Head-to-head test
Anker SOLIX F3800 vs BLUETTI Apex 300
The F3800 has more capacity and wins every real-world scenario on headroom, but the Apex 300 is $900 cheaper and still the better deal per lifetime kWh — the F3800 is the unit for people who'll actually use the extra 1,075Wh.
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Anker
SOLIX F3800
6,237Power Score · The AC & Fridge Zone
$1,999.99 list · direct from Anker
BLUETTI
Apex 300
5,062Power Score · The AC & Fridge Zone
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
Spec deltas
$900 and 1,075.2Wh — that's the trade on the table between the Anker SOLIX F3800 and the BLUETTI Apex 300, and it's a genuine tradeoff rather than a one-sided win.
The F3800 holds more capacity (3,840Wh vs 2,764.8Wh), outputs far more continuous power (6,000W vs 3,840W), and wins three of the engine's six real-world scenarios outright on headroom. The Apex 300 answers with a $900 lower price, 500 more rated cycles (3,500 vs 3,000), and a lower cost per lifetime kWh — $0.19 against $0.23.
Neither unit is the clear loser here. This is a case where the extra $900 buys real, usable capability, and whether it's worth paying depends on whether your actual loads use it.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
continuous output
A 6,000W continuous inverter can run large compressor loads and power tools back to back without dipping into surge headroom the way a 3,840W unit has to. That matters for anyone running a table saw, a large AC unit, or multiple appliances simultaneously rather than one at a time.
The F3800 outputs 6,000W continuous against the Apex 300's 3,840W — a 2,160W gapThe F3800's surge rating is 9,000W against the Apex 300's 7,680W
Why it mattersBuyers running heavy simultaneous loads — a shop, an RV with AC and appliances both drawing at once — should weight the F3800's continuous headroom heavily. Buyers running one appliance at a time rarely touch either unit's ceiling.
rated cycles
The F3800's larger battery doesn't erase the Apex 300's cost advantage — it just means you're paying $900 more for capacity you may or may not use, on top of a battery that's rated for slightly less total abuse over its life.
The F3800 costs $2,699 with a lifetime cost of $0.23 per kWh and 3,000 rated cyclesThe Apex 300 costs $1,799 with a lifetime cost of $0.19 per kWh and 3,500 rated cycles
Why it mattersBuyers who don't already know they need the extra 1,075Wh should default to the Apex 300 on pure value; the F3800 earns its price only when the capacity gap is actually the deciding factor.
An outage or a trip rarely goes exactly as planned. A unit sitting at 50% after the expected load has real room if the blackout runs long; a unit at 70% is closer to the edge for the same surprise.
In the engine's scenario math, the F3800 uses 64% of capacity for Weekend Camping and 50% for an 8-Hour BlackoutThe Apex 300 uses 89% and 70% of capacity for the same two scenarios
Why it mattersBuyers whose outages or trips regularly run longer than expected should pay the $900 premium for the F3800's headroom. Buyers who consistently finish under their planned load should bank the Apex 300's lower price instead.
A spec that matches on paper doesn't mean it performs the same in practice. If reaching that 2,400W ceiling requires Anker's own panels at a premium, the effective solar cost of the F3800 is higher than the number on the sheet suggests.
Owner reports on the F3800 describe restrictive solar/DC input that effectively locks buyers into pricier Anker-branded panelsA1A2A13The F3800's rated solar input is 2,400W, identical to the Apex 300's 2,400W ceiling
Why it mattersBuyers planning to build a mixed or budget solar array should research panel compatibility carefully before choosing the F3800, since owners specifically flag this as a real friction pointA1A2A13A14.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
PowerScore Breakdown
Selected because: The F3800 wins the engine's composite score by a wide margin, driven by capacity and continuous output.
overall power score
6,013 against 4,936 — the F3800 wins the composite comfortably, built on 1,075.2Wh more capacity and a continuous output rating that's more than half again the Apex 300's (6,000W vs 3,840W). This isn't a marginal spec-sheet win; it shows up in the scenario math too.
The Apex 300's counter-argument doesn't live in this section — it lives in the price tag and the lifetime-cost numbers below. On raw capability, the F3800 is simply the stronger unit.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: The F3800 sweeps three of six real-world scenarios on headroom — the clearest evidence of its capacity advantage in practice.
The F3800 wins Weekend Camping, an 8-Hour Blackout, and a Remote Workday outright, finishing each with roughly twice the Apex 300's spare capacity — 64% used against 89% for the weekend trip, 50% against 70% for the blackout.
