REASONS TO BUY
Small and lightweight
Great for phones and laptops
Solar panel compatible
REASONS TO AVOID
Only works with low-wattage appliances
Limited run-time
Jackery Explorer 300 Review
An ultra-portable power station that is well suited to recharging phones and laptop devices, but won't power much else
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 Jackery 300 is a compact yet highly capable portable power station ideal for supplementing multiple device charging and small appliance use. It offers a 247Wh battery can do a great job at recharging your laptop and phone when camping, during a blackout, or away from AC power. Its 300-watt inverter is big enough for your devices, but it is not a great choice for many other common things many people want to power like a coffee maker, a hot plate, a heater, or a projector. But its small form makes it the perfect companion when working on a laptop for an extended period outside, camping, or during a blackout.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Jackery 300 offers top-notch power performance and efficiency in an enticingly compact package. Its lightweight design makes it the perfect choice to toss in your backpack before leaving home.
Simple and functional, the Jackery 300 excels at supplementing device charging and low-draw appliance use.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Power Output
The first part of our power output testing focuses on the efficiency of each unit. To gauge efficiency, we find the usable watt hours available out of the advertised watt hours listed by the manufacturer. To achieve this, we built a light bar tool capable of supplying precise power input at each power station's standard rating and draining the unit to 0%. Then, we compare the watt hours used against the manufacturer's claim, which is simplified into a percentage. Using 288Wh out of its advertised 293Wh, the Jackery 300 blew the competition away. A 98% usable capacity far exceeds the average mark, meaning this stout little unit lost close to zero battery capacity while in use.
Our next test involves running each station at its max inverter AC output. The longer it runs, the better the score. Running at its max wattage of 300 watts, the Jackery 300 ran for 40 minutes before dying. Compared to some of our larger units, this is a bit short.
Testing the 300 with common household appliances like a coffee grinder gave us a good idea on its power capacity and limitations.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Charge Time
Our charge test looks at the time required to recharge each power station fully from 0-100% charge. To account for the large variance in battery sizes between each power station, we identified the rate of charge by simply dividing the watt hours by the charge time.
Using the supplied AC cord, the Jackery 300 had a charge time of 239 minutes. Accounting for its rate of charge, this unit was a bit of a disappointment in terms of charging.
The charging speed is nothing to brag about on the 300, but its various charging options are appreciated.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
One positive to this unit is its ability to pair the included wall outlet charger with a USB-C cord to help lower charge time. The 300 also supports up to 100 watts of solar input for those who want to take advantage of renewable energy. The 300 can also be charged with an included carport cable, meaning there's no shortage of charge options.
Charging the 300 with the included carport cable.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Mobility
To assess mobility, each power station was weighed and measured. We also spent time carrying, lifting, and storing each unit to get a feel for the overall compatibility in tight spaces, inside vehicles, and while in storage.
Above all else, the Jackery 300 is extremely portable. Weighing only 7.1 lbs, this little power station can easily be stashed in your backpack and carried around with its built-in handle. It was our first choice when heading outside the house with our laptop.
Extremely light and easy to carry, the 300 was our first choice when looking to stash a power station in our bag.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Ease of Use
A simple but somewhat limited power station in the design department, the Jackery 300 won't wow you with features. Its small form means limited usability is to be expected, such as the absence of expansion capabilities and emergency power supply capabilities.
We would have liked to see a built-in light on the Jackery 300, a common feature equipped on many smaller power stations. The display is also quite limited and really only provides you with basic information like power input/output wattage and remaining battery displayed as a percentage. Most notably, when drawing power, its display is missing the remaining discharge time, which is information that can be handy when determining how long you can run a device.
Despite its limitations, the Jackery 300 provides dependable power and gets the job done.
Credit: Kenji Mowrey
Should You Buy the Jackery 300?
The Jackery 300 won't blow you away with features or ultra-fast charging speeds, but its value lies in its highly compact design and extremely effective and efficient battery. Whether it's your first introduction to portable power or you're looking to add to your power station collection to charge your smaller devices, this power station deserves some consideration.
This simple little power station is a great addition to your power needs.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
What Other Portable Power Station Should You Consider?
More demanding power needs? Check out the Bluetti AC200 Max for high power output and a no-frills design. The Anker 521 is a similar-sized small-form power station with a built-in light offered at a budget-friendly price. Another favorite of ours from Jackery, the Jackery 2000 Plus, is the ultimate large-form power station to run larger appliances with a battery capacity big enough for multiple days of off-grid use.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare Jackery Explorer 300 versus top competing products:
—Kenji Mowrey and Sentry Kelly
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