Head-to-head test
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra vs Anker SOLIX S5000
The DELTA 3 Ultra is the cheaper watt-hour on the shelf, but it's sealed at 3,072Wh behind 800W of solar, so the S5000 wins the moment an outage runs longer than one battery.
Full profiles: EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra → · Anker SOLIX S5000 →
Written by Gunner GustafsonUpdated
Whole-Home Backup Tester, Station Arena Test Desk
Spec deltas
Watt-hour for watt-hour, the DELTA 3 Ultra is the cheaper box: $0.46 per watt-hour on our catalogue against the S5000's $0.50. That's the Ultra's whole financial case, and it's a real one.
Everything else leans the other way. The Ultra is sealed at 3,072Wh with no expansion port, and its 800W solar ceiling means close to four hours of full sun to refill it from empty (3,072 ÷ 800 is about 3.8). The S5000 starts at 5,024Wh, grows to 30,144Wh with add-on packsB6, and its 3,000W of solar input refills that larger battery in under two.
So the question isn't which one is better built. It's whether your longest outage fits inside 3,072Wh. If it does, the Ultra saves you $1,101. If you don't know, the S5000 is the one you won't have to replace when the answer turns out to be no.
What the Numbers Reveal
Each conclusion stated first — the numbers behind it on one line, the full analysis below.
solar input
In a multi-day outage the Ultra's only route to more energy is the sun, and its ceiling keeps it charging through most of a good solar day. The S5000 banks nearly four times as much per sunny hour (3,000W against 800W) and, if that still isn't enough, takes more batteries. One is a finished system; the other is a starting point.
DELTA 3 Ultra: 3,072Wh, expandable: noDELTA 3 Ultra solar input: 800WSOLIX S5000: 3,000W solar inputB5; up to five BP5000 packs, 30,144Wh totalB6
Why it mattersAnyone planning around outages longer than a night will hit the Ultra's ceiling before they hit anything on the S5000.
cost / lifetime kWh
Which number applies depends on how hard you use it. A backup unit on standby barely touches its cycle count, so its real cost is the purchase price per watt-hour, and the Ultra wins that. The lifetime figure only pays out for someone cycling daily from solar or living off-grid.
Catalogue cost per Wh: DELTA 3 Ultra $.46, SOLIX S5000 $.50Cost per lifetime kWh: DELTA 3 Ultra $0.11, SOLIX S5000 $0.08Cycle ratings: 4,000 vs 6,000 to 80%B12
Why it mattersStandby-only buyers whose loads fit 3,072Wh should take the Ultra's lower price per watt-hour; daily cyclers should take the S5000's lower lifetime cost.
That 679Wh is under an hour of the Ultra's full 800W solar input, so with panels and any sun, an outage taken one night at a time is survivable on the Ultra. Without panels it runs dry partway through the second night, while the S5000 is still on its first charge.
8-Hour Blackout needs 1,645WhDELTA 3 Ultra finishes at 63% used with 966Wh left; S5000 at 39% with 2,625Wh leftDELTA 3 Ultra solar input: 800W
Why it mattersUltra buyers should budget for a panel or two; S5000 buyers can get through two nights without any.
The specific dimensions that decide these two units — everything else is a tie.
Growth Path
Selected because: The Ultra is sealed at 3,072Wh while the S5000 starts at 5,024Wh and expands, which is the decision for anyone planning around long outages.
solar input
With the Ultra, what you buy is the ceiling, and that's not a flaw if 3,072Wh covers your worst night. There's no expansion port, so the upgrade path is a second unit. The S5000 starts 1,952Wh higher and keeps going: five BP5000 packs take it to 30,144WhB6.
The catch on the Anker side is that batteries add hours, not watts. However many packs you stack, AC output stays at 4,500WB14. If you're short on running power rather than runtime, expansion won't help.
Runtime: Will It Power Your Gear?
Selected because: Both finish a single night; the second night is where they part.
continuous output
Both clear an eight-hour blackout with room left. The gap shows on night two, and the Van Life row shows its size most plainly: neither finishes that 4,685Wh day, but the Ultra covers about 56% of it and the S5000 about 91%.
One running cost Anker publishes and our EcoFlow record doesn't: idle draw of 8.8W on 120V outputB16. Left on around the clock with nothing plugged in, that's about 211Wh a day (8.8W × 24 hours), worth knowing if the unit sits waiting with its inverter live.
Lifetime Value
Selected because: The Ultra is cheaper per watt-hour to buy and the S5000 cheaper per kWh to own, and only one of those applies to any given buyer.
cost / lifetime kWh
The S5000's lower cost per lifetime kWh is genuine and conditional. It arrives only for the buyer who cycles the battery, and a storm-standby station mostly sits full.
