Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX C800 vs Jackery Explorer 600 v2
A hundred dollars apart in price, 700W apart in output — the C800 costs more now but puts out more than double the wattage, while the Explorer 600 v2 is the lighter, cheaper unit that can't run half of what people actually plug into a power station.
Written by Ian SchneiderUpdated
Solar & Off-Grid Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Anker
SOLIX C800
2,245Power Score · Appliance Class
$599.00 list · direct from Anker
Jackery
Explorer 600 v2
1,989Power Score · Device Hub
$499.00 list · direct from Jackery
Spec deltas
The Anker SOLIX C800 and Jackery Explorer 600 v2 now sit $100 apart at retail — $599 against $499 — with the C800 the pricier of the two. What that gap buys is the rest of the spec sheet: the C800 packs 768Wh to the Explorer's 640Wh, and outputs 1,200W continuous against the Explorer's 500W, more than double.
The Explorer's answer is weight and the lower sticker: at 14.1 lbs it's marketed as the lightest unit in its capacity class, undercutting the C800's 23.8 lbs by 9.7 lbs — and now its price by $100 too. That's a real, feel-it-in-your-hand difference carrying it from a car to a tent. It's just not the difference that determines whether the thing can run your gear once you get there.
Both carry identical 3,000-cycle, 5-year warranties, so neither is buying more durability for the money. What each buys is a different bet: the C800 bets on output and headroom, the Explorer bets on not noticing it's in your bag.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
continuous output
One reviewer ran a 1,500W space heater on the C800 for a real stretch before it throttled back, and a 1,000W coffee maker for over 40 minutes straightA3A8 — loads that would trip the Explorer's 500W rating immediately, not eventually. This isn't a device-charging comparison; it's an appliance comparison, and only one of these two is in it.
The C800 outputs 1,200W continuous with a 1,600W surgeThe Explorer 600 v2 outputs 500W continuous with a 1,000W surge
Why it mattersBuyers who plan to run anything with a heating coil or compressor, even briefly, should rule out the Explorer regardless of how much lighter it is.
weight
Neither of these units clears that bar. The Explorer's advantage over the C800 is real for the trip from a trunk to a campsite, where 9.7 lbs is felt but not decisive; it stops being an advantage the moment the use case is genuinely backpacking distance, where both are too heavy.
The C800 weighs 23.8 lbs against the Explorer's 14.1 lbs, a 9.7-lb gapOne reviewer called the C800's roughly 23-lb weight too heavy for carrying far on foot, recommending a sub-5-lb power bank for hiking insteadA12
Why it mattersCar campers and blackout buyers should let output decide, not weight; only buyers carrying gear on their back for miles should let the Explorer's weight settle it, and even then should keep shopping below both of these.
cost / lifetime kWh
With identical 3,000-cycle, 5-year warranty terms on both sides, lifetime cost per kWh is now essentially tied, so the C800's $100 premium isn't buying cheaper energy — it's buying the higher output and bigger tank, nothing else.
Lifetime cost lands at about $0.26 per kWh for both the C800 and the Explorer 600 v2 — effectively a washThe C800 now costs $100 more up front ($599 vs $499) despite the two being close on lifetime cost
Why it mattersBuyers indifferent to weight and noise are now paying about $100 extra for the C800's output and capacity; the Explorer makes sense if that output isn't needed and the lower price, lighter weight, and quieter fan are.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: CPAP Overnight is the one job both units clear; everything heavier separates them by output, not just capacity.
CPAP Overnight is the only scenario either unit comfortably clears: the C800 uses 49% of its tank, the Explorer 59%, both with real margin left. Every other modeled load — Weekend Camping, the 8-Hour Blackout, Remote Workday, Tailgate Party, Van Life Daily — defeats both units, and the C800 fails by a smaller margin every single time because it's simply carrying more capacity into each fight.
Tailgate Party is worth a specific look: the C800 needs 103% of its capacity, the Explorer 123%. Neither finishes the job, but the C800 gets meaningfully closer, which matters if your real afternoon runs a little lighter than the modeled load.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The C800 is now the pricier unit, but the two land about even on cost per kWh — worth spelling out since price flipped.
cost / lifetime kWh
The two are now about even to own: roughly $0.26 per kWh each, with the C800 at $120 per warranty-year against the Explorer's $100. The C800 costs more up front now, so the lifetime picture no longer favors it — its case rests on output and capacity, not cost.
