The Jackery 2000 Pro has the fastest solar charging of all portable solar generators in the 2,000W range. But can this Jackery be the next best all-rounder?
Short Review Summary
The Jackery 2000 Pro Power Station is the most powerful Explorer model that I can call truly portable.
Because once you have a pair of wheels and a pulling handle, you’re getting too heavy for carrying, brother. Yes, 3000 Pro, I’m talking to you.
With a power output of 2,200 watts and a 2,160 watt-hour lithium-ion battery, the 2000 Pro is a versatile all-rounder that feels perfectly at home around your camp, inside your RV, and even at your home as a last defense against unexpected power outages.
An ideal power station for those who’re often on the road, the Jackery 2000 Pro takes full charge from a wall outlet in about 2 hours, and between 2.5 and 3 hours with 6 SolarSaga 200W solar panels.
Pros
Cons
The Best Jackery 2000 Pro Deals
Here’s the deal. Fuel-powered generators are relatively cheap and once they’re empty you can fill them up and keep rocking.
But here’s another deal. They burn fuel which releases CO2, they are noisy and smelly, and dangerous to use in closed spaces.
In other words, I don’t want them in my house, and even less in my RV and around my camping ground.
This is why I always turn to all-purpose power stations that can take charge from portable solar panels.
When the Jackery 2000 Pro came out, it struck me as an ideal small home backup power source that is compact and lightweight enough for camping and road-tripping.
I managed to get my hands on one and after a couple of months of testing, here’s my unbiased Jackery review.
Jackery 2000 Pro Review: Dissecting the Key Features
What is the Jackery 2000 Pro?
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro is a solar power station with a capacity of 2,160 watt-hours and output power of 2,200 watts, that you can charge from the grid, using solar panels, and your 12V car port.
The manufacturer calls it a solar generator with a good reason. This power box is getting close to gas-powered generators both in power and autonomy.
In my test, a Jackery 2000 Pro kept a car fridge running for the entire weekend, in addition to charging my phone and laptop whenever necessary.
Marketed as the best universal portable power solution for camping, van life, and home emergency use, the Explorer 2000 Pro is definitely a jack-of-all-trades. When it comes to solar power station for RVs, this one's a beast!
It weighs 43 lbs, which is about the same as a car battery, so I can take it camping with no trouble. It’s smaller than a beer crate, so it fits easily in my van and has plenty of power for an unexpected power outage in my home.
Familiar Rugged Design
Designwise, Jackery stayed loyal to its recognizable aesthetics of orange and dark gray. The plastic case feels solid, while the trademark molded handle that all previous models had is replaced with one that folds flush with the top.
This is a bit of a love/hate issue for me. I liked the solid feel of the molded handle as I like to set up my camp away from beaten paths, so there’s a good bit of walking and hauling.
On the other hand, while the folding handle will never be so rugged, it’s a great space saver — especially if your generator needs to fit tightly in the trunk with other camping essentials.
(Not) Enough Ports
Unlike its predecessors which had all the ports in the front, the Jackery 2000 Pro has the input ports in the back and the output ports in the front.
Taking a hint from competitors like the Bluetti AC200P, the manufacturer wanted to make the ports dustproof. However, these rubber flaps still need some work. They feel flimsy, and frankly, I doubt they’ll last long.
The number of output ports is more than enough for the intended use, which is camping and RVing and overcoming power outages in a pinch:
- 3 AC 120V outlets (two 230V for the European market)
- 1 DC 12V car port
- 2 USB-A 3.0 ports (18W max)
- 2 USB-C ports (100W max)
Of course, when you compare this with 15 output ports of the EcoFlow Delta Pro, these eight might seem as a poor compromise, but again:
Can you think of a camping situation where you need to power three appliances and charge a few gadgets at the same time?
Explorer 2000 Pro Charging
Many of the previous Jackery solar generators I tested had a common problem that was hard to ignore — they took forever to charge on solar. The Jackery 1000, for example, could take charge just from two SolarSaga 100W portable panels, and it took almost 8 hours for its 1,026Wh battery to fully charge.
Jackery is not making the same mistake with the 2000 Pro model, which can take full charge from six SolarSaga 200W portable panels in less than 2-2.5 hours.
That’s almost as fast as wall charging!
Hey, but why the hurry? If you’re camping or driving around in your RV, you have all the time in the world to charge your solar generator, right?
Actually, no.
Depending on your location, you get between 4 and 5 peak sun hours, and that’s if your panels are oriented directly towards the sun, there's no shade from trees, clouds, etc.
If you’ve ever used a solar generator on a road trip, you know the hassle of having to charge it every once in a while.
With Jackery 2000 Pro, you can make a stop, deploy the panels, and in a couple of hours, you’re ready to go with your battery topped off.
Proven Battery Technology
A friend of mine who is also an engineer likes to say that these solar generators are nothing but massive lithium batteries with built-in inverters and dashboards. And he’s not far from the truth.
The core of Jackery 2000 Pro is a battle-tested lithium nickel manganese cobalt (Li-NMC) battery.
