C1000 Gen 2
- you carry it: 24.9 lb
- your loads stay under 2,000W at 120V
- you want a 49-minute refill
Explorer 5000 Plus
- you run 240V loads like a well pump
- you want days of backup, up to 30kWh
- you’ll wire it to a home panel
Prices and stock checked by our price engine on November 5, 2026 at 6:59 AM EST. Each product is rechecked several times a day; the time refreshes when you load the page.
One rides in the back seat. The other gets wired to the house.
The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 stores 1,024Wh and delivers 2,000W at 120V from five outlets, switches to battery in 10ms, refills from the wall in 49 minutes and takes 600W of solar, at 24.9 lb, with no battery port. The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus stores 5,040Wh and delivers 7,200W at 120V and 240V, takes 4,000W of solar and up to five Battery Pack 5000 Plus for about 30kWh, and connects to a home panel through Jackery’s Smart Transfer Switch, at 134.5 lb on wheels. These are two different jobs: the C1000 Gen 2 for a fridge, a desk and a campsite; the 5000 Plus for a well pump, a 240V circuit and days without grid.
Below: what separates them with numbers, a 20-second calculator for your own gear, eight modeled situations, a 2kWh option in between, and what published tests found on each.
Both use LFP cells, have a 12V socket and run from an app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth; prices sit $2,949.01 apart today. The 5000 Plus has five times the battery, 240V output, almost seven times the solar input and a battery port. The C1000 Gen 2 weighs less than a fifth as much, refills in 49 minutes and switches in 10ms.
- you carry it: 24.9 lb
- everything runs on 120V
- it goes camping or to the office
- a 240V well pump must run
- you need 5 to 30kWh
- it feeds a home panel
The six differences that decide it
Both use LFP cells, have a 12V, 10A car socket and USB-C, and connect to their brand’s app over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. These six gaps decide it.
Will it run your setup? Check in 20 seconds
Estimates use 85% usable capacity and 70% of rated solar output. Real results vary with temperature, inverter load, shade and appliance cycling. Fridge and freezer watts are daily averages and do not include compressor startup surges.
Runtime by appliance, one at a time
Simple energy estimates, not measured runtimes: about 870Wh usable on the C1000 Gen 2 and 4,284Wh on the Explorer 5000 Plus. OutdoorGearLab measured 890Wh out of a C1000 Gen 2.
Appliance for appliance, the 5000 Plus lasts 4.9 times as long as the C1000 Gen 2.
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The price gap, in numbers
The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus costs $2,949.01 more than the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 and adds 4,016Wh: that is $0.73 per extra Wh, against $0.54 per Wh for the C1000 Gen 2.
Prices refresh daily from Anker US and Jackery US.What the $2,949.01 buys: 4,016Wh more battery, 240V output, 5,200W more AC power and 3,400W more solar input, plus a port for up to five extra packs.
Both carry 4,000-cycle ratings, but Anker counts them to 80% of capacity and Jackery to 70%, so the second card isn’t quite like for like. Budget extra for the 5000 Plus if you want it on a home panel: Jackery sells the Smart Transfer Switch separately, and Gear Diary’s reviewer paid an electrician to install his as a subpanel.
The third option: the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 at $999.99
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2: $999.99 today
If 1kWh is too little but you don’t need 240V: 2,048Wh and 2,400W at 120V from five 20A outlets plus a TT-30 for an RV, 800W of solar, a 10ms switchover, an 88-minute wall refill and one BP2000 Gen 2 for 4,096Wh, at 41.7 lb. It has no 240V outlet, so a 240V well pump still needs the 5000 Plus. Our C2000 Gen 2 review goes deeper. See the C2000 Gen 2 at Anker.
Eight modeled situations, worked out
Same formula as the calculator above: 85% of the rated capacity, no extra battery.
24-hour outage, essentials only
The C1000 Gen 2 covers an evening and a night; the 5000 Plus about two days, before any extra pack or solar.
A full-size fridge, alone
About 14 hours on the C1000 Gen 2, about three days on the 5000 Plus. CleanTechnica ran a fridge and gear over a four-day road trip in a Cybertruck, with a C1000 Gen 2 used as a buffer battery.
A 240V well pump
Only the 5000 Plus has 240V outlets. Gear Diary’s display showed under two hours of runtime at about 2,400W on a 1.5 hp pump, at 90% charge.
A window AC through a hot evening
The C1000 Gen 2 gives a little over an hour of cooling; the 5000 Plus most of a night. Compressor cycling stretches both.
Microwave, coffee maker and a space heater together
The C1000 Gen 2 runs one of them at a time, or the microwave and a small load. The 5000 Plus has room to spare, with 3,600W per pair of 120V outlets.
