Capacity
Higher is better | Scale max: 768 Wh | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 768 Wh
RIVER 2 256 Wh
SOLIX C800 Plus: +512 Wh (+200.0%).
SOLIX C800 Plus vs RIVER 2
VS
1,200W
Running power
300W
768 Wh
Battery
256 Wh
24 lbs
Weight
7.7 lbs
At a Glance
This comparison targets buyers choosing between a mid-capacity portable power station and an ultralight entry-level unit. The SOLIX C800 Plus delivers 1200W of running power and 768 Wh of capacity, which is four times the output and three times the stored energy of the RIVER 2's 300W and 256 Wh. That gap shows up in device compatibility: the C800 Plus powered 24 of 53 tested devices versus 17 for the RIVER 2, earning an overall score of 48.5 to 33.
Both units use LFP chemistry rated for 3000 cycles, so longevity is a wash. Where the RIVER 2 fights back is portability and backup readiness. At just 7.7 lbs it is roughly a third the weight of the 24 lb C800 Plus, and it includes a 30 ms UPS function the Anker unit lacks.
Solar recharge times are close, with the RIVER 2 filling its smaller battery in about 3.3 hours and the C800 Plus needing 3.7 hours through a 300W max input.
Overall Winner
SOLIX C800 Plus
Powers 24 of 53 tested devices vs 17 for RIVER 2
Home backup: SOLIX C800 Plus RV / mobile: RIVER 2 Solar: SOLIX C800 Plus
SOLIX C800 Plus wins overall, but the best pick depends on your use case.
Choose SOLIX C800 Plus if...
- + You want faster solar recharging
- + You want broader device compatibility
- + You need all-day runtime headroom
Choose RIVER 2 if...
- + Portability matters (8 lbs vs 24)
- + Built-in UPS with 30ms switchover
Spec Snapshot
Absolute values shown. Bars are scaled within this comparison for readability.
Each metric is independent. Bar lengths are not comparable across different compare pages.
Running Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,200 W | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 1,200 W
RIVER 2 300 W
SOLIX C800 Plus: +900 W (+300.0%).
Surge Power
Higher is better | Scale max: 1,600 W | SOLIX C800 Plus leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 1,600 W
RIVER 2 600 W
SOLIX C800 Plus: +1,000 W (+166.7%).
Weight
Lower is better | Scale best: 7.7 lbs | RIVER 2 leads
SOLIX C800 Plus 24.0 lbs (10.9 kg)
RIVER 2 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg)
RIVER 2: -16.3 lbs (67.9% lighter).
Battery Life
Higher is better | Scale max: 3,000 cycles | Tie
SOLIX C800 Plus 3,000 cycles
RIVER 2 3,000 cycles
Delta: Tie (0%).
Where Compatibility Actually Differs
Out of 53 devices tested, 7 show a different result between these two stations.
Both can run: 17 · Differences: 13% (7/53) · Neither can run: 29
Only SOLIX C800 Plus can run 7
Electric Wheelchair Charger RIVER 2: Running shortfall
Portable Oxygen Concentrator RIVER 2: Running shortfall
Laser Printer RIVER 2: Running + surge shortfall
Laptop RIVER 2: Running shortfall
Desktop PC (Gaming/Workstation) RIVER 2: Running + surge shortfall
Rice Cooker RIVER 2: Running + surge shortfall
Portable Ice Maker (Countertop) RIVER 2: Running + surge shortfall
Neither can run · 29 devices
These devices exceed both stations on running power and surge.
