Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX F3800 vs Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS
The Plus costs $400 more, and its one big upgrade is solar input, from 2,400W to 3,200W. That money only comes back if you're building an array large enough to feed it.
Full profiles: Anker SOLIX F3800 → · Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS →
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
The F3800 and the F3800 PLUS are built around the same 3,840Wh battery. Same inverter, same weight, same five-year warranty. The Plus costs $400 more, and most of that money goes to one place. Solar input rises from 2,400W on the base to 3,200W on the Plus.
Base owners have a specific gripe. They say the input is fussy enough that filling it means buying Anker's own panels, which add up fastA2A14. A reviewer says the Plus takes standard MC4 panelsB11, the push-and-click connector on most panels you can buy. That only pays off if you're putting up enough glass to use it.
I live under redwoods in the Santa Cruz Mountains, where winter sun shows up late and leaves early. On a lot like mine I doubt I'd ever fill the base's input, never mind the Plus's. If your house mostly charges from the wall or a couple of panels, the base does the same job for $400 less.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
cost / lifetime kWh
Both store the same energy over their lives, so the extra money on the Plus buys no extra kilowatt-hours. It shows up in every ownership figure as cost.
the base F3800 is $2,200 against the Plus's $2,600, a $400 gapboth hold 3,840Wh at 3,000 cycles, the same 11,520 lifetime kWhthe base costs $0.19 per lifetime kWh against the Plus's $0.23
Why it mattersIf solar input isn't why you're shopping, the Plus has no case. Buy the base.
solar input
For someone wiring a big DIY array, that's the difference between buying Anker's panelsA2 and buying whatever the local solar supplier has on the pallet. One base owner says people with a second charge controller, the box that regulates panel power into a battery, can work around the limitA13. That's a project of its own, with its own bill.
solar input is 2,400W on the base and 3,200W on the Plus, 800W moreowners of the base call its input restrictive and say it pushes them toward Anker's pricier panelsA2A14a reviewer says the Plus accepts standard MC4 panelsB11
Why it mattersPay the $400 if you have, or are planning, an array big enough to use 3,200W. Otherwise the 2,400W limit won't get in your way.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: Identical battery, so the $400 price gap is the only thing moving the cost-per-kWh figures.
cost / lifetime kWh
Both units deliver the same lifetime energy, so the price is the only thing that moves. The base comes out at $0.19 per lifetime kilowatt-hour and the Plus at $0.23.
If I were spending my own money on a house battery, I'd buy the base and put the $400 toward wiring.
Growth Path
Selected because: Solar input is the one big hardware difference, and the reason the Plus costs more.
solar input
Both expand the same way. Add an Anker expansion battery and either one grows past 3,840Wh. Solar is where they part.
With a panel or two, or mostly wall charging, the base's 2,400W never becomes the bottleneck. If you add panels every summer, the Plus is the one upgrade on this page worth paying for.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: Both clear every everyday load identically, which shows that capacity can't separate them and refill speed can.
Every everyday scenario we run fits inside either battery with room left over, and both units post identical numbers. Camping and the tailgate fail for a different reason. At 132.3 lbs, neither unit is going to the campsite.
The van-life day is the one that outruns both, by the same 1,421Wh. That's the only row where the Plus's extra solar input has a job, as long as the sun cooperates.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: The spec sheet hides the base's solar frustrations, two owner-reported charging quirks and a 132 lb install.
The weight is the same on both: 132.3 lbs on built-in wheels. One reviewer found the wheels manage grass but stop at small bumpsB8. Roll it into place once, next to the transfer switch, and leave it there. A transfer switch is the box by your main panel that lets chosen circuits run from the battery.
Two owner reports on the base are worth knowing before you plug it into a house. One says there's no AC pass-through, so it can't charge from the wall while it runs your loadsA4. Another found the line cord got very hot charging from the wall at the full rate, and now charges slowerA3. Our research on the Plus is thinner, so we can't say whether either carries overB0.
