Head-to-head test
BLUETTI Apex 300 vs Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus
The Jackery holds more battery and weighs less doing it. The Apex 300 is the cheaper box, and it earns its place only on a roof full of panels.
Full profiles: BLUETTI Apex 300 β Β· Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus β
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
Put these two on a bathroom scale and the result looks backwards. The Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus holds 819.2Wh more battery than the BLUETTI Apex 300. It is also the lighter box, and it rolls on its own wheels.
The Apex is the cheaper of the two by $200. In a blackout, though, the Jackery's extra battery shows up the next morning. After our modeled 8-hour outage it still has most of a second night in hand. The Apex has less than half of one.
The Apex has one clear win, and it's solar. It takes 2,400W of panels to the Jackery's 1,000W, enough to refill from a big array in a short stretch of good sun. That only matters if you own the array. Most people buying for storms own a couple of folding panels or none.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first β the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
Capacity
Run both to the end of their rated life and the Jackery delivers 21,504kWh to the Apex's 16,589kWh. That makes the pricier unit the cheaper one per lifetime kWh. The Apex wins at the register. The Jackery wins over the life of the pack.
Apex 300: 2,764.8Wh, the cheaper of the twoHomePower 3600 Plus: 3,584Wh, 819.2Wh moreBoth rated for 6,000 cycles
Why it mattersIf this is a backup battery you plan to keep for a decade, judge it on the lifetime figure.
So the Apex's lower price comes with more weight to move and less energy inside it. One reviewer could barely carry the Apex a few feet at a time and never got it onto a tableA8. The Jackery's 77.2 lbs mostly rollsB2.
HomePower 3600 Plus: 3,584Wh in 77.2 lbs, with built-in wheels and a pull handleB2Apex 300: 2,764.8Wh in 83.78 lbs
Why it mattersIf the unit lives in a closet and comes out every storm, the Jackery is the one you'll actually move.
Both start and carry every peak in the test, so the Apex's extra 240W of continuous output never comes into play. What separates them on day two is stored energy, and the Jackery has more of it.
8-Hour Blackout needs 1,645WhApex 300 finishes with 705Wh left; HomePower 3600 Plus with 1,401WhBoth start and sustain every peak load in the scenario set
Why it mattersIf your outages run past one evening and you have no big array to refill between them, the bigger battery is what you're paying for.
solar input
With a big array, the smaller battery becomes the faster one to recover. The Apex can top off in a short window of sun while the Jackery is still charging. Below 1,000W of panels, both charge at the speed of the panels you own, and the Apex's extra headroom goes unused.
Apex 300 accepts up to 2,400W of solarHomePower 3600 Plus accepts up to 1,000WCapacities: 2,764.8Wh and 3,584Wh
Why it mattersIf you own, or are about to install, well over 1,000W of panels, the Apex is the cheaper unit and the better one for you.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units β everything else is a tie.
Your Life, Your Pick
Selected because: The Jackery's extra capacity decides the camping and blackout rows; the rest are ties or beyond both.
The Jackery wins the rows where the job is lasting as long as possible on one charge. The blackout row is the one to read twice. Both get through the night, and only one is ready for the next one.
The ties are honest. A workday or a tailgate uses under 40% of either battery, so capacity drops out and the price or the weight decides. A van-life day asks more than either holds on one charge. That job needs panels plus an expansion battery, whichever unit you start from.
Growth Path
Selected because: The Apex's 2,400W solar ceiling against the Jackery's 1,000W is the one spec that can flip this verdict.
solar input
This is the Apex's best card: 2,400W of solar input to the Jackery's 1,000W. Both take expansion batteries, so either can grow past its base capacity. The Apex's higher ceiling means a bigger array can keep feeding a bigger bank as it grows.
The headroom only counts if you fill it. 2,400W of panels is a roof or ground-mount project, not a folding panel propped against the porch rail. If I were planning the array this year, I'd buy the Apex. If the panels are a someday, I'd count the watts I'll really wire in before letting this spec pick the winner.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: The bigger battery is the lighter box: 77.2 lbs against 83.78 lbs.
weight
More battery in less box is rare in this class. The Jackery carries 3,584Wh in 77.2 lbs and rolls on built-in wheels with a pull handleB2.
