Last updated September 24, 2026. Manufacturer-spec comparison only—not a Boom lab test. Specs from Jackery’s live Explorer 300 US PDP and Explorer 290 Plus refurbished PDP. This is not the Explorer 300 Plus vs 290 Plus compare already live on Boom—different left-hand SKU. Real runtime depends on load, temperature, and inverter losses.
Two ~290 Wh backpack boxes that look like twins in a search ad: Explorer 300 is the still-listed new-ish NMC 300 W station; 290 Plus is the refurbished NMC twin with dual AC outlets and a short refurbished warranty. Off Grid Power Boom will not pretend Pro-era copy that made them identical was accurate.
Quick decision
- Pick Explorer 300 when you want a current (non-refurbished) Jackery listing with a clear 300 W / 500 W surge callout, 293 Wh, dual AC + 60 W USB-C PD, and the 2+1 year official-site warranty path Jackery prints.
- Pick Explorer 290 Plus (refurbished) when budget + 7.1 lb carry matter, you want dual AC + 60 W USB-C on the refurbished PDP, and you accept NMC chemistry plus Jackery’s 6-month refurbished warranty.
Check Jackery Explorer 300 (Jackery US) · Check Explorer 290 Plus refurbished (Jackery US)
Decision table (manufacturer-stated)
| Spec | Explorer 300 | Explorer 290 Plus (refurbished PDP) |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 293 Wh | 290 Wh |
| AC output | 300 W inverter / 500 W surge (PDP) | 2× pure sine AC outlets; Jackery collection cards often print 200 W for this refurbished SKU—PDP emphasizes ports more than a bold continuous-W line; confirm on your unit/manual |
| Chemistry / cycles | Lithium-ion; 800 cycles to 80% (PDP) | NMC (Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide) per refurbished PDP; cycle count not highlighted |
| Weight | Portable / carry-friendly (numeric lb—confirm live sheet/manual; not bolded on the PDP body we scraped) | 7.1 lb |
| USB-C | 1× 60 W PD (in/out supported in feature copy) | 1× PD 60 W USB-C (input/output) |
| AC outlets | 2× | 2× |
| Wall recharge claim | ~4.5 h wall; ~2.5 h with 90 W wall + 60 W USB-C together (PDP) | ~5.5 h wall; ~2.5 h to 80% with 65 W wall + 60 W USB-C together |
| Solar claim | ~5 h class / ~3.5 h to 80% with SolarSaga 100 W (PDP) | ~5–5.5 h with 100 W panel class; MPPT called out |
| Warranty (as listed) | 2+1 years (official-site path) | 6 months on refurbished PDP |
Sources: Jackery Explorer 300, Jackery Explorer 290 Plus refurbished.
Already live (different pair): Jackery Explorer 300 Plus vs 290 Plus — link that if you actually want the Plus LFP small box, not Explorer 300.
Who should buy / who should skip
Buy Explorer 300 if…
- You want a non-refurbished Jackery US cart with a clear 300 W continuous callout for drones / mini-coolers / small fans Jackery cites.
Skip Explorer 300 if…
- You specifically wanted 300 Plus / 300 v2 LFP + app features—see 300 vs 300 Plus.
Buy 290 Plus refurbished if…
- Price + 7.1 lb matter and loads stay in the phone / camera / mini-cooler class.
Skip 290 Plus if…
- You reject refurbished or need a multi-year warranty.
Failure modes
- Wh lookalike trap: 293 vs 290 Wh is noise; warranty, refurbished status, and continuous-W clarity are the real deltas.
- Pro-era copy traps: older blogs sometimes printed identical 300 W / identical warranty for both—Jackery’s live refurbished card does not match that tidy table.
- Overload: neither box is a microwave station—stay under published continuous AC.
Related Off Grid reading
Search Jackery Explorer 300 on Amazon · Search Jackery Explorer 290 Plus on Amazon
Robert DeWitt writes about off-grid power gear for Off Grid Power Boom. Based in Arizona, he uses portable power stations, solar panels, and battery systems regularly in extreme heat—focusing on practical runtime, charging speed, reliability, and real-world usability for camping, RV trips, and home backup.
Editorial focus: portable power stations & solar generators, solar panel setups, batteries/inverters, and off-grid preparedness.