Identical 3,000-cycle, 5-year warranty terms mean neither is trading cost for durability — the Explorer's lower price buys the lighter body and quieter fan covered in the next section, while the C800's premium buys output.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: The Explorer's whole pitch is weight and noise — the two specs where it genuinely leads.
weight
This is where the Explorer actually wins, and it's not close: 14.1 lbs against the C800's 23.8 lbs is a 9.7-lb gap, and 30dB against 45dB is a real difference at a campsite or in a bedroom. One reviewer's owner feedback calls the Explorer easy to carry and easy to operate specifically because of that weightB3.
The tradeoff is direct — every pound and every decibel the Explorer sheds comes off a unit that also sheds more than half its output capability. Lighter and quieter is a genuine win if you're the one carrying it; it doesn't change what either unit can power once it's set down.
Brand Trust
Selected because: Cross-brand pair with a real gap in app quality and support reputation worth surfacing.
Anker's SOLIX line carries a stronger app rating (4.5 on iOS against Jackery's 2.3-3.3 across its apps) and a bigger, more active user community. Support quality on both sides has drifted from each brand's historical reputation, but Jackery's is the more consistently criticized of the two in support feedback — slow responses, scripted agents, and refurbished units sent for warranty claims.
Jackery still has the wider retail footprint and the highest brand recognition of the two, which counts for something if in-store returns or gift-card money are part of the decision. On pure product-and-support fit, Anker is the safer bet here.
Strengths & trade-offs
Anker SOLIX C800
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- –No major technical downsides compared to rival.
Jackery Explorer 600 v2
Strengths
- +Costs $100 less
- +Lighter by 9.7 lb
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-700W) limits appliance compatibility.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 2,100Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 1,645Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
SOLIX C800
Both are massively overpowered for CPAP — the SOLIX C800 finishes at 49% used against the Explorer 600 v2's 59%. At a 40W load that reserve is comfort rather than necessity, so if a CPAP is the only thing you plan to run, price and portability should count for more than capacity does.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 910Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 670Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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
Neither unit can fully handle this scenario (needs 4,685Wh). You'd need a higher-capacity station or to cut back on usage.
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 six 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
For this load: SOLIX C800 runs 3.2h vs 2.7h.
$599 list · direct from Anker
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
July 14, 2026
Verdict: the SOLIX C800, on Power Score margin
The C800 wins on capability that a spec sheet undersells: 1,200W continuous against the Explorer's 500W isn't a modest edge, it's the gap between running a coffee maker or space heater and not being able to start one, and it holds more capacity too (768Wh against 640). What's changed is price — at $599 the C800 now costs about $100 more than the $499 Explorer, and the two run neck-and-neck on lifetime cost (about $0.26 per kWh each) — so it's the paid-up pick for output now, not the value pick. The Explorer's real case is portability and price — 9.7 lbs lighter, 15dB quieter, and $100 cheaper — which matters if you're carrying this any real distance rather than running appliances off it.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of July 14, 2026. The links below open Anker's and Jackery's current prices.
$599.00 list · direct from Anker
or check the Explorer 600 v2 price$499.00 list
Written by Ian Schneider, Solar & Off-Grid Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 14, 2026
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 (50th percentile of 19 Compact-class units), and Explorer 600 v2 rates 3.7/5 (22nd percentile of 19 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.
Fifteen Decibels Apart Under Load
The C800 runs at 45dB under load, the Explorer at 30dB. That gap is audible in a quiet tent or bedroom. It's the direct tradeoff for the C800's more than doubled output — moving that much more power through a similarly sized chassis costs fan noise.
Surge Power: Inverter Quality Indicator
The Explorer 600 v2 has a 2× surge-to-continuous ratio vs the SOLIX C800's 1.3×. A higher ratio (≥2×) means the inverter handles motor startup surges better. That's critical for fridges, AC compressors, and power tools that briefly draw 2-3× their rated wattage. The SOLIX C800 may trip when starting these appliances even though its continuous wattage looks sufficient.
Warranty Value Comparison
The Explorer 600 v2 gives you 10 years of warranty per $1,000 spent, vs the SOLIX C800's 8.3 years. That's 1.2× more coverage per dollar. An underrated factor if you're keeping this unit for years.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX C800.
Check SOLIX C800 price →or check the Explorer 600 v2 priceOwnership 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 Explorer 600 v2 is cheaper to buy, but the SOLIX C800 is cheaper to own. At $0.26/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.26/kWh, the SOLIX C800's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years.