For that standby buyer the Ultra is the better buy per watt-hour, by a few cents, and by $1,101 in total. Pay the difference only for what the S5000 does that the Ultra can't: grow, refill fast from panels and feed a 240V circuit.
Portability & Form Factor
Selected because: The S5000 is 24.9 lb heavier, which matters only if the unit ever leaves the garage.
weight
At 72.1 lb, the Ultra is a two-hand lift, but it is a lift. The S5000's 97 lb is a roll: wheels, a pull rod and a foot step for tipping it back onto themB10B11.
If the unit's life is a garage corner with an occasional trip to the generator inlet, the 24.9 lb difference is irrelevant. If it goes camping, it's the whole argument.
Strengths & trade-offs
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra
Strengths
- +Costs $1,101 less
- +Lighter by 24.9 lb
Trade-offs
- –Weaker inverter (-900W) limits appliance compatibility.
- –Sealed capacity — the SOLIX S5000 can add batteries to grow past 3,072Wh; this one can't.
- –Shorter-lived battery — rated for 4,000 charge cycles vs the SOLIX S5000's 6,000, so it wears out sooner.
Anker SOLIX S5000
Strengths
- +Larger battery capacity
- +Higher AC output
- +Faster solar charging
- +Rated for 6,000 charge cycles — much longer battery lifespan
Trade-offs
- –Substantially more expensive (+$1,101) than the DELTA 3 Ultra.
- –Significantly heavier (+24.9 lbs), making it harder to move.
- –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 DELTA 3 Ultra finishes the weekend at 80% used with 511Wh in hand — one cold night or an extra device eats into that. The SOLIX S5000 finishes at 49% with 2,170Wh, real slack for the spontaneous stuff. If you camp in variable weather, that buffer is the difference between relaxing and watching the battery app.
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 DELTA 3 Ultra finishes at 63% with 966Wh, 59% 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
Either one runs a CPAP all night on a sliver of its charge. Where it sits is the difference. The S5000's rating label keeps it out of sleeping rooms, so it powers the machine from another room through a cord; our record carries no such rule for the Ultra, which is also 24.9 lb easier to bring upstairs.
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 S5000
The SOLIX S5000 clears the workday at 21% used, banking 3,360Wh — late work, extra calls, or a second laptop charge without arithmetic. The DELTA 3 Ultra at 35% also finishes, with 1,701Wh of slack for the unplanned.
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
Both handle game day; the SOLIX S5000 keeps more in reserve (16% used vs 26%). Tailgating is a light load, though, so the number you'll feel is weight: 72.1 lbs for the DELTA 3 Ultra against 97 lbs for the SOLIX S5000, from the trunk to the setup spot.
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 DELTA 3 Ultra comes up 2,074Wh short (about 56% 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 12.7h.
$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 SOLIX S5000, on Power Score margin
Buy the S5000 for outage backup that might stretch past a night. It's the only one of the pair that grows, with up to five BP5000 packsB6, it takes 3,000W of panels to the Ultra's 800W, and it adds a 240V outlet our record doesn't list on the EcoFlow. The Ultra wins on purchase price per watt-hour and on weight, and if 3,072Wh already covers your worst night and you recharge from the wall, it's the smarter spend by $1,101. Confidence is moderate because the S5000 has no independent testing yetB0.
Editor-assigned confidence, based on cited owner research and spec analysis.
List prices as of October 9, 2026. The links below open EcoFlow's and Anker's current prices.
$2,499.99 · direct from Anker
or check the DELTA 3 Ultra price$1,369.00 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:DELTA 3 Ultra $1,299
The lowest we have recorded. A Black Friday price above it is a sale this 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): UPS, RV Living, Tailgating.
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, DELTA 3 Ultra rates 4.7/5 (84th percentile of 26 Large-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 DELTA 3 Ultra (72.1 lbs) is manageable solo but heavier than a large checked suitcase. The SOLIX S5000 (97 lbs) is noticeably heavier. That's a 25 lb difference.
DELTA 3 Ultra: Fixed Capacity
The DELTA 3 Ultra is sealed at 3,072Wh — fine if that covers you, but it's the ceiling. By contrast the SOLIX S5000 can add expansion batteries, though the first thing it has over the DELTA 3 Ultra is its own 5,024Wh base — expansion is the step after that, for the buyer who would outgrow 5,024Wh as well.
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 DELTA 3 Ultra works out at 3.6 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 4,000. In real life: at daily use, that's 16.4 vs 11 years. At weekend use (twice a week), it's 58 vs 38 years. One caution reading years across different sizes: a cycle is 5,024Wh on the SOLIX S5000 and 3,072Wh on the DELTA 3 Ultra, so count lifetime energy — roughly 30,144 kWh against 12,288 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.