Refill from solar, each at its maximum
Both refill in a few hours of sun at their maximum, but the 5000 Plus’s maximum is a roof-scale array. Android Authority’s author gets 500 to 1,000Wh a day from one 500W panel in shade on his 5000 Plus.
Refill from the wall before a storm
The C1000 Gen 2 refills in 49 minutes with UltraFast on; MacRumors measured 49 minutes at about 1,200W. The 5000 Plus charges at 240V only through the Smart Transfer Switch, about 1.7 hours.
Carrying it
CleanTechnica lifted the C1000 Gen 2 with one hand. The 5000 Plus rolls on wheels, and Android Authority’s author says it usually takes two people to lift.
Ten more differences, the spec sheet and the box
Smaller gaps that rarely decide the purchase, then the full specifications and what ships in the box.
C1000 Gen 2 and Explorer 5000 Plus weight, dimensions and full specifications
Weight: 24.9 lb for the C1000 Gen 2 and 134.5 lb for the Explorer 5000 Plus. Dimensions: 15.1 × 8.2 × 9.6 in and 16.5 × 15.5 × 25 in. The 5000 Plus rolls on wheels; the C1000 Gen 2 is carried by hand.
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 and Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus full specifications
Every published figure for both units, grouped. Green marks the better value.
What’s in the box
C1000 Gen 2
- C1000 Gen 2 power station1,024Wh, 24.9 lb
- AC charging cable
- User manual
- Solar cable sold separately
Explorer 5000 Plus
- Explorer 5000 Plus5,040Wh, 134.5 lb
- AC charging cable
- MC4 wrench
- Smart Transfer Switch sold separately
From the Anker and Jackery US pages and manuals; the Smart Transfer Switch and the battery packs are sold separately.
07 · ChargingHow fast each one refills
Shorter bar, faster refill. Each row is scaled to its slower unit.
C1000 Gen 2: MacRumors recharged it to full in 49 minutes from a standard plug at about 1,200WExplorer 5000 Plus: Gear Diary saw about 1,400W in quiet charging mode; no standard 240V charging input
Our solar times assume panels deliver 70% of their rating; the brands’ figures assume ideal sun.
Every port, side by side
C1000 Gen 2
Explorer 5000 Plus
Practical consequence: the C1000 Gen 2 has five 120V outlets, two USB-C, two USB-A and a 12V socket. The 5000 Plus has four 20A outlets, two 240V outlets for a well pump or an RV, two USB-C, two USB-A and a 12V socket, plus ports for the Smart Transfer Switch and extra packs.
09 · NoiseNoise: C1000 Gen 2 vs 5000 Plus
Notebookcheck measured the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 at about 45dB at 1 m under high load, and reviewers found its fan loud near maximum. Jackery rates the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus at 30dB in Quiet Mode and 51.7dB at full load.
Anker’s 20dB has no conditions; Jackery’s figures are at 1 m.Every figure we found, with its source
What reviewers heard: Near maximum wattage the fan gets frustratingly loud (OutdoorGearLab); loud and irritating at full blast, only under heavy load (MacRumors).
What reviewers heard: Quiet charging, at about 1,400W, noticeably cuts the cooling fan noise (Gear Diary).
Measured by a tester Brand figure
- Charge during the day, or use the slower charging mode overnight: standard charging on the Anker, Quiet Charging on the Jackery.
Cold and heat: C1000 Gen 2 vs 5000 Plus
Neither charges below freezing. The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 runs down to −4°F and charges up to 104°F; the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus runs down to 5°F, at up to 3,600W below 14°F, and charges up to 113°F.
Figures from Anker US, Jackery US and the 5000 Plus US manual.5000 Plus: 3,600W max below 14°F
- Charge either one indoors in winter: neither charges below 32°F.
- On the C1000 Gen 2, UltraFast charging only engages above 68°F of battery temperature (Anker).
App, UPS and smart features
The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus adds a 0ms Online UPS, a home panel option and extra batteries. The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 keeps it simple: a 10ms switchover, a fast-charge mode and no battery port.
Both apps work over Wi-Fi and Bluetooth.Green zone: a switch under about 16ms, which most desktop PCs ride through without restarting.
Can you add a battery later? The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus takes up to five Battery Pack 5000 Plus. Anker dropped the battery port from the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2.
Does it connect to a home panel? The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus connects to Jackery’s Smart Transfer Switch for 12 circuits at 120V or 6 at 240V. Anker lists no panel integration for the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2.
Does it work as a UPS? The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 switches to battery in 10ms. The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus switches in under 20ms and also has a 0ms Online UPS on its four 120V outlets, up to 3,600W, switched on in the app.
Does it have a fast or quiet charging mode? The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 refills in 49 minutes with UltraFast, above 68°F of battery temperature. The Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus has a quiet charging mode rated at 30dB at 1 m; Gear Diary saw it charge at about 1,400W in that mode.
