Jackery Explorer 600 Plus: Detailed Review

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is a pint-sized powerhouse that punches above its weight class. This LiFePO4 dynamo boasts a 632Wh capacity and a 800W pure sine wave inverter, wrapped in a package that’s basically backpack-friendly.

Does the Explorer 600 Plus stand out? It has rapid charging, smart app integration, and a featherweight design. But is it enough to power your gear and does it stand up to a tough comparison from other power stations? 

In this guide to the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus, we’ll dive into the nitty-gritty to see if it can deliver the perfect balance of power and portability.

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Quick Summary: Power in Your Pocket (Almost)

This is a popular category of small power stations. At a price of about $500 or lower yet still including a pretty decent battery and inverter with plenty of ports, the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus and similar alternatives are a great way to bring a little power anywhere you need it.

As a compact power station, you can’t expect this to compete with the best whole home backup options. But that’s not what it is made for. The Jackery 600 Plus is great for:

• Weekend camping trips or day-long outdoor adventures
• Charging multiple devices anywhere you need it
• Powering small appliances and electronics during power outages

Where the Explorer 600 Plus will perform the best is where the capacity and portability intersect. Or you just have some lightweight energy needs. There’s enough power to run a mini-fridge for 7-8 hours, charge a laptop 8-10 times, or keep a CPAP machine running for multiple nights. And you can easily carry this device with one hand.

In this full review of the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus, we’ll review its most important specs, including:

• AC Power Output: 800W inverter with 1,600W surge
• Battery Capacity: 632Wh LiFePO4
• Charging Speeds: 200W AC input, 200W solar input (combinable)
• Weight and Dimensions: 16.1 lbs (7.3 kg) and perfectly portable
• Outlets, Ports, and Unique Features: 6 ways to charge and power your devices

With up to a 5 year warranty (if purchased from Jackery) and a LiFePO4 battery with more than 3,000 charge cycles, this small power station is going to be a reliable, long-term investment. You can expect many years of reliable use, whether you’re a frequent camper or simply keeping it on standby for emergencies.

This guide takes a close look at how the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus compares to close rivals. Here’s a very quick summary of our findings:

• EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro: Tough competitor with bigger battery and faster charging gives the 600 Plus a run for the money
• Bluetti EB70S: Similar option with slightly larger battery and wireless charging pad but shorter 2 year warranty
• Anker PowerHouse 535: Not quite as impressive, but still in the ballpark and often sold for much less

For those that want a grab-and-go package offering smart power management, the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus can hit the spot. It has a compelling blend of capacity, speed, and portability.

Power Station

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Portable Power Station 600W inverter with 632Wh battery Plenty of outlets and ports 20ms UPS switchover time

600 Plus on Jackery 600 Plus on Amazon

AC Inverter: Compact Power

The AC inverter is responsible for changing the direct current (DC) energy applied by the battery into alternating current (AC) energy that some devices use. When possible, it’s best to use DC outlets like the USB ports. But this small power station comes with a built-in inverter that is there when an AC outlet (like a regular household outlet) is a must.

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus has an 800W pure sine wave inverter. This can power laptops, small appliances, CPAP machines, and even refrigerators. It also has surge protection up to 1,600W, which helps for very short bursts of energy that usually happens at device startup.

The inverter is pretty incredible for the battery size. You really aren’t limited by it at all. In fact, it’s much more likely that battery capacity is a concern. For example, if you use a 800W device, it would last only 45 minutes.

So what is this useful for? 

• Devices with that must use AC outlets and not the USB ports or DC outlets
• Power needs of 800W or less
• If on the higher end, ones that only need to be powered for a short time

This can be great for things like small blenders and laptops. It can work in a pinch for a fridge, but only for a few hours due to the battery size. 

As far as the competition goes, the Explorer 600 Plus is equal to basically every one in the lineup. The EcoFlow River 2 Pro and Bluetti EB70S both have 800W inverters. The Anker 535 is the only one that drops down to 500W.

Battery and Charging: Long-Lasting Power

The size of the power station battery determines how long your devices will run for. It’s a simple calculation that’s just the Watt-hours of the battery divided by the Watts of any device(s) you want to run. That equals the hours you can use it for. 

For example, since the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus has a 632Wh battery, you can expect it to power something with about 50-60W for nearly 10 hours. That’s what some laptops use. And for a 10W phone, it’s more like 50-60 hours!

This power station comes with the right type of battery, LiFePO4. This is known as the best in the industry due to its long-lasting performance. It is rated to keep 80% of its capacity even after being charged and discharged more than 3,000 times. That’s basically 8 to 10 years of use before you’ll notice the battery degradation.

Both charging rates for AC outlets and solar panels are 200W. This can fully charge the battery in about 4 hours, and is about as good as it gets in the industry. The EcoFlow River 2 Pro has an exceptional AC charging rate though, able to refill it within 1.5 hours. 

When looking at the battery, the Explorer 600 Plus is an excellent choice for weekend camping trips, short power outages, or as a reliable backup power source for essential devices. It lacks expandability options of some larger models, but strikes an excellent balance between capacity and portability.

Weight and Dimensions: Portability First

When you want a small device to provide some power, the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is ideal. It weighs just 16.1lbs (7.3kg) and is basically the size of a shoebox. 

You can easily carry this with one hand. There’s no problem if you can’t park the car right next to where you need this. If you can handle a backpack or a beach bag, you can take this Jackery along for the ride. It’ll fit in any car trunk and won’t take up much room in a closet or even a desk drawer.

It’s even lighter than the rivals from EcoFlow and Bluetti. Although Anker’s rival is a little lighter, mostly because it has a smaller battery. That’s the difference here across the board, with the Jackery having a very solid weight to battery capacity ratio.

