Two heavy hitters, two different sets of strengths. The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus and the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 are two flagship power stations from arguably the top two brands in portable power. Both power stations are aimed at serious off-grid, RV, and whole-home backup use, but they slightly lean in different directions.
We previously did an EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 or Anker F3800 Comparison, but that was before Anker released the upgraded F3800 Plus. Given that the Plus-version addressed a lot of the issues we had with the first release, we wanted to revisit this rivalry and see if the F3800 Plus could tip things in Anker’s favor.
More importantly, we wanted to find out which of these big boys is the better buy. To put this debate to rest, we’re going to put them head-to-head across a variety of categories. Like the other comparisons in our This or That series, we’ll keep score throughout, then crown a final winner.
Before we put these two power stations head-to-head, let’s quickly review their side-by-side specifications:
If you want a more detailed breakdown of either of these units, we have written separate reviews that discuss how they performed individually:
Now that we’re familiar with the basic specifications, let’s get into the first round of our This or That comparison:
The DELTA Pro 3 packs a 4,000Wh battery, while the F3800 Plus has a slightly smaller 3,840Wh battery. It’s a relatively small difference, but battery capacity is always really important when you’re looking at a power station for home backup.
It’s also easy to get lost in the numbers when you’re talking about these high-capacity power stations, but a difference of 160Wh is like adding an extra EcoFlow TRAIL 200DC to your total battery storage. It's also enough to give EcoFlow the first point.
The Anker F3800 Plus comes equipped with an enormous 6,000W inverter. While the EcoFlow DELTA 3’s 4,000W inverter is nothing to sneeze at, the F3800 Plus gives you far higher continuous output.
What does this mean in practice? The Anker F3800 Plus has an inverter capable of running hugely demanding loads, like air conditioners, compressors, and multiple high-demand appliances at the same time.
In our own testing, the Anker power station also surged a lot better. It also held its own against the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra, which is a more expensive unit, and it packs a 7,200W inverter. For users with high power demands, this type of thing matters. The F3800 Plus earns a well-deserved point.
Speaking of surge performance, it’s actually worth splitting this into its own round. In our experience, Anker power stations tend to handle surges really well, while EcoFlow units have historically struggled to deliver big surges.
If you need to start compressors, AC units, sump pumps, or pretty much any other type of demanding load that has start up requirements beyond your power station’s continuous output rating, the Anker F3800’s edge in surge capabilities is going to be really valuable.
The F3800 Plus has an impressive 3,200W solar input, which is evenly split between two dedicated solar inputs. Meanwhile, the DELTA Pro 3 has a total solar input of just 2,600W, which is split between high and low input ports.
Faster solar charging means more usable power during sunny days. For those with a full solar panel array, this advantage is really going to tip the scales in favor of the Anker power station.
Having a high solar input is also going to help if you plan on using this unit for off-grid power or as a backup battery bank for power outages. It’s also going to be useful if you end up expanding your total storage capacity with expansion batteries, which we’ll get into later.
Both accept a 1,800W AC input via any standard wall outlet, and both of these power stations also support 240V charging. However, the Anker F3800 Plus can scale to 6,000W AC charging with expansion batteries and the F3800 Plus 240V Generator Input Adaptor.
Again, this is huge for anyone planning on running a serious backup power system, as it allows you to quickly top up your batteries with either AC power or a gas generator.
If you’re expecting a storm that could result in a lengthy outage, you have the option to charge your expanded system faster with the F3800 Plus, and you can even do so with a traditional generator during the outage. While the basic specifications are the same, that added flexibility you get when you expand the Anker unit wins this round.
Pretty much every recently released EcoFlow power station has been extremely quiet, and the DELTA Pro 3 continues this trend. Even when we pushed it to its limits, it was practically silent.
While the Anker F3800 Plus handles surges really well, it is noticeably louder than the DELTA Pro 3, even when you run it under similar loads. If indoor quietness matters to you, you should take a serious look at any of the EcoFlow DELTA Pro Power Stations.
EcoFlow deservedly wins this round.
The F3800 Plus offers six 120V outlets compared to the DELTA Pro 3’s four. Plus, the F3800 runs both 120 and 240 simultaneously, while the EcoFlow makes you choose between the two. With that said, it’s worth mentioning that the 30A port you get with the Anker F3800 Plus delivers closer to a 25A output, so it’s not a true 30-Amp port.
While the 30A plug is a little underpowered, the Anker F3800 Plus does include a 12V car socket while the EcoFlow power station does not.
We definitely would have preferred if Anker equipped the F3800 Plus with a true 30A port, having more usable AC outlets and a simultaneous split-phase output gives Anker the edge here.
Both of these power stations have readable display screens with user-friendly interfaces. While they’re slightly different in their designs, we wouldn’t say one is necessarily better than the other.
