Anker SOLIX C300 vs Jackery Explorer 300: Which Should You Buy in 2026?

October 8, 2026 · 8 MIN READ · BY WATTRATINGS BENCH

Get the Anker SOLIX C300 if you can find one in stock: Anker documents an 80% wall recharge in 50 minutes, 140W two-way USB-C charging, a 10ms UPS and a 5-year warranty. Choose the Jackery Explorer 300 if low weight and buying direct from the maker matter more, because Jackery lists it at 7.1 lbs and sells it for $289.00 (checked October 2026).

Every spec and price below comes from Anker's and Jackery's own product pages and manuals, checked in October 2026; none of it comes from first-hand use.

  • Anker SOLIX C300: 288Wh, 300W rated output (600W with SurgePad), an LFP battery, 9.1 lb and a 5-year warranty. Anker's own store currently lists it as sold out.
  • Jackery Explorer 300: 293Wh, a 300W inverter with a 500W surge rating, a lithium-ion battery rated for 800 cycles to 80% capacity, 7.1 lbs, and 2 years of warranty plus a 1-year extension when bought from Jackery.

Stock and versions in October 2026

Anker's 1000W power station page shows both the C300 and the C300 DC as "Sold Out" (checked October 2026). The C300 DC is the DC-only sibling, which Anker's product page lists as "C300 DC DC Only," so make sure the listing you buy says C300 with AC outlets if you need them.

Jackery is selling its Explorer 300 directly for $289.00. Its lineup also includes two near-namesakes, and Jackery's own menu spells out the difference: the Explorer 300 v2 is 288Wh with 300W output, the Explorer 300D is 288 Wh with 140W output, and the Explorer 300 is 293Wh with 300W output.

One caution before you pay. Jackery's sold-out Explorer 300 v2 page now steers shoppers to the Explorer 300 as "a better alternative with enhanced features," yet the Explorer 300 page itself still describes a lithium-ion battery rated for 800 cycles. Check the battery type and cycle rating printed on the listing you are buying from; if they differ from the table below, you are looking at a different revision, so compare that sheet instead.

Specs side by side

Spec (maker pages, checked October 2026)Anker SOLIX C300Jackery Explorer 300
Capacity288Wh293Wh
Battery, in the maker's wordsLFP, "power up for a decade"Lithium-ion, 800 cycles to 80% capacity
AC output300W rated; 600W with SurgePad300W inverter; 500W surge
PortsAC outlets, two 140W USB-C (one two-way), one 15W USB-C, one 12W USB-A, car socketTwo pure sine wave AC outlets, one 60W USB-C PD, one QC 3.0 port, car port
Wall recharge (maker figures)80% in 50 minutes, with 330W max AC input4.5 hours from the wall; 2.5 hours with the 90W wall charger plus a 60W USB-C PD charger
Solar input100W max, 11-28V0-80% in 3.5 hours with a SolarSaga 100
UPS10msNot listed
Noise, maker's figure25dB from 3.3 ft36.4dB
Weight9.1 lb (4.13 kg)7.1 lbs
Size6.5 × 6.3 × 9.5 inchesNot listed in text
Warranty5 years2 years, plus 1 year when bought from Jackery
Maker-store priceSold out at Anker$289.00

The two noise figures are not measured the same way: Anker states a distance and Jackery does not, so treat them as rough guides rather than a head-to-head result.

Charging is the clearest gap

The C300 refills far faster from the wall. Anker's page says it will "Recharge to 80% in just 50 minutes with a wall outlet," and its manual lists 330W of AC charging input. Jackery's fastest figure for the Explorer 300 is 2.5 hours, and that needs its 90W wall charger and a 60W USB-C PD charger working together; wall charging alone takes 4.5 hours in Jackery's charging-mode chart, and a car outlet takes 5 hours.

USB-C is the other big difference. Anker says the C300's "288Wh battery supports 140W two-way USB-C fast charging," so the same port can charge a laptop or refill the station. The Explorer 300's USB-C PD port is rated at 60W. If a laptop is your main load, that is the deciding spec. Our fast-charging power station comparison covers recharge speed across bigger units too.

On solar, Anker caps the C300 at 100W through an 11-28V XT-60 input and writes, "We recommend 100W or 60W Anker Solar Panel." Jackery quotes 3.5 hours from 0 to 80% for the Explorer 300 on a SolarSaga 100.