CPAP Overnight and Tailgate Party are close enough to call ties — both units clear those smaller loads with plenty of room. Van Life Daily beats both: the F3800 needs 144% of its capacity for that load, the Apex 300 needs 199%, so neither runs a full day of continuous heavy draw without a mid-day recharge.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The Apex 300 wins on lifetime cost per kWh despite losing the spec race, the honest counterweight to the F3800's scenario wins.
cost / lifetime kWh
This section belongs to the Apex 300. Nineteen cents per lifetime kWh against twenty-three, and it gets there with $900 less up front and 500 more rated cycles — the F3800's bigger battery doesn't make up for the price gap over the unit's full life.
It's a real gap, but a modest one compared to some matchups in this category — the F3800 isn't overpriced for what it does, it's simply priced for capacity a lot of buyers won't fully use.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Five cards fire, including a surge-ratio advantage and an undisclosed noise spec on the F3800.
rated cycles
The surge-ratio card flags in the Apex 300's favor here: its 7,680W surge against 3,840W continuous is a 2.0x ratio, against the F3800's 9,000W surge on a 6,000W continuous base, a 1.5x ratio. A higher surge-to-continuous ratio generally signals more headroom over the unit's everyday draw for the moment a compressor kicks on.
Noise cuts the other way — the Apex 300 publishes 45dB under load where the F3800's sheet lists nothing, even though owner reports describe the F3800 as quiet under normal household loads and audible mainly above 4,000W or during max-speed chargingA11A12. UPS switchover favors the Apex 300 too, at 10ms against the F3800's 20ms.
Strengths & trade-offs
Anker SOLIX F3800
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
Trade-offs
- –Significantly heavier (+48.5 lbs), making it harder to move.
- –Very heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
BLUETTI Apex 300
Strengths
- +Costs $301 less
- +Lighter by 48.5 lb
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-2,160W) 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 F3800
The Apex 300 cuts it close at 89%. One cold night or an unexpected device and you're rationing power. The SOLIX F3800 finishes at 64%, leaving real headroom for spontaneous use. If you camp in variable weather, that buffer keeps you relaxed instead of checking your battery app every 20 minutes.
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 F3800
Both survive, but the SOLIX F3800 finishes at just 50% used. That's enough reserve for a second blackout night. The Apex 300 at 70% leaves little margin if the outage runs longer than expected. In storm-prone areas, that remaining capacity is insurance.
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
Both units handle this with enormous margin — the F3800 uses about 10% of capacity, the Apex 300 about 14%. Either one is overbuilt for a CPAP-only load; don't let this scenario decide the purchase.
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
SOLIX F3800
The SOLIX F3800 gives you a comfortable buffer at 28%. Enough to work late, join extra video calls, or charge a second device without worry. The Apex 300 at 39% works but leaves less room for the unexpected. For daily remote work, that peace of mind matters.
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
Either unit
A near-tie in practice — 21% used on the F3800 against 29% on the Apex 300. Both clear the load with room to spare, so let price and the other scenarios settle this one instead.
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 F3800 runs 15.9h vs 11.5h.
$1,999.99 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 0–217.6hComfort & 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
July 15, 2026
Verdict: the BLUETTI Apex 300
The Anker SOLIX F3800 out-scores the Apex 300 on the engine's composite (6,013 vs 4,936) and wins Weekend Camping, an 8-Hour Blackout, and a Remote Workday outright on headroom — it holds 1,075.2Wh more capacity (3,840Wh vs 2,764.8Wh) and a 6,000W continuous rating against 3,840W. But it costs $900 more ($2,699 vs $1,799) and 500 fewer cycles (3,000 vs 3,500), which pushes its lifetime cost to $0.23 per kWh against the Apex 300's $0.19. The Apex 300 is also 40.7 lbs heavier, so this isn't a portability tiebreaker either way. For buyers whose real loads sit inside the Apex 300's scenarios with room to spare, it's the better-value unit. For buyers who need the F3800's extra headroom or its much higher 6,000W continuous output, the premium is earned.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of July 15, 2026. The links below open Anker's and BLUETTI's current prices.
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
or check the SOLIX F3800 price$1,999.99 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester · Station Arena Test Desk · Updated July 15, 2026
Measured Data
Benchmark scores and the full spec record, side by side.
Benchmark scores
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): UPS.
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 (73rd percentile of 16 Home Backup-class units), and Apex 300 rates 4.9/5 (92nd percentile of 25 Large-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.
Apex 300 Is 40.7 lbs Heavier
173 lbs against the F3800's 132.3 — neither is a light unit, but the Apex 300 is the meaningfully bulkier of the two, despite holding less capacity.
Apex 300 Publishes 45dB Under Load
It's the only one of these two units with a documented noise figure, even though owner reports describe the F3800 as generally quiet outside of heavy draw or fast charging.