Check the outlets too. If you're wiring to a specific inlet or plugging in an RV, match the layout on Anker's spec page before you order.
Strengths & trade-offs
Anker SOLIX F3800
Strengths
- +Costs $400 less
Trade-offs
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS
Strengths
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
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 of camping uses about 64% of either battery's usable energy, so capacity is fine. Getting 132.3 lbs to the campsite is the problem. A smaller station is the better camping tool.
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
Either unit
An 8-hour outage uses about half of either battery's usable energy. Both list a UPS mode rated no worse than 20ms, a maker's rating we haven't measured. They do this job identically.
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
A CPAP night uses about a tenth of either battery's usable energy. That's a lot of machine for one bedside appliance. If this is your main use, a station a quarter this size would do it for far less.
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
Either unit
A laptop, monitor and router for a full day use a bit over a quarter of either battery's usable energy. Runtime won't separate them here.
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 takes about a fifth of either battery's usable energy. The hard part is the 132.3 lbs between the truck bed and the parking lot. Neither one is a tailgate unit.
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
A full 24-hour van-life day needs about 144% of either battery's usable energy, and both come up the same 1,421Wh short. Solar or an expansion battery covers the rest. This is the one row where the Plus's bigger input earns something, because it can refill faster in good sun.
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 15.9h. 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 0–217.6hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–43.5hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–3.3h¹ 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 SOLIX F3800
These two share one battery, one inverter and one weight. Most of the $400 between them buys solar input, 2,400W up to 3,200W. Base owners call the 2,400W input restrictive enough to push them toward Anker's pricier panelsA2A14, and a reviewer says the Plus takes standard MC4 panelsB11. The base also costs less per lifetime kWh, $0.19 against $0.23. Buy the base F3800 unless solar is the main reason you're shopping. If it is, the Plus is worth the $400.
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.
$2,199.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
or check the SOLIX F3800 PLUS price$2,599.99 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday · 26 days out
Prices to beat:SOLIX F3800 $1,980SOLIX F3800 PLUS $2,300
The lowest we have recorded for each. A Black Friday price above it is a sale that unit has already had.
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 F3800 rates 4.5/5 (68th percentile of 20 Home Backup-class units), and SOLIX F3800 PLUS rates 4.4/5 (63rd percentile of 20 Home Backup-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.
Weight Reality Check
Neither unit is grab-and-go. The SOLIX F3800 (132.3 lbs) is a two-person lift. The SOLIX F3800 PLUS (132.3 lbs) is the same story. They weigh the same, so weight isn't what decides this one.
Warranty: No Difference
Both units carry the same 5-year warranty, so coverage isn't a tiebreaker here.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX F3800.
Check SOLIX F3800 price →or check the SOLIX F3800 PLUS 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
Both units have similar long-term ownership costs ($0.19/kWh vs $0.23/kWh). The price difference is what you see on the sticker — neither is a hidden bargain or rip-off. 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 F3800
EXPANDABLESupports Anker expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 3,840Wh.
Accepts up to 2,400W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are Anker-specific. You're investing in the Anker ecosystem.
SOLIX F3800 PLUS
EXPANDABLESupports Anker expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 3,840Wh.
Accepts up to 3,200W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
Expansion batteries are Anker-specific. You're investing in the Anker ecosystem.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output — see methodology
Analyst note
Both expand, but the SOLIX F3800 PLUS's higher solar ceiling (3,200W vs 2,400W) gives it the stronger off-grid growth path — more panels can feed a bigger bank as it grows.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
Anker SOLIX F3800
Base owners come back to the solar input more than anything else. One uses it only when there's no other way to chargeA1. Others say filling it means Anker's own panels, which get expensive in a full setupA2A14.
The good reports are practical. One owner feeds a Reliance transfer switch off a single 120V outlet and says it runs everything, water pump includedA5. On support, one owner says Anker has always been responsive and even sent an advance replacementA9.
