REASONS TO BUY
Fast charging
Great display
UPS capable
Built in light
REASONS TO AVOID
Loud fan
Pricey
Anker Solix C1000 Review
A top of the line portable power station with power output that rivals larger, heavier options
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
By Kenji Mowrey ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ May 18, 2025
Contributions From: Sentry Kelly
RELATED: The Best Power Stations of 2025
Our Verdict
The Anker Solix C1000 is one of the best mid-sized portable power stations on the market. The large battery paired with extremely fast charging speeds and compact size makes for a versatile, travel-friendly power station. It's a great option for multiple days of camping or when the power goes out, depending on your charging needs. The large inverter is capable of handling large appliances and tools. We also loved the bright display and intuitive smartphone app. While the loud fan noise can be unpleasant for some, that's the only gripe with the C1000.
Our Analysis and Test Results
This Anker Solix C1000 delivers a great mix of power and portability.
Big enough for high-draw appliances but small enough to take along on trips, the C1000 perfectly balances performance and travel-friendly design.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Power Output
In our tests, the C1000 delivered a respectable 897Wh of energy. This means it delivered 85% of the 1056Wh advertised is available to use. This was whil in AC output mode: you can expect even of DC output. In everyday terms, this means you can power most applicances for at lease a few hours if the power goes out.
The C1000 displayed excellent power efficiency using our in-house light bar test.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
The second portion of our power output testing focused on running each model at max power output. It ran for 33 minutes before shutting off. While that may not sound like much time, keep in mind it's very rare to run continuously at max output. While the fan noise at its max capacity was one of the louder models tested, the C1000 handled the max load without overheating or bogging down. Although it was one of the shorter run times at max load, the ultra-fast recharge time is a good trade-off.
The C1000 works wonderfully with smaller appliances like an electric kettle.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Portability
The Anker Solix C1000 was our go-to choice when loading up for a weekend of camping. Anker's ability to stuff such a high-performing power station into a compact package made the C1000 one of our favorites for overall portability. While it still weighs in at 28.65 lbs, that is considerably less than similar models sporting the same battery capacity and power output.
The built-in handles are also sturdy and have enough grip to make it comfortable to carry solo. The C1000 also gets bonus points for a uniform shape and a flat top, which helps with arranging gear on top and around it.
We continue to be impressed by the size-to-power ratio on the C1000.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Charge Time
The Anker Solix C1000 has one of the fastest charging speeds. The included AC charging cord is rated up to 1300W and achieves a full charge in 88 minutes. Using the Anker app, you can toggle ultra-fast charge mode, which reduces charge time to 65 minutes. It is a great feature that is handy for last-minute recharges, but should be reserved for occasional use, as ultra-fast charging can lead to faster battery degradation.
Fast charging is the name of the game with the Solix C1000.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
The C1000 also supports up to 600W of solar input for quick solar charging. One area for improvement is the ability to set a custom charge percentage. While you can adjust the input to speed or slow down charging, there's currently no way to set a max percentage. This feature can come in handy if you need to charge your battery and prefer to leave it at 80% instead of 100% to extend battery life.
Whether using a power station at home or on the road, quick recharges can be one of the most important factors when deciding which power station to buy.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Features
The Anker Solix C1000 has a simple but effective app that can wirelessly toggle ports on and off, monitor battery temperature and remaining charge, and set input speeds for charging. Anker also offers an expandable battery for the C1000, upping the total battery capacity to 2112Wh. While the C1000 does not offer wireless charging, it does have a built-in LED light, which comes in handy during outages and at night while camping.
Built-in lights can be an underrated but highly useful feature on power stations.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
For our screen/display test, we had no major gripes with the C1000. It displays all the important functions you'd expect, including power in and out, remaining discharge time, and recharge estimate time.
Whether camping, traveling, or working on the job site, the C1000 is one of the most well-rounded power stations we've tested.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Should You Buy the Anker Solix C1000?
The Anker Solix C1000 is a fantastic choice in the mid-size portable power station category. With a large AC inverter and ultra-fast charging, this model certainly packs a punch for its size. It's a great option for off-grid camping, and job site tasks where portability is essential. If you're trying to power large appliances, there are better options.
What Other Portable Power Station Should You Consider?
The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is our top choice for off-grid camping, offering double the battery capacity of the C1000. If you feel the C1000 offers more than you need, then consider the more portable Jackery 300 and Anker 521. They are both small enough to be stored in your backpack while keeping accessories and devices charged, but both are limited in capacity.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Anker Solix C1000 versus top competing products:
—Kenji Mowrey and Sentry Kelly
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