Full record above — the Test Desk pick is the SOLIX S5000.
Check SOLIX S5000 price →or check the DELTA 3 Ultra 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 DELTA 3 Ultra is cheaper to buy, but the SOLIX S5000 is cheaper to own. At $0.08/kWh over its lifetime vs $0.11/kWh, the SOLIX S5000's higher cycle life and capacity make each dollar go further over the years.
Brand trust
EcoFlow
Ecosystem
Largest in portable power — 12-15 models across DELTA Pro, DELTA 3, and RIVER 3 series, plus solar panels and smart home panels
Support
US-based phone/email/chat support (1-800-368-8604). Experiences are polarized — many report hassle-free prepaid-label replacements, but others report long waits and refurbished units sent for new claims. Pro tip: buying from Costco or Amazon gives you a stronger return safety net.
Community
Largest community in the space — Reddit r/Ecoflow_community (~31K members), multiple Facebook groups, and an official community forum
App experience
Rated 4.6/5 iOS (~8,400 ratings) · 4.2/5 Android (~17,000 ratings)
Unique strength
Fastest-charging technology (X-Stream), deepest product ecosystem, and most active innovation cadence. At the top of the range sit two whole-home paths: the TITAN line, one 5 kWh unit that grows to 30 kWh, and the DELTA Pro Ultra platform, which stacks batteries and inverters further — flagship paths, not line-wide features.
Worth knowing
Tested subscription paywalls for advanced app features in early 2025 before community backlash paused the plan. No parts or service offered out of warranty.
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
Anker's long-cycle cells show up here as a 6,000-cycle rating to 80%, half again the Ultra's 4,000.
Worth knowing
Anker's expansion lineup is smaller than EcoFlow's, and firmware updates have removed features without warning in the past. Returns on a unit this heavy travel as hazmat freight.
Analyst note
EcoFlow has the broader ecosystem and the larger community; Anker's case on this page is the longer-lived battery. Support records on both sides are mixed, so the retailer's return policy is worth as much as either brand's promise.
Growth path
DELTA 3 Ultra
FIXED CAPACITYFixed at 3,072Wh — a sealed, complete system rather than a starting point. There's no expansion port, so that figure is the ceiling: check it against your longest unplugged stretch before you buy.
Accepts up to 800W of solar. Suitable for a 1-2 panel setup.
Generous port selection supports complex multi-device setups.
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
The DELTA 3 Ultra is sealed at 3,072Wh, which is fine if that covers you. The SOLIX S5000 starts at 5,024Wh and can grow beyond it with Anker expansion batteries — real headroom the DELTA 3 Ultra doesn't have if your needs climb toward partial-home backup.
What Owners Report
Patterns from published owner reports and long-term reviews — every claim cited to its source below.
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra
Field coverage of the base Ultra is weak: most of what exists was written about the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus, a sibling with the same chassis, capacity and output, so read it as character rather than proofA0. With that caveat, reviewers of the Plus found the fans unobtrusive even at maximum inverter outputA1A2, saw no dips when wall power cut outA5A6, and described the casing and cables as sturdyA9A15. One reviewer had to shade the screen by hand to read it in direct sunA11.
“Even when you're pushing it hard, the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus runs much quieter than older EcoFlow models, like the DELTA 2 Max.”
Sources
thesolarlab.com · postperspective.com · appleinsider.com · digitaltrends.com · popsci.com
Anker SOLIX S5000
The S5000 has no field record yet; everything known comes from Anker's paperwork and our reading of itB0. That documentation establishes the 5,024Wh pack built from five large prismatic cellsB1, the two solar inputs that add to 3,000WB5, the expansion path to 30,144WhB6, and a charging window of 32–104 °FB8. Lifespan and runtime numbers are Anker's internal testingB12.
“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
- Reviewers consistently praise the quiet fan operation of the Ultra-tier unit compared to older EcoFlow models, though this is described in professional test conditions rather than long-term ownership. [DELTA 3 Ultra · 2 entries]
- UPS/switchover performance is repeatedly called seamless with no observed dips or shutdowns during power interruption tests. [DELTA 3 Ultra · 3 entries]
- The unit's substantial 74 lb weight is flagged across multiple reviews as a portability drawback, mitigated somewhat by wheels and handle design. [DELTA 3 Ultra · 2 entries]
- Build quality/durability (casing, cable, port covers) is repeatedly highlighted as premium and well-engineered. [DELTA 3 Ultra · 2 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
“Even when you're pushing it hard, the DELTA 3 Ultra Plus runs much quieter than older EcoFlow models, like the DELTA 2 Max.”
thesolarlab.com — EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? · 2025-09/10 (approx) · [positive]
- A2
“Even when you're pushing the inverter to its maximum output, the fans never become annoying or distracting.”
