Anker Solix review: I used this portable power station to run everything from a fridge to my car
Power outages can be a temporary inconvenience but when they are frequent or longer, I need solutions that keep my family calm and comfortable. This is how I first became interested in portable power stations.
Unlike gas generators, portable power stations can be used safely indoors and charge ahead of time with a wall outlet or solar panels to store energy for later. I wanted a powerful unit that could keep me comfortable — be it a space heater or a fan — and plugged in to my devices, and power appliances I couldn't live without, like a fridge or a coffee maker. Their uses, however, can go far beyond emergency power outages, with applications well-suited for wherever you need untethered electricity like temporary off-grid living, camping or entertaining in your own backyard. I tested the Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station, a versatile unit for home backup and RVs that has enough outlets and capacity to power several appliances at once (6,000 watts to be precise).
After six months, I'm impressed. Beyond testing its limits, a buddy borrowed it when he lost electricity and wanted to save the food in his fridge. It was a pain to schlep up to his second-floor apartment, but the power station saved hundreds of dollars on lost groceries. Below, I'll go into more detail about my experiences with the Anker Solix F3800, who it's best for, and your alternatives.
Design
The Anker Solix F3800 packs a lot of power into a relatively small footprint. Its boxy, vertical design is roughly the size of a mini fridge, requiring less than two square feet of space. The attractive, neat appearance makes it suitable for storing anywhere without standing out as an eyesore. It's undoubtedly heavy at 132 pounds, but heavy-duty wheels and a telescoping handle make moving around on a level surface a breeze.
This power station has tons of output options to maximize versatility:
Six standard grounded (three-prong) AC outlets
A NEMA L14-30R AC outlet (commonly used for dryers)
A NEMA 14-50 AC outlet (commonly used for RVs and EVs)
Three USB-C ports
Two USB-A ports
Car socket outlet (like the car cigarette lighter of yesteryear)
Of particular note is that you don't need an additional 240-volt adapter to use heavy appliances, like ovens, EV charging, or dryers. You can plug them directly into the appropriate outlets on the unit. This versatility makes the Anker Solix F3800 an effective option for garage workshops, emergency home backup, outdoor events, and RV use.
Capacity and performance
The Anker Solix F3800's base capacity is impressive at 3,840 watt-hours (Wh), which basically means you could run a 3,840W appliance for an hour with it. Fortunately, most appliances are well under that size, so you can run them for several hours. We'll get into examples below.
You can purchase expansion batteries from Anker for up to 53,800Wh, so you can slowly build up your home's power backup over time. With the base capacity, you'll have enough power to run essential home appliances for several hours and even days, depending on the usage.
To test this, I plugged a mini fridge, fan, and light into the fully charged Anker and timed how long the unit could run before the battery was depleted. The appliances — a combined 170W — operated flawlessly for 20 hours before the power station ran out of juice, which should be long enough for most power outages. For instance, CPAP users can expect the Anker to power their machine for about 55 hours.
Using a Kill-A-Watt meter, I measured a total output of 3,300Wh before depletion, which falls slightly short of the advertised capacity of 3,840Wh. Yet, this 86% usable capacity is fairly normal for power stations. For example, I put the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus through the same test, and its usable capacity was slightly less (82%).
Next, I plugged in multiple power-hungry appliances — like trying to run a toaster, coffee maker, refrigerator, and microwave simultaneously. Only, I used even higher-wattage appliances: space heaters and air fryers ranging from 1,500W to 1,700W each. I could run two space heaters and an air fryer, about 4,700W, without any problem. But, it's like filling a bucket — the power station can handle 6,000W total (the size of the bucket). So, when we added the fourth appliance, it overfilled the 6,000W capacity. Instead of breaking, it turned itself off and gave an "overload" warning.
Charging capabilities
The Anker Solix power station has various charging methods. The easiest is just plugging it into your wall outlet. You can adjust how quickly it charges in the app. I kept it at maximum speed, 1800W, and it consistently charged from empty to fully charged in 2 hours and 30 minutes.
