Anker F3800 Review: Did Anker Just KILL the Competition?
Ever been left in the dark, fumbling with flashlights and candles during a power outage? It’s frustrating, right? Not being able to use your household appliances, dealing with the boredom and isolation of a dead phone and laptop—it feels like being trapped in your own home. Or, if you enjoy the outdoors, have you ever wished you had a more reliable power source?
Enter the Anker SOLIX F3800 – a simplified and surprisingly affordable solution to your power woes. At least that’s what Anker claims, but we wanted to spend some quality time with this behemoth and actually see if it’s worth your hard-earned money.
The F3800’s Design: Big and Bold
Anker has been around for years, and while most people are more familiar with their portable power banks and Bluetooth speakers, they have recently made a major move into the larger-scale home backup power market.
If you’re familiar with Anker’s sleek and stylish design philosophy, their most ambitious home power station, the Anker SOLIX F3800, will not disappoint. Sporting a big gray faceplate, eye-catching blue LED highlights, and practical features like wheels and handles, this machine has all of the trademarks of an Anker product but scaled up in size to epic proportions.
When we say epic proportions, we mean it. Be warned, this unit is far from a featherweight! At a whopping 132.3 pounds, it’s the heaviest single-unit power station we’ve ever tested. But hey, who needs a gym membership when you can get a full-body workout just moving this thing around?
With that said, if you can keep it on the ground and allow the built-in wheels to do the majority of the work, it’s actually not too bad.
Specifications: Power to Spare
When it comes to specs, the Anker SOLIX F3800 is no slouch. With a 3,840Wh battery capacity and a maximum output of 6,000W, this beast supports both 120V and 240V dual voltage output.
While it may not be able to power an entire village, this type of power is enough to keep even the most demanding household appliances running. If you need even more power, you also have the option to connect it to another F3800 to double the output to 12,000W. Plus, with the option to add expansion batteries, the storage capacity is fully expandable to an eye-bulging 53.8kWh!
For perspective, that’s double the total battery capacity of similar expandable power stations, like the Bluetti AC300 and its B300 batteries. Talk about power to spare!
Ports: Plug-and-Play Versatility
Ports, ports, and more ports! Out of the box, the SOLIX F3800 comes equipped with an impressive array of output ports:
• 3 x 100W USB-C Port: Perfect for fast-charging your handheld devices
• 2 x 12W USB-A Ports: Supply power to older devices
• 6 x AC Outlets: Need to power some lights, your laptop, or even brew a pot of coffee? No problem
• NEMA 14-50 AC and NEMA L14-30R AC: These are for the heavy-duty plug-ins. Think RVs, power tools, or even your home’s electrical panel
• 1 x 12V Car Socket: Have devices that have the old 12V plug-in? The F3800 even has that covered.
The unit also features Anker’s patented Power IQ ports, which ensure efficient charging for all of your devices. Basically, these “smart” ports automatically identify the power needs of a plugged-in device so they can deliver the fastest possible charge. This isn’t new to the F3800, but it’s certainly a welcome feature.
Power and Performance: A Real Powerhouse
Not only does it have the ports to allow you to plug in whatever you want, the F3800 also delivers the power you need. With a 9,000W surge peak and three AC outlets that work as uninterruptible power supplies, this machine is ready to handle whatever you throw at it.
From smartphones to power tools and major appliances, the F3800 was designed to handle just about anything. It’s like the Swiss Army knife of power stations (corkscrew not included).
Solar Charging: True Off-Grid Potential
The Anker SOLIX F3800 also comes with two solar input ports that can handle up to 1,200W each, making it a versatile choice for those looking for off-grid power security. Not only can it act as a portable power bank, but you can also generate and store your own independent power simply by connecting the unit to solar panels.
While we’re on the topic of flexibility and customization, the F3800 also supports AC coupling, which means it can charge from both solar and grid power at the same time. Maximize the amount of free solar power you can store, while also ensuring that your unit’s battery is charged as quickly as possible for when you need it.