“I have been using the F3800 for a couple weeks now, using only a single 120V outlet into a reliance transfer switch and it runs everything I throw at it including a water pump.”
Sources
diysolarforum.com · thesolarlab.com
Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS
Reviewers of the Plus lead with the fix. One says it now takes a true 3,200W of standard MC4 panelsB11. Another reports that Anker says a firmware update can cut idle drain, the power it uses just sitting there, by about halfB9. We couldn't find a second source for that oneB0. In whole-home UPS mode, where it takes over the moment the grid drops, a reviewer puts the switchover at about 20ms, with the lights barely flickeringB3.
A reviewer got a little over seven hours from a fridge and freezer together and estimates about 17 on a lighter household loadB4B5. On the complaint side, small bumps stop the wheelsB8, and one Solix owner says Anker stopped answering after a large purchase and a noisy battery packB1. EV charging gave one reviewer about five miles from a full unitB6. That feature can stay in the brochure.
“I've called them and submitted tickets via their portal, always very responsive. They've even done advanced replacement for me.”
Sources
campingsolar.us · cleanenergybusinesscouncil.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
- Owners consistently complain that the solar/DC input is restrictive, effectively locking users into pricier Anker-branded panels rather than generic arrays. [SOLIX F3800 · 4 entries]
- Fan/inverter noise is generally reported as quiet at idle but with occasional intermittent buzzing/rattling under load or fault conditions. [SOLIX F3800 · 3 entries]
- Anker support experiences are polarized — some owners report fast, responsive replacements while at least one reports being ignored after a major purchase. [SOLIX F3800 · 3 entries]
- Owner support experiences with Anker/Solix diverge sharply — some report being ghosted after repeated contact attempts over a hardware fault, while others describe fast, responsive advanced-replacement service. [SOLIX F3800 PLUS · 2 entries]
- Real-world runtime drops off steeply with load: light loads (lights, router, occasional laptop/e-bike charging) stretch toward the ~17-hour mark, but running a fridge and freezer together drains the base unit in around 7 hours. [SOLIX F3800 PLUS · 2 entries]
- Fan noise is reported as low/background during normal household loads and only becomes noticeably audible under heavy loads (4,000W+) or max-speed charging. [SOLIX F3800 PLUS · 2 entries]
- The unit's near-137 lb weight is a recurring friction point: reviewers note the wheels/handles work for moderate use but struggle over rough terrain, and aggregated user feedback flags portability and packaging as concerns despite praise for raw performance. [SOLIX F3800 PLUS · 2 entries]
- A1
“The solar input for charging is a pain, so much so that I'm only using it if there is no other way to charge the F3800.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [negative]
- A2
“The limitations of the inputs make it very difficult to use solar panels other than Anker's panels, which are pricey for a "full up" config.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [negative]
- A3
“if you charge the F3800 from a 120VAC wall outlet at full rate (1800 watts), the line cord gets very hot. I've backed off the charge rate to 600-800 watts.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [negative]
- A4
“the lack of passthru mode, you cannot charge via the 120VAC input while discharging.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [negative]
- A5
“I have been using the F3800 for a couple weeks now, using only a single 120V outlet into a reliance transfer switch and it runs everything I throw at it including a water pump.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [positive]
- A9
“I've called them and submitted tickets via their portal, always very responsive. They've even done advanced replacement for me.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Big issue with Anker Solix F3800 plus battery pack' · 2025-08 · [positive]
- A13
“no one on Youtube is addressing the solar input problem directly. But People smarter than myself with secondary charge controllers... are able to navigate around the problem.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [negative]
- A14
“other than the solar input problem having limited panel array choices to max out it's input capability it's a great unit so far.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Anker F3800 user reviews and opinions welcome' · 2024-07 · [mixed]
- B1
“I think it may be a fire hazard with this crazy noise it's making. I have emailed Anker support over 5 times... Anker support is ghosting me after I spent over 20k on their solix line and solar panels within a month.”
