Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX F3800 vs Anker SOLIX S5000
The F3800 sells muscle and the S5000 sells stamina: 1,500W more continuous output on one side, 1,184Wh more battery, twice the rated cycles and 35 lb less to wheel on the other, and in a house riding out an outage it's stamina you run out of first.
Full profiles: Anker SOLIX F3800 → · Anker SOLIX S5000 →
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
The S5000 is the better buy for most homes weighing these two, and it costs $500 more than the F3800 to get it. That money buys 5,024Wh against 3,840Wh, a pack rated for 6,000 cycles against 3,000, and a cabinet that weighs 97 lb instead of 132.3.
The F3800 still has the bigger inverter, and not by a little. It runs 6,000W continuous to the S5000's 4,500W, peaks at 9,000W to 8,000W, has eight AC outlets to six, and keeps a 12V car socket the S5000 leaves off its panelB15. If the job is starting heavy 240V equipment while the rest of the house keeps running, those numbers earn their keep.
Every S5000 figure on this page comes from Anker's own label and product page; nobody outside Anker has run one yetB0. The F3800 has a field record, and on solar it's a grumpy oneA1A2. We'd still take the S5000, at a confidence that will move once independent testing lands.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
rated cycles
Divide price by lifetime energy and the order flips: $0.08 per kWh for the S5000, $0.19 for the F3800. The sticker says the F3800 is the cheaper unit; the battery says it costs more than twice as much per kWh it will ever deliver.
S5000: 5,024Wh, rated 6,000 cycles to 80%F3800: 3,840Wh, rated 3,000 cyclesS5000 $2,500, F3800 $2,000
Why it mattersAnyone cycling this off solar most days, rather than parking it for the odd storm, should treat the S5000 as the cheaper purchase.
continuous output
The 1,500W gap only bites when everything running at once adds up past 4,500W, which means two big motors on 240V together, say a well pump kicking on while central AC is already running. A fridge, a furnace blower, lights and a home office never get near either ceiling, and one owner ran a water pump through a transfer switch from a single 120V outletA5.
F3800: 6,000W continuous, 9,000W peakS5000: 4,500W continuous, 8,000W peakS5000: 4,500W at 240V split-phase is 18.75 AB2
Why it mattersIf your transfer-switch plan includes two large 240V loads at the same moment, the F3800's inverter is worth giving up the battery for; otherwise it's headroom you'll pay to carry.
solar input
Wattage was never the F3800's solar problem. Owners describe the input window, not the number, as the thing that makes generic panels hard to useA2A14. The S5000's 16–165 V input is wide enough on paper to take panels wired in series, but on paper is all it is until someone strings real panels into itB0.
F3800: 2,400W solar input; owners consistently report the input limits push them toward Anker panelsA1A2A13A14S5000: two solar inputs, 3,000W together, 11–60 V and 16–165 VB5Capacities 3,840Wh and 5,024Wh
Why it mattersIf you already own a stack of generic panels, check their string voltage against the S5000's 16–165 V window before buying; it's the likelier fit of the two.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: At $0.08 against $0.19 per lifetime kWh, the dearer unit is the cheaper one to own.
cost / lifetime kWh
The warranty is the same 5 years on both, so the gap lives entirely in the cycle rating, and it's a wide one. Anker rates the S5000 at 6,000 cycles to 80% and 10,000 to 60%, and estimates a 15-year life at one to two cycles a dayB12. Those are Anker's numbers, not a lab's, and the F3800's 3,000 is a minimum on the same terms.
Even read cautiously, the S5000 is the one still near 80% when the F3800 has spent its rating. Buy for the decade, not the receipt.
Runtime: Will It Power Your Gear?
Selected because: The S5000's extra 1,184Wh shows up as a second blackout night, not just a bigger number.
continuous output
On an 8-hour blackout both finish comfortably, but they finish in different places. The S5000 wakes up with 2,625Wh left, about 1.6 more nights like it; the F3800 has 1,619Wh, just short of a second. When the power company says 'by tomorrow evening,' that second night is the whole purchase.
Van life is the one scenario neither covers: the F3800 comes up 1,421Wh short, the S5000 just 415Wh, and only because of the flat 15% conversion allowance. Plan a daily recharge around either.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: Both roll rather than carry, but 97 lb and 132.3 lb are very different afternoons on a ramp.
weight
At 132.3 lb the F3800 is a two-person lift that goes where you set it. The S5000 at 97 lb has a pull rod and a foot step on the back marked STEP ON, for tipping it onto its wheelsB10B11. It's still heavier than a loaded suitcase, but one person can get it from the garage to the patio door.
