Welcome to my comparison video between the Anker 757 powerhouse and the Jackery Explorer 1000 portable power stations. In this blog, I’ll be looking at the differences between these two popular options for portable power to help you decide which may be the better choice for your needs.
We won’t bore you with an unboxing, but I’ll highlight some of the key specs, features, and differences between the Anker and Jackery models. This isn’t intended as a Jackery bashing video by any means – the Explorer 1000 has served people well for outdoor adventures and event power – but I want to look at how the newer Anker 757 stacks up and what it offers over the Jackery.
There are some important differences, especially when it comes to battery technology and weight which can impact portability. I’ll also look at charging speeds, outputs, size comparisons and ideal use cases. My goal is to give you an informed look at how these two portable power stations compare so you can determine the better fit for your needs. Let’s dive in!
Spec Overview
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Capacity
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The Jackery Explorer 1000 has a capacity of 1002 watt hours
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The Anker 757 Powerhouse has a larger capacity of 1229 watt hours, which is roughly equivalent to the Jackery 1000 plus a smaller 500 watt hour Jackery unit
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Power Output
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The Jackery can provide 1000 watts of continuous power and 2000 watts surge power
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The Anker has a higher power output of 1500 watts continuous and 2400 watts surge power
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Ports
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The Jackery has 2 AC outlets, a car 12V port, and various USB ports
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The Anker also has 2 AC outlets, a car 12V port, and multiple USB ports including high wattage USB-C ports
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Battery Tech
The Jackery Explorer 1000 uses lithium-ion batteries with a nickel-manganese-cobalt chemistry. On the other hand, the Anker 757 Powerhouse utilizes lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries.
Lithium-ion batteries have a higher energy density, so you can fit roughly twice as much power capacity in the same space compared to LFP batteries. However, lithium-ion batteries also have some disadvantages:
- They are less inherently stable and more prone to thermal runaway issues if overheated or damaged. LFP batteries are much less likely to catch fire.
- Lithium-ion batteries degrade faster over time and have a shorter overall lifespan. LFP batteries can survive many more charge/discharge cycles.
- LFP batteries perform better in extreme temperatures. Lithium-ion batteries lose significant capacity in very cold weather.
So in summary, lithium-ion batteries offer more power for the size and weight, but have safety and longevity drawbacks. LFP batteries are safer and longer-lasting but much heavier for an equivalent capacity. It’s a trade-off between power density and stability.
Anker Significantly Heavier Than Jackery
The Anker 757 powerhouse weighs 47 lbs, which is over twice as heavy as the Jackery Explorer 1000 at only 20 lbs! This massive difference in weight is directly attributed to the different battery technologies used.
The Jackery utilizes lithium-ion batteries with nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry. These have a very high energy density, packing a lot of power into a small, lightweight package.
In contrast, the Anker uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries. While LFP batteries have the advantage of increased safety and longer cycle life, their much lower energy density results in the Anker weighing more than twice as much for the same capacity.
So if you plan to take your portable power station on the go, especially if you’ll be moving it often, the extra 25+ lbs of the Anker 757 could become a significant burden. The Jackery 1000 gives you solid capacity in a package that’s still reasonable to carry.
However, for stationary installs like off-grid cabins where weight isn’t an issue, the Anker’s safer LFP chemistry and additional long-term durability from more recharge cycles become more attractive tradeoffs. It just depends on your use case and priorities between cutting weight or extending battery life.
Charging
The Anchor 757 Powerhouse has an extremely fast recharge time compared to the Jackery Explorer 1000. The Anchor can charge from 0% to 80% in just 1 hour, whereas the Jackery takes around 5.5 hours to charge from 0% to 80%. This rapid recharge ability makes the Anchor much more convenient to top up when you need a quick boost of power.
For solar charging, both units have a maximum solar input of 300W. However, the Anchor can charge from 0% to 100% from solar in just 3.6 hours. The Jackery does not specify a solar recharge time, likely because it takes significantly longer. With good sunlight, the Anchor can fully recharge in less than a day through solar panels. This makes solar charging a much more practical way to keep the Anchor topped up during outdoor use.
The Anchor also has advanced smart charging technology that allows simultaneous charging from multiple sources like AC, solar, and car outlets. This means you can combine input from all sources to achieve the fastest possible recharge time. The Jackery does not recommend charging while simultaneously drawing power, reducing its flexibility.
Overall, the Anchor has vastly superior recharging capabilities. Its rapid recharge times, solar charging speed, and smart charging features put it well ahead of the Jackery in this crucial category for portable power stations.
Features
The Anchor 757 powerhouse has several useful features for powering devices in the field.
Displays
It has a large LCD display that shows the remaining battery percentage, power draw, and estimated runtime in hours. This runtime estimate is especially handy, as you can see how many hours your connected devices have left before the battery dies. The Jackery Explorer 1000 lacks this runtime display.
Lights
While the Jackery has a small LED light, the Anchor 757 has a long LED strip that provides 2-4 watts of warm white light. The anchor light can also be flashed in SOS mode for emergencies. This could be useful when camping or working in low light conditions.
Power Saving Mode
Both units have a power saving mode that turns off the AC outlets after a period of inactivity to conserve battery. However, the Anchor 757 has a switch to disable this for devices like fridges that cycle on and off. This prevents the power from switching off when the fridge compressor kicks back on after its off period. The Jackery lacks an override switch, so you can’t use it as reliably for appliances with intermittent power draw.
Size Comparison
Let’s do a size comparison of the two power stations. The Jackery Explorer 1000 measures 29.3 x 20.8 x 22.7 inches (L x W x H), while the Anker 757 PowerHouse is slightly larger at 47 x 24 x 29 inches.