Output: two 300W stations

Neither unit is meant for heavy loads. Jackery's FAQ says the Explorer 300's AC port "can only charge/power devices that operate at less than 300-Watt," adds that "the whole wattage should be under 300 watts as well," and warns that "Once exceeding, the Explorer 300 will shut off automatically." Its 500W surge figure does not lift that working limit.

Anker rates the C300's outlets at 300W and adds SurgePad, which its manual says "automatically turns on when the total output exceeds the rated output, allowing the power station to deliver rated power to high-wattage devices." The same manual says SurgePad "works better with devices that generate heat, but does not support precision instruments and other devices that have voltage protection or strict voltage requirements." Read the 600W figure in that light, and plan around 300W on either station.

What does 300W cover? Jackery says the Explorer 300 "can power small electrical devices such as drones, mini coolers, TVs, portable fans, and lights," and its own estimates include 24 hours for a 5W light and 4 hours for a 55W electric blanket. Anker's C300 manual answers "Can Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station power a CPAP machine?" with a plain "Yes," and our CPAP backup power guide explains how to size a station for one.

Battery life and warranty

Anker gives the C300 an LFP battery and a 5-year warranty and says it will "Power up for a decade." Jackery describes the Explorer 300's cell as "high-quality lithium-ion" and says that "Even after completing 800 charging cycles, the power station will work at its 80% capacity." Its warranty runs 2 years, plus an extra year applied automatically when you buy from Jackery's own site. If you plan to cycle the station often, our LiFePO4 vs NMC explainer covers why battery chemistry shapes lifespan.

Desk backup: only one lists a UPS

Anker documents a 10ms UPS on the C300: plug it into the wall, switch on the AC output and connect your devices, and its manual says "UPS supports 10ms." In that bypass mode the AC outlets still top out at 300W, so add up the wattage of everything you plug in. Jackery's Explorer 300 page does not list a UPS or pass-through feature at all. Our guide to pass-through charging explains how pass-through and UPS switching relate.

Which one to buy

Choose the Anker SOLIX C300 if you:

  • charge a laptop over USB-C and want 140W ports;
  • want a 10ms UPS for a router or modem during outages;
  • care most about the longer warranty and the 50-minute recharge to 80%.

Anker's own store shows it sold out, so check the current price on Amazon before you plan around it.

Choose the Jackery Explorer 300 if you:

  • want the lighter unit, at 7.1 lbs against 9.1 lb;
  • prefer buying from the maker, which lists it at $289.00;
  • need a QC 3.0 port alongside two AC outlets.

For the Jackery, check the current price on Amazon and confirm the battery details on the listing.

Our power stations under $300 roundup covers other small units, or see our full shortlist for every size.

FAQ

Is the Jackery Explorer 300 the same as the Explorer 300 v2 or 300D?

No. Jackery lists them as three products: the Explorer 300 v2 (288Wh, 300W output, currently sold out), the Explorer 300D (288 Wh, 140W output) and the Explorer 300 (293Wh, 300W output). Match the name and the capacity on any listing before buying.

Which one charges a laptop faster?

The C300, on paper. Anker rates two of its USB-C ports at 140W, against the Explorer 300's single 60W USB-C PD port. Your laptop's own charging limit still decides the real speed.

Can either one run a CPAP machine?

Anker's C300 manual says yes. Jackery's Explorer 300 page does not mention CPAP machines, so check your machine's rated watts against the Explorer 300's 300W limit before relying on it overnight.

Is the Anker SOLIX C300 DC a good substitute?

Only for DC and USB loads. Anker sells it as the DC-only version, and its store listed it as sold out alongside the standard C300 in October 2026.

Which one is better for solar charging?

They are close. Anker allows up to 100W of solar input on the C300, while Jackery quotes 0 to 80% in 3.5 hours for the Explorer 300 with a SolarSaga 100 panel.

Sources

  1. Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station 300W — Anker SOLIX (Anker Innovations) (checked October 2026)
  2. Anker SOLIX C300 Portable Power Station User Manual (A1722) — Anker Innovations (checked October 2026)
  3. 1000W Portable Power Stations for Daily Backup — Anker SOLIX (Anker Innovations) (checked October 2026)
  4. Jackery Explorer 300 Portable Power Station — Jackery Inc. (checked October 2026)
  5. Jackery Solar Generator 300 — Jackery Inc. (checked October 2026)
  6. Jackery Portable Power Station Explorer 300 v2 — Jackery Inc. (checked October 2026)

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