BLUETTI AC180 vs Jackery Explorer 1000 v2: 1 kWh-Class Power Stations Compared

Last updated: November 1, 2026. Every spec and price here comes from BLUETTI’s US AC180 product page, Jackery’s US Explorer 1000 v2 product page, and Jackery’s own comparison article (updated October 29, 2026), all read November 1, 2026. This is a spec comparison, not a hands-on test. We haven’t run either unit ourselves. Anything marked “arithmetic” is our math on the makers’ figures. Prices and stock change often, so check the live listing before you buy.

The BLUETTI AC180 and the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 are two of the most-searched 1 kWh-class LiFePO4 power stations, and we already cover each one. Side by side they split cleanly: the AC180 gives you more battery, more output, faster wall charging, and more solar input for less money. The Explorer 1000 v2 is about 11 to 12 lb lighter and smaller, and Jackery lists an under-20-millisecond switchover for outages, which BLUETTI’s AC180 page doesn’t list at all.

On the makers’ US stores on November 1, the AC180 was $449 (list $499) and the Explorer 1000 v2 was $559 in black and $589 in Dune White. Both pages carried stock warnings, covered below.

How do the specs compare side by side?

Sources: BLUETTI’s AC180 product page, Jackery’s Explorer 1000 v2 product page, and Jackery’s 1 kWh comparison article, all read November 1, 2026.

Which one gives you more for the money?

On price per watt-hour (arithmetic on the store prices above), the AC180 works out to about $0.39 per Wh ($449 ÷ 1,152 Wh). The Explorer 1000 v2 is about $0.52 per Wh in black ($559 ÷ 1,070 Wh) and $0.55 in Dune White. For that lower price the AC180 also lists 300 W more continuous AC output, a fourth AC outlet, 100 W more solar input, and a wireless charging pad.

What the Jackery price buys is size and weight. At 23.8 lb against 35.27 lb, the Explorer 1000 v2 is the one you’d rather carry from a truck to a campsite more than once a day. It also lists the longer cycle count, though the two makers rate cycles to different end points (70% for Jackery, 80% for BLUETTI), so the numbers aren’t directly comparable.

Can either one work as a UPS for a computer or router?

A UPS (uninterruptible power supply) keeps devices running through the split second after the grid cuts out. Jackery lists an under-20-millisecond switchover on the Explorer 1000 v2 page. Jackery’s comparison article says that’s enough for laptops, monitors, and most electronics, and our view is that desktop PCs and some routers may still restart at that gap.

BLUETTI’s AC180 page lists pass-through charging, meaning you can charge it and power devices at the same time, but it doesn’t list a switchover time or call the AC180 a UPS. If uninterrupted backup for a PC or NAS is the main job, don’t assume the AC180 will switch fast enough. Ask BLUETTI first, or look at a model built for it. Our Explorer 1000 v2 vs HomePower 1000 v2 comparison covers Jackery’s under-10 ms model, and our LiFePO4 vs lead-acid UPS guide covers dedicated UPS units.

How long will each one run a router, laptop, or PC?

Jackery publishes its own runtime estimates for the Explorer 1000 v2. BLUETTI publishes a formula instead: capacity × 90% depth of discharge × 85% inverter efficiency ÷ (load + about 15 W of the AC180’s own draw). The AC180 column below is our arithmetic using BLUETTI’s formula, not a measurement.

The results come out almost identical. The AC180’s extra 82 Wh is roughly offset by the efficiency losses BLUETTI builds into its own formula. Notice too that a 10 W router gets about 35 hours, not the 100-plus hours that plain Wh ÷ W suggests. The inverter’s own draw dominates at small loads. If your router runs on 12 V DC, both units have a 12 V car outlet that can skip the inverter. Our modem and router backup guide explains how.

For refrigerators and freezers, neither maker’s simple math fits well, because compressors cycle on and off and pull a surge at startup. Use our fridge and freezer runtime guide for that sizing.

Which charges faster from the wall and from solar?