It can handle up to 2,400W solar charging input, which would fully charge the unit from empty in about 90 minutes. While the Anker comes with solar charging cables, the solar panels cost extra at about $765 for a 400W panel. I tested this panel and couldn't get to the 400W input. The most I achieved was 320W, which would charge the station from empty to full in about 12 hours. However, as the sun inched closer to the horizon, the charging slowed significantly.
You can also charge the F3800 by connecting it to your car's auxiliary port (like the car cigarette lighter of yesteryear). However, the connecting cable doesn't come with the station, and this method is incredibly slow: just 120W or about 30 hours to fully charge from empty.
The battery's lifecycle is 3,000 charging cycles. To put this in context, if you only used the power station to run the minifridge, fan, and light from our capacity test — constantly draining the battery and recharging it 24 hours a day — it would take over seven years to get through 3,000 charging cycles.
User interface and usability
Setting up the Anker Solix F3800 was a breeze thanks to the plug-and-play operation right out of the box. It has a two-step power activation process. I had to press the power button and activate the AC output before my appliances received power. This is an important safeguard that protects the unit from being engaged accidentally and draining the juice.
The companion app (available for iOS and Android) enhances the Anker F3800's utility with detailed power consumption data and remaining runtime estimates from anywhere. The app connects to the power station over Bluetooth and WiFi to provide useful monitoring, but it's worth noting that internet connectivity might be unavailable during a power outage or while traveling. Fortunately, Bluetooth has you covered when you're within range.
The on-unit controls are intuitive, and the LED screen is easy to read and understand. It displays the current power consumption rate, estimated remaining runtime, and charge percentage.
Expandability and long-term use
With its 3,840Wh output, the Anker F3800 is a great short-term home backup option. It'll keep your refrigerator and other everyday appliances running for several hours. However, for longer-term outages that last several days, you'll need more power. Fortunately, the Anker power stations are expandable.
You can connect up to 14 batteries for a total of 53,800Wh, which should keep your home running for two weeks. For $400 extra, Anker offers a home backup kit with the F3800 that connects it directly to your home's grid.
You may go months without a power outage, so I looked at how much power the Anker Solix F3800 lost while in storage. After being left unattended for two months, the power station maintained 100% of its charge.
Cons to consider
The Anker Solix F3800 is only barely portable. At 132 pounds, it's hard to move up and down stairs by yourself. Fortunately, it features durable handles and heavy-duty wheels to assist with moving it on level surfaces. As a home backup option, you'll mainly want to keep the power station in one place. I encountered issues carrying it up and down the stairs alone. I recommend having someone help you when bringing it to remote locations or when stairs are involved. An extra handle facilitates two-person carrying.
Solar charging may not be practical for many users. When I initially tried to test the solar panels (which are an added cost to an already expensive item), it was the dead of winter, and sunny days were hard to come by. Even when sunny, I needed significant time to charge the power station. In an emergency, you may not have the luxury of several hours to charge it.
Anker advertises that the F3800 can charge an electric vehicle, so I used it to charge my Chevy Bolt EUV. My car drained the fully charged power station to empty in three hours and only added 6 miles to the range. I can only imagine this being useful in extreme situations.
What are your alternatives?
The first alternative that comes to mind is the Anker Solix F3800 Plus, launched earlier this year. At $600 more than the baseline F3800, the Plus adds gas generator charging capabilities and supports faster solar and wall-outlet charging. Anker also offers a wide array of other portable power stations of various sizes.
Anker is relatively new to portable power stations. Generally, you want to look for brands with a track record. Two popular brands that have been around for a while are Goal Zero and Jackery. While we haven't tested it yet, the Goal Zero Yeti 6000X weighs less than the Anker F3800 (120 pounds versus 132) and offers about 2,000Wh more capacity. However, it costs $1,400 more and charges much slower when plugged into the wall.
Another option worth considering is the Jackery Explorer 3000 Pro. I've only tested the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus, which was incredibly user-friendly but small potatoes compared to the 3000 Pro, which costs $700 less than the Anker F3800, weighs half as much, and has a little less capacity (3,024Wh). However, it's not expandable.
