Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 power station review: It’s smaller, lighter and charges faster than the original

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If you want reliable technology that works well without causing heartache when checking your bank account, Anker is your best friend. from Travel-friendly chargers to Huge projectorsAnker (and its Soundcore, Solix, and Eufy brand family) consistently delivers excellent, thoughtfully designed products that don’t cost a pitiful amount.

Power stations have become portable the A hot product lately, and for good reason. Who doesn’t want to keep their phone charged while camping or Wi-Fi router During a power outage? Anker has proven itself a leader in the world of portable power stations, and in testing, we found Solex C1000 Striking the perfect balance between ease of use and affordability. Now, Anker has released the Solix C1000 Gen 2, which comes with a few notable tweaks. Which is better? We put the new model to the test to determine which version will win our hearts (and… Tools).

Display features of Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2

The Gen 2 version of the Anker Solix C1000 looks like the original went to finishing school and came out with a new level of improvement. It’s a bit shinier, has a fancy LCD screen, two USB-C ports can now handle 140W, and it charges faster. Its charging capabilities have earned it a Guinness World Record for the fastest rechargeable portable power station in the 1000Wh category, clocking in at 49 minutes.

This fast time comes with an asterisk that you’ll need to head to the companion Anker app and activate the UltraFast recharge. Simply plugging it into an AC power source won’t be as fast. If you choose to recharge using solar panels, you can deliver up to 600 watts to get a full recharge in about 2 hours.

The LCD screen on the Solix C1000 Gen 2 is gorgeous and incredibly easy to use, especially for beginners. If you’re looking for a portable power station for camping, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 weighs less than 25 pounds, and the two side handles make this model incredibly portable. I found it easier to hold compared to the original Solix C1000.

It’s powerful enough to keep your refrigerator cool during a power outage and running your espresso machine in the morning. Its quiet operation of less than 20 dB when running at less than 200 watts means it’s great for a CPAP machine or for keeping an air purifier running in the kids room at night.

Anker has also upped its game with the Solix C1000 Gen 2 in terms of uninterruptible power supply (UPS), which comes in at just 10ms. This is useful if you will be running your desktop workstation and can’t afford to turn it off during a power outage. The same can be said about medical devices.

The layout of the ports on the Gen 2 is also great, and there’s ample space around each AC port to plug in larger chargers like camera batteries or rechargeable batteries.

The C1000 Gen 2 comes with a 1024Wh capacity and cannot accept an expansion battery. This is in contrast to the original C1000, which had a capacity of 1,056 Wh and could be connected to one additional battery, doubling the capacity for a total of 2,112 Wh. Here are some specifications to consider when determining if the Gen 2 Solix C1000 is right for your needs:

Specifications

• Capacity: 1,024 watt-hours

• Continuous Output: 2,000W pure sine wave

• Peak output: 3000 watts

• Weight: 24.9 pounds

• Dimensions: 15.1″L x 8.2″W x 9.6″H

• Power options: AC, USB-C (140W), USB-A

• Recharging options: grid power, solar power, car

• Battery type: LiFePO4 (Lithium Iron Phosphate)

• Cycles life: 80 percent capacity after 4000 cycles

How does the Solix C1000 Gen 2 compare to the original Solix C1000?

Anytime a brand offers an updated version, it’s helpful to compare the specifications closely. The original version shines in a few areas, while the updated second generation has some nice upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of the main differences:

Solex C1000

• List price: $999

• Power capacity: 1,056 watts per hour

• Peak output: 2000 watts

• UPS: 20 ms

• Weight: 28.44 pounds

• Dimensions: 14.8″L x 8.1″W x 10.5″H

• Light bar: yes

• Expandable: Yes

• AC recharge time: 58 minutes

• Port options: 6 AC, 2 USB-C (1 100W), 2 USB-A

Solex C1000 2nd generation

• List price: $799

• Power capacity: 1,024 watt-hours

• Peak output: 3000 watts

• UPS: 10 ms

• Weight: 24.9 pounds

• Dimensions: 15.1″L x 8.2″W x 9.6″H

• Light bar: No

• Expandable: No

• AC recharge time: 49 minutes

• Port options: 5 AC ports, 3 USB-C ports (2 140W), 1 USB-A

Overall, Anker has made some great improvements with the Solix C1000 Gen 2. It can recharge faster, is lighter and more compact, has higher peak output, and has a more responsive uninterruptible power supply (UPS). It also has dual 140W USB-C ports, while the original Solix C1000 ports up to 100W.

On the downside, the new second generation has slightly lower power compared to the original Solix C1000 motor: 1,024 watt-hours compared to 1,056 watt-hours in the original model. Anker has also removed the light bar in the new model, which is not compatible with the expansion battery. Presumably, Anker had to cancel these additions to reduce weight and size.

Total price is another key consideration. On list price alone, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 offers much better value as it costs $200 less. But if we’re honest, we rarely see any of these models sold at full price. They always have some sort of discount on Amazon.

In short, unless you can’t live without a light bar or you absolutely intend to add an expansion battery, the C1000 Gen 2 is probably your best bet. However, if one model is much cheaper than the other, we will choose whichever one is less expensive. The differences are subtle enough that many people won’t notice much of a difference at all.

Buyer beware: The Solix C1000 Gen 2 has two versions, one of which isn’t perfect

Life is hard enough these days that we don’t need to overcomplicate things. But Anker has done something kind of confusing here, and you’ll need to take a few minutes to fully examine which Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 you’re buying since there are two versions.

There’s the standard Solix C1000 Gen 2, which is what we tested, and it comes with a full-width LCD screen and five AC outlets. But there’s also the Anker Solix C1000X Gen 2. Notice the added “X” there. This “X” model, sold at some retailers including Best Buy, has a smaller LCD screen and only four AC outlets. Gut and other stats for both portable power stations are exactly the same. The Solix C1000 Gen 2 and Solix C1000X Gen 2 come at the same price, which leads us to discourage the C1000X Gen 2. You lose one AC port and get a smaller screen with the X version, so the C1000 Gen 2 works out to be a better value.

Is Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 worth buying?

The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 builds on the perfection of the original Solix C1000, but it’s lighter, charges faster, comes with 140W USB-C ports, and has a more user-friendly display. Its MSRP is lower, and at full price, the Gen 2 offers better value. However, if you prioritize the light bar, want the ability to add an expansion battery, or don’t care about spending an extra 10 minutes to get a full recharge, you’re better off using the original Solix C1000.

However, both models are very close in terms of performance and features, so most people should buy whichever model is currently cheaper. At the time of writing, the Anker Solix C1000 is seeing better discounts on Amazon. This is especially true during Prime Minister’s Day Events are when we saw the price drop to $375.

Ultimately, you can’t go wrong with any of the Anker Solix C1000 models. The brand simply offers solid, easy-to-use and affordable portable power.