The Anker F3800 Plus and the Pecron E3600LFP are two of the most powerful solar generators available today. Both promise huge capacities, strong inverter outputs, and serious off-grid capabilities. But when you’re dropping thousands of dollars on a power station, you want to make sure that it’s actually worth it.
That’s what we’re going to find out with another This or That showdown. Just like when we compared the F3800 Plus vs DELTA Pro 3, we’ll assess their specs, performance, design, price, and more.
Let’s find out which is the best power station for home backup and off-grid living!
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick look at how the numbers stack up side-by-side:
If you want to take a deeper dive into either power station, we’ve already done a full Anker F3800 Plus review and Pecron E3600LFP review.
In these reviews, we ran each unit through some serious testing, so they're a good place to start if you want to learn more.
Before we jump into the ring, it’s worth pointing out that we’re big fans of each portable power station, so you can’t really go too wrong with either. But since we're here to crown a winner, let's start out with how much power they can hold:
The Anker SOLIX F3800 Plus packs an impressive 3,840Wh battery, while the Pecron E3600 has a 3,072Wh battery.
While having an expandable battery 3kWh battery is nothing to sneeze at, that’s nearly an extra 800Wh of storage capacity for the Anker. It’s a big difference in total runtime, and could be the difference between comfort and discomfort during a blackout.
The first point goes to the Anker F3800 Plus.
Not only does the F3800 Plus pack a massive 6,000W inverter, it’s capable of 120V and 240V outputs. That’s enough to run pretty much anything you can throw at it, including running home appliances and power stools off-grid.
The Pecron E3600 still has a solid 3,600W output, but it’s only capable of running 120V. If you need a 240V output for appliances and devices with high power requirements, you do have the option to pair two E3600 power stations with Pecron’s 240V Hub.
However, if you need split-phase power in a single unit, the F3800 Plus power station is the clear choice. Another point to Anker.
During our testing, the Anker F3800 Plus handled surges better than pretty much any power station in its class. It can start power tools, car lifts, and various appliances well above its output rating.
Even the Anker SOLIX F3800, which the F3800 Plus builds on, was incredibly impressive when it came to surge capacity. See how it worked out when we put it through the ringer: What Can the Anker F3800 Handle?
When it comes to the Pecron E3600LFP, it can surge pretty well, but not nearly to the same level, or as reliably. The truth is, output power and surging capabilities is where the F3800 Plus shines, so we aren’t surprised at all to see such a commanding early lead from Anker.
The Anker F3800 Plus has a 3,200W max solar input. On the other hand, the Pecron E3600 can accept solar charging at a rate of 2,400W.
Neither is bad, especially in comparison to their respective battery capacities, but that’s a big advantage for the F3800 Plus if you’re hoping to use solar power heavily. Faster charging = less downtime. It also means it’s easier to run your power station on free electricity if you invest in a decent solar panel array.
This is where Pecron fights back. The Anker F3800 Plus can charge at a rate of 1,800W with a standard wall outlet. However, you can hit an AC input as high as 6,000W if you add expansion batteries and an upgraded AC plug, but the unit on its own is limited to a 1,800W AC input.
Now, the Pecron E3600 also supports a 1,800W AC input via standard wall charging, but it can hit a 3,600W charge rate out of the box with the included 30A charger.
Since we’re comparing just the base units, Pecron takes this one. You’re finally on the board, Pecron!
We’ve previously referred to the Pecron E3600 as a bit of a “grumbling beehive” due to the weird buzzing sound the internal cooling fans generate. It’s far from the loudest power station we’ve tested, but it does have a bit of a gritty noise some people will pick up on when it’s running at full power.
The Anker F3800 Plus isn’t whisper quiet like an EcoFlow DELTA Pro Ultra or DELTA 3 Plus, but it’s quieter than the E3600. If you’re looking for a power station you can comfortably use inside the main living space of a home or RV, the F3800 Plus is your best bet.
Here’s how these two units compare when it comes to included output ports:
Pecron has a true 30A plug going for it, which is a really useful feature, but the F3800 Plus wins with more outlets and 240V capabilities right out of the box.
It’s starting to feel like a one-sided fight. Another point to Anker.
Anker’s display screen is functional and familiar. It’s pretty much the same display we see on all of their power stations, and the unit is compatible with their smart app, which you’ll need to adjust a lot of the settings and controls. The app and screen are both functional, but they don’t bring anything new to the table.
