Jackery Vs. Anker Power Stations: In-depth Comparison

Power stations are lifesavers, literally and figuratively. They will keep your devices running, even those that are life supporters. What’s more, they are environmentally friendly. That’s a great plus to the diversity of life on our planet.

At GforGadget, we help you choose between the best power stations in different categories. That we do by testing the batteries so that we have a first-hand understanding to help you make the best decision.

In this piece, we compare different categories of Jackery and Anker power stations. As you can expect, these two brands have equally good battery generators.

Brand Reputation

Jackery has been a titan in the power station industry while Anker is slowly rising up with their inexpensive yet feature-packed products. Also, Jackery has sold so many products and has tens of thousands of reviews. Again, this is because they have been in the industry for years now. Jackery has an amazing media presence and their quality, both products and support, is great.

On the other hand, Anker, although has been in the tech industry for a long time, they are fairly new to the power station market. Their power stations have thousands of reviews online but not as many as Jackery’s. Their power banks, chargers, and phone accessories are very popular. They have a brand reputation to maintain and thus, you can expect high-quality batteries as well as after-sales support. FYI, I am using their new 767 PowerHouse station and so far, loving it.

As of the publishing date, Anker has 7 battery generators, a new one launching soon (see the whole catalog here) whereas Jackery has 11 generators (see the whole collection here). Their products are available on their official sites as well as major eCommerce sites like Amazon.

For the comparison, we’ll be focusing on the following aspects:

• First impressions
• Portability
• Battery capacity and power
• Recharge times
• Price

1. Jackery Explorer 240 Vs. Anker 521 – Entry level (priced around $200)

If you just need something to keep your devices running for a few hours during a power outage, then this category is for you. Here, we’ll be looking at the Jackery Explorer 240 and the Anker 521.

PREVIEW	PRODUCT
	Explorer 240	See on Jackery See on Amazon
	Anker 521	See on Anker See on Amazon

What’s in the box?

Jackery Explorer 240

• One Explorer 240 battery station
• One Car charger
• One AC & AC cable
• One user manual

Anker 521

• One Anker 521 power station
• One car charging cable
• One DC adapter
• One user guide

First impressions

Straight out of the box, looking at the two power stations reveals a major contrast in design. The Anker 521 has a sleeker, more contemporary look. But it’s not always in the looks, right? When it comes to size, the Anker is a tad wider and taller.

There are a few differences as far as the features are concerned, as outlined in the following table:

Portability

While the Anker power station is slightly heavier at 9.57 pounds compared to the 6.6 pounds of the Jackery battery station, both are portable enough.

At this battery capacity, I would prioritize the size and weight over features. I should be able to carry it with me just like a power bank. The lighter, the better.

Battery capacity and power

These two are, undoubtedly, among the most important features of any battery pack. As you can see in the following table, the Anker 521 has a slightly higher capacity and surge power rating than the Jackery 240. Even though the disparity is not so huge, it can mean a lot to users who need to store as much energy as they can.

Recharge times

The amount of time it takes to juice up your battery is just as important as the capacity. After all, what’s the point of having a high capacity if it takes too long to recharge?

Here’s a quick summary of the time it takes to recharge these two power stations:

Verdict: Which one is a better pick?

Since Anker 521 has more capacity with lesser recharge times, not to mention the more informative display and a USB-C output port. But, Jackery 240 is a lot lighter.

The differentiating factor here is the battery life cycle. Jackery’s 500 cycle comes nowhere near the 3000 cycles of Anker. I think the battery cycle has a higher impact on a battery generator than anything else. I would go with Anker 521.

2. Jackery Explorer 500 Vs. Anker 535 – Low range (priced around $500)

For those who need more than just a few hours of backup power, the low range is ideal. In this category, we compare the Jackery Explorer 500 with the Anker 535.

PREVIEW	PRODUCT
	Explorer 500	See on Jackery See on Amazon
	Anker 535	See on Anker See on Amazon

What’s in the box?