I find it interesting that Jackery still sticks with the proven lithium-ion technology instead of the trendier lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO4) battery.
But when you consider the intended use for these solar generators, the choice to go with Li-NMC makes sense.
Let me explain.
Jackery products have always been oriented toward campers, hikers, RVers, and other outdoor types who like to travel light and move fast.
The Li-NMC battery is a logical choice — you get more power in less weight and smaller volume than with the LiFePO4 battery.
Sure, the iron-phosphate technology gives you more discharge cycles, but if you’re going to use it on your camping trips, your Jackery 2000 Pro is going to run for many years without a significant drop in capacity.
On the other hand, if you need a power station for outdoor living or RVing around the year, I definitely recommend you get one with a LiFePO4 battery.
Simple Display Done Right
If you’re expecting a touchscreen display with multiple swipe screens and a mobile app to go with it, you better look elsewhere.
Jackery took a minimalist route and offered a very basic color LCD display that shows:
In my opinion, this is more than enough info I need to run this generator day in and out.
And the display on the Jackery 2000 gives me exactly that. So it’s a solid 8 from me. I just hope they use a less reflective cover for better daytime visibility.
The Best Jackery 2000 Pro Deals
Pros of Jackery 2000 Pro
Overall feel and attention to detail
Jackery 2000 Pro is the most well-rounded product of theirs that I’ve tested.
First of all, they moved the power inputs to the back of the unit, so it’s much easier to see and manage your output connections in the front.
Thankfully, they got rid of the giant power brick for the AC input. They probably moved it inside the case, so no more tripping hazards.
The cables all have branded velcro organizers and are in Jackery-orange, so I can easily tell them apart from other cables I use. This seems like a small touch, but when you pack a trunk full of stuff for the camping trip, the cables easily get mixed up.
Everything from the packaging to the quality of materials is so well thought-out that whenever I’m reviewing a Jackery product, I feel like Marques Brownlee reviewing the latest iPhone.
I may even start doing unboxing videos. LOL
Silent Operation
One thing that many users complained about in the previous Jackery models was the noise coming from cooling fans. Having tested several of them, I can only agree.
Sure, noisy fans are not so much trouble when camping or working on an outdoor site. But, if you want to host an outdoor movie night or run a portable fridge overnight, the noise can ruin your evening.
With the 2000 Pro model, Jackery has eliminated the noise almost completely, which is going to be a major selling point in my opinion.
Built-in LED light
The built-in flashlight on pretty much all Jackery Explorer-series power stations is one of those well-thought-out features that make you fall in love with the product.
I admit I’m a prepper at heart, and when I go camping, I take a flashlight, a headlamp, and a camping lantern. But if all of them fail or run dry, or I lose them, there’s comfort in knowing that you have a powerful 2,160 watt-hour LED light that is not going anywhere.
The LED light has 3 modes of operation:
- Low light mode — 1W of diffused light, great for reading and getting ready for bed
- Bright light mode — 3W of bright light for the flashlight use
- SOS mode — 3W of continuous flashing for emergencies
Cons of Jackery 2000 Pro
Jackery club members only
The Jackery 2000 Pro has two DC8020 sockets for solar charging via Jackery solar panels, like the SolarSaga 200.
Unfortunately, as with all Jackery solar generators, these sockets are not universal —- you can only plug in Jackery products. Whether this is a conscious decision by Jackery to keep their customers buying their solar panels or to ensure the speed of charge, you decide.
Sure, you can buy converter cables, but it would be nice if all manufacturers included conversion cables in their power station kits. After all, these generators don’t cost peanuts.
Another thing that surprised me was that I couldn’t use the 2000 Pro with Jackery’s older solar panels, like the SolarSaga 100W that I used a lot with the Jackery 1000. Luckily, they threw in a converter junction in the package, but still, some unification won’t hurt.
More panels = faster charging, but…
This is not so much of a peeve but just a consideration for potential buyers. As I mentioned before, you can charge the Jackery 2000 Pro with up to 6 SolarSaga 200W solar panels.
If you position them right, you can fully charge the station in less than 3 hours in bright sunlight.
So what’s the catch?
Well, in comparison to the SolarSaga 100W, the 200W series are huge — about double the size of 100s, and fold not in half but into quarters.
Unfolded, each panel is 7.5 feet long.
So if you want to hook up all six of them, you’ll need plenty of space for your mini solar farm. When I stack the panels as tight as I can, they still occupy a 15 x 7.5 feet patch.
When I tested the EcoFlow Delta Pro, I managed to recharge its 3600Wh battery in about 4.6 hours using two 455W LG solar panels, which together have a smaller footprint.
I hope Jackery rethinks its policy and starts making its power stations compatible with other top solar panel brands.
Jackery 2000 Pro Alternatives You Can Consider
EcoFlow Delta Pro
If your camping and RVing needs often cross paths with home backup or off-grid living use, you should consider upgrading to EcoFlow Delta Pro.
