The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 power station is an upgraded and refined version of the original
If you want reliable tech that performs well without causing heartache when you check your bank account, Anker is your best friend. From travel-friendly chargers to massive projectors, Anker (and its brand family of Soundcore, Solix, and Eufy) consistently nails offering excellent products with thoughtful design that do not cost a sob-worthy amount.
Portable power stations have become the hot product recently, and that’s for good reason. Who doesn’t want to keep their phone charged while camping or the WiFi router on during a power outage? Anker has proven itself to be a leader in the portable power station world, and in testing, we found the Solix C1000 to strike the perfect balance between usability and affordability. Now, Anker has released the Solix C1000 Gen 2, which comes with a handful of noticeable tweaks. Which one is better? We put the new model to the test to decide which version wins our charged-up hearts (and gadgets).
Show-off features of the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2
The Gen 2 version of the Anker Solix C1000 feels like the original went to a finishing school and came out with a new level of refinement. It’s a bit shinier, has a fancy LCD display, two of its USB-C ports can now handle 140W, and it charges quicker. Its charging capabilities have earned it a Guinness World Record for the fastest recharging portable power station in the 1,000Wh category, clocking in at a time of 49 minutes.
This whizzing-fast time comes with the asterisk that you’ll need to head into the accompanying Anker app and activate UltraFast recharging. Simply plugging it into AC wall power won’t be quite as quick. If you opt for recharging with solar panels, you can connect up to 600W to get a full recharge in about two hours.
The LCD display on the Solix C1000 Gen 2 is slick, and it’s incredibly user-friendly, especially for beginners. If you’re searching for a portable power station to take camping, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 weighs just under 25 pounds, and the two side handles make this model incredibly portable. I found it easier to carry compared to the original Solix C1000.
It’s powerful enough to keep your refrigerator cooling during a power outage and operate the espresso machine in the morning. Its quiet operation of under 20 decibels when powering at under 200W means it’s awesome for a CPAP machine or keeping the air purifier going in the nursery at night.
Anker also upped its game with the Solix C1000 Gen 2 in terms of uninterrupted power supply (UPS), which comes in at just 10 milliseconds. That’s handy if you’ll be powering your desktop workstation and can’t afford for it to power off during an outage. The same could be said for medical devices.
The layout of the ports on the Gen 2 is also great, and there’s ample space around each AC outlet to plug in chunkier chargers like camera batteries or rechargeable batteries.
The C1000 Gen 2 comes with 1,024Wh of capacity, and it cannot accept an expansion battery. That’s in contrast to the original C1000, which has 1,056Wh and can be connected to one additional battery, which doubles the capacity for a total of 2,112Wh. Here are some specs to study when deciding if the Gen 2 Solix C1000 is a good fit for your needs:
Specs
Capacity: 1,024Wh
Continuous output: 2,000W pure sine wave
Peak output: 3,000W
Weight: 24.9 pounds
Dimensions: 15.1 in. L × 8.2 in. W × 9.6 in. H
Power options: AC, USB-C (140W), USB-A
Recharging options: Grid power, solar, car
Battery type: LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate)
Life cycles: 80 percent capacity after 4,000 cycles
How does the Solix C1000 Gen 2 compare to the original Solix C1000?
Any time a brand offers an updated version, it’s worth closely comparing the specs. The original shines in a few areas, while the updated Gen 2 has some fancy upgrades. Here’s a breakdown of key differences:
Solix C1000
List price: $999
Power capacity: 1,056Wh
Peak output: 2,000W
UPS: 20 ms
Weight: 28.44 pounds
Dimensions: 14.8 in. L × 8.1 in. W × 10.5 in. H
Light bar: Yes
Expandable: Yes
AC recharging time: 58 minutes
Port options: 6 AC, 2 USB-C (1 at 100W), 2 USB-A
Solix C1000 Gen 2
List price: $799
Power capacity: 1,024Wh
Peak output: 3,000W
UPS: 10 ms
Weight: 24.9 pounds
Dimensions: 15.1 in. L × 8.2 in. W × 9.6 in. H
Light bar: No
Expandable: No
AC recharging time: 49 minutes
Port options: 5 AC, 3 USB-C (2 at 140W), 1 USB-A
Overall, Anker made some great improvements with the Solix C1000 Gen 2. It can recharge quicker, is lighter and more compact, has a higher peak output, and has a more responsive uninterruptible power supply (UPS). It also has dual 140W USB-C ports, whereas the original Solix C1000 tops out at 100W.
On the downside, the new Gen 2 holds slightly less power compared to the original Solix C1000: 1,024Wh compared to 1,056Wh on the original. Anker also removed the lightbar on the new model, and it’s not compatible with an expansion battery. Presumably, Anker had to axe these extras to cut down on weight and size.
The overall price is another major consideration. On list price alone, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 offers a much better value since it costs $200 less. But if we’re being honest, we hardly ever see either of these models selling at full price. They’re almost always at some discount on Amazon.
Boiled down, unless you cannot live without a lightbar or you fully intend on adding an expansion battery, the C1000 Gen 2 is likely your best bet. However, if one model is significantly cheaper than the other, we’d opt for whichever is less expensive. The differences are slight enough that many people won’t notice much difference at all.
Buyer beware: the Solix C1000 Gen 2 has two versions, and one is not ideal
Life is hard enough these days that we do not need to overcomplicate things. But Anker has done something kind of confusing here, and you’ll need to take a few moments to fully inspect which Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 you’re buying because 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 ports. But then there’s also the Anker Solix C1000X Gen 2. Take note of the added “X” on there. This “X” model, sold at some retailers including Best Buy, has a smaller LCD screen and only four AC ports. The guts and other stats of both portable power stations are exactly the same. Both the Solix C1000 Gen 2 and the Solix C1000X Gen 2 come with the same price tag, which leads us to discourage going with the C1000X Gen 2. You lose one AC port and get a smaller display with the X version, so the C1000 Gen 2 works out to be a better value.
Is the 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 quicker, 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 a better value. However, if you prioritize a lightbar, want the ability to add an expansion battery, or you don’t care about spending an extra 10 minutes to get a full recharge, you’re probably better off with the original Solix C1000.
All that being said, both models are so close in performance and features that most people should simply buy whichever model is currently cheaper. At the time of writing, the Anker Solix C1000 has seen better discounts at Amazon. That’s especially true during Prime Day events when we’ve seen the price drop all the way to $375.
In the end, you cannot go wrong with either Anker Solix C1000 model. The brand simply nails offering solid portable power that’s user-friendly and affordable.