For more recommendations, check out our guide to the best portable generators, which includes a combination of power stations and gas-powered generators. For the differences between the two, see our article on portable generators versus power stations.
The bottom line
At $3,999 — but often marked down to $2,799 — the Anker Solix F3800 Portable Power Station is a significant investment, but its expandability, versatile charging, and output options make it a smart solution for homeowners who want to prepare for power outages or give you portable power for temporary use, perhaps in a backyard, garage or even camping. While it's heavy, the wheels aid with portability. Plus, the intuitive app and on-unit controls are easy for anyone to operate. RV enthusiasts will also find the Anker Solix F3800 useful, though folks who want to use it in remote, hard-to-access locations as a long-term power source may want to look elsewhere.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Forbes
9 hours ago
- Forbes
Eufy Smart Display E10 Gives You A Security Cam Overview
The new Eufy Smart Display S10 Chinese smart home specialist Eufy - part of the Anker Innovations Technology group - has officially unveiled the Smart Display E10; a touchscreen controller designed to make management of an Eufy smart security system easier. The Smart Display E10 is essentially an 8-inch tablet, with a 1280 × 800 LCD touch screen display, powered by a 4,050mAh battery (which charges via USB-C) that lasts for 24 hours on a single charge. You'll get a charging station in the box, as well as a wall mount. Unlike the Amazon Echo Hub and, to an extent the Aqara Panel Hub S1 Plus, which work with multiple third-party branded devices, the S10 is designed to work exclusively with Eufy's ever-expanding arsenal of security cameras and doorbells. However, because it's locked into solely the Eufy system, and doesn't open its doors to the likes of Sonos, Hue and Ring, it does beg the question as to why you'd pay $200 for a new device when an app on on existing iPad or Android tablet could do the job? The answer probably lies in the fact that, if you have one of Eufy's latest HomeBase hubs in your home, the S10 will be able to give you threaded snapshots of activity. A 'Sunrise Summary' in the morning and a 'Twilight Recap' in the evening are on offer, tapping into the AI tracking smarts that Eufy introduced a couple of years back. This AI software grabs footage captured from multiple Eufy cameras to provide edited clips, to create videos of the same event and/or person, organized chronologically into a single clip. The Smart Display S10 will also provide live feeds from a Eufy video doorbell when motion is detected, or someone rings the bell. There's 8GB of storage on board and you can expand that with a microSD card (512GB max). Connectivity is dual-band Wi-Fi 6. Pre-sales for the $199.99 S10 are live now from Eufy direct and it will also land on Amazon later this month too. Shipping is expected to begin on June 30th.
Engadget
a day ago
- Engadget
Amazon Prime Day 2025: The best early deals you can shop now, dates and everything else you need to know
Amazon Prime Day 2025 will be here soon on July 8-11, but as to be expected, you can already find some decent sales available now. Amazon always has lead-up sales in the days and weeks before Prime Day, and it's wise to shop early if you're on the hunt for something specific and you see that item at a good discount. Prime Day deals are typically reserved for subscribers, but there are always a few that anyone can shop. We expect this year to be no exception, and we're already starting to see that trend in these early Prime Day deals. These are the best Prime Day deals you can get right now ahead of the event, and we'll update this post with the latest offers as we get closer to the official days of Prime Day. Audible Premium Plus (three months) for $3 ($42 off): New subscribers can get three months of Audible for only $3, which represents a $42 discount. The Premium Plus tier gives you one book credit per month to use on any audiobook the service has, and you can stream any of the included titles for free on top of that. Audible also has members-only sales and discounts that you'll be able to take advantage of, too. The deal runs through July 31. Anker 313 wireless charging stand for $14 (29 percent off): One of our top picks for the best wireless chargers, Anker's 313 stand keeps things simple but effective. Just plop your phone down on its wide stand to get up to 10W of fast-charging power. It supports both portrait and landscape orientation for your phone, and it'll work with cases up to 5mm thick. 