Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Review
The most output per pound in the class, and the fastest recharge we found. Anker also removed two things the previous generation had.
The short answer
Buy it if you run high-wattage appliances. 2,000W continuous with a 3,000W peak from a 24.9 lb box is the widest load envelope per pound in this class, and the 49-minute full recharge is the fastest we found. The catch is that Anker removed expandability and dropped from six AC outlets to two compared with the previous C1000 — both real regressions if your needs are growing.
What it is good at
2,000W of continuous output is the headline, and it genuinely changes what the unit is for. A 1,500W kettle, an induction hob, a hair dryer, a full-size microwave, a circular saw — all of these are comfortably inside the envelope, with headroom left over for whatever else is plugged in. Nothing else at this weight comes close: the Jackery manages 1,500W and the BLUETTI 1,800W.
The 49-minute full recharge at up to 1,600W input is the second reason to choose it, and in practice it is worth more than a bigger battery would be. A unit that refills completely in under an hour behaves like a larger one across a multi-stop trip: an hour at a cafe, a campground pedestal or home between outings and you are back to full.
The 10 ms UPS switchover is the fastest published figure in our set, which makes this the best of these at doubling as a home backup between trips. Leave it inline with a router or a desktop and a brownout stops being an event. For a unit that would otherwise sit in a garage nine months a year, that is a real argument.
Solar input is 600W with a 60V ceiling — better than the Jackery's 400W, behind the DELTA 3 Plus's 1,000W, and enough for a two- or three-panel array.
Where it falls short
Two AC outlets. The previous C1000 has six. During an outage, or at a campsite running a fridge plus lights plus a charger, two is the constraint you notice every single time. A short strip fixes it and it should not need fixing.
No expansion. Anker's own FAQ for the Gen 2 confirms there is no expansion feature, where the previous C1000 takes a second 1,056Wh pack to reach 2,112Wh. For a van build or a growing home-backup setup, that is a dead end rather than an inconvenience.
Fast charging is not free. A 49-minute recharge means moving a lot of energy quickly, and that generates heat. Heat is the main accelerator of battery ageing. Use the fast charge when you need it and the slower profile when you do not — it is a feature, not a default worth using daily.
1,024Wh is slightly less battery than the Jackery's 1,070Wh or the BLUETTI's 1,152Wh. Marginal, but worth knowing that the output advantage does not come with a capacity advantage.
Gen 2 or the original C1000?
| C1000 Gen 2 | C1000 (previous) | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,024Wh | 1,056Wh |
| AC continuous | 2,000W | 1,800W |
| Surge / peak | 3,000W | 2,400W |
| Weight | 24.9 lb | 28.44 lb |
| AC outlets | 2 | 6 |
| Expandable | No | Yes, to 2,112Wh |
| Cycle rating | 80% after 4,000 | 3,000 to 80% |
| Recharge | Full in 49 min | 80% in 43 min |
| Solar input | 600W, 60V max | 600W, 11-60V MPPT |
In short: buy the Gen 2 for output, weight, cycle life and charging speed. Buy the original C1000 for outlets and expandability, which for a van or an RV are often the more useful properties. We recommend the older model on the car camping roundup and van life for exactly that reason.
How it compares elsewhere
Against the [Jackery Explorer 1000 v2](/reviews/jackery-explorer-1000-v2): 500W more output and a much faster recharge, for 1.1 lb and 46Wh. The Jackery is quieter and has a foldable handle; the Anker runs more things. Against the [BLUETTI AC180](/reviews/bluetti-ac180): 10.4 lb lighter with 200W more output, against 128Wh less battery and two fewer outlets.
Where it wins on this site
Best for high-draw appliances in the main roundup, best if you cook at camp in camping, best overall for tailgating, most output per pound in the lightweight roundup, and best surge headroom in refrigerators.
The picks in full
1. Most output per pound in the 1kWh class
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
- 1,024Wh
- LiFePO4 (InfiniPower LFP)
- 2,000W continuous / 3,000W surge
- 24.9 lb
- 600W
- 80% capacity after 4,000 cycles
- Full in 49 min (UltraFast, 1,600W max input)
- 5 years
2,000W continuous and a 3,000W peak from 24.9 lb is the widest appliance envelope per pound available at this size. Kettles, induction hobs, microwaves and power tools all run without thought, which is not true of any other 1kWh unit here.
The 49-minute full recharge is the underrated half of the package. It effectively multiplies the 1,024Wh across a trip, because any hour near an outlet puts the whole battery back. Combined with the fastest UPS switchover in our set at 10 ms, it is also the most useful of these units at home between trips.
What Anker took away matters as much as what it added. Two AC outlets instead of six, and no expansion battery where the previous generation had one. If your setup is static and high-draw, ignore both. If it is growing, they are the reason to buy the older model instead.
Reasons to buy
- 2,000W continuous, 3,000W peak — highest output per pound here
- Full recharge in 49 minutes at up to 1,600W input
- 10 ms UPS switchover, the fastest we found
- 600W solar input with a 60V ceiling
- 80% capacity after 4,000 cycles; 5-year warranty
Reasons to avoid
- Two AC outlets, down from six on the previous C1000
- Not expandable, unlike the previous generation
- 1,024Wh is slightly less battery than the Jackery or BLUETTI
- Fast charging generates heat, which shortens battery life over time
Buy it if: high-wattage appliances, fast turnarounds, and a setup that will not grow.
Skip it if: you want outlets or expansion. The previous-generation C1000 has both.
Questions