Its 10.6-inch width also slips beside a water heater more easily than you'd expect from a 5kWh boxB11.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: The F3800's bigger inverter and the S5000's faster UPS rating are the two specs that can overturn the verdict.
rated cycles
The S5000 is rated ≤10ms on UPS switchover against the F3800's ≤20ms, both ceilings rather than measurements. If a desktop PC with unsaved work is on the circuit, that's the class worth paying for. The S5000 also passes up to 4,500W through in bypass modeB14, while one F3800 owner reported no passthrough on its 120V inputA4.
The honest catch on our pick: 1,500W less inverter and no 12V car outletB15. If either is on your list, the F3800 is the unit, and no amount of extra battery changes that.
Strengths & trade-offs
Anker SOLIX F3800
Strengths
- +Costs $500 less
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- –Significantly heavier (+35.3 lbs), making it harder to move.
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 3,000 charge cycles vs the SOLIX S5000's 6,000, so it wears out sooner.
Anker SOLIX S5000
Strengths
- +Lighter by 35.3 lb
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 6,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-1,500W) limits appliance compatibility.
- –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
SOLIX S5000
The SOLIX F3800 at 132.3 lbs is not a take-along — it rolls off a truck bed if it travels at all, so this scenario belongs to the SOLIX S5000 by default — and it earns it, covering the 2,100Wh with 2,170Wh to spare. Capacity was never the SOLIX F3800's problem here; getting to a campsite was.
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
SOLIX S5000
Both survive the night. The SOLIX S5000 finishes at 39% used with 2,625Wh left — 1.6 more nights like it. The SOLIX F3800 finishes at 50% with 1,619Wh, 98% of a second night. If your outages tend to run past one evening, that difference is the whole argument between them.
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 is about 40W for eight hours, so both cover the night with room to spare and capacity decides nothing. Fan noise would — but SOLIX F3800 doesn't publish a figure, so there's nothing to hold it to. Buy on price, weight, and whether you can live with a fan you haven't heard.
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
Both power your workstation all day without strain, and their USB-C output is a wash — pick on weight, ports, or price.
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
SOLIX S5000
The SOLIX F3800 at 132.3 lbs is not a take-along — it rolls off a truck bed if it travels at all, so this scenario belongs to the SOLIX S5000 by default — and it earns it, covering the 670Wh with 3,600Wh to spare. Capacity was never the SOLIX F3800's problem here; getting to a tailgate was.
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 covers this scenario's 4,685Wh: the SOLIX F3800 comes up 1,421Wh short (about 69% covered), the SOLIX S5000 415Wh (91%) (its nameplate 5,024Wh actually clears this — the flat 15% conversion allowance is what tips it under). Either gets you most of the way, so this is a scenario you plan around rather than one you should rule them out for.
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
For this load: SOLIX S5000 runs 20.8h vs 15.9h.
$2,499.99 list · direct from Anker
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 0–284.7hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0–56.9hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0–4.3h¹ 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 9, 2026
Verdict: the Anker SOLIX S5000
Take the S5000. At $2,500 against $2,000, the $500 premium buys 5,024Wh instead of 3,840Wh, a pack rated for 6,000 cycles instead of 3,000, a ≤10ms UPS rating instead of ≤20ms, and a cabinet 35 lb lighter. Over the rated life that works out to $0.08 per kWh against $0.19, so the pricier box is the cheaper one to own. The F3800 is the right call only when your outage plan has more than 4,500W running at once, or you need its 12V car socket. Confidence stops at 7 because every S5000 figure here is Anker's own, with no independent test behind it yetB0.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 9, 2026. The links below open Anker's current price.
$2,499.99 · direct from Anker
or check the SOLIX F3800 price$1,979.99 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated October 9, 2026
Black Friday · 45 days out
Price to beat:SOLIX F3800 $2,000
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
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): RV Living.
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 S5000 rates 4.6/5 (74th 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 S5000 (97 lbs) is manageable solo but heavier than a large checked suitcase. The SOLIX F3800 (132.3 lbs) is firmly a two-person lift. It goes where you put it and stays there. That's a 35 lb difference.
UPS Switchover: ≤10ms vs ≤20ms
Both list a UPS mode, at different rated speeds. The SOLIX S5000 is rated ≤10ms — quick enough on paper that desktop PCs and routers should ride through, treating that as the rating it is. The SOLIX F3800 is rated ≤20ms — fine on paper for routers and most electronics; the fussiest PC power supplies sit right at this line. If a computer with unsaved work is the thing being protected, the stated class is worth the attention; nothing here is a lab result.