8BitDo Micro Bluetooth gamepad for $17 (33 percent off): This cute controller works with Switch, Android and Raspberry Pi devices, and it has 16 buttons that can be customized with mapping using 8BitDo's mobile software. Samsung SmartTag 2 for $18.50 (38 percent off): Samsung users looking to keep track of their stuff need look no further than the SmartTag 2. One of our top picks for the best Bluetooth trackers, this accessory easily attaches to keys, bags and other items and uses Samsung's large finding network to show you their last known location. Anker 633 10K magnetic battery pack for $43 (28 percent off, Prime exclusive): This 10K battery pack attaches magnetically to the backs of iPhones, making it easy to recharge while on the go. It also has a built-in kickstand for easy video watching or FaceTime calling while powering up. Soundcore Space A40 wireless earbuds for $45 (44 percent off): The Space A40 are some of the best budget wireless earbuds you can get right now, thanks to excellent ANC performance for their price, a pleasant sound profile, a comfortable fit and multi-device connectivity. They also have a solid eight-hour battery life, plus an extra 40 with their charging case. Apple AirPods 4 for $99 at Amazon ($30 off): Apple's wireless earbuds don't have the best sound quality or battery life, and this entry-level model lacks wireless charging, Find My tracking and onboard volume controls. But it still gets you tons of Apple-friendly features — from fast pairing with iCloud devices to spatial audio to hands-free Siri — and its lightweight design should fit most ears better than previous AirPods. Apple iPad (A16) for $299 at Amazon ($50 off): The latest base model iPad comes with a faster A16 chip, 2GB more RAM and 128GB of storage as standard. It earned a score of 84 in our review — if you only need an iPad for roaming the internet, watching shows and doing some lighter productivity tasks, it's a good starter tablet. Apple Mac Mini M4 for $469 ($130 off): If you prefer desktops, the upgraded M4 Mac mini is one that won't take up too much space, but will provide a ton of power at the same time. Not only does it come with an M4 chipset, but it also includes 16GB of RAM in the base model, plus front-facing USB-C and headphone ports for easier access. Apple Watch Series 10 for $329 ($70 off): We consider Apple's flagship wearable to be the best smartwatch you can buy, period. It's a mostly iterative update, with faster charging, a slightly slimmer design and a marginally larger display than the prior Series 9. That said, it's still a comprehensive fitness tracker, and no other smartwatch can integrate as neatly with iPhones and other Apple devices. Ring Doorbell Battery + Indoor Cam 2 for $70 (50 percent off): If you're looking to build out a security system in your home, this bundle is a good place to start, giving you a video doorbell and an indoor security camera. You'll be able to see both live feeds in the Ring app, and they can send you motion alerts and let you speak to people on the other end of the camera when you're not at home. Anker MagGo 3-in-1 charging station for $82 (25 percent off): A top pick in our guide to the best multi-device wireless chargers, this Anker power station can charge a phone, pair of earbuds and smartwatch all at once. It's primarily built for Apple devices, with a built-in Apple Watch charger and a neat space for AirPods. It's a solid option for frequent travelers thanks to the fact that it folds up to roughly the size of a deck of cards when not in use. Levoit LVAC-200 cordless vacuum cleaner for $150 (25 percent off): One of our top picks for the best cordless vacuums, this Levoit machine picks up a good amount of dirt, debris and pet hair considering its size and cost. It's pretty lightweight and has a convenient single-button start, plus it can be quickly disassembled for easy storage. Blink Outdoor 4 security cameras (five-camera system) for $160 (60 percent off): Get enough security cameras to outfit most of your home with this bundle. The Outdoor 4 cams are some of our favorites; you can use them indoors or outdoors, they supports 1080p video, motion alerts, local video storage when you employ a thumb drive with the Sync Module 2 that comes with the pack and they're totally wireless, running on two AA batteries each. