Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 vs BLUETTI AC180: which should you buy?
Choose the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 for a higher surge rating, lower weight and more rated cycles. Choose the BLUETTI AC180 for a lower list price, more watt-hours per dollar, more capacity and more AC output. Only the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 meets our requirements for camping. Only the BLUETTI AC180 meets them for van life and a LiFePO4 station under $500.
Where can you buy each one?
How do the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 and BLUETTI AC180 specs compare?
A dot marks the better figure where the two differ by 5% or more. Sources: Jackery and BLUETTI official pages, checked 2026-10-12.
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI AC180 | |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,070 Wh | 1,152 Wh |
| AC output | 1,500 W | 1,800 W |
| Surge | 3,000 W | 2,700 W |
| Weight | 23.8 lb | 35.3 lb |
| Solar input | 400 W | 500 W |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 3,500 |
| AC charging | 1,000 W | 1,440 W |
| UPS switchover | 20 ms | 20 ms |
| List price | $559 | $499 |
| Wh per list $ | 1.91 | 2.31 |
| Chemistry | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Expandable | No | Not published |
| AC outlets | 3 | 4 |
Which one runs your appliances longer?
Calculated from each battery's rated capacity at 85% inverter efficiency, one appliance at a time from a full charge.
How do the two compare at a glance?
How long does each one run common appliances?
Only the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 can run window air conditioner. Runtimes are one appliance at a time from a full charge.
| Appliance | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI AC180 |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi router / modem | 45 h | 2.0 days |
| CPAP with heated humidifier | 16 h | 17 h |
| Refrigerator | 14 h | 15 h |
| Chest freezer | 28 h | 30 h |
| TV | 7.6 h | 8.2 h |
| Laptop | 18 h | 20 h |
| Starlink Standard kit | 9.1 h | 9.8 h |
| Microwave oven | 0.9 h | 1.0 h |
| Electric kettle | 0.6 h | 0.7 h |
| Window air conditioner | 1.3 h | Can’t run |
| Space heater | 0.6 h | 0.7 h |
| Well pump | 0.9 h | 1.0 h |
| Check price | On Amazon | On Amazon |
Which uses does each one qualify for?
The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 meets our requirements for 6 of 12 uses and the BLUETTI AC180 for 7. Each list's thresholds are explained on its page.
Which one recharges faster from solar?
At their limits, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 refills in about 2.7 hours of strong sun and the BLUETTI AC180 in about 2.3. With smaller arrays the bigger battery takes longer.
Which costs less over its rated life?
The BLUETTI AC180 does: about $0.12 per kWh of rated lifetime storage against $0.13.
| Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI AC180 | |
|---|---|---|
| List price | $559 | $499 |
| Rated cycles | 4,000 | 3,500 |
| Lifetime energy | 4,280 kWh | 4,032 kWh |
| Cost per lifetime kWh | $0.13 | $0.12 |
| Check price | On Amazon | On Amazon |
Rated cycles are each maker's figure under its own test conditions, and capacity fades with age, so treat this as a comparison between the two, not a forecast.
How long does each last at a steady load?
At the same steady draw, the bigger battery lasts proportionally longer, until a load passes the smaller inverter's limit.
Which one recharges faster from the wall?
Wall charging decides how quickly you are ready again between outages or trips.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: accepts up to 1,000 W from the wall and is rated to refill in about 60 minutes.
- BLUETTI AC180: accepts up to 1,440 W from the wall and is rated to refill in about 78 minutes.
How does each rank within its own size band?
A head-to-head can hide that both models are strong or weak for their size. The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is ranked among 1,000–1,999 Wh models and the BLUETTI AC180 among 1,000–1,999 Wh models.
| Spec | Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 | BLUETTI AC180 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 6th of 17 | 5th of 17 |
| AC output | 14th of 17 | 6th of 17 |
| Surge | 11th of 16 | 14th of 16 |
| Solar input | 11th of 15 | 8th of 15 |
| AC charging | 14th of 16 | 8th of 16 |
| Rated cycles | 5th of 16 | 15th of 16 |
| Weight | 3rd of 17 | 15th of 17 |
| UPS switchover | 12th of 15 | 12th of 15 |
| Wh per list $ | 4th of 16 | 2nd of 16 |
| Check price | On Amazon | On Amazon |
Can either one cover CPAP nights or go on a plane?
For a CPAP with a heated humidifier at ResMed's typical 56.1 W, the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 covers about 2.0 eight-hour nights and the BLUETTI AC180 about 2.2. Neither can fly: both are over the FAA's 160 Wh limit for passenger aircraft.
Without the humidifier a CPAP draws far less, so nights stretch well beyond these figures. See CPAP runtimes and flying with a power station.
Which one is easier to carry?
The Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 is lighter by 11.5 lb. Watt-hours per pound shows which packs more battery for the weight.
- Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: 23.8 lb, 45 Wh per pound, 12.9 × 8.8 × 9.7 in.
- BLUETTI AC180: 35.3 lb, 33 Wh per pound, 13.4 × 9.7 × 12.5 in.
What do they share, and what isn't published?
They match on UPS switchover, so those specs won't decide it. Both publish every spec we track.
Which should you pick for your use?
Where only one of them qualifies, the choice is made for you:
- Best power stations for van life: the BLUETTI AC180, because only it meets battery chemistry = LiFePO4, capacity ≥ 1,000 Wh, solar input ≥ 500 W and weight ≤ 45 lb.
- Best portable power stations for camping: the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2, because only it meets capacity ≥ 250 Wh, capacity ≤ 1,100 Wh and weight ≤ 25 lb.
- Best LiFePO4 power stations under $500: the BLUETTI AC180, because only it meets battery chemistry = LiFePO4 and list price ≤ $500.
When should you buy neither?
If one spec matters most, a similar-size model may beat both on it:
- Capacity: the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus (1,264 Wh) beats both.
- AC output: the DJI Power 1000 (2,200 W) beats both.
- Surge: the DJI Power 1000 (4,400 W) beats both.
- Solar input: the EcoFlow DELTA 3 Plus (1,000 W) beats both.
- AC charging: the Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 (1,600 W) beats both.
- Rated cycles: the Jackery HomePower 1000 v2 (6,000) beats both.
Related
How this page was made. Specs come from each manufacturer's official US spec page or manual, checked on the date shown; specs a manufacturer doesn't publish are marked "Not published". Runtimes are calculated (capacity × 85% inverter efficiency ÷ appliance draw), not measured. We haven't hands-on tested these units. Method and sources · Affiliate disclosure