Warranty: No Difference
Both units carry the same 5-year warranty, so coverage isn't a tiebreaker here. Worth saying because the per-dollar framing can suggest otherwise: the SOLIX F3800 works out at 2.5 years of cover per $1,000 spent against the SOLIX S5000's 2, but that spread is the price gap, not the terms.
Battery Lifespan in Real Years
The SOLIX S5000 is rated for 6,000 cycles vs 3,000. In real life: at daily use, that's 16.4 vs 8.2 years. At weekend use (twice a week), it's 58 vs 29 years. One caution reading years across different sizes: a cycle is 5,024Wh on the SOLIX S5000 and 3,840Wh on the SOLIX F3800, so count lifetime energy — roughly 30,144 kWh against 11,520 kWh over the rated life. After hitting the cycle limit, the battery doesn't die — it drops to ~80% of original capacity, which is still very usable.
SOLIX F3800: Noise Level Not Disclosed
The SOLIX S5000 publishes its noise level (30dB); the SOLIX F3800 doesn't publish one. That isn't evidence the SOLIX F3800 is louder — it means there's no figure to hold it to, and no way to compare the two on this without hearing them. If you're buying for a bedroom, a CPAP, or an apartment, treat the SOLIX S5000's 30dB as the only published number on the table — a spec-sheet figure, not a measurement — and look for hands-on reports of the SOLIX F3800 before deciding.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX S5000.
Check SOLIX S5000 price →or check the SOLIX F3800 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 SOLIX F3800 is cheaper to buy, but the SOLIX S5000 is cheaper to own. At $0.08/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.17/kWh, the SOLIX S5000's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years.
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 S5000
EXPANDABLESupports Anker expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 5,024Wh.
Accepts up to 3,000W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Adequate ports for most setups, but heavy users may want a power strip.
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, so neither locks you out of growth — decide on capacity, price, and the rest, not the expansion checkbox.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
Anker SOLIX F3800
The F3800's field record mostly comes from one long forum thread, and it's candid about solar: owners consistently report the input limits push them toward Anker's own pricey panelsA1A2A13A14. One owner backed 120V charging off to 600–800W because the line cord ran hot at the full 1,800WA3, and the same owner noted it won't charge from 120V while dischargingA4. Another ran a house through a transfer switch from one 120V outlet, water pump included, without complaintA5.
Support stories split: one owner describes responsive tickets and an advance replacementA9, while another says Anker stopped answering after a large Solix purchase, in a thread that may concern the PlusA8. One owner traced a second-long buzz at heavy-load startup to a vibrating ferrite bead, which Anker support identifiedA6A7. Our research found no CPAP or long-term reports on this modelA0.
“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 S5000
There's no field record for the S5000 yet. What exists is Anker's documentation: the rating label sets the 5,024Wh LiFePO4 pack, the 4,500W split-phase output and the two solar windowsB1B2B5, and the product page sets the 97 lb weight, the 6,000-cycle rating and the ≤10ms switchoverB11B12B13. Nobody independent has published a testB0.
“5,024 Wh LiFePO4 pack rated 16 V, 314 Ah; the cell code IFpP72/175/208[5S] reads as five large prismatic cells in series.”
Sources
ankersolix.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]
- No owner or reviewer reports exist yet: every entry is Anker documentation (rating label, product page, launch announcement), plus one of our own readings of the app and label drawing. [SOLIX S5000 · 20 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]
- A6
“I have 4 BP3800s and one of them made similar buzzing/rattling noise when a heavy AC load was starting up... only for around a second while inverter was ramping up.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Big issue with Anker Solix F3800 plus battery pack' · 2025-08 · [mixed]
- A7
“Anker support told me it was a ferrite bead vibrating inside the unit... This reduced the noise, initially. At some point, I moved the batteries around and now the noise is gone.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Big issue with Anker Solix F3800 plus battery pack' · 2025-08 · [mixed]
- A8
“Anker support is ghosting me after I spent over 20k on their solix line and solar panels within a month... they are not answering/returning my calls or emails.”
