Bluetti AC500 vs Jackery Explorer 240 v2
Side-by-side on the specs that decide it — surge, capacity, runtime and price.
Both models' specs verified against manufacturer listings · Last updated
The short answer
Jackery Explorer 240 v2 costs $1800 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Bluetti AC500 holds 1100% more energy (3072Wh vs 256Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Bluetti AC500 has 9400W more surge headroom (10000W vs 600W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Jackery Explorer 240 v2 is 58.4 lb lighter (7.7 lb vs 66.1 lb).
- Jackery Explorer 240 v2 is rated for 4,000 cycles vs 3,500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
Bluetti AC500
A modular home-backup system, not a portable unit — the AC500 has no internal battery at all until you add B300K packs.
Best for: Serious home-backup builds where you're designing a system, not buying an appliance.
Where it falls short:
- Requires separate battery packs to function at all — budget accordingly
- Total system cost climbs fast
Jackery Explorer 240 v2
Jackery's LiFePO4 entry point. A pocket-station rival to the EcoFlow River 2, trading a little output for Jackery's 4,000-cycle rating.
Best for: Weekend campers charging small devices on a budget.
Where it falls short:
- 300W output and one AC outlet
- 256Wh empties quickly under load
| Spec | Bluetti AC500 | Jackery Explorer 240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $1999 | $199 |
| Capacity | 3072 Wh | 256 Wh |
| Continuous output | 5000 W | 300 W |
| Surge output | 10000 W | 600 W |
| Battery | LiFePO4 | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 3,500 | 4,000 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 66.1 lb | 7.7 lb |
| Max solar | 3000 W | 100 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 1h 45m | 1h 30m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Bluetti AC500 | Jackery Explorer 240 v2 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 43.5 hrs | ❌ |
| Mini fridge | 82.9 hrs | 6.9 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 32.6 hrs | ❌ |
| CPAP machine | 65.3 hrs | 5.4 hrs |
| Sump pump | 3.3 hrs | ❌ |