Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 Review
By the HomeGridHQ Research Team · Updated October 13, 2026 · How we evaluate
The fastest-charging 1kWh box, if you can live with the fan
Verdict: The C1000 Gen 2 is built around one trick: it refills from a wall outlet in 49 minutes at 1,600W once you enable UltraFast mode in the app. That's useful in a storm.
- Price
- $530regular street price, checked October 13, 2026
- Cost per kWh
- $518
- Capacity
- 1,024 Wh
- Continuous output
- 2,000 W
Best for: People who want a 1kWh unit they can recharge fast between outages or between campsites.
Skip if: You'll run it in a bedroom overnight under load, you want to add a battery later, or you're shopping strictly on $/kWh.
Where this price comes from: us.anker.com/products/c1000-gen2.json variant 'Go Without Solar' (SKU A17631A1, base unit, no panel), re-checked 2026-10-13: $529.99 (no compare-at shown). Solar bundles excluded. We rank on what you actually pay, not on list price — MSRPs in this category are routinely 40-50% above street.
What people who actually tested it found
We have not physically tested this unit and we do not pretend otherwise. Below is what independent reviewers and owners who have put hands on it reported — each claim linked to its source so you can check it yourself.
Delivered 890Wh from the advertised 1,024Wh, about 87% of rated capacity.
Source: OutdoorGearLab (Kenji Mowrey) · 2026-07-23
Measured AC charging speed of 1,097Wh per hour, with a full charge in about 0.8 hours.
Source: OutdoorGearLab · 2026-07-23
Recharged to full in 49 minutes drawing around 1,200W by default (1,600W needs to be enabled), and ran a MacBook Pro, Studio Display, three LED lights and a phone charger for almost 24 hours.
Source: MacRumors (Juli Clover) · 2025-12-11
Under heavy load or fast charging the fans are loud: the reviewer wrote she wouldn't be able to sleep with them running that high.
Source: MacRumors (Juli Clover) · 2025-12-11
What testers flag that the spec sheet does not
- Loud fans under load. Put it outside the bedroom for overnight use above a few hundred watts.
- No expansion battery support on the Gen 2. The Gen 1 C1000 can take one.
- The 49-minute recharge needs UltraFast mode switched on in the Anker app.
Spec scores (computed vs. every portable unit we track — not opinions)
Key specs
| Capacity | 1,024 Wh (not expandable) |
|---|---|
| Output / surge | 2,000 W / 3,000 W · 120V only |
| Chemistry / cycles | LFP · 4,000 cycles to 80% |
| AC recharge 0-100% | 49 min |
| Max solar input | 600 W |
| Weight / warranty | 24.9 lb · 5-year warranty |
Specs verified 2026-10-13 from manufacturer documentation.
What it actually runs, for how long
| Scenario | Estimated runtime |
|---|---|
| Refrigerator (150W, 35% duty) | 16.6 hrs |
| CPAP overnight (60W) | 14.5 hrs |
| Home essentials bundle (~330W avg 165W) | 5.3 hrs |
| Sump pump storm duty (800W, 20%) | 5.4 hrs |
Computed at 85% inverter efficiency from rated capacity. Model your exact appliance mix →
Our take
The C1000 Gen 2 is built around one trick: it refills from a wall outlet in 49 minutes at 1,600W once you enable UltraFast mode in the app. That's useful in a storm. You can top it off between the warning and the outage, or recharge at a friend's house during a long one. OutdoorGearLab measured 890Wh delivered from the 1,024Wh pack, about 87%, which is a strong result, and clocked its charging at 1,097Wh per hour. MacRumors' Juli Clover ran a full Mac desk setup on it for almost 24 hours. The downsides are real, though. Both reviewers flagged loud fans under heavy load and during fast charging. MacRumors' reviewer said she wouldn't be able to sleep with them at full speed. Anker also dropped battery expansion and the built-in light the Gen 1 had. Price is the other issue: $530 on Anker's own store comes to about $518/kWh, more than the Gen 1 C1000 we already list and more than Bluetti's Elite 100 V2 at the same capacity.
✓ Strengths
- Fastest AC recharge in its class: 49 minutes at 1,600W (UltraFast mode, toggled in the app)
- 2,000W continuous from a 24.9 lb box, more than most 1kWh rivals
- OutdoorGearLab measured 890Wh delivered from the 1,024Wh pack
✕ Trade-offs
- Fans get loud under heavy load or fast charging
- Gen 2 dropped battery expansion and the built-in light the Gen 1 had
- At $530 direct it costs about $518/kWh, more than the Gen 1 C1000 on Amazon
Shopping around? We don't have a buy link for the SOLIX C1000 Gen 2, so we won't pretend to. If it doesn't fit your needs, compare the closest alternatives.
Compare alternatives →Not sure it covers your load? Recheck the runtime table or run the calculator.
Head-to-head battles featuring this unit
Anker SOLIX C1000 Gen 2 problems & common complaints
No unit is flawless. Here are the honest weak points — from our own spec audit and from reviewers and owners who actually used it — so you know what you're accepting before you buy:
- Fans get loud under heavy load or fast charging
- Gen 2 dropped battery expansion and the built-in light the Gen 1 had
- At $530 direct it costs about $518/kWh, more than the Gen 1 C1000 on Amazon
- Loud fans under load. Put it outside the bedroom for overnight use above a few hundred watts.
- No expansion battery support on the Gen 2. The Gen 1 C1000 can take one.
- The 49-minute recharge needs UltraFast mode switched on in the Anker app.
Sourced from manufacturer spec sheets plus the independent tests linked under "What people who actually tested it found" above. We flag problems even on units we earn commission from — that independence is the point.
Closest alternatives
Frequently asked questions
Is the C1000 Gen 2 better than the original C1000?
It recharges faster (49 min at 1,600W) and puts out 2,000W instead of 1,800W. But it's slightly smaller at 1,024Wh, it can't take an expansion battery, and it has no light. If you need expansion, the Gen 1 is still the one to get.
How fast does the C1000 Gen 2 really charge?
49 minutes is Anker's figure with UltraFast mode switched on in the app. MacRumors saw it draw around 1,200W by default. OutdoorGearLab measured 1,097Wh per hour.
C1000 Gen 2 or Bluetti Elite 100 V2?
Same capacity. The Anker charges about twice as fast from the wall and has more outlets. The Bluetti is quieter, takes twice the solar input (1,000W) and is about $30 cheaper direct.