The Jackery Explorer 300 is a portable power station designed for outdoor and emergency use. As the name suggests, it has a 293Wh capacity lithium-ion battery which can deliver 300 watts of power. Despite its small size at just 23 x 13 x 20 cm and 6.6 lbs, the Explorer 300 packs in all the key features you need in a portable power station.
The Explorer 300 can be charged via regular AC wall outlet, 12V car port, or USB-C PD input. The integrated pure sine wave inverter allows you to power small appliances and electronics like mini-fridges, CPAP machines, and more. It has a simple LCD display plus DC, USB-A, and AC outlets.
Overall, the Jackery Explorer 300 aims to provide a compact, portable power solution for camping, RV travel, or emergency preparedness. This review will take a closer look at its design, features, performance, and how it compares with competitors.
Design and Portability
The Jackery Explorer 300 features a compact and portable design, making it easy to take with you on the go. It measures just 23 x 13 x 20 cm (9 x 5 x 8 inches) making it similar in size to a lunchbox. It also only weighs 7.1 lbs (3.2 kg) allowing you to carry it comfortably with one hand.
Despite its small size, the Explorer 300 feels very sturdy thanks to its durable plastic housing. Jackery offers the power station in a black color only. The clean black exterior gives it an attractive and minimalist look.
Overall, the portable dimensions combined with the light weight make the Jackery Explorer 300 an ideal off-grid power solution for camping, RVs, boating, and other outdoor activities where space is limited. The high-quality construction also ensures it can withstand being moved around frequently without getting damaged.
Battery
The Jackery Explorer 300 features a 293Wh lithium-ion battery. Lithium-ion batteries offer high energy density and low self-discharge, making them well-suited for portable power stations.
The Explorer 300’s 293Wh battery capacity provides enough power to charge smartphones multiple times, run small appliances and lights, or even power a portable fridge for several hours. With 500+ charge cycles, the battery offers long-term durability over years of use.
While the advertised capacity is 293Wh, the usable capacity is actually closer to 250Wh when powering AC appliances due to the power conversion losses. Still, 250Wh is sufficient for most applications during camping, outdoor excursions, or power outages.
Overall, the lithium-ion battery in the Jackery Explorer 300 strikes a nice balance between capacity, portability, and cycle life. The battery size and type make the Explorer 300 a versatile portable power station.
Charging
The Jackery Explorer 300 has multiple ways to recharge its 293Wh lithium-ion battery. It can charge via a wall outlet using the included 90W AC adapter. With this adapter, the battery can be fully recharged from empty in around 1.6 hours.
For on-the-go charging, the Explorer 300 can be recharged from a car using the 12V car charging cable. This enables you to maintain battery levels while driving.
One of the most convenient charging methods is via the USB-C port. Using a USB-C PD wall charger or power bank, you can charge the Jackery in the same way you’d charge a laptop. This makes it easy to top up the battery from any USB-C charger.
The Explorer 300 also supports solar charging when connected to Jackery’s SolarSaga solar panels. This provides an unlimited power source during outdoor adventures or power outages.
One useful feature is pass-through charging. The Explorer 300 can charge devices connected to its outlets while the battery itself is charging. So you can directly power your gear without draining the battery. Then when charging is complete, the full battery capacity is available.
Overall, the variety of fast charging options gives you flexibility when powering up the Jackery Explorer 300 on the go or at home.
Outlets
The Explorer 300 has several outlets to power or charge your devices:
-
1x 100-120V AC outlet with 300W continuous power (500W surge). This allows you to run small appliances and electronics like mini-fridges, blenders, medical devices, laptops etc.
-
2x DC outlets – These 12V/10A cigarette lighter style ports let you charge or run 12V devices like car fridges.
-
2x USB-A ports that provide 2.4A (12W) total, good for charging phones, tablets, cameras.
-
1x USB-C Power Delivery port that provides up to 60W charging. Useful for larger devices like laptops, tablets, and Nintendo Switch.
With its diverse AC, DC, and USB outlets, the Explorer 300 can charge or power a wide variety of electronics and appliances. The ample 4 outlets and 3 USB ports ensure you can run multiple devices simultaneously.
Displays
The Explorer 300 has a small but very useful LCD display. It shows the percentage of charge remaining in the battery. When the power station is charging or discharging, it also shows the wattage going in or out.
For input power, it displays the voltage and current. This makes it easy to see how fast the Explorer 300 is charging. On the output side, it shows the voltage and frequency of the AC power being supplied.