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is an excellent choice for those prioritizing ease of transport without sacrificing too much power capacity.

Ports and Features: More than Enough

It’s always crucial to examine the available ports and outlets. You want to be able to easily connect your devices and avoid anxiety about having to switch things out to ensure they stay charged.

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus offers many ports:

• 1 x 18W USB-A port
• 2 USB-C ports (100W & 30W)
• 1 x 120W 12V car cigarette lighter port
• 2 x AC outlets (120V, 6.67A)

While not overly extensive, the two USB-C ports are a nice touch. Other brands and older models tend to favor USB-A, but here you’ll be pushing forward with ports that match more newer devices while still keeping one USB-A around.

It’s also worth noting that the AC outlet has a 20ms UPS function. This is incredibly useful when you want to use the power station to ensure a critical device always has power, like a CPAP or computer. Connect the power station to an outlet and your device, then if the outlet fails (power outage) the Jackery will switch to battery power in 20ms or less. 

EcoFlow has a 30ms EPS function, but those are the  only two with that ability. Others aren’t meant to be plugged in while in use for extended periods.

The Bluetti EB70S hits back with a wireless charging pad, one feature that’s typical on some Bluetti models and basically no other brands. It also brings two DC barrel plugs (5521).

Overall, the Explorer 600 Plus has the ports you need unless you want a wireless charging pad or more than one USB-A port. Its 20ms UPS function is the best you can find at this level of power station.

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Comparisons: Finding Your Power Match

Let’s compare the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus to three popular alternatives to help you make an informed decision. 

You can also see our other comparison posts covering similar options, such as:

• 500W Power Station Comparison (Explorer 600 Plus and smaller 500W models) 
• EcoFlow River 2 Pro vs Bluetti EB70

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus vs. EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro

For those torn between power and portability, this comparison is a tough one. The EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro and Jackery Explorer 600 Plus cater to similar markets, but with distinct advantages.

If you’re looking for more capacity and faster charging from an outlet, the RIVER 2 Pro has the edge:

• Capacity: RIVER 2 Pro (768Wh) vs. Explorer 600 Plus (632Wh)
• AC Charging Speed: RIVER 2 Pro (660W) vs. Explorer 600 Plus (200W)
• USB-A ports: RIVER 2 Pro has 3 USB-A but only 1 USB-C vs. Explorer’s 1 Type A and 2 Type C

They have the same specs for the inverter of 800W continuous and 1,600W surge. And they both have 200W solar panel charging, so you can use them at night.

The Jackery has 20ms UPS compared to EcoFlow’s 30ms EPS (not actual UPS).

The EcoFlow River 2 Pro hits the Jackery below the belt with a bigger battery and faster AC charging. But the Jackery comes back with an extra USB-C port and faster UPS feature. 

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus vs. BLUETTI EB70S

Bluetti brings a lot to the table with a big lineup of high-quality power stations. And in this particular comparison, it’s a very close call.

The Bluetti EB70S comes out with some very attractive specs over the Jackery’s, such as:

• Battery Capacity: EB70S (716Wh) vs. Explorer 600 Plus (632Wh)
• AC Outlets: EB70S has 4 while the Explorer 600 Plus only has 2
• Wireless charging pad and barrel plugs: Only on the Bluetii EB70S

But Bluetti is only offering a 2 year warranty on the EB70S. That’s very short compared to Jackery’s which is up to 5 years (when purchased through Jackery).

The Bluetti EB70S vs. Jackery Explorer 600 Plus comparison also weighs in favor of the Jackery in terms of literal weight. It’s about 5 pounds (2.5kg) lighter. Both have 200W charging rates across the board, but Jackery can handle up to 60V compared to Bluetti’s 28V, which means it’s a lot easier to find solar panels that are safe for this power station.

It comes down to the more outlets and wireless charging pad of the Bluetti versus the longer warranty and lighter weight of the Jackery. The Explorer 600 Plus is a more manageable solution without sacrificing too much power. But there’s no doubt both are very attractive options.

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus vs. Anker PowerHouse 535

The last head-to-head comparison we’ll do for the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus is against the Anker PowerHouse 535. Anker’s long history of battery excellence is noteworthy, but this simply isn’t a very close comparison.

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus outperforms the Anker PowerHouse 535 in several key areas:

• Capacity: Explorer 600 Plus (632Wh) vs. PowerHouse 535 (512Wh)
• AC Output: Explorer 600 Plus (800W, 1,600W surge) vs. PowerHouse 535 (500W)
• Charging Speeds: Explorer has 200W AC & solar, while Anker has 120W for both

But the Anker power station has some advantages. These often include a lower price (depending on current prices/deals), as well as 4 AC outlets and 3 USB-A ports.

The Explorer 600 Plus is clearly the more powerful option here, offering significantly higher capacity and AC output without a weight penalty. However, the Anker PowerHouse 535 might still be attractive to those loyal to the Anker brand, if found at a lower price point, or that need more outlets and USB-A ports.

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Specs

Here is a full list of the specs for the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus, including a link to the user manual for any other details.

Power Station

Jackery Explorer 600 Plus Portable Power Station 600W inverter with 632Wh battery Plenty of outlets and ports 20ms UPS switchover time

600 Plus on Jackery 600 Plus on Amazon

Wrap-Up: Guide to the Jackery Explorer 600 Plus

The Jackery Explorer 600 Plus features a 632Wh LiFePO4 battery, 800W inverter, and impressively light 16.1lbs frame. While it may not have the highest capacity or the fastest charging speeds in its class, the Explorer 600 Plus brings two USB-C ports, a long warranty, and a 20ms UPS feature that no other power station in this category offers.

Looking for something even more compact? Head over to our Jackery 500 vs. Bluetti AC50: Pint-Sized Power Showdown.