And when I say upgrading, I mean it — the EcoFlow Delta Pro beats the 2000 Pro in all categories except portability and price
The popular hard-hitter from EcoFlow can support 4,500 watts of connected load, which is more than twice that of the Jackery 2000 Pro, has the battery capacity of 3,600 watt-hours, compared to 2000 Pro’s 2,160Wh, and has 15 output ports.
However, EcoFlow is so heavy that they decided to get it with a pair of wheels. At 99 lbs, I doubt I’ll ever take mine camping.
On the other hand, you can hook up the Delta Pro to multiple EcoFlow batteries and create a modular system that is perfect for home backup and outdoor living. So if you need a solar generator for heavy use that can handle 6,500 discharge cycles, the EcoFlow Delta Pro is worth considering. You can learn more from my first-hand review of EcoFlow Delta Pro.
The Best EcoFlow Delta Pro Deals
Bluetti AC200MAX
Now, we’re talking because the main fight in the portable category will be between the Jackery 2000 Pro and an excellent Bluetti AC200MAX.
Both contenders have the same output power of 2,200 watts, roughly the same battery capacity, and cost more-less the same. Keep an eye out for discounts.
As they match each other in the power and price department, so let’s move on to features.
The Bluetti takes the lead immediately for flexibility as you can expand it with up to 2 battery modules and make it more suitable for extended off-grid roles.
In terms of solar charging, it can’t get close to the Jackery — 900W vs. 1200W, however, Bluetti has a few tricks up its sleeve.
It can dual-charge on AC and solar and top off the battery in under 2 hours as well as draw power from universal lead-acid batteries.
Still, the Bluetti is almost 20 lbs heavier than the Jackery, so if you can trade off mobility for extra features, go for it.
The Best Bluetti AC200MAX Deals
Jackery Explorer 1500 Pro
This review wouldn’t be complete without us considering whether it makes sense to upgrade from the amazing 1500 Pro model that pioneered many of the solutions that we find on the 2000 Pro.
At first glance, it’s hard to tell them apart because they share the same case and have the same number and layout of ports.
The Explorer 1500 Pro is 6 lbs lighter, mainly due to the smaller battery capacity — 1,512Wh vs. 2,160Wh of the 2000 Pro.
There’s also a noticeable difference in the power department, as the 1500 Pro is 400 watts weaker than the 2000 Pro model.
In this case, we can say that you get what you pay for. At $1,699, the 1500 Pro is $400 cheaper than the 2000 Pro, which was offered at $2,099 at the time of writing.
So which one should you get?
Let’s put it this way:
If you already have the Jackery 1500 Pro, you won’t get much of an upgrade by getting the more expensive 2000 Pro.
On the other hand, if you need to choose between two of them, go for the 2000 Pro.
The Best Jackery 1500 Pro Deals
FAQ
The Jackery 2000 Pro can run a 520W refrigerator for 3.3 hours and a 90W mini cooler for 15 hours.
Yes, Jackery is a Chinese brand under the company HelloTech with headquarters in Shenzhen. However, Jackery products are designed in California.
The Jackery 2000 Pro is 2,200 watts, with 6,000 watts of surge power for starting appliances and tools with electric motors.
It takes 2 hours to charge a Jackery 2000 Pro via an AC wall outlet, 2.5-3 hours via 6 SolarSaga 200W panels, and 24 hours via a DC 12V car port.
A Jackery with 2,160Wh capacity can power a 500W AC unit for an RV for about 3.7 hours. Of course, if you keep the Jackery charging via solar panels at the same time, the AC run time can be much longer.
Yes, Jackery is a good brand. Its portable solar products are regularly getting the highest review ratings, shoulder-to-shoulder with EcoFlow and Bluetti.
A Jackery battery will last for 6-7 years easily. You can fully charge it 1,000 times until the capacity drops to 80%. So if you fully discharge/recharge it three times each week, that’s about it.
The most powerful Jackery is the Explorer 3000 Pro Portable Power station that delivers 3,000 watts of power and 6,000 watts of surge peak.
Conclusion
The Jackery Explorer 2000 Pro is a versatile portable power station that you can use as a solar generator with up to six 200W solar panels.
If you like to have plenty of power on your camping trips and value gadgets that are intuitive and simple to use, you may as well consider the 2000 Pro.
There’s much to love about this power station.
It’s perfectly positioned as a heavy-duty camping generator with an ideal power/size ratio for an RV.
The 2000 Pro is also an affordable home backup option for people who live in blackout-prone areas or work on off-grid sites. Still, don’t expect to run your entire home with one.
Even if the full set of 6 solar panels is difficult to deploy in some places, the Jackery 2000 has the fastest solar charging of all generators I’ve tried.
All-in-all, this is the new best portable solar generator from Jackery in my opinion.
The Best Jackery 2000 Pro Deals
I recently bought a Jackery 2000 Pro and would recommend the product if 2000 watts meets your needs. The unit is easy to use and does everything it is advertised to do. No problem powering a large space heater (1500W) for hours at a time plus one other small appliance (TV, computer, etc.). The only obvious improvement would be detachable wheels and a leach so that you can more easily move the unit around the house and or flat camping site next to your car. Also, shop around for price. I bought it for $1300.