Brand trust
Anker
Ecosystem
7-8 SOLIX portable power stations across C-series (compact) and F-series (flagship), plus the X1 home energy system
Support
US-based support. Historically known for incredible no-hassle replacements, but recent reports describe AI-driven support agents giving generic responses and complex return logistics for heavy units (hazmat shipping). The Anker brand reputation is still strong, but SOLIX-specific support quality is trending down.
Community
Moderate — active Reddit (r/Anker, r/AnkerSOLIXCommunity) and growing. Benefits from Anker's massive consumer electronics brand awareness.
App experience
Rated 4.5/5 iOS (~1,100 ratings) · 4.3/5 Android
Unique strength
Parent brand trust from Anker's consumer electronics dominance. InfiniPower technology for long cycle life. Strong $/Wh value in the mid-size and larger units — the S2000, F2600 and C1000 are among the better buys per watt-hour in the catalog.
Worth knowing
Support quality appears to be declining from its historically excellent level. Firmware updates have removed features without warning. Expansion ecosystem is smaller than EcoFlow's.
Jackery
Ecosystem
12-15+ models across Explorer (portable) and HomePower (home backup) series, plus SolarSaga panel ecosystem and innovative form factors
Support
US-based support but widely criticized. Reddit reports describe slow/dismissive responses, scripted AI agents, strict receipt requirements for warranty claims, and refurbished replacements for clearly defective units. Strongly recommended: buy from Costco or Amazon for return protection.
Community
Smallest community of the major brands — Reddit r/Jackery has ~2,000 members. YouTube presence is solid due to brand recognition.
App experience
Rated 2.3-3.3/5 iOS and Android — the weakest app experience of the major brands. Multiple confusing apps (Jackery app vs Jackery Home) and mandatory login even offline.
Unique strength
Highest brand recognition and widest retail distribution (Costco, Home Depot, Best Buy, Amazon). The "Toyota" of power stations — dependable, proven, wide availability. Innovative form factors like the Solar Gazebo and Solar Mars Bot.
Worth knowing
A couple of older models still ship NMC chemistry with a shorter rated lifespan, so check the cycle rating on the specific unit — though most of the current line has moved to LFP. Generally perceived as overpriced for the specs offered compared to newer competitors. App experience is significantly behind rivals.
Analyst note
Anker and Jackery are close competitors. Both have established support channels and growing ecosystems. Compare their specific warranty terms and community size for your peace of mind.
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.
Explorer 600 v2
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 640Wh, with no expansion — so size it for your needs up front rather than planning to add capacity later.
Accepts up to 200W of solar. Limited to a single portable panel.
Limited ports. You'll likely need a power strip or splitter.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Neither expands, and that's no knock on either — each is a complete unit at a fixed size. Buy the capacity that covers your needs now (the SOLIX C800 gives you the larger ceiling); you can't add to either later.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
Anker SOLIX C800
The honest complaint first: at just over 23 lbs, one reviewer flagged the C800 as too heavy to carry far on foot, suggesting a sub-5-lb power bank instead for actual hiking useA12, and a second reviewer independently called it multiple kilograms heavier than lighter rivals in its classA4. Neither reviewer disputes what it does once it's set down.
That's the fast-charge speed reviewers keep coming back to — a full recharge in under an hour off a 600W AC adapter, beating a comparable Jackery unit's charge time outrightA9, plus real headroom under load: a 1,000W coffee maker ran over 40 minutes straightA3, and a 1,500W space heater ran a solid stretch before the unit throttled backA8. It also runs near-silent under 500W loads, with only a mild hum at the top of its rangeA7.
“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
Jackery Explorer 600 v2
The Explorer 600 v2's whole identity is weight — reviewers describe it as the lightest unit in its 600Wh capacity class, and owner feedback specifically praises it as easy to carry and easy to operateB1B3. It also moved Jackery onto LFP battery chemistry for this model, which reviewers note as more heat-stable than older packsB2.
There's a small, telling wrinkle in its own listings: sources disagree on whether it's rated for 500W or 600W output, a gap that shows up nowhere on the C800's cleaner spec sheetB4. It's a minor thing, but a unit sold on precision and light weight should know its own wattage.
“The world's lightest 600Wh-class power station at about 14 lbs — roughly 23% smaller than similar-capacity models.”