So in terms of height and depth, they are pretty similar at around 29 inches tall and 24 inches deep. The main difference is in length – the Anker unit is quite a bit longer at 47 inches, compared to the more compact 29 inches of the Jackery.
This difference makes sense given the Anker’s increased battery capacity and power output. The tradeoff is more power capability but a larger overall footprint. Depending on your use case and space constraints, the extra length may or may not be an issue. But both units are still reasonably portable given their high capacity.
The Anker is definitely heavier at about 44 lbs, versus the Jackery’s 22 lbs. Again, this comes back to the different battery tech resulting in increased weight. So if you plan to move the power station around a lot, the Jackery’s lighter weight could be a notable advantage.
In summary, the size and dimensions are reasonably comparable, with the Anker being larger and heavier overall. But this allows it to pack in more battery capacity and power capability. So it depends if you prefer maximum portability or maximum power.
Ideal Uses
The Anker 757 Powerhouse is well-suited for most camping and outdoor activities thanks to its large power capacity and versatility. Here are some ideal use cases along with its capabilities and limitations:
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Powering appliances and devices on camping trips or overland adventures. It can easily run small appliances like mini fridges, portable fans, phone/laptop chargers, LED lights, and more. However, it cannot power larger appliances over 1000W.
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Emergency power backup at home. It provides reliable backup power to keep essentials like phones, laptops, lights, and small medical devices running during outages. But it cannot power an entire home.
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Off-grid cabins/tiny homes. Excellent for providing power in remote cabins or off-grid tiny homes. Can run lights, appliances, entertainment, etc but not large power draws like electric heating/AC.
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On-location video/photo shoots. Useful for powering cameras, lights, monitors without access to mains power. Just ensure the lighting doesn’t exceed 1500W continuous.
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Camper van/RV. It can power a camper or RV’s lights, fridge, gadgets, but not large appliances like microwaves or electric kettles.
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Emergency preparedness kit. The Powerhouse serves as a reliable power source for an emergency kit to run radios, lights, and communication devices during disasters.
So in summary, it’s a versatile portable power station but has its limitations with larger appliances over 1000-1500W. Best for powering essentials off-grid or as emergency backup power.
Price
The retail cost for the Anker 757 Powerhouse is typically $799 USD, while the Jackery Explorer 1000 retails for around $999 USD. Anker often has sales or markdowns though, so you can sometimes find the 757 for $100-200 less than the Jackery equivalent.
The smaller capacity Anker Powerhouse models like the 521 (518 Wh) or 767 (1008 Wh) sell for $419 and $699 respectively. Jackery’s mid-size Explorer 500 is usually $549.
Of course, prices fluctuate and vary between retailers. I’d recommend checking both Anker and Jackery’s websites, as well as Amazon, to find the best deal. The Anker Powerhouse line is newer, so there are sometimes good introductory discounts.
Overall, Anker tends to undercut Jackery a bit on price, while still providing premium specs and quality. However, Jackery remains a top selling, trusted brand in the portable power station market.
Anker 757 powerhouse Vs. Jackery Explorer 1000 Comparison Chart
| Aspect | Anker 757 Powerhouse | Jackery Explorer 1000 |
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| Capacity | 1229 watt hours | 1002 watt hours |
| Power Output | 1500W continuous, 2400W surge | 1000W continuous, 2000W surge |
| Ports | 2 AC, car 12V, multiple USB including high-wattage USB-C | 2 AC, car 12V, various USB |
| Battery Technology | Lithium iron phosphate (LFP) | Lithium-ion (NMC chemistry) |
| Weight | Heavier at 47 lbs | Lighter at 20 lbs |
| Charging | Faster recharge time; 0% to 80% in 1 hour | 0% to 80% in 5.5 hours |
| Solar Charging | 0% to 100% in 3.6 hours | No specified duration |
| Recharging Flexibility | Simultaneous charging from multiple sources | Charging without drawing power is recommended |
| Features | LCD display, LED strip light, power-saving override switch | Limited display, smaller LED light, no power-saving override switch |
| Size | Larger: 47 x 24 x 29 inches | Smaller: 29.3 x 20.8 x 22.7 inches |
| Ideal Uses | Camping, emergency backup, off-grid cabins/tiny homes, on-location shoots, camper van/RV | Camping, emergency backup, limited larger appliance use |
| Price | Typically $799 USD, may have sales or markdowns | Typically $999 USD, occasional price fluctuations |
| Pros | Higher capacity, safer battery, longer lifespan, UPS capability, runtime display | More portable, faster recharge time, slightly lower cost |
| Cons | Heavier, slower recharge time, higher cost | Lower capacity, shorter battery lifespan, no UPS capability |
Summary
In summary, there are several key differences between the Jackery Explorer 1000 and the Anker 757 Powerhouse:
Pros of the Jackery:
- More compact and portable due to lighter weight lithium-ion batteries
- Faster recharge time
- Slightly lower cost
Pros of the Anker:
- Much higher capacity (1229Wh vs 1002Wh)
- Safer LFP batteries
- 6x longer battery lifespan
- Can be used as an uninterruptible power supply
- Helpful runtime estimate display
Cons of the Jackery:
- Lower capacity
- Shorter battery lifespan
- Can’t be used as a UPS
- No runtime estimate display
Cons of the Anker:
- Significantly heavier at 20kg vs 10kg
- Slower recharge time
- Higher cost
Both units can meet basic power needs for camping and outdoor use. The Anker edges out the Jackery in capacity, battery tech, and features. But the Jackery remains more portable. Choose based on your power and portability needs.