The screen is backlit, so the measurements are easy to read even in low light conditions. I especially like that it displays the output wattage. This gives you a real-time view of the load connected and prevents overloading the inverter. Some competing models only show rough battery percentage remaining.
Overall the display hits all the key details you need while keeping the interface clean. My only gripe is that the AC output voltage and frequency measurements could be larger. But for a compact unit like this, Jackery made good use of the small display.
Performance
The Jackery Explorer 300 is equipped with a pure sine wave 300W inverter. This allows you to power most 300W AC appliances within the inverter’s capacity.
I tested the inverter by powering a 120V air conditioner rated at 250W. The inverter handled the load without any issues and the fan turned on briefly during start up. According to Jackery, the inverter operates at 85% efficiency when outputting 300W.
Noise is minimal during light loads around 30-50W. At medium loads of 100-150W, the internal fan turns on and is audible but not intrusive. Heavy loads around 250W cause the fan to ramp up further but it’s still relatively quieter than a gas generator. I measured the sound at 59 dB from 3 feet away at max load.
The Explorer 300’s pure sine wave inverter provides enough power for most portable appliances. It operates efficiently with minimal noise production during normal usage. Only very demanding loads cause the internal fan to be distracting.
Features
The Jackery Explorer 300 has a range of useful features beyond just its power stations capabilities. Some key highlights include:
-
Flashlight – The Explorer 300 has an built-in LED flashlight located on the control panel. This provides illumination when needed without draining the battery station’s charge. The flashlight has two brightness modes.
-
App Connectivity – Jackery’s Explorer 300 is compatible with their proprietary Jackery Solar Generator app, available on iOS and Android devices. The app allows you to monitor the power station’s charge level and power utilization. You can also turn outlets on/off and set up alerts.
-
Pure Sine Wave Inverter – The 300 watt pure sine wave inverter ensures clean power output suitable for sensitive electronics like phones, tablets, and laptops. This avoids any voltage spikes.
-
Pass-Through Charging – You can charge the Jackery while also drawing power from it. This allows you to recharge the station at night while still powering devices.
-
LCD Display – The built-in LCD screen clearly displays the battery capacity percentage, power input/output, and voltage. This makes it easy to monitor power levels.
-
Portability – Weighing only 7.5 lbs, the Explorer 300 is designed for easy portability. The compact size and foldable handle further aids transportation.
How It Compares to Similar Products
The Jackery Explorer 300 enters a crowded market for portable power stations and needs to stand out from competitors. Overall, it holds up well when compared to similar products in the 300 watt-hour range.
The Explorer 300’s main advantage is its compact size. At just 7.5 pounds, it’s over 50% lighter than comparable stations from brands like Anker and Ecoflow. This makes the Explorer 300 highly portable and able to be taken anywhere with ease.
In terms of performance and features, the Jackery Explorer 300 is on par with competitors. It delivers the same power output, battery capacity, and charging speeds you’d expect in this product class. The availability of pass-through charging, a pure sine wave inverter, and multiple output ports is also standard.
Where the Explorer 300 falls slightly behind is in its interface and display. Some rival products offer more detailed monitoring of wattage and remaining battery life. The Jackery’s simple LCD screen gets the job done but isn’t as advanced as an LED or touchscreen display.
When it comes to price, the Explorer 300 is competitive but at the higher end of the market. Given its supreme portability, the premium cost may be justifiable for some users. But budget-focused buyers can likely find similar specs for less from Anker or other brands.
Overall, the Jackery Explorer 300 carves out its niche with its uniquely compact and lightweight design. Its premium price is offset by unmatched portability in the 300 watt-hour power station market. It lacks some of the fancier features found in competitors but delivers where it matters most for an ultra-mobile solar generator.
Verdict
The Jackery Explorer 300 portable power station punches above its weight given its ultra-compact size. The 293Wh lithium-ion battery has ample capacity for charging phones, laptops, camping appliances, and more. Pass-through charging is supported and the USB-C input makes it easy to charge via a power bank or solar panel.
While it doesn’t have as many outlets as larger Jackery models, the Explorer 300 provides the essentials with fast charging USB-A ports, a 60W USB-C PD port, and a 300W AC outlet. The simple LCD display provides key measurements and the fan only turns on during high loads.
Build quality meets Jackery’s usual high standards. The Explorer 300’s rugged design should hold up well to outdoor use. At 6 pounds, it’s easy to take with you anywhere.
The main downsides are the price tag and slightly reduced AC capacity of 250Wh. But given its portable size, the Explorer 300 provides great versatility and is easy to recommend for on-the-go power needs. It’s an excellent choice for camping, travel, outdoor activities, emergencies, and more.