With its unique potential for expandability, including ports for expansion batteries and a home panel connection, the F3800 can grow to be the heart of a future-proof power hub.
Expandability and Customization: The Sky’s the Limit
Speaking of expandability, the ability to start out small with just the F3800 unit itself, then add batteries and solar panels in the future, means it can grow with your evolving needs.
Whether you’re hoping to power your entire home one day or just need a reliable source of electricity for your RV, this unit can meet your needs. You don’t have to go crazy all at once; add batteries in the future, invest in the Anker SOLIX Home Power Panel, and throw in some solar panels to reduce or even eliminate your reliance on the power grid.
Think of it like building your own personal power grid, but without the utility bills!
Practical Use: More Than Just a Big Battery
To start out, we ran a few simple tests on the F3800, mostly just to see how it would handle basic demands in our office. Not only did it handle all of these tests, the fan noise was minimal, producing between 50 and 60 decibels when engaged, making it almost inaudible during regular use. It’s so quiet, you’ll forget it’s even there. Well, until you try to lift it, that is.
After running computers, desk lamps, and charging handheld devices, we wanted to put the unit through its paces, which meant running some fairly aggressive kitchen load tests. At roughly 3,200W, it still hardly made any noise. This really impressed us!
Having the option to run multiple appliances at the same time, without having to worry about it sounding like a jet engine, is really great for peace of mind during blackouts. It’s also really helpful if you want to run it while you sleep, as you might if you wanted to supply power to a CPAP machine or portable air conditioner.
The Anker App: Smart Control at Your Fingertips
Anker’s Smart App is the icing on the cake, offering a fairly simple interface to control the unit’s power cycles, check inputs and outputs, and even set timers to shut it off entirely. For those with advanced home equipment, like smart panels and solar setups, the app provides even more control over how power is used and stored. You can even remotely adjust the built-in ambient light!
Basically, the app gives you a remote control for your power station, and who doesn’t want that?
The Not-So-Great Things: Nothing is Perfect
While we’re really impressed with the F3800 and its potential, it’s not without a few small issues.
Although we already mentioned how impressed we were with how quiet the unit was, even when supplying serious power to demanding appliances, that limited noise can be a bit inconsistent. Sometimes the fans are completely silent, then they kick in and out intermittently. Even though it isn’t very loud, the variation is weirdly unpredictable. It’s not a major issue, but one that’s worth mentioning.
It also would have been nice if the front light could act as a sort of built-in emergency light, but instead, it’s seemingly there just for aesthetic purposes. It doesn’t really get any brighter than a nightlight. Again, just a minor quibble.
Finally, the weight. There’s no getting around it; it’s heavy. Still, the durable wheels and handle really help in this regard, but don’t expect to be able to casually lift this thing over your head unless you’re built like Arnold Schwarzenegger in the late ‘80s.
The Final Verdict: Is the F3800 Worth the Investment?
So, should you invest in the Anker F3800? Well, that largely depends on your needs and lifestyle. While it may not stack as neatly as the EcoFlow DELTA PRO ULTRA in your garage, the F3800 offers really impressive portability and expandability, making it a more versatile option for those on the move. And let's not forget the attention to detail that Anker is known for, from the thoughtful design to the efficient IQ ports.
When compared to other market offerings, like the DELTA PRO ULTRA or the Hysolis Apollo 5K, the Anker F3800 holds its own, offering competitive specs at a more affordable price point. At $3,499, it's a solid investment for anyone looking to upgrade their home power backup system or take their off-grid adventures to the next level. Plus, as we mentioned, you can expand your system over time as your power needs and budget grow.
So, whether you're planning to offset electricity costs with solar power, want reliable backup power for the whole home, or simply looking for an off-grid power source for outdoor adventures, the Anker F3800 is definitely worth considering.
But don't just take our word for it—check it out for yourself and let us know what you think!
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