Sources
backuppowerhub.com · jackery.com · bestecosolar.com · mrsolar.com
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]
- Standout light weight (world's lightest 600Wh-class), a newer stable LFP battery, and easy operation are the praise; rated output and cycle figures vary across sources. [Explorer 600 v2 · 3 entries]
- A3
“A 1,000W coffee maker ran 42 minutes straight.”
backuppowerhub.com — Anker SOLIX C800 Review: Best Budget Power Station? · 2025-12 · [positive]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- B1
“The world's lightest 600Wh-class power station at about 14 lbs — roughly 23% smaller than similar-capacity models.”
backuppowerhub.com / jackery.com — Explorer 600 v2 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B2
“Uses a shift to LFP (LiFePO4) chemistry that is chemically more stable and far less prone to overheating, engineered with a rating for well over a decade of lifespan — higher than the figure in some spec listings.”
backuppowerhub.com / bestecosolar.com — Explorer 600 v2 review · 2026 · [positive]
- B3
“Owner feedback highlights that it is affordable, lightweight, easy to carry, and easy to operate.”
backuppowerhub.com — Explorer 600 v2 owner feedback · 2026 · [positive]
- B4
“Listed AC output varies by source — some cite a 600W rating where others show 500W — so its rated output figure is not fully consistent across listings.”
mrsolar.com / jackery.com — Explorer 600 v2 listings · 2026 · [mixed]
Research compiled July 14, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the SOLIX C800 if you…
- →You plan to run anything with a heating element or motor, even briefly — a coffee maker, space heater, or small appliance the Explorer's 500W ceiling can't touch.
- →You're moving this between a car and a campsite, not carrying it miles on foot, so the extra 9.7 lbs barely registers.
Buy the Explorer 600 v2 if you…
- →You're genuinely carrying this by hand or on your back for real distance, and 9.7 lbs less weight and 15dB less noise change your day.
- →Your loads are strictly device-charging — phones, a laptop, small electronics — and you'll never ask it to run anything with a heating coil.
If neither fits
If your real need is a two-night camping trip (about 2,100Wh) or an 8-hour multi-appliance blackout (about 1,645Wh), both of these come up well short of the job — the C800 alone would still need over three times its capacity for the blackout scenario. Look at a 1,500Wh-plus unit from either brand instead of choosing between these two.
The Bottom Line
This one isn't close on capability: the C800's 1,200W continuous output against the Explorer's 500W is the difference between an appliance-capable power station and a device charger, and it packs more capacity too. It's just no longer the cheaper unit — it now costs about $100 more, with lifetime costs roughly even.
The Explorer earns its keep on the axes it was built for — 9.7 lbs lighter, 15dB quieter, and now $100 cheaper. If that's the actual job, buy it and don't look back. If the job is running real gear during an outage or a trip, the C800's extra output is worth both the extra weight and the extra $100.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Anker SOLIX C800 worth $100 more than the Jackery Explorer 600 v2?
For anything beyond charging devices, usually yes: the C800 outputs 1,200W continuous against the Explorer's 500W and holds more capacity (768Wh vs 640). But the Explorer is now the cheaper unit by $100, plus 9.7 lbs lighter and 15dB quieter, and the two are about even on lifetime cost per kWh — so if your loads are light and you carry the unit often, the Explorer's lower price and weight win.
Can either of these run a space heater or coffee maker?
The C800 can, at least briefly — reviewers ran a 1,000W coffee maker for over 40 minutes and a 1,500W space heater for a real stretch before it throttled. The Explorer's 500W continuous rating rules out both of those loads outright.
Which one is actually lighter to carry?
The Explorer 600 v2, by 9.7 lbs — 14.1 lbs against the C800's 23.8 lbs, and marketed as the lightest unit in its 600Wh-class capacity. That's a real difference over any distance carried by hand, though reviewers still consider both too heavy for genuine backpacking use.
Which one is cheaper to own long-term?
The Explorer, marginally. Per lifetime kWh they're about even (~$0.26 each), but the Explorer's lower $499 price makes it cheaper per warranty-year — $100 against the C800's $120 — and it costs $100 less up front. Both carry identical 3,000-cycle, 5-year warranty terms, so the C800's case is output and capacity, not lifetime cost.
Which brand has better support, Anker or Jackery?
Anker's SOLIX support and app experience currently rate higher than Jackery's — a 4.5 iOS app rating against Jackery's 2.3-3.3 across its apps, and fewer complaints about scripted or slow support responses. Jackery still has wider retail distribution if in-person returns matter to you.
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX C800Pick
$599.00
$599.00 list · direct from Anker
Jackery Explorer 600 v2
$499.00
$499.00 list · direct from Jackery
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.