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 for $200 ($50 off): The latest Powerbeats Pro earbuds have a comfier design and powerful bass performance that's sure to keep you hyped during a workout. These are Apple's first wireless earbuds with built-in heart rate monitoring, too, but that will likely only appeal to those who intend on using these buds primarily while working out. GoPro Hero 13 Black action camera for $329 ($100 off): Our favorite action camera for most people, the Hero 13 Black now works with a family of module lenses, making it even more versatile than models that came before it, plus it has a larger battery that supports longer capture times. On top of that, it has good digital stabilization, a full-color screen and excellent image quality. Eufy E20 3-in-1 robot vacuum for $380 (42 percent off): One of Eufy's latest machines and a top pick of ours for the best robot vacuums, the E20 can putter around your home automatically, sucking up dirt and debris in its path. But then it can quickly transform into a cordless or handheld vacuum, allowing you to clean hard-to-reach spots manually. Sony WH-1000XM6 headphones + $30 Amazon gift card for $448 ($30 off): Sony's newest pair of premium cans just came out not too long ago, and they promptly took the top spot in our best wireless headphones guide. The company managed to improve sound quality and ANC this time around, plus they have an even comfier design and loads of extra features like multi-device connectivity, Speak-to-Chat and more. LG 42-inch C4 evo OLED smart TV for $700 (20 percent off): This 2024 OLED TV has over eight million self-lit pixels, a 144Hz refresh rate and support for NVIDIA G-Sync, AMD FreeSync Premium and VRR for gaming. It's powered by LG's a9 AI processor Gen7, and it has Alexa built in as well. Prime Day is Amazon's members-only shopping event, which means you'll have to be a Prime subscriber on Prime Day to take advantage of most of the savings. Amazon still offers a 30-day free trial to new Prime subscribers, so you can start your free trial closer to July and participate in the event. Amazon Prime Day 2025 will be back this year on July 8 through July 11. Amazon Prime Day typically comes around annually in July. In the last few years, Amazon has also had its "Big Deal Days" in October, which is effectively a second Prime Day and the unofficial kickoff to the holiday shopping season. Prime subscribers can go to Amazon's site on Prime Day to see all of the exclusive deals they have access to. Prime subscribers do not have to do anything additional to get Prime Day sales: the discounts you see on product pages will show up in your cart automatically. If you're not a Prime subscriber and you go to Amazon to shop on Prime Day, you'll likely see tons of items on sale but only "with Prime;" those discounts will not be available to those who are not active Prime subscribers. Technically yes, but even if you do not pay for a Prime membership, you should still check out Amazon on Prime Day. While most Prime Day deals will be exclusively available to subscribers, there are always a handful of sales available to all shoppers. Amazon distinguishes between them very clearly: you'll see "Prime exclusive" on product pages near the deal pricing on the discounts that are only available to paying members. Separately, it's very likely that other retailers like Walmart, Target and Best Buy will have their own competing Prime Day sales during that time frame, too. So if you're not keen on shopping at Amazon at all, it's worth checking out other retailers during the week of Prime Day to see if they are matching Prime Day deal prices.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
Grab this 4-port Anker 140W charger for less as it drops to one of its best prices
Just a quick search for chargers on Amazon will give you hundreds of options, which can make it harder to choose the right one if you're looking for something new. Luckily, going with one of the best when it's on sale is usually going to be a pretty solid option, especially when you're talking about a product from Anker. Anker's been around for a long time, and offers a huge variety of high-quality charging accessories. We like this 140W model because it not only looks sleek with its informative display, but it also has tons of power out and lots of ports. Best of all, it's now on sale for a limited time, with Amazon dropping $20 from its usual retail price thanks to a special coupon, which is just shy of a few dollars from its lowest price. As you can probably tell, we're definitely a fan of this charger. Not only are you getting impressive output with a maximum of 140W, but you're also getting four ports total, which means you can easily charge multiple devices at once if needed. This charger is versatile, making it great for your home, office, or travel. What makes this charger stand out from the rest is the display. You get real-time stats about your charger, showing temperatures, charging speeds, and outputs. The charger can even show the lifetime operating time, and can also change the orientation of the screen from landscape to vertical, depending on how it's plugged in. The best part is that Anker also throws in a 240W USB-C to USB-C cable that can be used for all your devices. And since this is an Anker product, you get a long 18-month warranty on the charger just in case you need support along the way. Overall, not a bad price for a robust charger that can do it all. Plus, you get a 240W USB-C cable as an added bonus.
