at something bigger.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
What's the actual difference between the Anker SOLIX C800 and C800 Plus?
Electrically, nothing. Both are 768Wh, 1200W with a 1600W surge, 300W solar, 3,000 cycles, a 5-year warranty and about 24 lbs. The Plus adds a retractable pole with integrated camping lights, which takes the place of the base model's top storage cubby. The plain C800 is no longer sold; Anker's replacement is the SOLIX C800X.
Is the C800 Plus worth buying over the C800?
The C800 is no longer sold new, so the Plus is the one you can buy. Its light pole suits tent campers who would otherwise pack a lantern. If you don't want the light, Anker's SOLIX C800X replaces the plain C800.
Can either one run a refrigerator during a blackout?
For part of an outage, yes. One reviewer's fridge/freezer drew about 10% of the battery over 8 hours. The modeled 8-hour blackout with a fridge, router and lights needs about 1,645Wh, more than double the 768Wh either unit holds.
How fast does the C800 recharge?
Reviewers clocked a roughly 58-minute AC recharge on the C800, quicker than rivals like the Jackery 700. Our research has no separate timing for the Plus.
Are these units quiet enough for CPAP use next to the bed?
Likely. Both list 45dB. One tester reported no fan noise under 500W on the C800, with the fans ramping during fast charging or high sustained load. A 40W CPAP uses about half the usable battery overnight.
Related comparisons
Related buying guides
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX C800
No longer sold
Anker SOLIX C800 PlusPick
$649.00
$649.00 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.