Watch Out! The Jackery SCAM: What You Need to Know Before Buying
Here at The Solar Lab, we’ve been long-time fans of Jackery. Not only do they make some great products, they've become a household name in the power station market and done a great job promoting portable power solutions to a wider audience.
With that said, we've uncovered some crucial information that you need to be aware of before you go out and order a Jackery power station of your own. More specifically, there’s a dirty little secret that relates to the Jackery Explorer 1000 and the Jackery Explorer 1000 PLUS that you should be aware of.
So, let’s get started and clear up this potential trap before you fall into it yourself.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 vs. Explorer 1000 PLUS
As we discovered when we originally reviewed the unit, the Jackery Explorer 1000 PLUS is basically just an updated version of the original Explorer 1000.
While the PLUS model boasts improved specs, particularly a bigger inverter, and it’s an all-around great power station, that's not what we’re going to focus on today. The real issue lies in the battery technology differences between it and the older model, as well as the somewhat misleading information we discovered on Jackery’s official website.
The Battery Chemistry Differences: Lithium-Ion vs. Lithium Iron Phosphate
The main difference between the two models is the type of battery they use:
The Jackery Explorer 1000 Battery:
This model contains a built-in lithium-ion battery, which has a lifespan of about 500 cycles. This means you can charge it from zero to full roughly 500 times before the battery capacity drops to 80%.
The Jackery Explorer 1000 PLUS Battery:
The newer, upgraded model features a much better lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery, which can last up to 3,500 cycles before the capacity drops to 80%. This means that the battery within the PLUS is drastically more stable than the lower-quality battery you get with the original Explorer 1000.
Essentially, you could charge this unit every day for nearly ten years and still have a highly functional battery! By contrast, the original model would only retain its original storage capacity for a few years, even with relatively light use!
The Hidden Catch
Despite the significant difference in battery lifespan, Jackery charges the same price—roughly $999—for both models!
Even worse, they've moved the information about the 500-cycle lifespan of the original Explorer 1000 way down on the product page and buried in the tech specs section. So, unless you’re the type who fully digs into all of the specs before making a purchase, it would be really easy to miss this crucial piece of information.
Luckily, we’re here to catch this sly little marketing trick for you.
So, Why Does This Matter?
Let’s say battery lifespan isn’t a huge issue for you, the PLUS version is sold out, or you’ve found a coupon code that allows you to buy the original Explorer 1000 for a bit less than the Explorer 1000 PLUS. While they seem similar enough on surface level, you'd be picking up a product with a significantly shorter lifespan.
Simply put, the older model's battery will degrade much faster, potentially leaving you with a power station that doesn’t meet your needs in a little over a year or two with basic daily use. We always like to think of solar equipment and power stations as an investment, rather than a luxury purchase. Buying something you know will not last as long for the same price as the alternative would never sit well with us.
What is Our Advice?
Again, we really like a lot of the Jackery product line, but we would definitely recommend being vigilant when shopping for Jackery products going forward.
Our suspicion is that they recognized the issue with the original Explorer 1000 battery and addressed it with the PLUS, but maybe still had leftover units in their warehouse they still wanted to get rid of. This makes sense from their perspective, but you need to look out for yourself.
Rather than risk buying an inferior version of a Jackery product you want, just be really careful that you get the latest version of it. When shopping their power stations, look for models with the updated handle design, which indicates they have the newer, longer-lasting LiFePO4 batteries.
This simple check can save you from ending up with a product that degrades prematurely.
A Call to Jackery
We don’t typically write articles like this, but we felt it was important to share our findings to help you avoid a costly mistake. As always, we want you to get the best value for your money and a product that will serve you well into the future.
So, Jackery, it's time to do the right thing: put the older models on sale, clear them out, or better yet, just give them away. At the very least, make sure you plainly state the difference in battery quality between the Explorer 1000 and the Explorer 1000 PLUS on your website!
Customers deserve transparency and products that last.
Final Words
Whether you’re buying a Jackery power station, or a power station from any other solar equipment brand, always make informed decisions by doing your research. We’ll always do our best to share our own knowledge and findings with you, but it’s up to you to make sure you make the right decisions!
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