Anker SOLIX C300X (portable power station Connected 300 W model): our review

A blustery evening, a dark sitting room and a laptop with unfinished work: this is the sort of interruption the Anker SOLIX C300X could help soften. Its 288 Wh reserve suits phones, a lamp and a laptop, with actual running time depending on their consumption and the energy available after conversion losses. Which device gets priority in your house? Having a short list helps you put this small reserve to useful work.

The 300 W rated output puts small devices at the centre of its brief. Capacity describes the energy stored; output describes the demand the station can support at any moment. Charging another phone draws on the reserve, while connecting something more demanding also raises the question of available power. It is well placed overall for keeping a modest collection of essentials going. Keep the job small.

At 4,13 kg, this is a station you can carry in one hand using its built-in handle. That leaves your other hand available for bedding, food or the coat somebody insisted they would not need. The journey from parking area to tent is rarely short of luggage.

A useful reserve that need not dominate the packing has clear appeal. For a campsite without electric hook-up, moving it between the tent and a sheltered spot looks straightforward. It could also accompany a laptop to the bottom of the garden, beyond the nearest socket. The small energy reserve still calls for a short equipment list, but the transport side makes sense: carry the station to the job, use the essentials, then bring it indoors. Your own comfort and the distance remain part of that decision.

The maximum solar input of 100 W puts this station in supplementary-panel territory. A panel unfolded on the grass while breakfast is cleared away could add energy when the sunshine and your stopping place cooperate. That ceiling describes what the station can accept, rather than what a panel will supply throughout the morning. Panel choice, orientation and weather all affect the result.

Solar charging makes more sense during a settled stop than a day spent moving between places. Give a suitable panel a useful position and treat the incoming energy as a contribution to your reserve. Before ordering, confirm whether a panel and the necessary cables are included; solar compatibility does not establish that. Keep the station sheltered from rain and high temperatures, and charge it somewhere ventilated, as manufacturers advise.

The DJI Power 1000 V2 is better suited to demanding appliances, with 2600 W of rated output providing scope for equipment with larger power requirements. The DJI Power 1000 V2 is also better rated overall. Those are clear reasons to consider that alternative when a particular appliance, rather than a bag of small electronics, is driving your decision.

The C300X has a different attraction: a carry handle and a reserve aimed at everyday essentials. Wi-Fi connectivity and a 12 V cigarette lighter socket are included. If your kit uses that socket, check that its power needs fit before packing it. Choose around what you intend to bring. Phones, a lamp and a laptop make a coherent camping kit; filling spare campervan space with appliances can quickly change the job you are asking a portable battery to do.