The Pecron E3600 Power Station goes a step further with a built-in touchscreen interface that lets you adjust all of the settings directly, no app required. It does support app connectivity for those that want it, but being able to control everything from a user-friendly screen is going to be great for less tech-savvy users, as well as those who just don’t want to be tethered to their mobile device.
A well-deserved point for Pecron. Is this the start of a comeback?
The Anker F3800 Plus’s passthrough rate is capped at around 1,800W, limiting how much you can run while charging. With its 30A charger, the E3600LFP can maintain nearly its full 3,600W output while plugged in and charging.
That’s a big win for home backup purposes. Pecron gets another point.
The Anker F3800 Plus feels more premium, with a clean finish and modern styling. This is pretty typical for the brand, and Anker SOLIX units are usually right up there with EcoFlow for the best-looking power stations.
Like most Pecron power stations, the E3600 looks bulkier and less refined. With the exception of their newer Pecron F3000, most of Pecron’s lineup seems to be designed with functionality in mind. They have rubber bump stops and almost look like they were designed by a power tool company, which is a far stretch from the sleek appearance you get with the F3800 Plus
If you’re planning on your power station inside your home, pretty much any Anker power station will blend in seamlessly. It’s subjective, but we think most people will agree that Anker deserves this point.
As mentioned, the E3600 has those rubber bump stops for protection, which is a nice touch in case you accidentally drop it. It also has a pair of solid handles, but at nearly 80 lbs, it’s still awkward to carry.
On the other hand, the F3800 plus has built-in wheels, a retractable suitcase-style handle, and two sets of handles, including some that fold out for team-lifting. All of these features make it easier to move and reposition, despite being heavier.
It’s a round most would expect Pecron to win, but Anker pulls it off.
This one is ridiculously lopsided. The Anker F3800 Plus is expandable up to 53,800Wh, or 53.8kWh. That is insane, and pretty much enough to power an entire house off-grid!
The Pecron E3600 is also expandable, but caps out at a total storage capacity of 15.3kWh. That’s not bad at all, but if long-term scalability matters to you, Anker runs away with it.
We previously carried out a review of Anker’s customer support, which involved mystery shopping them. Their support was American-based, really fast, professional, and just genuinely helpful.
Pecron’s support is improving, and they’ve recently added a dedicated phone line, but like pretty much every single other power station brand out there, they’re still way behind Anker. It’s another expected win for Anker and the F3800 power station.
Fans of our video reviews will know that Robbie loves built-in lights on power stations. Anker has one (even if pretty terrible). Pecron doesn’t. Enough said.
Both units do have 12-volt car sockets, which gets Robbie pretty excited, but the lack of a light on the Pecron E3600 costs it a point.
Anker has a massive lead, but this round is nearly a knockout punch from Pecron.
The Anker F3800 Plus costs around $2,850 to about $3,000, depending on when you shop. On the other hand, a brand-new Pecron E3600LFP power station will only cost you around $1,259!
That means the E3600 is practically less than half the price. That’s massive, and partially explains why we’ve called the Pecron E3600 one of the best bang-for-your-buck power stations on the market.
Speaking of price, here’s where things get even more interesting. For about $2,618, you can buy two Pecron E3600LFPs + a 240V Hub, which allows you to link the two units together. That gets you:
And all of this is still cheaper than a single Anker F3800 Plus!
The catch? If you’re AC charging (say, with a generator), you’ll lose 240V output during the charge cycle. For heavy solar users, not a big deal. For generator backup, it could be an issue.
However, two power stations means twice the flexibility. You could keep one upstairs and one downstairs, take one camping and leave the other at home for UPS purposes, or pretty much anything else you wanted to do.
It’s a huge advantage and well-worth a bonus point.
If you want the most powerful single-unit power station with unmatched expandability, portability, and premium design, go with the Anker F3800 Plus. It’s simply the more capable backup power system.
But if your top priority is value, the Pecron E3600LFP (or even better, the 2 x E3600 + 240V Hub setup) gives you insane performance for the price. For RV owners and budget-conscious homeowners, Pecron makes a really compelling case.
At the end of the day:
Either way, both are excellent picks depending on your use case.
Check Price Signature Solar: www.SignatureSolar.com
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
Check Price at Pecron: www.Pecron.com
Check Price at Shop Solar: www.ShopSolar.com
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