How does the app connect? Both connect over Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Gear Diary found the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus’s Wi-Fi needed a full power cycle to reconnect.
Warranty and support
Both get 5 years: the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 once registered with Anker, the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus from Jackery, with an optional paid 2-year extension.
Same 4,000 cycles, counted to 80% on the Anker and to 70% on the Jackery.Subject to each brand’s warranty terms and eligibility.
Anker rates the C1000 Gen 2 at 4,000 cycles to 80% capacity; Jackery rates the Explorer 5000 Plus at 4,000 cycles to 70%, a lower end point. Calendar aging and heat also reduce capacity, so read both as ceilings.
- Register the C1000 Gen 2 with Anker when it arrives: Anker’s registration page says that activates the 5-year coverage.
- On the 5000 Plus, decide on the paid 2-year extension at purchase, and charge it fully within 7 days and at least every 6 months to keep the cell coverage.
What reviewers report
We have not lab-tested these two units. Here is what 7 published reviews found, with the source, author and date for each point. Reviews of UK and EU units are flagged: those models charge from 230V outlets and have different sockets, so their charge times and outlet findings don’t carry over to US units.
C1000 Gen 2: OutdoorGearLab (July 2026), Notebookcheck (December 2025, EU unit), CleanTechnica (September 2025), MacRumors (December 2025), Techaeris (November 2025)Explorer 5000 Plus: Gear Diary (September 2026), Android Authority (September 2025 (updated January 2026))
Usable capacity
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Their load bank measured 890Wh of the rated 1,024Wh, about 87%, well above average. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, July 2026
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer At a steady 250W load (230V) it gave 850Wh, 83%, before stopping at 1%; lower with fluctuating loads. Notebookcheck, Marcus Schwarten, December 2025, EU unit
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Ran a full Mac setup (MacBook Pro, Studio Display, lights) for almost 24 hours. MacRumors, Juli Clover, December 2025
- 5000 PlusReviewer Running a 1.5 hp well pump, the display showed under two hours of runtime at 90% charge and about 2,400W. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer In the author’s own home, it ran all his essential appliances for about three to five days. Android Authority, Edgar Cervantes, September 2025 (updated January 2026)
Charging
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Without the app’s boost mode AC charging took just under 55 minutes; 1,110Wh flowed in. EU charging power, flag. Notebookcheck, Marcus Schwarten, December 2025, EU unit
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Recharged to full in 49 minutes from a standard plug, drawing about 1,200W; 1,600W needs enabling. MacRumors, Juli Clover, December 2025
- 5000 PlusReviewer Quiet charging mode runs at about 1,400W and noticeably cuts cooling fan noise. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer The reviewer’s biggest complaint: no standard 240V AC charging input, so a 240V portable generator cannot refill it directly. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer One SolarSaga 500X panel in a shaded forest location gives him about 500 to 1,000Wh per day. Android Authority, Edgar Cervantes, September 2025 (updated January 2026)
Noise and heat
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Near maximum wattage the fan gets frustratingly loud, an issue carried over from the first generation. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, July 2026
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Measured about 45dB at 1m under high output and fast AC charging; much quieter at low load. Notebookcheck, Marcus Schwarten, December 2025, EU unit
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer At very high charging rates the fans kick on loudly. CleanTechnica, Kyle Field, September 2025
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Fan noise at full blast is loud and irritating, but only under heavy load. MacRumors, Juli Clover, December 2025
UPS and output
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer It ran a refrigerator and gear flawlessly over a 4-day Cybertruck road trip used as a buffer battery. CleanTechnica, Kyle Field, September 2025
- 5000 PlusReviewer With the Smart Transfer Switch in UPS mode, the relay transfer takes around 20ms. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer If the switch is charging the battery when the grid drops, the delay grows to about one second. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer With UPS mode off, the Smart Transfer Switch takes about five seconds to switch to battery. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
Daily use and issues
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Measured weight 25.2 lb, one of the best power-to-weight ratios they have tested. OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, July 2026
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer Compared with Gen 1 it lost the expansion port and the built-in LED light. Notebookcheck, Marcus Schwarten, December 2025, EU unit
- C1000 Gen 2Reviewer At 24.9 lb it is easy to lift with one hand. CleanTechnica, Kyle Field, September 2025
- 5000 PlusReviewer Running the circuits through the battery in UPS mode loses roughly 15 to 25% of the energy. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer The unit’s Wi-Fi does not reconnect on its own; it needs a full power cycle to turn networking back on. Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026
- 5000 PlusReviewer At 134.5 lb it is hard to move and usually takes two people to carry. Android Authority, Edgar Cervantes, September 2025 (updated January 2026)
Practical limits before you buy
- The C1000 Gen 2 has no 240V output and no battery port.