The Apex is the harder lift. One tester called it heavy but manageable by its handlesA6. Another could hardly carry it a few feet at a timeA8. For a unit that comes out of the closet every storm, the Jackery is the easier roommate.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: Identical 6,000-cycle ratings let the larger pack deliver more energy over its rated life.
cost / lifetime kWh
Both packs are rated for 6,000 cycles, so the bigger one simply delivers more energy over its life. That's enough to make the pricier unit cheaper per lifetime kWh, $0.09 to $0.10. Spread over that many cycles, the premium almost disappears.
The Apex wins one line here, cost per warranty year, because both carry the same 5-year term and the Apex costs less. That figure matters only if you plan to retire the unit at year five. A pack rated for about 16 years of daily cycling usually stays in service much longer.
What the Specs Don't Tell You
Selected because: Noise ratings that don't compare, and a Power Lifting figure that only applies to heaters.
The published noise ratings favour the Jackery, but the two makers don't publish on the same terms. Treat that as a reason to listen before it goes in a bedroom. It is not a gap you can count on hearing.
The Apex lists Power Lifting to 7,680W. That mode runs a heater or kettle rated above the inverter by feeding it less power, so it heats more slowly. It does nothing for a fridge compressor or a pump. Warranty is a wash at up to 5 years each, with registration.
Strengths & trade-offs
BLUETTI Apex 300
Strengths
- +Costs $200 less
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
Trade-offs
- βVery heavy unit that may be difficult for one person to lift.
Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus
Strengths
- +Lighter by 6.6 lb
- +Larger battery capacity
Trade-offs
- βNo major technical downsides compared to rival.
Will It Power Your Gear?
Scenario math and per-appliance runtimes, modeled from the spec record.
Scenario verdicts
We ran the math on six real-world scenarios. Here's which unit survives your actual life.
SCN-01 Β· 2 nights Β· needs 2,100Wh
Weekend Camping
Two nights off-grid with essential comfort
HomePower 3600 Plus
Both make it through. The Apex finishes the weekend with 250Wh in hand, close enough to empty that a cold night has you checking the app. The Jackery finishes with 946Wh, nearly four times the slack.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Phone Charger 15WΓ6h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ8h Β· Box Fan 75WΓ14h Β· CPAP Machine 40WΓ16h
SCN-02 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 1,645Wh
8-Hour Blackout
Keep the essentials running through a night without power
HomePower 3600 Plus
Both get through the night. The Jackery wakes up with 1,401Wh left, 85% of a second night. The Apex has 705Wh, 43% of one. Outages rarely end on the forecast's schedule.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Fridge 150WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· LED Lights (4 bulbs) 40WΓ6h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h
SCN-03 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 320Wh
CPAP Overnight
Sleep therapy without interruption β the #1 medical use case
Either unit
A CPAP is about 40W for eight hours, so both of these cover the night several times over β capacity isn't the question here. The only published difference is fan noise, and it can't settle this: the HomePower 3600 Plus is rated 30dB and the Apex 300 45dB, but they are two makers' figures, each measured its own way. Neither settles which box is quieter at a bedside. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to carry.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β CPAP Machine 40WΓ8h
SCN-04 Β· 8 hours Β· needs 910Wh
Remote Workday
Full work day off-grid without power anxiety
Either unit
A full workday uses 39% of the Apex's usable capacity and 30% of the Jackery's, so the job itself is a tie. The difference is the laptop. The Jackery charges it from 100W of USB-C on the box. The Apex has no USB-C, so the laptop goes through the inverter and you bring the charging brick.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Laptop 60WΓ8h Β· External Monitor 30WΓ8h Β· Router + Modem 20WΓ8h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ2h
SCN-05 Β· 4 hours Β· needs 670Wh
Tailgate Party
Game day power for the crew
Either unit
Game day uses under a third of either battery, so capacity drops out and the walk from the car decides it. The Jackery is the lighter of the two by about 6.6 lbs, and it rolls.
