Best Portable Solar Generators of 2026
The best portable solar generator for most people in 2026 is the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus: 1,024Wh of LiFePO4 storage, 1,800W of AC output, up to 1,000W of solar input and a sub-10ms UPS for about $719 (a pre-order shipping in November on EcoFlow's store on October 9, 2026), in a 27.6 lb box. If you want the most output for the money, the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (1,024Wh, 2,000W, full wall recharge in 49 minutes) costs about $500 ($499.99 at Anker and on Amazon on October 30, 2026), and if you need twice the capacity, the Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 (2,048Wh, 2,400W, 41.7 lb) is the 2kWh pick.
All six picks are current US models with LiFePO4 batteries, from a 7.5 lb, $259 Jackery for phones and a CPAP to 2kWh units that run a fridge overnight. This September 2026 update replaces discontinued picks from earlier versions of this list (the EcoFlow DELTA 2, Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus and 300 Plus, and BLUETTI EB70S) with their current equivalents.
How we pick: Our picks are based on published specifications, pricing, warranty terms and owner reports. Specs come from each manufacturer's US product page or Amazon US listing; prices are rounded and change often.
Affiliate disclosure: Some links on this page are affiliate links, including links to Amazon, EcoFlow and BLUETTI. If you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This never influences our rankings or verdicts.
Our Top 6 Picks
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Best Overall
EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus
The best all-round portable solar generator: 1kWh of LiFePO4, 1,800W out, 1,000W of solar in, a sub-10ms UPS and room to grow to 5kWh.
Capacity
1,024Wh (expandable to 5kWh)
AC Output
1,800W
Surge
3,600W (X-Boost 2,200W)
Weight
27.6 lb (12.5 kg)
Pros
- ✓Two 500W solar inputs (1,000W total), more than any other 1kWh pick here
- ✓Sub-10ms UPS switchover keeps a router, PC or CPAP running when the grid drops
- ✓Expandable from 1kWh to 5kWh with EcoFlow extra batteries
- ✓Works with EcoFlow's 800W Alternator Charger for charging while driving
- ✓4,000 cycles to 80% capacity and a 5-year warranty
Cons
- ✗27.6 lb, 2.7 to 3.8 lb heavier than the Anker and Jackery 1kWh picks
- ✗1,800W continuous is below the Anker C1000 Gen 2's 2,000W
- ✗Costs about $120 more than the Anker and $220 more than the Jackery 1kWh units
The DELTA 3 Plus takes the top spot because it has no weak spec. Usable energy is about 870Wh (1,024 x 0.85), which runs a full-size fridge averaging 150W for about 5.8 hours, a 40W CPAP for about 21.8 hours or a 60W laptop for about 14.5 hours. EcoFlow rates the six AC outlets at 1,800W with a 3,600W surge, enough for a microwave, a coffee maker or a fridge compressor start, and X-Boost runs resistive devices up to 2,200W at reduced power.
What separates it from cheaper 1kWh units is charging and growth. The two 500W solar inputs accept up to 1,000W of panels: 400W of panels deliver roughly 300W in strong sun (400 x 0.75), a full charge in about 3.4 peak sun hours (1,024 / 300). The optional 800W Alternator Charger makes it a real van battery, and EcoFlow's 1,024Wh extra battery (about $389) doubles it to 2,048Wh without buying a second station. If you are deciding between this and the discontinued model it replaced, see DELTA 2 vs DELTA 3 Plus.
About $719
Best Value
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2
The most output and fastest wall recharge for about $500: 2,000W continuous and a full charge in 49 minutes.
Capacity
1,024Wh
AC Output
2,000W
Surge
3,000W peak
Weight
24.9 lb
Pros
- ✓2,000W continuous (3,000W peak), the highest of the 1kWh picks
- ✓1,600W HyperFlash AC charging: 0 to 100% in 49 minutes (enabled in the Anker app)
- ✓600W solar input; Anker quotes a full solar charge in 1.8 hours
- ✓Under-10ms UPS switchover
- ✓4,000 cycles to 80% capacity and a 5-year warranty
Cons
- ✗Solar input tops out at 600W, versus 1,000W on the DELTA 3 Plus
- ✗No expansion battery listed, so 1,024Wh is the ceiling
- ✗24.9 lb, about 1 lb heavier than the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
If the DELTA 3 Plus is the most complete 1kWh unit, the C1000 Gen 2 is the strongest one per dollar. Its 2,000W inverter runs a 1,500W hair dryer or space heater with headroom, and its 1,600W wall charging refills the battery in 49 minutes, which matters when a storm warning gives you an hour's notice. Usable energy matches the DELTA 3 Plus at about 870Wh, so runtimes do too: about 5.8 hours on a 150W fridge or 21.8 hours on a 40W CPAP.