- The C1000 Gen 2’s 49-minute refill needs UltraFast, which Anker says only engages above 68°F of battery temperature.
- The 5000 Plus weighs 134.5 lb. It rolls, but lifting it into a truck takes two people.
- 240V charging on the 5000 Plus needs the Smart Transfer Switch. On a plain outlet it charges at 120V, about 3.5 hours; Gear Diary missed a standard 240V input for a portable generator.
- The 5000 Plus is for indoor use per Jackery’s manual, and charges from 32°F only.
- Neither charges below freezing: the C1000 Gen 2 charges from 32°F to 104°F.
- C1000 Gen 2, per its US documentation: UltraFast charging only activates when battery temperature is above 68F (20C); charging at 32-68F is significantly slower.
- C1000 Gen 2, per its US documentation: USB-A and USB-C1 share a 20W total limit; only USB-C2 reaches 140W.
- C1000 Gen 2, per its US documentation: Not expandable; Anker recommends the original C1000 for users who need extra capacity.
- C1000 Gen 2, per its US documentation: Normal AC charging 1,200W max; AC bypass 1,800W max; solar 600W, 60V max.
- Explorer 5000 Plus, per its US documentation: When connected to the Smart Transfer Switch, the 120V AC input cannot charge the unit.
- Explorer 5000 Plus, per its US documentation: Bypass: 120V 12A max; L14-30R and 14-50 outlets cannot be used in bypass when charging from the wall cable.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Anker C1000 Gen 2 and the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus?
The C1000 Gen 2 stores 1,024Wh and delivers 2,000W at 120V, refills in 49 minutes, at 24.9 lb. The 5000 Plus stores 5,040Wh, delivers 7,200W at 120V and 240V, takes 4,000W of solar and up to five extra packs, at 134.5 lb.
Which is cheaper?
The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 costs $2,949.01 less today: $549.99, against $3,499 for the Jackery Explorer 5000 Plus. Prices refresh daily; the price section above has the full breakdown.
Can the C1000 Gen 2 run a 240V well pump?
No. It has five 120V outlets only. The 5000 Plus has a NEMA 14-50 and an L14-30R at 240V.
Can I add batteries to the C1000 Gen 2?
No, it has no battery port. The 5000 Plus takes up to five Battery Pack 5000 Plus, about 30kWh in all.
How long does each run a fridge?
About 15 hours on the C1000 Gen 2 and 71 on the 5000 Plus for a fridge averaging 60W, using 85% of capacity.
Do they work as a UPS?
The C1000 Gen 2 switches in 10ms. The 5000 Plus switches in under 20ms and also offers a 0ms Online UPS on its four 120V outlets, up to 3,600W.
Can the 5000 Plus connect to my house?
Yes, through Jackery’s Smart Transfer Switch, sold separately and installed by an electrician.
How much do they weigh?
24.9 lb for the C1000 Gen 2, per Anker, and 134.5 lb for the 5000 Plus, per Jackery.
Related comparisons and reviews
How we compared and sources
Research-based comparison. We have not lab-tested these units. Specs come from Anker’s US page and datasheet for the C1000 Gen 2 and Jackery’s US page, tech specs and US user manual for the Explorer 5000 Plus; usage observations are attributed to named reviewers. Prices and availability were checked on October 31, 2026.
- Specs: Anker US, C1000 Gen 2 and the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 datasheet; Jackery US, Explorer 5000 Plus, its tech specs and its US user manual, read on October 31, 2026.
- The 5000 Plus’s two 240V outlets are listed together on Jackery’s spec table (NEMA L14-30R/14-50, 30A, 7,200W); we count them as two outlets, as on its product photos.
- Reviewer reports on the C1000 Gen 2: OutdoorGearLab, Kenji Mowrey, July 2026, Notebookcheck, Marcus Schwarten, December 2025, EU unit, CleanTechnica, Kyle Field, September 2025, MacRumors, Juli Clover, December 2025, Techaeris, Alex Hernandez, November 2025; on the Explorer 5000 Plus: Gear Diary, M Thorne, September 2026, Android Authority, Edgar Cervantes, September 2025 (updated January 2026).
- Runtime = capacity × 0.85 ÷ watts. Solar harvest = min(panel watts, max input) × sun hours × 0.70. Cost per lifetime kWh = price ÷ (cycles × capacity in kWh).
1,024Wh at 120V and 24.9 lb against 5,040Wh at 120/240V and 134.5 lb; the C1000 Gen 2 refills in 49 minutes, the 5000 Plus grows to 30kWh.
Prices checked November 5, 2026 at 6:59 AM EST
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Originally published: November 3, 2026