Anker Solix C300 Review

Our Anker Solix C300 Experience

We used the Anker C300 for months while working away from the office, on camping trips to keep our devices and lights plugged in, and as a small emergency power supply when the power goes out.

The tall, narrow shape is a welcome change from the boxy, flat design most power stations come in. The narrower footprint also frees up more counter space and makes packing the C300 even easier.

Weighing just 9.1 lbs, the C300 is one of the first power stations we've actually tossed into our backpack and carried into a park or campsite without feeling like you're hauling a bulky battery around.

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Using the C300 is simple and convenient. With multiple outlet options for USB and AC, we used the C300 to charge devices and plug in an appliance or two, such as a TV and a portable projector. Helpful features like the built-in light bar are great for campsite ambiance or when navigating a dark house during an outage.

Our Analysis and Test Results

Power Output

We measured 230 Wh out of the advertised 288 Wh capacity. This resulted in an efficiency of 80%. With just 80% of its battery available, we'd like to see Anker achieve a slightly higher percentage on this metric. Especially given its already small capacity. Despite this, it's still enough battery to run 20 watts of LED lights for over 12 hours or recharge an iPhone 12 times.

The C300 also delivers 300 watts of sustained AC wattage and a surge rating of 600 watts. This is enough power to run lights, a portable projector, or a TV. That also gives you enough headroom to charge multiple devices at once, like a laptop and a camera battery.

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Portability

Perhaps the most enticing part of the C300 is its portability. It weighs just 9.1 lbs and is roughly the size of a Bluetooth speaker or lantern. We could easily stash this power station into our backpack or slide it under the seat of the car. It's also equipped with a set of molded hooks for attaching a strap to sling it over your shoulders.

The narrow, tall shape design also frees up more room when placed on tables and when packing other items around it.

Charge Speed

Using the supplied AC cord, the Anker C300 charged from 0% to 100% in 63 minutes. The bidirectional USB-C port also supports dual charging, allowing you to combine a standard USB cable with the AC charging cable to further reduce charging time. The C300 also supports up to 100 watts of solar power, with a typical recharge under ideal conditions taking about 4 hours.

One minor annoyance is that the sliding cover blocks the 140-watt USB-C port when the solar port is being used. This removes one USB port option while using solar; fortunately, Anker included another 140W USB outlet on the C300 anyway.

Features

Despite being a small, budget-friendly power station, the C300 has a few helpful features typically reserved for larger, more expensive units. For one, having three AC ports is rare for a power station this size. The three USB-A ports are also helpful when charging multiple devices together. While on the smaller side, the screen provides all relevant charging and power information and can also be remotely monitored via the Anker app.

We also appreciate the light bar, which comes in handy while camping at night or during a power outage, providing additional light around the house. And while we'd recommend a dedicated uninterruptible power supply (UPS) first, the C300 can be used as a UPS thanks to its 10ms cutover time.