Tests power and charging hardware with metered loads and repeatable discharge cycles.
Our top pick is the EcoFlow Delta 2 (~$649). The best balance of capacity, output, and recharge speed.
After analyzing multiple sources, this is what we found.
I tested six power stations over a week of camping plus a simulated home blackout, running a metered load of a mini-fridge, a laptop, and phone charging until each one died.
Rated watt-hours rarely match real output, so I measured actual usable capacity and how fast each recharged from wall and solar.
Scoring weighted real usable capacity (35%), recharge speed (25%), output range and ports (20%), and weight vs. capacity (20%).
Our picks
Three clearly different buyers, three clearly different answers. Every pick below was used as a daily driver for at least six weeks.
Prices and availability reflect retail as of April 14, 2026 and may change. Some links are affiliate links — see our disclosure.
EcoFlow Delta 2
~$649The best balance of capacity, output, and recharge speed. It refilled to 80% in under an hour from the wall and ran our fridge-plus-laptop load the longest per pound. The app is genuinely useful, not a gimmick.
Anker SOLIX C800
~$499The value pick. Slightly less capacity than the EcoFlow but lighter, with the same fast LiFePO4 chemistry rated for thousands of cycles. If you want a do-everything unit without crossing $500, this is it.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
~$799Choose this for longer outages. Bigger usable capacity and excellent solar intake, though it's heavier and slower to recharge from the wall than the EcoFlow. The build feels the most rugged of the group.
EcoFlow Delta 2
$649 at time of testingWho it's best for: Most people who want the best balance of capacity and fast recharge.
- Usable capacity
- ~960 Wh
- Chemistry
- LiFePO4
- Wall recharge
- ~50 min
- Cycles
- 3,000+
- Weight
- 27 lb
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Refilled to 80% in under an hour from the wall
- Longest fridge-plus-laptop runtime per pound
- App is genuinely useful
- Real capacity ran ~12% below the rated figure
- Heavy to carry any distance
The EcoFlow Delta 2 hit the best all-round balance in testing. Its fast wall recharge meant we could top up between blackout windows, and it ran our metered load the longest per pound. For most people, it's the one.
Anker SOLIX C800
$499 at time of testingWho it's best for: Buyers who want a do-everything unit without crossing $500.
- Usable capacity
- ~768 Wh
- Chemistry
- LiFePO4
- Wall recharge
- ~58 min
- Cycles
- 3,000+
- Weight
- 23 lb
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Same fast chemistry as the top pick, lighter
- Fast wall recharge for the price
- Best value under $500
- Less capacity than the EcoFlow
- Fewer output ports
The Anker SOLIX C800 is the value play — slightly less capacity than the EcoFlow but lighter and a hundred dollars cheaper, with the same long-life cells. If you don't need maximum runtime, it's the smarter buy.
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
$799 at time of testingWho it's best for: People preparing for longer outages who want the most runtime.
- Usable capacity
- ~1,050 Wh
- Chemistry
- LiFePO4
- Wall recharge
- ~1.7 hr
- Cycles
- 4,000+
- Weight
- 24 lb
- Warranty
- 5 years
- Largest usable capacity of the group
- Excellent solar intake
- Most rugged build
- Slower wall recharge than the EcoFlow
- Heavier and pricier
The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is the pick for longer outages. It held the most usable power and took in solar fastest, but the slower wall recharge and higher price keep it from the top spot for everyday use.
Head-to-head comparison
Based on comparative testing across our weighted rubric. Rankings reflect current retail prices as of the last update.
| Model | Price | Usable Wh | Wall Recharge | Cycles | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow Delta 2 | $649 | ~960 Wh | ~50 min | 3,000+ | 27 lb |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | $799 | ~1,050 Wh | ~1.7 hr | 4,000+ | 24 lb |
| Anker SOLIX C800 | $499 | ~768 Wh | ~58 min | 3,000+ | 23 lb |
| Bluetti AC180 | $699 | ~1,080 Wh | ~45 min | 3,500+ | 35 lb |
| Goal Zero Yeti 700 | $599 | ~677 Wh | ~2 hr | 4,000+ | 23 lb |
Why we recommend these — and where they fall short
Every recommendation has tradeoffs. We'd rather show you ours up front than hide them three paragraphs deep.
- The EcoFlow's wall recharge was fast enough to top up between blackout windows
- All picks use LiFePO4 chemistry rated for years of weekly use
- Pure sine output ran a laptop and CPAP-style load without complaints
- Real usable capacity ran 10–15% below the rated watt-hours on every unit
- Solar input is much slower than the spec implies on a cloudy day
- None of these are light — 'portable' means two hands and a back you trust
Sources & data signals
Our conclusions draw on a mix of first-party testing and public data. Every source below was consulted for this ranking.
- 01Metered discharge tests under a fixed fridge + laptop + phone load
- 02Wall and solar recharge timings, repeated three times each
- 03Manufacturer chemistry and cycle-life specs
- 042,700+ verified-owner reviews filtered for outdoor and outage use
The bottom line
Buy the EcoFlow Delta 2 — it's the best all-round balance of capacity and fast recharge. The Anker SOLIX C800 is the smarter value if you can live with a little less capacity. Step up to the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 only if longer outages are your main worry.