Editor’s note (September 2026): Bluetti has discontinued the AC180, per Bluetti’s own discontinued-models page — it’s no longer sold new anywhere, including directly from Bluetti. The direct successor is the Elite 100 V2 (1,024Wh, 1,000W solar input, 3,600W surge, 4,000+ cycles, 5-year warranty, roughly $499), which improves on the AC180 across the board. We’re keeping this comparison live because the polish-vs-value framework below still holds — Anker still wins on speed and app polish, Bluetti still wins on value — but treat any AC180-specific pricing here as historical, and check current listings before buying.
Quick answer
Anker SOLIX (C1000) is the better buy if you want the fastest recharge: it hits full from a wall outlet in about 58 minutes, per Anker’s published specs, versus roughly 1.5 hours for the Bluetti AC180 (now discontinued in favor of the Elite 100 V2). Bluetti is the better buy on pure value, typically running less than Anker’s ~$799 list price (frequently on sale for $399-450) while offering a genuine expansion path with add-on batteries, per Bluetti’s own specs page. Both brands carry a 5-year warranty and LiFePO4 cells rated for 3,000+ cycles to 80% capacity, so either lasts for years of regular use.
Anker SOLIX and Bluetti are the value champions of the power-station world — both undercut EcoFlow and Jackery while using the same long-life LiFePO4 chemistry. Anker SOLIX leans on polish, fast charging, and a class-leading warranty. Bluetti leans on raw watt-hours per dollar and expandability. Here’s the head-to-head, using their popular 1kWh units: the Anker SOLIX C1000 against the Bluetti AC180.
Head to head
| Spec | Anker SOLIX C1000 | Bluetti AC180 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1,056Wh LiFePO4 | 1,152Wh LiFePO4 |
| AC output | 1,800W (2,400W surge) | 1,800W (2,700W lift) |
| Wall recharge to full | ~58 min | ~1.5 hr |
| Expandable | Yes, to 2,112Wh | Yes, to 4,224Wh (B80/B230/B300) |
| Warranty | 5 years | 5 years |
| Price | $799 list, $399-450 typical | Discontinued — see Elite 100 V2, ~$499 |
Where Anker SOLIX wins
Anker’s edge is refinement. The SOLIX C1000 recharges in under an hour, its app is clean and reliable, and it expands to 2,112Wh with an add-on battery. If you want to buy one 1kWh unit and never think about it again, the C1000 is the low-risk choice.
Anker SOLIX C1000
- ~58-minute full recharge — the fastest in its class.
- 5-year warranty and a polished app.
- Expandable to 2,112Wh for longer outages.
Adding an expansion battery or a solar panel later? Amazon Prime ships the heavy stuff free in two days — you can try it free for 30 days.
Where Bluetti wins
Bluetti’s edge is price. The AC180 offered more capacity (1,152Wh) and the same 1,800W inverter for less than the C1000, plus a genuine expansion path to 4,224Wh with an add-on battery, per Bluetti’s own specs page. It recharged slower and its app was a step behind, but for buyers who wanted the most watt-hours per dollar in a dependable LiFePO4 package, Bluetti delivered. The AC180 is now discontinued — its direct successor, the Elite 100 V2, keeps the same value positioning with a smaller, lighter build and double the solar input. Read our full Bluetti AC180 review for the historical breakdown, or our Bluetti Elite 200 V2 review for the current 2kWh-class equivalent from the same Elite lineup. At the high end, Bluetti’s expandable AC200L/AC500 systems also scale further than Anker’s for the money.
Bluetti AC180 (discontinued — see Elite 100 V2)
- Most capacity-per-dollar in the 1kWh class, while it was sold.
- Full 1,800W inverter with 2,700W Power Lifting.
- Replaced by the Elite 100 V2 — smaller, lighter, and rated for more cycles.
The verdict
Buy Anker SOLIX (C1000) if you want the more polished, faster-charging unit — it’s our co-best portable power station value pick. Buy Bluetti if price is the priority and you don’t mind a slower recharge for more watt-hours per dollar and a lower entry price into expandable capacity — just buy the current Elite 100 V2 rather than hunting for a discontinued AC180. Both brands match on warranty; you’re really choosing between polish and price. Cross-shopping the premium brands too? Read Jackery vs EcoFlow, see how Bluetti stacks up against EcoFlow directly in EcoFlow vs Bluetti, how Anker SOLIX compares to EcoFlow in EcoFlow vs Anker SOLIX, how Anker SOLIX compares to Jackery in Anker SOLIX vs Jackery, or how Bluetti stacks up against Goal Zero in Bluetti vs Goal Zero.