Apex 300's Surge Headroom Runs Higher Relative to Its Rating
7,680W surge on a 3,840W continuous base works out to 2.0x; the F3800's 9,000W surge on its 6,000W continuous base is 1.5x. The F3800 still has the higher absolute surge number — the Apex 300 simply has more headroom relative to its everyday draw.
10ms vs 20ms Switchover
The Apex 300's line-interactive 10ms switchover is twice as fast as the F3800's standby 20ms. Both are quick enough for most sensitive electronics, but the Apex 300 has the tighter number if that's the deciding factor.
SOLIX F3800 Doesn't Publish a Noise Figure
No spec sheet number to compare against — treat the F3800's noise level as undocumented rather than assumed quiet, even where owner reports lean positive.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the Apex 300.
Check Apex 300 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 Apex 300 is cheaper to buy, but the SOLIX F3800 is cheaper to own. At $0.17/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.18/kWh, the SOLIX F3800'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.
BLUETTI
Ecosystem
One of the broadest lineups — 15-20+ models from budget (AC2A) to flagship (Apex 300, 3072Wh). Includes specialized products: vehicle solar hubs, sodium-ion cold-weather units, and balcony storage systems.
Support
The most inconsistent support in the space. Heavily email-based with China timezone delays. Some users get smooth, efficient service; others report weeks of troubleshooting runarounds, being offered discounts on new units instead of repairs, and confusing third-party purchase claim processes. Buying direct from Bluetti's website tends to produce better support outcomes.
Community
Active and growing — Reddit r/bluetti has a dedicated community. Second-largest after EcoFlow in engagement.
App experience
Rated 4.5/5 iOS and Android — tied for best app experience in the category. V3.0 UI redesign was well-received.
Unique strength
Among the best capacity-to-price ratios available — several Elite and Apex units are the lowest $/Wh in the catalog. Widest product diversity including industry-firsts like sodium-ion cold-weather units and dual solar+alternator vehicle hubs. Full LFP standardization across lineup (3,500-6,000+ cycles). Dual-voltage (120V/240V) in flagships.
Worth knowing
Customer support inconsistency is the #1 risk factor. Older/discontinued units may become unrepairable — no spare parts policy for some models. Some reports of erratic communication from support agents.
Analyst note
Anker and BLUETTI 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 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.
Apex 300
EXPANDABLESupports BLUETTI expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit — useful if your needs may climb past 2,765Wh.
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 BLUETTI-specific. You're investing in the BLUETTI 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 most consistent owner complaint is solar input compatibility — multiple posts describe the input as restrictive enough to effectively require Anker's own panels, calling it 'a pain' to work around with third-party arraysA1A2A13. One owner specifically noted charging at full 1,800W AC rate got the line cord hot enough to back off to 600-800W insteadA3.
Support experiences split sharply: one owner describes being ghosted after a $20,000 SOLIX purchaseA8, while another in the same thread reports fast, responsive advanced replacementsA9. Fan noise is generally described as quiet under normal loads with occasional intermittent buzzing under heavy drawA6A11A12 — not a dominant complaint, but a real one.
“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
BLUETTI Apex 300
The Apex 300 is recent enough that most coverage comes from press reviewers rather than long-term owners. The recurring theme is firmware: several BLUETTI community-forum posts describe updates locking the unit into Backup mode or triggering charging errorsB1B2B4. Techspective found the fans 'relatively tame' under load compared to louder competitorsB5.
The other consistent gripe is missing built-in ports — there's no DC or USB on the face, and reaching them means buying a $300 Hub D1 accessoryB7B11. Against the F3800's solar-compatibility complaints, this is a different kind of friction: the Apex 300's problem is what's missing from the box, not what it refuses to charge from.
“I was using Bluetti-bt until the latest Bluetti firmware update. I then started having disconnects.”
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]
- Multiple owners report firmware updates causing app glitches, mode-lock issues, error codes, or Bluetooth/Home Assistant disconnects shortly after updating. [Apex 300 · 4 entries]
- Reviewers consistently flag the lack of built-in USB/DC ports as a design tradeoff requiring costly add-on accessories (Hub D1, Hub A1). [Apex 300 · 4 entries]
- The unit's extreme weight (~85 lbs) is repeatedly described as making it barely 'portable' and hard to carry alone. [Apex 300 · 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- A11
“producing between 50 and 60 decibels when engaged, making it almost inaudible during regular use... until you try to lift it, that is.”
thesolarlab.com — 'Anker SOLIX F3800 Review: Did It Kill the Competition?' · unknown · [positive]
- A12
“Sometimes the fans are completely silent, then they kick in and out intermittently.”
thesolarlab.com — 'Anker SOLIX F3800 Review: Did It Kill the Competition?' · unknown · [mixed]
- 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 updated my Apex 300 to the latest firmware yesterday. Now it's stuck in 'Backup' mode... Now when I go into the app to try to change it back, it flashes to...”