For the Jackery Explorer 500:

• One Jackery Explorer 500 unit
• One AC adapter and cable
• One car charging cable
• One user manual

For the Anker 535:

• One Anker 535 portable power unit
• One AC adapter
• One car charger
• One user guide

First impressions

Just like the Anker in the previous category, the one in this category is also less conspicuous and more contemporary in design. A simplistic design that has the ports neatly arranged in one location. This gives it a neater look than the Jackery Explorer 500, which has shouty orange graphics and ports on almost the entire front part of the unit.

But again, looks won’t matter if the features don’t back it up. So, let’s take a look at the specs of these two power stations.

Portability

With the Jackery weighing in at 13.32lbs and the Anker being slightly higher at 16.75 pounds, there’s not much difference in portability.

Battery capacity and power

Here, the difference is a little bit disappointing. You’d expect the Anker, with more ports and a better design, to take the lead, but as you can see in the table below, that’s not the case.

Recharge times

When it comes to recharging time, the Anker makes up for its shortcomings in the previous category. As you can see, it only takes 2.5 hrs to get to 80%. And even if the batteries were to reach 100%, the Anker still has a notable edge over the Jackery.

Verdict: So which one is better?

Both have almost the same battery and power capacities but Anker 535 has more ports, a higher charge cycle value, lesser recharge times, and a longer warranty. The differentiating factor here is the battery life cycle. Jackery’s 500 cycle (approx) comes nowhere near the 3000 cycles of Anker.

3. Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro vs Anker SOLIX F1200 – Mid range (priced around $1200)

If you’re looking for something with more juice, then you might want to consider the mid-range category. In this class, we compare the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro with the Anker SOLIX F1200 (PowerHouse 757).

The Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro is an improved version of the Jackery Explorer 1000, with a better display, more charge cycles, and quick charging.

PREVIEW	PRODUCT
	Explorer 1000 PRO	See on Jackery See on Amazon
	SOLIX F1200 (757 Powerhouse)	See on Anker See on Amazon

What’s in the box?

Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro:

• One Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro unit
• One car charge cable
• One AC power cable
• One DC7909 to DC8020 connector
• Quick start guide

Anker SOLIX F1200 (Powerhouse 757):

• One Anker 757 unit
• One AC power cable
• One solar power cable
• One car charging cable
• A welcome guide

First impressions

Just like in the previous categories, we felt that the Anker was better-looking overall. With an eye-catching, ultramodern look, it definitely looks like it means business. The Jackery, on the other hand, looks a little boxier and bulkier.

But just like in the previous classes, we were more eager to find out what was under the hood. So without further ado, let’s get to it.

Portability

The Anker SOLIX F1200 weighs about 43.9 pounds, while the Jackery 1000 Pro comes in at about 25.4 pounds. Though both are still quite portable, the Jackery is definitely more so.

Battery capacity and power

When it comes to battery capacity, the Anker, with a capacity of 1229Wh compared to the 1002Wh that the Jackery offers, is definitely the clear winner here.

Recharge times

The Anker also comes out on top when it comes to recharging times when using the AC adapter. Keep in mind, however, that the Anker is capped at a 300W solar input compared to the 800W solar input offered by Jackery. As such, the Jackery will charge a tad faster if you’re using solar power.

Verdict: So which one is better?

If portability is a thing and you are on a tight budget, then the Jackery Explorer 1000 Pro is a good pick. But if you’re looking for more battery juice, faster recharge times, and more lifecycles then the SOLIX F1200 is a better option. F1200 is a couple of hundred bucks more than Explorer 1000 Pro.

4. Top of the Line – Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro vs. Anker 767 PowerHouse (aka Solix F2000)

If you want a battery generator for power tools, emergency home backup and remote workshops, this section is for you.

Anker 767 is not available in the market yet but it is expected to come out in the next few weeks. I am adding a quick, first-look comparison chart for these two and will add more data once it is out.

PREVIEW	PRODUCT
	Explorer 2000 Pro	See on Jackery See on Amazon
	Anker SOLIX F2000	See on Anker See on Amazon