Jackery Explorer 500 vs Allpowers R1500
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 500 costs $200 less. Whether that gap is worth closing depends on what you need to run.
- Allpowers R1500 holds 122% more energy (1152Wh vs 518Wh), so it runs the same load proportionally longer.
- Allpowers R1500 has 2000W more surge headroom (3000W vs 1000W) — that decides whether a fridge, pump or AC compressor will actually start.
- Jackery Explorer 500 is 24.2 lb lighter (13.3 lb vs 37.5 lb).
- Allpowers R1500 uses LiFePO4 while the other uses NMC — roughly double the usable cycle life.
- Allpowers R1500 is rated for 3,500 cycles vs 500 — meaningful if you cycle it daily.
If you plan to cycle the battery daily, think twice about the Jackery Explorer 500. Its NMC cells are rated for 500 cycles against the LiFePO4 rival's longer life — over years of regular use that's the more expensive unit, whatever the sticker says.
A long-running compact that's now firmly dated: one AC outlet, no USB-C, Li-ion cells and a very slow recharge. Only its ubiquity keeps it around.
Best for: Light, occasional device charging when found cheap.
Where it falls short:
- ~500 cycles
- One AC outlet, no USB-C
- 7.5-hour recharge
A well-priced 1.1kWh with a real 1,800W output and fast charging, a common budget pick for home backup starter kits.
Best for: First-time backup buyers who want 1,800W output cheap.
Where it falls short:
- 37.5 lb for 1.1kWh
- Not expandable
| Spec | Jackery Explorer 500 | Allpowers R1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $499 | $699 |
| Capacity | 518 Wh | 1152 Wh |
| Continuous output | 500 W | 1800 W |
| Surge output | 1000 W | 3000 W |
| Battery | NMC | LiFePO4 |
| Rated cycles | 500 | 3,500 |
| Weight (lighter wins) | 13.3 lb | 37.5 lb |
| Max solar | 100 W | 700 W |
| Recharge time (faster wins) | 7h 30m | 1h 20m |
Runtime head-to-head
| Appliance | Jackery Explorer 500 | Allpowers R1500 |
|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator | 7.3 hrs | 16.3 hrs |
| Mini fridge | 14.0 hrs | 31.1 hrs |
| Chest freezer | 5.5 hrs | 12.2 hrs |
| CPAP machine | 11.0 hrs | 24.5 hrs |
| Sump pump | ❌ | ❌ |