Be realistic about heat, though: a 1,500W space heater empties 870Wh in about 35 minutes (870 / 1,500 = 0.58 hours), so the output rating tells you what it can start, not how long it can run. The trade-offs against the DELTA 3 Plus are solar input (600W) and no listed expansion battery. For the brand-level comparison, see Anker SOLIX vs EcoFlow.
About $500
Lightest 1kWh
Jackery Explorer 1000 v2
The lightest 1kWh LiFePO4 station on this list at 23.8 lb, with a 1-hour emergency charge mode.
Capacity
1,070Wh
AC Output
1,500W
Surge
3,000W peak
Weight
23.8 lb (10.8 kg)
Pros
- ✓23.8 lb, the lightest 1kWh-class pick (Jackery calls it the world's lightest 1kWh LFP station)
- ✓1,070Wh, slightly more than the 1,024Wh EcoFlow and Anker units
- ✓Emergency Super Charge: 0 to 100% in 1 hour, set in the Jackery app
- ✓LiFePO4 rated for 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity
Cons
- ✗1,500W continuous is the lowest of the 1kWh picks
- ✗Solar input capped at 400W across two ports, and Jackery lists it as compatible only with Jackery panels
- ✗Three AC outlets
- ✗The two extra warranty years (3 + 2) are advertised as exclusive to jackery.com purchases
At 23.8 lb and 12.87 x 8.82 x 9.72 inches, the Explorer 1000 v2 is the easiest 1kWh unit here to carry from a car or move between rooms. Usable energy is about 910Wh (1,070 x 0.85), good for about 6.1 hours of a 150W fridge or 22.7 hours of a 40W CPAP.
Its limits are output and solar. 1,500W covers a microwave or a coffee maker, one at a time, and with the full 400W of panels a solar recharge takes about 3.6 peak sun hours (1,070 / (400 x 0.75)), most of a sunny day. For car camping and occasional outages that rarely matters. Full details: Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 review.
About $559
Best Compact
EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro
The most capacity under 20 lb for about $389: 768Wh of LiFePO4 and a 70-minute full recharge from the wall.
Capacity
768Wh
AC Output
800W
Surge
1,600W (X-Boost 1,600W)
Weight
18.2 lb
Pros
- ✓768Wh at 18.2 lb
- ✓0 to 100% from a wall outlet in 70 minutes (940W AC input)
- ✓X-Boost runs resistive devices up to 1,600W at reduced power
- ✓3,000 cycles to 80% capacity
Cons
- ✗800W continuous rules out most kitchen appliances at full power
- ✗220W solar input and a 100W car input make off-grid recharging slow
- ✗Its EPS switchover is under 30ms, slower than the sub-10ms UPS on newer EcoFlow units
The RIVER 2 Pro is the unit to buy when a 1kWh station is more than you want to carry. Usable energy is about 653Wh (768 x 0.85): about 16.3 hours on a 40W CPAP, 14.5 hours on a 45W 12V cooler, or about 6.5 hours of a 100W TV. It refills from the wall in 70 minutes, so it is always ready to grab.
The limit is recharging away from the grid. 220W of solar gives roughly 165W of real input (220 x 0.75), or about 4.7 peak sun hours for a full charge, and a car socket adds only 100W. For weekend trips and short outages that is fine; for van life, look at the DELTA 3 Plus.
About $389
Best Budget
Jackery Explorer 300
A 7.5 lb LiFePO4 battery with real AC outlets: right for phones, laptops, cameras and a CPAP night, not for fridges.
Capacity
292Wh
AC Output
300W
Surge
600W peak
Weight
7.5 lb
Pros
- ✓7.5 lb, easy to carry anywhere
- ✓LiFePO4 chemistry rated for 4,000 cycles to 70% capacity
- ✓100W USB-C PD port, two USB-A ports and a 120W car port
- ✓Lowest price here at about $259
Cons
- ✗292Wh runs out fast under anything bigger than a laptop
- ✗300W continuous output rules out kettles, microwaves and most fridges
- ✗Only two AC outlets
The Explorer 300 is a travel battery, not backup power. Usable energy is about 248Wh (292 x 0.85): about 4.1 hours of a 60W laptop, 6.2 hours of a 40W CPAP without a humidifier, or a full day of a 10W Wi-Fi router. Jackery quotes 80% from a 100W panel in about 2.8 hours.