Battery budget usedlower = more headroom
LOADΒ Β Blender 400WΓ0.5h Β· LED TV (55") 80WΓ4h Β· Bluetooth Speaker 15WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger (Γ3) 45WΓ2h
SCN-06 Β· 24 hours Β· needs 4,685Wh
Van Life Daily
A full day of mobile living β the ultimate endurance test
Neither unit
Neither unit covers this scenario's 4,685Wh: the Apex 300 comes up 2,335Wh short (about 50% covered), the HomePower 3600 Plus 1,639Wh (65%). 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
LOADΒ Β Mini-Fridge 150WΓ24h Β· Laptop 60WΓ4h Β· Phone Charger 15WΓ3h Β· LED Lights 40WΓ5h Β· Fan 75WΓ8h
The Load Test
RUNTIME = (Wh Γ 0.85) Γ· 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: HomePower 3600 Plus runs 14.9h vs 11.5h.
$1,899 list Β· direct from Jackery
Planning for more than this? Describe your whole setup and get it sizedΒ β
Modeled from the spec record β same math as the tables below. Methodology
Runtime by appliance
Real-world runtime estimates for common appliances, modeled at 85% inverter efficiency.ΒΉ
Essentials
The basics you need runningscale 0β203.1hComfort & Convenience
Makes off-grid life actually enjoyablescale 0β40.6hHigh-Draw Appliances
These reveal the real limitsscale 0β3hΒΉ Runtime = (capacity Γ 0.85) Γ· 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 β see methodology.
Conclusion
October 25, 2026
Verdict: the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus
Take the HomePower 3600 Plus. It costs $200 more than the Apex 300, and that buys 819.2Wh more capacity in a box about 6.6 lbs lighter. Both packs are rated for 6,000 cycles, so the bigger one delivers more energy over its life and works out cheaper per lifetime kWh, $0.09 against $0.10. It wins Weekend Camping and the 8-Hour Blackout on reserve alone. It also has USB-C on the box, which the Apex leaves to a separate hub. The Apex is the cheaper unit and takes 2,400W of solar to the Jackery's 1,000W. If you'll actually wire in more than 1,000W of panels, that one spec flips the call.
Today the Apex 300 is $1,599, $100 under its typical $1,699. The verdict weighs typical prices, not today's. Prices checked 28 days ago.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 25, 2026. The links below open BLUETTI's and Jackery's current prices.
$1,899.00 Β· direct from Jackery
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
or check the Apex 300 price$1,599.00 list
Written by Gunner Gustafson, Whole-Home Backup Tester Β· Station Arena Test Desk Β· Updated October 25, 2026
Black Friday Β· 26 days out
Prices to beat:Apex 300 $1,499HomePower 3600 Plus $1,554
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
Not rated for both units (minimum threshold unmet): Tailgating.
Full specifications
α΅ Derived: price Γ· rated capacity. See the data behind our comparisons β
Comparison ToolAdd more power stations, side by sideOpen Tool βHow these numbers are produced
Numeric verification
Every figure on this page traces to our spec database or arithmetic on it β no estimated numbers.
Owner claims
Statements about owner experience are cited to published reviews β see Sources & Research Notes below.
Runtime model
Runtime = (rated capacity Γ 0.85 inverter efficiency) Γ· 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 βClass ranking (the star rating)
Each unit's star score is a category ranking, not customer reviews β 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 5β . Here, Apex 300 rates 4.9/5 (93rd percentile of 28 Large-class units), and HomePower 3600 Plus rates 4.0/5 (42nd percentile of 20 Home Backup-class units).
How the class ranking is computed βTest Notes & Caveats
Hidden gotchas and advantages we spotted that you won't find on the product page.
More Battery, Less Box
Neither is a grab-and-go carry. The Jackery weighs 77.2 lbs and the Apex 83.78 lbs, so the Apex is heavier while holding 819.2Wh less. With the Apex you lift more box for fewer watt-hours.
Two Ratings, Two Rulebooks
The Apex 300 publishes 45dB and the Jackery 30dB. Each maker measures its own way, so the gap on paper isn't one you can count on hearing, and neither figure describes a specific load. If the unit will sit in a bedroom or beside a CPAP, listen to it running while you can still return it.
