Jackery Explorer 300 Review

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.

Power Efficiency

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

What Other Portable Power Station Should You Consider?