That makes it a sensible CPAP-and-phones unit for a weekend, or a battery bank for drones and cameras. If you need to keep food cold, skip it: a 45W 12V cooler would drain it in about 5.5 hours. The RIVER 2 Pro is the smallest pick here that covers a cooler overnight.
About $259
Best High-Capacity
Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2
The best 2kWh unit you can still carry: 2,400W out, 800W of solar in, 41.7 lb, and expandable to 4kWh.
Capacity
2,048Wh (expandable to 4kWh)
AC Output
2,400W
Surge
4,000W peak
Weight
41.7 lb (18.9 kg)
Pros
- ✓2,400W continuous and 4,000W peak; Anker says it runs most window and RV air conditioners
- ✓1,800W AC charging (100% in 88 minutes), or 58 minutes with AC and solar together
- ✓800W solar input and 800W alternator charging (100% in about 3 hours of driving, per Anker)
- ✓Expands to 4kWh with one BP2000 (Gen 2) expansion battery
- ✓41.7 lb and 18.1 x 9.8 x 10.1 inches
Cons
- ✗Anker does not list a UPS switchover time for it
- ✗At 41.7 lb it is a carry-to-the-car unit, not a hike-in one
- ✗The expansion battery adds 33.7 lb
Doubling capacity to 2,048Wh gives about 1,741Wh usable (2,048 x 0.85): about 11.6 hours of a 150W fridge, 3.9 hours of a 5,000 BTU window AC at 450W, or more than five 8-hour nights of a 40W CPAP (1,741 / 320Wh). The 2,400W inverter handles a microwave and a fridge together.
The C2000 Gen 2 wins this slot on balance. The Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 is 2.2 lb lighter (39.5 lb) but accepts only 400W of solar, and the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Max adds a sub-10ms UPS and 3,400W X-Boost but takes 500W of solar and weighs 44.8 lb. Full details: Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 review.
About $1,000
How do the six picks compare?
| Model | Capacity | AC output | Solar input | Weight | UPS switchover | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus | 1,024Wh | 1,800W | 1,000W | 27.6 lb | Under 10ms | About $719 |
| Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 | 1,024Wh | 2,000W | 600W | 24.9 lb | Under 10ms | About $500 |
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | 1,070Wh | 1,500W | 400W | 23.8 lb | Within 20ms (manual) | About $559 |
| EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro | 768Wh | 800W | 220W | 18.2 lb | Under 30ms (EPS) | About $389 |
| Jackery Explorer 300 | 292Wh | 300W | Not listed | 7.5 lb | Not listed | About $259 |
| Anker SOLIX C2000 Gen 2 | 2,048Wh | 2,400W | 800W | 41.7 lb | 10ms | About $1,000 |
Every pick uses LiFePO4 cells. Solar input is the manufacturer's maximum; real panel output is usually about 75% of the panel's rating.
How long will a portable solar generator run my devices?
Use this formula for any unit: usable Wh = rated Wh x 0.85 (inverter losses), then runtime in hours = usable Wh / average load in watts. A 1,024Wh unit has about 870Wh usable, so a 150W fridge runs about 5.8 hours (870 / 150).
| Device (average draw) | Explorer 300 (292Wh) | RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh) | 1kWh class (1,024Wh) | C2000 Gen 2 (2,048Wh) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router (10W) | 24.8 h | 65.3 h | 87.0 h | 174.1 h |
| CPAP (no humidifier) (40W) | 6.2 h | 16.3 h | 21.8 h | 43.5 h |
| 12V cooler (45W) | 5.5 h | 14.5 h | 19.3 h | 38.7 h |
| Laptop (60W) | 4.1 h | 10.9 h | 14.5 h | 29.0 h |
| 55" LED TV (100W) | 2.5 h | 6.5 h | 8.7 h | 17.4 h |
| Full-size fridge, cycling (150W) | 1.7 h | 4.4 h | 5.8 h | 11.6 h |
| Window AC, 5,000 BTU (450W) | Over its output | 1.5 h | 1.9 h | 3.9 h |
| Space heater (1,500W) | Over its output | Over its output | 0.6 h | 1.2 h |
The 1kWh column covers the DELTA 3 Plus and C1000 Gen 2; the Explorer 1000 v2 runs about 4% longer (1,070Wh). Fridges and window ACs cycle, so real runtimes vary with the room and the thermostat; a fridge's compressor start can also briefly exceed a small unit's surge rating.
