Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 518 Wh | Explorer 500 leads
SOLIX C300 288 Wh
Explorer 500 518.4 Wh
Explorer 500: +230 Wh (+80.0%).
SOLIX C300 vs Explorer 500
VS
300W
Running power
500W
288 Wh
Battery
518.4 Wh
9 lbs
Weight
13.2 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets buyers shopping for a compact portable power station under 15 lbs for camping, tailgating, or light home backup. The Explorer 500 delivers noticeably more muscle: 500W of running power and a 1000W surge versus the C300's 300W on both counts. Its 518.4 Wh battery nearly doubles the C300's 288 Wh capacity, and it powered 20 of our 53 tested devices compared to 15 for the Anker unit.
Every device the C300 handled, the Explorer 500 handled too. The tradeoff sits with longevity and weight. Anker's LFP battery is rated for 3,000 cycles versus 800 for the Jackery, and the C300 weighs just 9 lbs, making it over 4 lbs lighter.
The C300 also includes UPS functionality with a 10 ms switchover, a feature the Explorer 500 lacks entirely.
Overall Winner
Explorer 500
Powers 20 of 53 tested devices vs 15 for SOLIX C300
Home backup: Explorer 500 RV / mobile: Explorer 500 Solar: Tie
Choose SOLIX C300 if...
- + Portability matters for your setup
- + You value battery longevity (LFP, 3,000 cycles)
- + You want faster solar recharging
- + Built-in UPS with 10ms switchover
Choose Explorer 500 if...
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Spec Snapshot
Absolute values shown. Bars are scaled within this comparison for readability.
Each metric is independent. Bar lengths are not comparable across different compare pages.
Running Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 500 W | Explorer 500 leads
SOLIX C300 300 W
Explorer 500 500 W
Explorer 500: +200 W (+66.7%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,000 W | Explorer 500 leads
SOLIX C300 300 W
Explorer 500 1,000 W
Explorer 500: +700 W (+233.3%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 9.0 lbs | SOLIX C300 leads
SOLIX C300 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg)
Explorer 500 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg)
SOLIX C300: -4.2 lbs (31.7% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 cycles | SOLIX C300 leads
SOLIX C300 3,000 cycles
Explorer 500 800 cycles
SOLIX C300: +2,200 cycles (+275.0%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 5 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 15 · Differences: 9% (5/53) · Neither can run: 33
Only Explorer 500 can run 5
Electric Wheelchair Charger SOLIX C300: Running + surge shortfall
Portable Oxygen Concentrator SOLIX C300: Running + surge shortfall
Full-Size Freezer (15-17 Cu. Ft.) SOLIX C300: Needs soft-start
French Door Refrigerator SOLIX C300: Needs soft-start
Laptop SOLIX C300: Running + surge shortfall
Neither can run · 33 devices
These devices exceed both stations on running power and surge.
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)
Electric Clothes Dryer
Dishwasher
Washing Machine
Laser Printer
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation)
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)
Central AC (3-Ton)
Dehumidifier (70 Pint)
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)
Space Heater (1,500W)
Window AC (8,000 BTU)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
2-Slice Bread Toaster
Coffee Maker
Digital Air Fryer
Electric Skillet
Electric Stove (Single Burner)
Electric Water Kettle
Instant Pot (6 Qt)
Microwave Oven (1000W)
Rice Cooker
Toaster Oven
Portable Ice Maker (Countertop)
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Professional Hair Dryer
Circular Saw (Corded)
Corded Drill / Hammer Drill
Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)
Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | SOLIX C300 | Explorer 500 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 288 Wh | 518.4 Wh ✓ |
| Running Power | 300 W | 500 W ✓ |
| Surge Power | 300 W | 1,000 W ✓ |
| Weight | 9.0 lbs (4.1 kg) ✓ | 13.2 lbs (6.0 kg) |
| Energy Density | 70.2 Wh/kg | 86.4 Wh/kg ✓ |
| Portability Tier | ultralight | ultralight |
| Chemistry | LFP | Other |
| Cycle Life | 3,000 ✓ | 800 |
| Expandable | No | No |
| UPS | Yes (10 ms) | No |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
SOLIX C300
Faster Max solar input 100 W
Connector XT60
Full charge time ~4.1h
Compatible panels 6/20
MPPT: 11-28V
Explorer 500
Max solar input 112.5 W
Connector DC7909
Full charge time ~6.6h
Compatible panels 12/20
MPPT: 12-30V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
SOLIX C300Explorer 500
Emergency(2)
0/21/2
0/2
1/2
| Device | SOLIX C300 | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-Size Freezer (15-17 Cu. Ft.) | Soft Start | 1.3h | Safe | 2.3h |
| Sump Pump (1/2 HP) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Entertainment(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
EV & Transportation(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
1/71/7
1/7
1/7
| Device | SOLIX C300 | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 2.4h | Safe | 4.4h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | SOLIX C300 | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Tight | 1.1h | Safe | 2h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
1/111/11
1/11
1/11
| Device | SOLIX C300 | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Coffee Maker | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Digital Air Fryer | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Skillet | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Water Kettle | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Rice Cooker | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Slow Cooker | Tight | 0.7h | Safe | 1.2h |
| Toaster Oven | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Large Appliances(4)
0/41/4
0/4
1/4
| Device | SOLIX C300 | Runtime | Explorer 500 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Soft Start | 1h | Safe | 1.8h |
| Washing Machine | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Medical(4)
2/44/4
2/4
4/4
Outdoor & RV(6)
4/64/6
4/6
4/6
Personal Care(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Power Tools(5)
0/50/5
0/5
0/5
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. Our methodology
The Bottom Line
Pick the SOLIX C300 if cycle life is your priority and you only need to run sub-300W loads; its 3,000-cycle LFP cell and 9 lb frame suit frequent, light-duty use and overnight UPS backup for small electronics. Choose the Explorer 500 if you need broader device coverage and higher output, since its 500W continuous power and 518.4 Wh capacity handled 5 more devices in our testing. With a score of 40 to 28, the Explorer 500 is the stronger overall pick for most portable power needs.
SOLIX C300 vs Explorer 500 FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, SOLIX C300 or Explorer 500?
Explorer 500 is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, SOLIX C300 or Explorer 500?
Explorer 500 has higher battery capacity (518.4 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
SOLIX C300 has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, SOLIX C300 or Explorer 500?
SOLIX C300 is lighter at 9 lbs vs 13.2 lbs. SOLIX C300 is rated ultralight for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
Explorer 500 powers 20 of 53 tested devices, compared to 15 for SOLIX C300.
Q Does SOLIX C300 or Explorer 500 have UPS mode for power outages?
Only SOLIX C300 has UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mode with a 10ms switchover time, which keeps connected devices running during a power outage without interruption.