When we tested these power stations with a simulated blackout, we also found that both units have solid UPS functioning. There’s no clear winner here, so we’ll call this round a draw and give both units a point.
This round was always going to be subjective, but we have to say that EcoFlow takes the round. Their newer units have a really modern styling and it’s clear they use premium plastics for all of the outer surfaces.
If finish and appearance matter to you, or you just plan on using one of these power stations inside your living space, the DELTA Pro 3 Power Station is hard to beat. We’ve previously said that it wouldn’t look out of place in an Apple store, and we stand by it. It just looks and feels slicker than anything we’ve seen from Anker to date.
EcoFlow’s “Eco-System” is designed to scale very large. Both of these units are compatible with expansion batteries, but the DELTA Pro 3 can be expanded to 36kWh, while the F3800 Plus can reach a total capacity of 26.9Wh.
Don’t get us wrong, both of these units work really well for whole-home backup when they’re expanded, but you’re talking almost an extra 10 kilowatts of storage capacity with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3. Plus, the DELTA Pro 3 pairs perfectly with the EcoFlow Smart Home Panel 2, so you can enjoy seamless backup power during an unexpected outage.
If your goal is a multi-day, whole-house system that can grow into tens of kWh worth of storage power, EcoFlow has the advantage.
The Anker F3800 Plus has caster wheels and extendable handle, which make it much easier to move the unit around and tuck it into tight spots. The F3800’s physical layout also provides some portability perks, as it stands vertical and has a smaller footprint. Still, it weighs in at nearly 137 lbs, so it’s not the type of thing you’ll want to lift on your own (unless you're Tiny Baby).
On the other hand, the Delta Pro 3 is smaller and only weighs 113 lbs, but the wheels and suitcase-style design of the F3800 Plus give it the nod for real-world portability. It was close, but Anker wins this round.
We recently mystery-shopped Anker, and their US-based customer support was friendly, knowledgeable, and genuinely really good.
When we did the same type of mystery-shop test with EcoFlow, we found the customer support experience to be really poor. Not only did it take longer to actually get a hold of a real person, once we got through, the support was pretty lousy.
When you’re talking about potentially investing thousands of dollars into a new backup power system, ongoing customer support matters a lot.
While Anker easily takes the point in this category, it’s worth noting that the DELTA Pro 3 is available at Shop Solar, who offer really solid after-purchase support. If you want an EcoFlow power station, but you’re worried about the company's poor customer support, ordering from a trustworhty retailer is an easy workaround.
Likewise, the Anker F3800 Plus is available at both Shop Solar and Signature Solar, so you have the option to double-down on the customer suppport.
As of right now, the DELTA Pro 3 is priced at about $2,699, while the F3800 Plus will set you back around $2,799. Keep in mind that the $2,799 price for the F3800 Plus is actually a pretty steep discount, as it was priced at $3,000 when Anker first released it.
The current $100 difference may not sound like a big deal, but we still have to give the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 the edge for price. It's worth noting that the EcoFlow expansion batteries are also a bit cheaper, and the DELTA Pro 3 is backwards compatible with older EcoFlow batteries. So, if the sticker price matters to you, you’ll want to go with the EcoFlow power station.
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus comes equipped with a 12V socket. While neither power station truly has a built-in light, the front-facing “unibrow” light on the F3800 Plus would at least allow you to see the unit’s buttons during a power outage.
These may seem like small wins for the Anker unit, but Robbie will be the first to tell you that they actually add up to something meaningful when it comes to real-world situations. Anker takes the final point and the overall win.
The Anker F3800 Plus is a beast, and we think it rightfully won this Anker vs EcoFlow showdown.
It earned more points for real-world functionality, which was mostly thanks to its much larger inverter (6kW), stronger surge performance, higher solar input, higher number of outlets, flexible charging rates (up to 6kW with expansion batteries), and Anker’s much better customer support.
If you want raw usable power, faster recharging, and operational flexibility for big loads and RV or van life, this flagship power station from Anker is a very compelling option, even if it costs a bit more.
We'd also like to say that the DELTA Pro 3 is still a really impressive power station. While it earned fewer points, it’s a power station that we regularly recommend to our viewers and readers.
In addition to offering solid all-around performance, it’s quieter than the F3800 Plus and scales better for whole-house backup and off-grid setups. If quiet operation, a slightly larger internal battery, and maximum system scalability are your highest priorities, or you just prefer the EcoFlow brand and ecosystem, we’d say go for it.
It sounds wishy-washy, but both of these power stations are top-tier, and we’re not surprised they both sell extremely well. We’d probably recommend the F3800 Plus Power Station overall, but you can’t really go wrong with either.
Check Price Signature Solar: www.SignatureSolar.com
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
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