Power Lifting Is for Heaters
The Apex 300's Power Lifting mode runs a heater or kettle rated up to 7,680W from its 3,840W inverter by feeding it less power, so it heats more slowly. It only works on resistive loads, the kind that turn electricity straight into heat. A fridge, a pump or a power tool gets no help from it, and BLUETTI publishes no surge figure for the Apex. The Jackery publishes no equivalent mode.
Warranty: No Difference
Both units carry the same 5-year warranty, so coverage isn't a tiebreaker here. Both figures are maximums rather than guarantees: BLUETTI's depends on buying direct from BLUETTI or registering the unit, since reseller purchases carry a shorter term; Jackery's on registering the unit with Jackery, which is what extends the base term to the full period.
Full record above β the Test Desk pick is the HomePower 3600 Plus.
Check HomePower 3600 Plus price βor check the Apex 300 priceOwnership Analysis
What happens after you buy β 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
β warranty ends Β· Reaching the cycle rating means ~80% capacity remains β degraded, not dead.
Analyst note
The Apex 300 is cheaper to buy, but the HomePower 3600 Plus is cheaper to own. At $0.09/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.10/kWh, the HomePower 3600 Plus's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years. One thing to know reading the table: both carry the same 6,000-cycle rating, so the lifetime rows are sticker price and capacity in disguise β the wear horizon is identical and decides nothing here.
Brand trust
BLUETTI
Ecosystem
One of the broadest lineups β 15-20+ models from budget (AC2A) to flagship portable (Apex 300, 2764.8Wh). 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 β Reddit r/bluetti has a dedicated community. Second-largest after EcoFlow in engagement.
App experience
Rated 4.5/5 iOS and Android β 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 β 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. LFP across the rest of the range, though rated cycle life spans 2,500 (EB3A) to 6,000, and it varies WITHIN the Elite range rather than tracking it β the Elite 300 and Elite 200 V2 are rated 6,000 while the Elite 30 V2, Elite 10 Mini, Elite 320 and Elite 400 are rated 3,000+ and the Elite 100 V2 4,000+, so check the specific model. Dual-voltage (120V/240V) in flagships.
Worth knowing
Customer support inconsistency is the #1 risk factor. Older/discontinued units may become unrepairable β no spare parts policy for some models. Some reports of erratic communication from support agents.
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 β 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 β 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 β 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 β 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
Brand won't decide this one. Both brands draw real criticism for support. BLUETTI's runs email-first with slow turnarounds and goes better when you buy direct. Jackery's is US-based but strict about receipts on warranty claims, so a big retailer with an easy return desk is the smart place to buy one. The clear brand gap is software. BLUETTI's app rates 4.5 out of 5. Jackery's rates 2.3 to 3.3 and wants a login even offline, an odd request from a box bought for blackouts.
Growth path
Apex 300
EXPANDABLESupports BLUETTI expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit β useful if your needs may climb past 2,765Wh.
Accepts up to 2,400W of solar. Enough for a serious multi-panel array.
Limited ports. You'll likely need a power strip or splitter.
Expansion batteries are BLUETTI-specific. You're investing in the BLUETTI ecosystem.
HomePower 3600 Plus
EXPANDABLESupports Jackery expansion batteries, so you can add capacity later without replacing the base unit β useful if your needs may climb past 3,584Wh.
Accepts up to 1,000W 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 Jackery-specific. You're investing in the Jackery ecosystem.
Realistic full solar rechargeat 70% of rated panel output β see methodology
Analyst note
Both expand, but the Apex 300's higher solar ceiling (2,400W vs 1,000W) gives it the stronger off-grid growth path β more panels can feed a bigger bank as it grows.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews β every claim cited to its source below.
BLUETTI Apex 300
Field data on the Apex 300 is thin. What exists is mostly press reviewers plus a handful of forum and GitHub posts, not seasoned ownersA0. The repeated owner theme is firmware. One update left a unit stuck in Backup modeA1. Another stopped a charge with Error 004A2. Others describe Home Assistant disconnects and an app that keeps offering an update it has already installedA3A4. These are software complaints, and they may since have been patched.
