Expert rating
Benefits
- Good display and finish
- 5 year warranty
- iPhone app control
- LiFePO4 battery
The inconvenients
- Optional 40-watt solar panel may be underpowered for most users
Our Verdict
The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station is not intended for users who must rely on a portable power station on a regular basis. It is ideal for occasional use with light outbuildings, such as charging devices while camping or powering a light source on a site. Ideally, Jackery also offers a set with a 40-watt solar panel, but it may be too underpowered for many use cases.
Best prices today: Jackery Explorer 300 Plus
$298
It seems like rechargeable batteries are everywhere: phones, laptops, watches, etc. We have come to rely on such battery-powered devices, but they all need to be recharged eventually. What can you do when you’re in a situation where you’re going to be away from a power outlet for an extended period of time? You can get a portable power station, a device a little bigger than a lunch box that houses a large battery that can carry enough energy to charge or power small devices.
This review looks at one such device: the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station. I also looked at the optional SolarSaga 40W mini solar panel that works with the Explorer 300 Plus to charge the device with solar power.
Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station: Design, Ports, Battery
The Explorer 300 Plus weighs just 3.75 kilograms (8.27 pounds) and measures 23.1 by 15.4 by 16.8 centimeters (9.1 by 6.1 by 6.6 inches). It has a sturdy, compact shape with a carrying handle that can fold up. It can even fit in a larger backpack, like one you might use for camping, hiking, or any other outdoor activity. Although it doesn’t look like it, the case is designed to withstand three drops from a height of 0.9 meters (3 feet). Jackery comes with a five-year warranty.
Inside the Explorer 300 Plus is a LiFePO4 battery that holds 288 watt hours of energy. According to Jackery’s website, the battery should have 70% capacity after 4,000 charge cycles. The device also has a built-in comprehensive protection circuit to protect connected devices.
The 300 watts of power output is either available on the AC output (the appropriate US or UK plug is available, depending on where you buy it), or a maximum of 100 watts on the two USB-C Power Delivery ports , and 15 watts to the USB-A port. The Explorer 300 Plus can be charged either via the AC input (a full charge takes approximately 2 hours), the car adapter on the DC input (5.5 hours for a full charge), or via the USB-C with a maximum of 100 watts (4 hours for a full charge). The appropriate cables and adapters are included, along with a cable bag.
The screen in the center of the front is beautifully designed. It displays a large circle with the battery status percentage, and next to it is a display of input and output power. Below each is an indication of how many hours it will take the Explorer 300 Plus to charge at the current power level or how much power it can still provide until that time. let it be empty. This information is a good indication of the actual time. If you want to see exactly how long the little Explorer 300 Plus can provide power, you can find a power calculator on the Jackery homepage.
The Explorer 300 Plus has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and you can use the iPhone Jackery app to control the device and adjust its settings.
We tested the power of the little powerhouse by charging various Apple devices for 30 minutes. An iPhone 15 was charged by 51 percentage points with a maximum displayed power of 19 watts. With a MacBook Air M3, it charged 47% at around 65 watts of peak power. A MacBook Air M1 charged 34% and the 11-inch iPad Pro 35%. These are all very good values.
Jackery SolarSaga 40W Mini Solar Panel Option
If you plan to use the Explorer 300 Plus outdoors, it seems a good idea to charge it using a solar panel. Jackery offers various solar panels from 40 watts to 200 watts and recommends the SolarSaga 40W Mini Solar Panel as an add-on for the Explorer 300 Plus for an additional price.
We measured charging times with the SolarSaga 40W under winter and spring sunshine. As you would expect, with a solar panel with a maximum output of only 40 watts, the Explorer 300 Plus only gets around 30 watts. In the spring, it took about three hours to add 20 percent to the Explorer 300 Plus’s battery; on nicer days, it was a little faster.
If you’re serious about charging the Explorer 300 Plus with solar power, you’ll need to plan for a larger solar panel, such as the SolarSaga 100W.
Should you buy the Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station?
The Jackery Explorer 300 Plus Portable Power Station is not intended for users who must rely on a portable power station on a regular basis. It is ideal for occasional use with light outbuildings, such as charging devices while camping or powering a light source on a site. Ideally, Jackery also offers a set with a 40-watt solar panel, but it may be too underpowered for many use cases.
This article was originally published on Macwelt and was translated by Romain Loyola.
This article was originally published on our sister publication Macwelt and has been translated and localized from German.
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