thesolarlab.com — EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra Plus Review: The Ultimate DELTA? · 2025-09/10 (approx) · [positive]
- A5
“Over my career I have become accustomed to APC batteries immediately switching on when there is a power hit or power shut-off, and the EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus works in the exact same way.”
postperspective.com — Review: EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Portable Power Station · 2026-04 · [positive]
- A6
“I didn't experience any shut-offs or dips when I unplugged the EcoFlow from the wall.”
postperspective.com — Review: EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus Portable Power Station · 2026-04 · [positive]
- A9
“It does not feel cheap or fragile. Everything from the outer shell case to the plastic buttons and the AC cable feels substantial and durable enough to withstand day-to-day wear and tear.”
appleinsider.com — EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus review: Premium, but solid power · 2025-11-16 · [positive]
- A11
“But, while facing the sun, I had to employ the classic "cup hands cover" maneuver to get a clear look at the screen status.”
appleinsider.com — EcoFlow Delta 3 Ultra Plus review: Premium, but solid power · 2025-11-16 · [negative]
- A15
“I really love how the rear panel doors for the input ports slide into protective slots when in use.”
popsci.com — EcoFlow DELTA 3 portable power station series first impressions · 2025-09-29 · [positive]
- 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]
- B8
“Charges at 0–40 °C (32–104 °F); runs at −20–40 °C (−4–104 °F).”
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]
- 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]
- B16
“Idle draw 8.8 W on 120 V output and 13.7 W on 240 V output (Anker internal testing).”
Anker SOLIX S5000 product page, ankersolix.com/s5000 (published 2026-10-09) · 2026-10-09 · [positive]
Research compiled October 9, 2026.
Who Should Buy Which
Buy the DELTA 3 Ultra if you…
- →Your outages are an evening or a night, you charge from the wall, and 3,072Wh covers everything you'd keep running: take the Ultra and keep the difference.
- →You want a big station that can still go in a car for a trip, and 72.1 lb is the limit of what you'll lift.
- →You run 12V gear such as a car fridge; the Ultra has the car outlet the S5000 lacks.
Buy the SOLIX S5000 if you…
- →You're preparing for outages that last days, and would rather add batteries or a bigger array than buy a second unit later.
- →You have 240V loads to back up through an L14-30 inlet, which our record doesn't list the Ultra doing.
- →You'll cycle the battery daily from solar, where 6,000 rated cycles make the S5000 the cheaper kWh over the years.
If neither fits
If you're keeping a fridge and a few lights going for a single evening, both are oversized; a station around half the Ultra's size does that and fits on a shelf. If what you really want is the whole panel switched over without anyone touching a cord, look at a permanently installed home battery.
The Bottom Line
The Ultra is the cheaper watt-hour, and it stays exactly the size you bought. The S5000 refills faster from the sun, grows when you need it to, and costs less per kWh across its life.
If 3,072Wh is enough and always will be, save $1,101 and take the Ultra. If you're not sure, that uncertainty is exactly what the S5000 is for.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers drawn from the spec record and cited owner research.
Is the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra expandable?
No. It's sealed at 3,072Wh with no expansion port, so a bigger need means a second unit. The S5000 takes up to five BP5000 packs, for 30,144Wh in total.
Which is the better value, the DELTA 3 Ultra or the Anker SOLIX S5000?
Per watt-hour at purchase, the Ultra: $0.46 against $0.50 on our catalogue. Per kWh over the rated cycle life, the S5000, because it's rated for 6,000 cycles against 4,000. Standby backup buyers should weigh the first number and daily solar users the second.
How long does the DELTA 3 Ultra take to charge from solar?
About four hours of full sun at its 800W maximum (3,072Wh ÷ 800W is about 3.8 hours), and longer in practice, since panels rarely hold their rating all day. The S5000 accepts 3,000W across two inputs, under two hours for its larger battery at that ceiling.
Does the DELTA 3 Ultra or the SOLIX S5000 put out 240V?
The S5000 does, through an L14-30R outlet at up to 4,500W split-phase, and it has a TT-30R RV outlet as well. Our record lists no 240V output for the DELTA 3 Ultra, so it covers 120V loads only.
How much heavier is the S5000 than the DELTA 3 Ultra?
24.9 lb: 97 lb against 72.1. The S5000 rolls on wheels with a pull rod, so it's easier to move across a floor than its weight suggests and harder to get into a vehicle.
Where to buy
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Ultra
$1,369.00
$1,369.00 · direct from EcoFlow
Last checked 28 days ago. Prices move — check before you buy.
Anker SOLIX S5000Pick
$2,499.99
$2,499.99 · direct from Anker
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