Reviewers are kinder about the hardware. One found the fans relatively tame under loadA5. Another called it heavy but manageable by its handlesA6, while a third could hardly carry it a few feetA8. There are no DC or USB ports on the face, and adding them means buying the separate Hub D1, an extra cost two reviewers single outA7A11. The app does its job but runs a little sluggish next to EcoFlow's or Anker'sA10.
βI was using Bluetti-bt until the latest Bluetti firmware update. I then started having disconnects.β
Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus
The Jackery's coverage is mostly reviews rather than long-term owner threadsB0. The steady praise is weight and longevity. It's about 77 lbs on wheels with a pull handle, light for its classB2, on LiFePO4 cells rated for 6,000 cyclesB1. It holds a strong Amazon rating, with buyers singling out ease of use and quiet runningB4.
The best single field report comes from a three-day regional blackout. One owner ran a fridge, a microwave, string lights, fans and a CPAP for two straight days on one chargeB3. That's one account, not a pattern. It is, though, exactly the job this unit gets bought for.
βEV-grade LiFePO4 battery rated for 6,000 cycles, giving well over a decade of service life.β
Sources
jackery.com Β· batteryskills.com Β· poweraic.com Β· tipselite3s.com Β· greattips3s.com Β· powerelectrichub.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
- Multiple owners report firmware updates causing app glitches, mode-lock issues, error codes, or Bluetooth/Home Assistant disconnects shortly after updating. [Apex 300 Β· 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 Β· 4 entries]
- The unit's extreme weight (~85 lbs) is repeatedly described as making it barely 'portable' and hard to carry alone. [Apex 300 Β· 2 entries]
- Light weight (with wheels), a 6,000-cycle EV-grade battery, quiet reliable operation, and strong owner ratings are the standout praise. [HomePower 3600 Plus Β· 3 entries]
- A1
βI 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...β
BLUETTI Community forum β 'Apex 300 stuck in Backup mode after last firmware update' Β· 2025-11 Β· [negative]
- A2
βWhen the system reached 97% charge, I decided to install the firmware updates. After the update completed, the charging stopped and I received Error 004.β
BLUETTI Community forum β 'Error E004 Apex 300' Β· 2025-11 Β· [negative]
- A3
βI was using Bluetti-bt until the latest Bluetti firmware update. I then started having disconnects.β
GitHub bluetti-official/bluetti-home-assistant issue #95 β 'APEX 300 and Hub A! now working' Β· 2026-05 Β· [mixed]
- A4
βProblem 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.β
BLUETTI Community forum β 'Check For Update App issue' Β· 2025-09 Β· [negative]
- A5
βSome units sound like small jet engines under load, but the Apex 300's fans are relatively tame.β
Techspective β 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' Β· 2025-09 Β· [positive]
- A6
βIt's heavy, no question, but the handles and modular battery design make it manageable.β
Techspective β 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' Β· 2025-09 Β· [mixed]
- A7
βNot having DC or USB ports on the face is a tradeoff. The Hub D1 solves the problemβbut it's an additional $300 accessory that you then have to bolt on after the fact.β
Techspective β 'Bluetti Apex 300 with B300K Review' Β· 2025-09 Β· [negative]
- A8
βIn fact, it's so heavy I can hardly carry it more than a few feet at a time and have been unable to lift it onto a table.β
T3 β 'Bluetti Apex 300 review: transform your off-grid life' Β· 2025-11 Β· [negative]
- A10
βThe Bluetti app is still a little sluggish compared to the EcoFlow or Anker apps, but it lets you toggle power modes, monitor stats, and tweak settings from a distance.β
TheSolarLab β 'Bluetti Apex 300 Review: Cheap, Practical Home Backup?' Β· unknown Β· [mixed]
- A11
βThat 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.β
TheSolarLab β 'Bluetti Apex 300 Review: Cheap, Practical Home Backup?' Β· unknown Β· [negative]
- B1
βEV-grade LiFePO4 battery rated for 6,000 cycles, giving well over a decade of service life.β
jackery.com / batteryskills.com β HomePower 3600 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B2
βAbout 77 lbs with built-in wheels and a pull handle for easy mobility β light and manageable for a 3.6kWh-class unit.β
jackery.com / poweraic.com β HomePower 3600 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B3
βIn a three-day regional blackout, one owner ran a fridge, a microwave, string lights, fans, and a CPAP machine for two straight days on a single charge.β
tipselite3s.com / greattips3s.com β HomePower 3600 Plus owner review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
- B4
βHolds a 4.5-out-of-5 rating on Amazon, with customers consistently praising ease of use, quiet operation, and reliable performance; expandable to a very large bank.β
batteryskills.com / powerelectrichub.com β HomePower 3600 Plus review Β· 2026 Β· [positive]
Research compiled October 25, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the Apex 300 if youβ¦
- βYou already run, or are about to install, well over 1,000W of solar. The Apex takes 2,400W, refills in a fraction of the time and costs less doing it.
