Portable power and solar generators
Which 1 kWh Portable Power Station Should You Buy? Six Units, Five Numbers
Summary
Pick by the number that matters to you, because the six units are within 13% of each other on capacity and five of them share the same 1,800 W rating. Lightest: Jackery's Explorer 1000 v2 at about 10.8 kg, which is also the only one rated 1,500 W. Most solar: BLUETTI's Elite 100 V2 at 1,000 W on one input, and EcoFlow's DELTA 3 Plus at 1,000 W over two. Expansion: compare the exact model and cable; the original C1000 also supports expansion. Most energy, and the lowest price we saw: BLUETTI's AC180 at 1,152 Wh and $449 on October 4, 2026, out of stock until late November. We do not test these units or rank them; the table is the makers' figures.
The six
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 | EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI Elite 100 V2 | Anker SOLIX C1000 | BLUETTI AC180 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,024 Wh | 1,024 Wh | 1,070 Wh | 1,024 Wh | 1,056 Wh | 1,152 Wh |
| AC output | 1,800 W, 3,600 W surge | 1,800 W, 3,600 W surge | 1,500 W, 3,000 W surge | 1,800 W; 2,700 W Power Lifting | 1,800 W; 2,400 W SurgePad | 1,800 W, 2,700 W Power Lifting |
| Solar input | 500 W, one input, 11 to 60 V | 1,000 W, two inputs, 11 to 60 V | 400 W, 12 to 60 V | 1,000 W, 12 to 60 V, 20 A | 600 W, 11 to 60 V | 500 W |
| Cycle rating | not captured | 4,000 to 80% | 4,000 to 70% | 4,000+ to 80% | 3,000 to 80% | 3,500+, end point not stated |
| Weight | not captured | about 12.5 kg | about 10.8 kg | 11.5 kg | 12.9 kg | about 16 kg |
| Expansion | verify exact model | four extra-battery models, specified cable | verify exact model | not verified | original C1000 supports expansion to 2,112 Wh | Power Bank Mode using supported external batteries; not the same expansion interface |
| Price seen | not re-checked | not re-checked | not re-checked | $489 (2026-10-04) | not displayed | $449 (2026-10-04), out of stock |
Figures for the two DELTA 3 units and the Jackery are from our September 23, 2026 readings; the rest are from October 4, 2026.
Five numbers, in the order to check them
1. AC watts. A load above 1,500 W exceeds the Jackery's stated continuous rating. For every unit, check total continuous demand, startup demand, voltage and appliance restrictions separately.
2. Solar input. A roughly 300 W array is only an annual-average model example before battery losses and weather reserve; for a fast fill in broken sun, the two 1,000 W units pull ahead.
3. Cycle end point. 4,000 cycles to 70% and 4,000 to 80% are different promises; our cycle-rating guide explains why.
4. Weight. 10.8 kg to 16 kg is the spread, about the difference of a full water jug.
5. Expansion. Check the exact battery, connection cable and operating mode. The original C1000 supports a matching expansion battery; AC180 can recharge through supported batteries in Power Bank Mode. These are different approaches.
Where each one lands
- Carrying it to a campsite and running lights, phones and a laptop: Explorer 1000 v2 or Elite 100 V2.
- Charging mainly from panels, or from two unlike panels at once: Elite 100 V2 or DELTA 3 Plus.
- Growing the stored energy later: compare DELTA 3 Plus and original C1000 expansion, including battery and cable costs.
- Most watt-hours for the least money on the day we looked: AC180, when it is in stock.
- Charging from the wall and wanting a stated 11 to 60 V window with current limits: C1000.
Our pairwise guides go deeper on each matchup: Elite 100 V2 against DELTA 3 Plus, Explorer 1000 v2 against Elite 100 V2, C1000 against AC180, and DELTA 3 Plus against C1000.
Prices and specification labels
Prices quoted from October 4 are historical snapshots, not current offers or a current cheapest-product ranking. Power Lifting and SurgePad are boost modes, not directly comparable motor-start surge ratings. Check current stock, exact variants and manuals before buying.
Shopping for one? Browse portable power stations →
Sources
- EcoFlow US — EcoFlow DELTA 3 Solar Generator (DELTA 3 spec table)
- EcoFlow US — DELTA 3 Plus Portable Power Station
- Jackery — Explorer 1000 v2
- BLUETTI — Elite 100 V2 Portable Power Station
- Anker SOLIX — C1000 Portable Power Station
- BLUETTI — AC180 Portable Power Station
- Anker Support — Introduction to Anker SOLIX C1000 (original model expansion and SurgePad)
We have not tested these products. Specs, prices, stock and terms are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; check the manufacturer or retailer before you buy.