What size portable solar generator do I need?
Under 500Wh: phones, laptops, cameras, lights and a CPAP for a night. No fridges. The Explorer 300 lives here.
700Wh to 1,100Wh: the most useful tier. A fridge through an evening outage, a CPAP for two nights, a 12V cooler for a weekend with a solar top-up. The RIVER 2 Pro, DELTA 3 Plus, C1000 Gen 2 and Explorer 1000 v2 live here.
2kWh and up: a fridge overnight with room for a window AC for a few hours, or a family camp. To size it yourself, add up watts x hours for everything you plan to run and divide by 0.85.
How long does it take to charge from solar?
Peak sun hours to full = rated Wh / (panel watts x 0.75), and the panel watts you count can't exceed the unit's solar input limit. With 400W of panels, the DELTA 3 Plus needs about 3.4 peak sun hours (1,024 / 300) and the Explorer 1000 v2 about 3.6. The C2000 Gen 2 with 800W of panels needs about 3.4 (2,048 / 600). The RIVER 2 Pro, capped at 220W, needs about 4.7. For panel sizing by region, see how many solar panels you need to charge a generator.
Why does LiFePO4 matter?
LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) cells are rated here for 3,000 to 4,000 cycles to 70 or 80% of original capacity, so at one full cycle a day they last roughly 8 to 11 years (3,000 to 4,000 / 365), and most owners cycle far less often. Older NMC stations were typically rated for far fewer cycles. More in LiFePO4 vs NMC.
Which discontinued models did these picks replace?
The EcoFlow DELTA 2 has been replaced by the DELTA 3 series (the DELTA 3 Plus adds dual solar inputs and a sub-10ms UPS). The Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus was replaced by the HomePower 1000 Plus v2, the Explorer 300 Plus by the Explorer 300 (LiFePO4), and the BLUETTI EB70S by the AC180. If you already own one of them, it still works; there is no reason to replace a healthy unit.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best solar generator for 2026?
For most buyers, the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus: 1,024Wh LiFePO4, 1,800W AC output (3,600W surge), up to 1,000W of solar input, a sub-10ms UPS and expansion to 5kWh, for about $719. The Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (about $500) is the value pick with 2,000W of output and a 49-minute wall recharge. For whole-circuit home backup, see the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 in our home backup rankings.
How long will a 1,000Wh solar generator run a refrigerator?
About 5.8 hours for a full-size fridge averaging 150W. The math: 1,024Wh x 0.85 = about 870Wh usable, then 870 / 150W = 5.8 hours. A 60W mini fridge runs about 14.5 hours, and a 2,048Wh unit doubles both figures.
Can a portable solar generator power a house?
Not a whole house. A 1 to 2kWh portable unit keeps essentials running (fridge, router, CPAP, phones, a TV) through an evening or overnight outage. Circuit-level home backup needs a larger station such as the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 or Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus connected through a transfer switch or home panel.
Is a solar generator the same as a portable power station?
Yes. Both terms describe a rechargeable battery with an inverter, AC outlets and USB ports. "Solar generator" usually means the unit is sold or used with solar panels; every pick on this page accepts solar input.
How many solar panels do I need to charge a 1kWh solar generator?
About 400W of panels recharges a 1kWh unit in roughly 3.4 to 3.6 peak sun hours, because real output is about 75% of the panel rating (400W x 0.75 = 300W). Check the unit's maximum solar input: the DELTA 3 Plus takes 1,000W, the C1000 Gen 2 600W and the Explorer 1000 v2 400W.
Is the EcoFlow DELTA 2 still worth buying?
The DELTA 2 has been discontinued in the US and replaced by the DELTA 3 series. If you find a new one at a clearance price it still works, but the DELTA 3 Plus adds a second solar input (1,000W total) and a sub-10ms UPS for about $719.
Can a portable solar generator work as a UPS?
Several can. EcoFlow rates the DELTA 3 Plus at under 10ms and Anker rates the C1000 Gen 2 at under 10ms, fast enough for most routers, PCs and CPAP machines. The RIVER 2 Pro's EPS mode switches in under 30ms, which suits less sensitive devices.
Is it safe to use a solar generator indoors?
Yes. Battery power stations produce no exhaust or carbon monoxide, so they are safe indoors, unlike gas generators. Keep the vents clear, keep them dry and follow the manufacturer's charging temperature range.
Affiliate disclosure: The retailer buttons on this page (Amazon, EcoFlow and BLUETTI) are affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. This does not influence our rankings or verdicts.