- βYou want a 120/240V outlet on the unit itself, which the Jackery's record does not list.
- βYour outages are short and your loads are light. A workday or a tailgate uses under 40% of either battery, and the Apex is the cheaper box.
Buy the HomePower 3600 Plus if youβ¦
- βYou're buying for blackouts with a few panels or none, and you want to wake up after a night of essentials with 1,401Wh left instead of 705Wh.
- βThe unit lives in a closet and comes out every storm. 77.2 lbs on built-in wheelsB2 beats 83.78 lbs.
- βYou want USB-C on the box for laptops and phones, and you plan to keep it for the full life of its 6,000-cycle pack.
If neither fits
If your day looks like van life, around 4,685Wh, neither carries it on one charge, so plan on an expansion battery from day one. And if you need something one person can lift into a car trunk, both are the wrong class. Close this tab and look at a smaller portable unit.
The Bottom Line
The Apex 300 is the cheaper box. The HomePower 3600 Plus is the better buy for most people reading this. The $200 gets you 819.2Wh more battery in a lighter box that rolls, on the same 6,000-cycle rating. In a blackout that means most of a second night in reserve instead of less than half of one.
The exception is solar. If you're wiring in more than 1,000W of panels, the Apex's 2,400W input makes it the faster unit to recover and the cheaper one at once, so buy it. Otherwise, pay the difference and take the Jackery.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the Jackery HomePower 3600 Plus worth the extra money over the BLUETTI Apex 300?
For home backup, yes. The $200 premium buys 819.2Wh more capacity in a box that weighs about 6.6 lbs less, and after an 8-hour blackout that's the difference between 1,401Wh left and 705Wh. The Apex 300 is the better buy only if you'll run more than 1,000W of solar, where its 2,400W input pulls ahead.
Which charges faster from solar, the Apex 300 or the HomePower 3600 Plus?
The Apex 300, by a wide margin: 2,400W of solar input against 1,000W. At full rated input that's a little over an hour from empty for the Apex and about three and a half hours for the Jackery, though real panels rarely hit their rating. You only see the difference with more than 1,000W of panels connected.
Is the BLUETTI Apex 300 too heavy to move?
It's 83.78 lbs, and one reviewer could barely carry it a few feet at a time or lift it onto a table. Another found it manageable by its handles. The Jackery is lighter at 77.2 lbs and rolls on built-in wheels.
Can either one run a CPAP all night?
Easily. A 320Wh CPAP night uses 14% of the Apex's usable capacity and 11% of the Jackery's. Both makers publish noise ratings, but on different terms, so if the unit will sit beside the bed, listen to it running before you commit.
Does the BLUETTI Apex 300 have firmware problems?
A few owners have reported them. One update left a unit stuck in Backup mode, another stopped a charge with Error 004, and others broke Home Assistant connections. These are software complaints rather than hardware failures, and field data on the Apex is still thin, so they may since have been patched. If you buy one, let a new firmware release settle before installing it.
Where to buy
BLUETTI Apex 300
$1,599.00
$1,599.00 Β· direct from BLUETTI
down from $1,699 Β· 6% below usual
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Jackery HomePower 3600 PlusPick
$1,899.00
$1,899.00 Β· direct from Jackery
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move β check before you buy.
Prices may vary by retailer and are subject to change.