DIY Solar Forum — "Big issue with Anker Solix F3800 plus battery pack (Large Anker Solix setup)" · 2025-08 · [negative]
- B3
“In UPS mode, the F3800 Plus can switch in about 20ms. There's more cabling and components when connected to the whole home setup, but the lights still barely flicker.”
Android Authority — "Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus with Home Power Panel review: Total power backup" · 2025-05 · [positive]
- B4
“You would be able to keep a fridge or freezer running, charge a few laptops or phones, maybe charge up an e-Bike and the F3800 Plus base unit would last about 17 hours before needing a recharge.”
Digital Trends — "Anker Solix F3800 Plus review: this power station wins for versatility and value" · 2025-05 · [positive]
- B5
“With both the freezer and my fridge plugged in at the same time, I was about to get 7.34 hours before the unit was completely drained.”
Digital Trends — "Anker Solix F3800 Plus review: this power station wins for versatility and value" · 2025-05 · [mixed]
- B6
“With my Rivian R1S, I was able to get about 5 miles of charge out of the F3800 Plus – fully drained... Charging an EV with the Solix F3800 Plus is gimmicky in my opinion.”
Digital Trends — "Anker Solix F3800 Plus review: this power station wins for versatility and value" · 2025-05 · [mixed]
- B8
“The big wheels in the back are enough to go over grassy terrain, but avoid anything too challenging. Small bumps can be enough to slam everything to a halt.”
AppleInsider — "Anker Solix F3800 Plus portable power station review: investment in reliable home power" · 2025-08 · [mixed]
- B9
“Early reviews focused heavily on the standby drain of the Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus. Anker later released a firmware update that said it can cut idle use by about 50%.”
VoltNest — "Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Review: My Honest Test Results" · 2026-04 · [mixed]
- B11
“Anker really addressed this issue with the F3800 Plus. You now get a true 3,200W solar input, which is compatible with normal MC4 solar panels.”
TheSolarLab — "Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus Review: Big Power, Big Price?" · unknown · [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
What Owners Actually Report
Drawn from 111 comments on independent review channels — not from retailer reviews, which skew to the first week of ownership. Each line is our summary of one commenter's claim, linked to the original. We record what they said, including where it contradicts the spec sheet.
Anker SOLIX F3800
137 claims from 91 comments · 76 from owners · 26 with figures
- Charging
- 19 · 46% negative
- Price & value
- 16 · 47% negative
- Runtime
- 8 · 15% negative
- Other
- 19 · 50% negative
- Expandability
- 12 · 36% negative
What owners complain about
Sarcastic about the $1600 price of each official expansion battery versus cheaper alternatives.
Price & valuemeasuredowner20 agreedsource →
A single Chargeverter only gives ~1200W due to the no-common-ground XT-60 DC inputs.
Chargingmeasuredowner12 agreedsource →
AC charging kills 240V and caps output to one bank at ~1200W of the 6000W inverter.
Inverter & surgemeasuredowner7 agreedsource →
What owners praise
Ran 2 fridges, 2 freezers, lights, pellet stove and Starlink for 6.5 hours using only 32%.
Runtimemeasuredowner61 agreedsource →
Recharged in 1 hour 15 minutes at just under 3000W from the grid.
Chargingmeasuredowner61 agreedsource →
Uses an F3800 for peak shaving on a 6c off-peak / 25c on-peak time-of-use plan.
Price & valueowner10 agreedsource →
Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS
32 claims from 20 comments · 18 from owners · 4 with figures
- Solar input
- 4 · 0% negative
- Price & value
- 3 · 44% negative
- Expandability
- 5 · 77% negative
- Charging
- 4 · 15% negative
- Inverter & surge
- 3 · 88% negative
What owners complain about
F3800 Plus shuts down above 20A charging from the battery expansion port; 16A is stable.