BLUETTI Community forum — 'Apex 300 stuck in Backup mode after last firmware update' · 2025-11 · [negative]
- B2
“When the system reached 97% charge, I decided to install the firmware updates. After the update completed, the charging stopped and I received Error 004.”
BLUETTI Community forum — 'Error E004 Apex 300' · 2025-11 · [negative]
- B4
“Problem is every time I connect to the power station it shows that I still have an update, and I need to tap to upgrade which then tells me I am up to date.”
BLUETTI Community forum — 'Check For Update App issue' · 2025-09 · [negative]
- B5
“Some units sound like small jet engines under load, but the Apex 300's fans are relatively tame.”
Techspective — 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' · 2025-09 · [positive]
- B7
“Not having DC or USB ports on the face is a tradeoff. The Hub D1 solves the problem—but it's an additional $300 accessory that you then have to bolt on after the fact.”
Techspective — 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' · 2025-09 · [negative]
- B11
“That Bluetti D1 Power Hub that gives you your DC and USB ports costs about $300, which is a steep price for what you're getting.”
TheSolarLab — 'Bluetti Apex 300 Review: Cheap, Practical Home Backup?' · unknown · [negative]
Research compiled July 15, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the SOLIX F3800 if you…
- →You run heavy, simultaneous loads that actually use 6,000W of continuous output — a shop, an RV running AC and appliances together, or equipment beyond what a 3,840W inverter comfortably handles.
- →Your outages or trips regularly run longer than planned, and the extra headroom the F3800 shows in every scenario above matters more to you than $900.
Buy the Apex 300 if you…
- →Your loads already fit comfortably inside the Apex 300's scenarios — it clears Weekend Camping, an 8-Hour Blackout, and a Remote Workday, just with less spare capacity than the F3800.
- →You want the lowest cost per kWh delivered over the unit's life and don't have a specific need for 6,000W of continuous output.
If neither fits
If the real job is a full day of continuous heavy draw (the engine's Van Life Daily scenario needs roughly 4,685Wh), skip both — the F3800 only reaches 144% of that load and the Apex 300 199%, meaning neither runs it without a mid-day recharge. Look at a larger flagship unit or pair either with its expansion battery.
The Bottom Line
This is a genuine tradeoff, not a lopsided win. The F3800 out-specs the Apex 300 on capacity and continuous output and wins three of six real-world scenarios on headroom; the Apex 300 costs $900 less, out-cycles it, and wins on lifetime cost per kWh.
Buy the F3800 if your loads actually use the extra 1,075Wh or the higher continuous rating. Buy the Apex 300 if your scenarios already fit its capacity with room to spare — you'll pay less per kWh delivered and you won't miss capability you were never going to use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Anker SOLIX F3800 worth $900 more than the Bluetti Apex 300?
If your loads use the extra capacity and continuous output, yes — the F3800 wins three of six real-world scenarios on headroom and outputs 6,000W continuous against the Apex 300's 3,840W. If your use case already fits inside the Apex 300's scenarios with room to spare, the Apex 300's lower lifetime cost per kWh ($0.19 vs $0.23) makes it the better value.
Which has more capacity, the F3800 or the Apex 300?
The F3800, by 1,075.2Wh — 3,840Wh against the Apex 300's 2,764.8Wh. That gap is what lets it win Weekend Camping, an 8-Hour Blackout, and a Remote Workday outright, finishing each with roughly twice the Apex 300's spare capacity.
Which lasts longer in cycles — the F3800 or the Apex 300?
The Apex 300, at 3,500 rated cycles against the F3800's 3,000. Combined with its lower price, that's the main reason the Apex 300 wins on lifetime cost per kWh despite losing on raw capacity.
Does the Anker F3800 work with any solar panels?
Owners specifically flag restrictive solar/DC input compatibility as a recurring problem, describing it as effectively requiring Anker's own panels for a full-capability setup. If you're planning a mixed or third-party solar array, research panel compatibility before buying.
Which is quieter, the F3800 or the Apex 300?
The Apex 300 publishes a 45dB figure under load; the F3800's spec sheet lists nothing, though owner reports describe it as quiet under normal household loads and audible mainly above 4,000W draw or during max-speed charging. There's no documented number to compare it against directly.
Where to buy
Anker SOLIX F3800
$1,999.99
$1,999.99 list · direct from Anker
BLUETTI Apex 300Pick
$1,699.00
$1,699.00 list · direct from BLUETTI
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.