• Wall. BLUETTI lists three AC modes for the AC180: Silent (260 W, about 4.9 hours), Standard (about 1,000 W, about 1.7 hours), and Turbo (about 1,440 W, about 1.3 hours, switched on in the BLUETTI app). Jackery’s spec table lists 1.58 hours on AC for the Explorer 1000 v2, while the page banner advertises a 50-minute Emergency Super Charge.
• Solar. The AC180 takes up to 500 W (12 to 60 V open-circuit voltage, MC4 connectors), and BLUETTI quotes about 2.8 to 3.3 hours in good sun. The Explorer 1000 v2 takes up to 400 W across two DC8020 ports, and Jackery lists 7.5 hours with one SolarSaga 200W panel.
• Cold weather. Neither one lists charging below 32°F. Keep either inside a heated space if you need to recharge in winter.

Where the makers’ own listings don’t line up

• Jackery capacity. The Explorer 1000 v2 page banner says “1024 Wh Capacity”. The tech spec table on the same page says 30.4Ah/35.2V DC (1070 Wh). We use the spec table figure. Jackery’s page also links to the newer HomePower 1000 v2, which is 1,024 Wh, so the banner may be borrowed from that model.
• Jackery charge time. The banner says Emergency Super Charge 0 to 100% in 50 minutes, but the spec table lists 1.58 hours on the AC adapter.
• Jackery USB-C. The banner says “Dual 100W USB-C”. The spec table lists one 100 W and one 30 W USB-C port.
• AC180 weight. The spec table says about 16 kg (35.27 lb), and the comparison chart says 35.3 lb. A paragraph further down the same page says 37 lb (17 kg).
• Stock. On November 1 the AC180 page showed “AC180 currently out of stock, expected restock: Late-November” next to an active Add to cart button. On Jackery’s page the Dune White unit was labeled Sold Out in the options list while the black unit was offered at $559. Check both stores on the day you order.

Which one should you pick?

• Pick the BLUETTI AC180 if you want the most capacity and output per dollar, plan to charge from solar regularly (500 W input), or need to run a 1,500 to 1,800 W appliance such as a kettle or hair dryer. It’s the better value as long as the weight doesn’t bother you. Our AC180 vs EcoFlow DELTA 2 comparison covers it against another rival.
• Pick the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 if you’ll carry it often, want the listed under-20 ms outage switchover, or need it to fit in a smaller space. See our Jackery 1000 Plus vs 1000 v2 comparison if you might want expansion later.
• Want the AC180 with more battery? BLUETTI sells the AC180P on the same page: 1,440 Wh in the same 35.3 lb box, $649 on November 1. Our AC60P and AC180P page covers it.
• Wiring into the house? Neither page lists a transfer-switch kit for these models. Read our transfer switch safety guide first.

Check current price and stock: the BLUETTI AC180 on bluettipower.com and the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 on jackery.com. For the bigger picture across all three brands, see BLUETTI vs EcoFlow vs Jackery, and for sizing a full setup, how to size an off-grid solar system.

Frequently asked questions

Is the BLUETTI AC180 bigger than the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2?

Yes, in both capacity and size. BLUETTI lists 1,152 Wh, 13.39 x 9.72 x 12.48 in, and about 35.27 lb. Jackery lists 1,070 Wh, 12.87 x 8.82 x 9.72 in, and 23.8 lb.

Can either one be expanded with extra batteries?

No. BLUETTI says the AC180 doesn’t support capacity expansion, though it can be recharged from a B80, B230, or B300 battery in Power Bank Mode. Jackery doesn’t list expansion for the Explorer 1000 v2.

Which one runs a space heater or hair dryer?

The AC180’s Power Lifting Mode is meant for heating devices up to 2,700 W, and BLUETTI’s own load chart lists an 1,800 W heater at about 0.5 hours. The Explorer 1000 v2 is rated 1,500 W continuous, so most 1,800 W heaters and hair dryers on high exceed it.

Which has the longer warranty?

Both come to 5 years. BLUETTI lists 5 years on the AC180. Jackery lists 3 years plus a free 2-year extension when bought on jackery.com.