Expandabilitymeasuredowner1 agreedsource →
Could not start two 240V hoist pumps or a well pump; motors shudder and the unit shuts off.
Inverter & surgeowner4 agreedsource →
Returned within 48 hours; would only have kept it at half the price.
Price & valueowner4 agreedsource →
What owners praise
Anker tech support was friendly, a native English speaker, and taught him things he didn't know.
Warranty & supportowner13 agreedsource →
Generator recharged it from 15% to full in under an hour while powering the house.
Chargingmeasuredowner4 agreedsource →
Got an F3800 Plus with an expansion battery and home backup kit for $4,200.
Price & valuemeasuredowner3 agreedsource →
Claims are weighted by how specific they are, whether the commenter owns the unit, and how many readers agreed. Comments that mention a product under a rival's review count for more, because the commenter had no reason to be there. This is what buyers report, not our test results — for measurements we ran ourselves, see the methodology.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the SOLIX F3800 if you…
- →You charge mostly from the wall or from a panel or two, so the Plus's extra input would sit idle.
- →You want the cheaper unit to own: $0.19 per lifetime kWh against the Plus's $0.23.
- →You already own Anker panels, or you're happy to work around a fussier solar inputA2.
If neither fits
If you need to carry a unit, neither 132.3 lb F3800 is it. If your loads are a phone, a CPAP and a laptop, a much smaller station leaves most of $2,200 in your pocket. If one charge has to carry the house for days, plan on expansion batteries from day one or look at a bigger system.
The Bottom Line
Buy the base F3800 unless solar is the reason you're shopping. It's the same battery and inverter at the same weight, for $400 less.
The buyer who should pay up is the one putting up a real array. The Plus answers the complaint base owners raise mostA2A14. With enough panels to use it, that's worth the $400.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
What's the actual difference between the Anker SOLIX F3800 and F3800 PLUS?
Mainly solar input. Both are 3,840Wh with a 6,000W inverter, 9,000W surge, 3,000 cycles, a 5-year warranty and the same 132.3 lbs, with identical runtimes. The Plus costs $400 more and raises solar input from 2,400W to 3,200W, which a reviewer says also lets it take standard MC4 panels the base struggles with. Check Anker's spec page for the outlet layout if you're wiring to a specific inlet or plugging in an RV.
Is the F3800 PLUS worth $400 more than the base F3800?
Only if solar is the reason you're buying. The base's 2,400W input is its owners' most common complaint, often described as pushing them toward Anker's pricier panels, and the Plus's 3,200W MC4 input addresses that. If you charge mostly from the wall or a small array, the base is the same battery for $400 less and cheaper to own: $0.19 against $0.23 per lifetime kWh.
Can either one power a home during a blackout?
Yes, for hours, and how many depends on the load. An 8-hour blackout in our model uses about half of either battery's usable energy. One reviewer got a little over seven hours from a fridge and freezer together and estimates about 17 on a lighter household load. Another review puts the Plus's whole-home UPS switchover at about 20ms with barely a flicker. Beyond that, you're relying on solar recharge or an expansion battery either way.
How heavy are these units, really?
Both weigh 132.3 lbs on built-in wheels. A reviewer found the wheels manage grass but small bumps can stop them. Treat either one as an appliance you place once and leave.
Does the extra solar input actually matter if I don't have a big array?
Not much. Both units run weekend camping, an 8-hour blackout, remote work, a tailgate and CPAP overnight on identical shares of the same 3,840Wh battery. The only scenario that outruns either one is a full 24-hour van-life day, which needs about 144% of either battery's usable energy. That's the one case where the Plus's bigger solar input starts to earn its $400.
Related buying guides
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX F3800Pick
$2,199.99
$2,199.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Anker SOLIX F3800 PLUS
$2,599.99
$2,599.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.