diysolarforum.com — 'Big issue with Anker Solix F3800 plus battery pack' · 2025-08 · [negative]
- 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
“5,024 Wh LiFePO4 pack rated 16 V, 314 Ah; the cell code IFpP72/175/208[5S] reads as five large prismatic cells in series.”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B2
“AC output 4,500 W max, either at 120 V (37.5 A across the outlets) or at 120/240 V split-phase (18.75 A).”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B3
“Outlets: one L14-30R carrying 240 V split-phase at up to 4,500 W; one TT-30R RV outlet at 120 V, 30 A, 3,600 W; NEMA 5-20R household outlets at 120 V, 20 A, 2,400 W; USB-C 100 W, USB-C 15 W and USB-A 12 W.”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B5
“Two solar inputs, 3,000 W together: 11–60 V at 17 A (1,000 W) and 16–165 V at 17 A (2,000 W).”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B6
“Expands with up to five BP5000 expansion batteries (model AS5101A1-85), each 5,024 Wh, for 30,144 Wh in total. They join through a 400 V DC port rated 9,000 W in and 7,500 W out; each battery charges at up to 3,200 W and discharges at up to 3,000 W.”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B7
“Rated for residential non-habitable spaces; holding more than 1 kWh, it belongs outside sleeping rooms and other living spaces.”
Anker rating label, model AS510 (certified 2026-09-15) · 2026-09-15 · [mixed]
- B10
“An upright cabinet with a handle on top, a full-width front panel with a display, and wheels at the base; the label drawing of the back adds a foot step marked STEP ON for tipping it back onto its wheels.”
Power Station Arena, read from the S5000 card in the Anker app and the label drawing, 2026-09-20 · 2026-09-15 · [positive]
- B11
“Net weight 97 lb; 10.6 × 22.0 × 15.2 in (W × D × H), on wheels with a pull rod and foot pedal.”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [positive]
- B12
“Cycle life: 6,000 cycles to 80% capacity, 10,000 cycles to 60%; Anker estimates a 15-year lifespan at 1 to 2 cycles a day, with 5 years of product coverage.”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [positive]
- B13
“UPS switchover ≤10 ms; Anker quotes 30 dB in quiet operation.”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [positive]
- B14
“4,500 W rated, 8,000 W peak AC output; bypass mode passes up to 4,500 W.”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [positive]
- B15
“Front panel: four NEMA 5-20R outlets at 120 V, one L14-30R and one TT-30R, plus USB-A 12 W, USB-C 15 W and USB-C 100 W. No 12 V car outlet is listed.”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [neutral]
Research compiled October 9, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the SOLIX F3800 if you…
- →The rural house where a 240V well pump and central AC both have to run in the same outage: 6,000W continuous is headroom the S5000 simply doesn't have.
- →Anyone running a 12V compressor fridge off a car-style socket; the F3800 has one and the S5000 doesn'tB15.
- →The setup that wants eight AC outlets on the box itself instead of a power strip behind it.
Buy the SOLIX S5000 if you…
- →The suburban house planning for a two-night outage around a fridge, a furnace blower and a home office, where 5,024Wh leaves real margin after night one.
- →The solar owner cycling it most days, where 6,000 rated cycles turn into $0.08 per lifetime kWh.
- →Whoever has to move it to the garage door and back alone: 97 lb on a pull rod beats 132.3 lb that needs a second person.
If neither fits
If the whole plan is a CPAP and a router, close this tab: both are many times the battery you need, and a box this size belongs outside the bedroom anywayB7. A much smaller station that lives on the nightstand is the right category.
The Bottom Line
Buy the S5000. A bigger battery on twice the rated cycles costs $0.08 per lifetime kWh against the F3800's $0.19, so the unit with the higher price tag is the cheaper one to own, and it's the one a single person can wheel out of the garage.
Keep the F3800 for the house that genuinely needs 6,000W at once. Everyone else should take the stamina and leave the muscle on the shelf.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Anker S5000 worth the extra over the F3800?
For most homes, yes. The $500 premium buys 1,184Wh more battery, twice the rated cycles and 35 lb less weight, which works out to $0.08 per lifetime kWh against $0.19. The exception is a house that needs more than 4,500W running at once.
Can the S5000 run 240V appliances like the F3800?
Yes. Its L14-30R delivers 120/240V split-phase at up to 4,500W. The F3800 does the same job with 6,000W continuous and a 9,000W peak, so for two large 240V motors starting together it has more margin; for one, either works on paper.
Which is easier to move, the F3800 or the S5000?
The S5000, by 35 lb. It weighs 97 lb on wheels with a pull rod and a foot step for tipping it back. The F3800's 132.3 lb is a two-person job any time it leaves the floor.
Will my F3800 expansion batteries work with the S5000?
Don't plan on it. Anker lists the S5000's expansion as up to five BP5000 packs, for 30,144Wh in total, and the BP3800 packs F3800 owners use aren't on that list. Budget for the S5000's own packs if you'll grow it.
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX F3800
$1,979.99
$1,979.99 · direct from Anker
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Anker SOLIX S5000Pick
$2,499.99
$2,499.99 · direct from Anker
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.