Digital Air Fryer
Electric Stove (Single Burner)
Microwave Oven (1000W)
Toaster Oven
2-Slice Bread Toaster
Coffee Maker
Electric Skillet
Electric Water Kettle
Instant Pot (6 Qt)
RV Rooftop AC (13,500 BTU)
Sump Pump (1/2 HP)
EV Charger (Level 1, 120V)
Central AC (3-Ton)
Portable AC (12,000 BTU)
Space Heater (1,500W)
Dehumidifier (70 Pint)
Gas Furnace Fan (Blower)
Window AC (8,000 BTU)
Electric Water Heater (50 Gal)
Well Pump (1 HP)
Electric Clothes Dryer
Dishwasher
Washing Machine
Professional Hair Dryer
Circular Saw (Corded)
Electric Chainsaw (14-inch)
Pancake Air Compressor (6-Gallon)
Shop Vac (Wet/Dry, 5-6 HP Peak)
Corded Drill / Hammer Drill
Full Specs Comparison
| Spec | SOLIX C800 Plus | RIVER 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 768 Wh ✓ | 256 Wh |
| Running Power | 1,200 W ✓ | 300 W |
| Surge Power | 1,600 W ✓ | 600 W |
| Weight | 24.0 lbs (10.9 kg) | 7.7 lbs (3.5 kg) ✓ |
| Energy Density | 70.5 Wh/kg | 73.1 Wh/kg ✓ |
| Portability Tier | portable | ultralight |
| Chemistry | LFP | LFP |
| Cycle Life | 3,000 | 3,000 |
| Expandable | No | No |
| UPS | No | Yes (30 ms) |
| AC Voltage | 120V | 120V |
Solar Charging
Best-case charging profile using compatible solar panels.
SOLIX C800 Plus
Max solar input 300 W
Connector XT60
Full charge time ~3.7h
Compatible panels 19/20
MPPT: 11-60V
RIVER 2
Faster Max solar input 110 W
Connector XT60
Full charge time ~3.3h
Compatible panels 12/20
MPPT: 11-30V
Charge speed comparison
Longer bar = faster charge (inverted scale)
Device Compatibility
All tested devices grouped by category. Click a category to expand.
SOLIX C800 PlusRIVER 2
Emergency(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Entertainment(2)
2/21/2
2/2
1/2
EV & Transportation(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Heating & Cooling(7)
1/71/7
1/7
1/7
| Device | SOLIX C800 Plus | Runtime | RIVER 2 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box Fan (20-inch) | Safe | 6.5h | Safe | 2.2h |
| Central AC (3-Ton) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Dehumidifier (70 Pint) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Gas Furnace Fan (Blower) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Portable AC (12,000 BTU) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Space Heater (1,500W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Window AC (8,000 BTU) | Soft Start | 0.8h | Fail | N/A |
Home Infrastructure(3)
1/31/3
1/3
1/3
| Device | SOLIX C800 Plus | Runtime | RIVER 2 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric Water Heater (50 Gal) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| Garage Door Opener (Residential) | Safe | 3h | Safe | 1h |
| Well Pump (1 HP) | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
Kitchen Appliances(11)
2/111/11
2/11
1/11
| Device | SOLIX C800 Plus | Runtime | RIVER 2 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2-Slice Bread Toaster | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Coffee Maker | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Digital Air Fryer | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Skillet | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Stove (Single Burner) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Water Kettle | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Instant Pot (6 Qt) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Microwave Oven (1000W) | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Rice Cooker | Safe | 0.6h | Fail | N/A |
| Slow Cooker | Safe | 1.8h | Tight | 0.6h |
| Toaster Oven | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Large Appliances(4)
1/41/4
1/4
1/4
| Device | SOLIX C800 Plus | Runtime | RIVER 2 | Runtime |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dishwasher | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
| Electric Clothes Dryer | Voltage Fail | N/A | Voltage Fail | N/A |
| French Door Refrigerator | Safe | 2.6h | Safe | 0.9h |
| Washing Machine | Fail | N/A | Fail | N/A |
Medical(4)
4/42/4
4/4
2/4
Outdoor & RV(6)
5/64/6
5/6
4/6
Personal Care(2)
1/21/2
1/2
1/2
Power Tools(5)
0/50/5
0/5
0/5
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The Bottom Line
Pick the SOLIX C800 Plus if you need to run higher-draw appliances, charge multiple devices on a long trip, or keep a meaningful energy reserve at a campsite or during a grid outage. The RIVER 2 makes more sense for day hikers, minimalist car campers, or anyone who values a grab-and-go weight under 8 lbs with basic UPS capability. Overall, the SOLIX C800 Plus is the stronger performer and the clear winner of this matchup.
SOLIX C800 Plus vs RIVER 2 FAQ
Q Which is better for home backup, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 2?
SOLIX C800 Plus is the stronger overall choice in this matchup based on weighted compatibility across 53 tested devices.
Q Which has longer runtime, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 2?
SOLIX C800 Plus has higher battery capacity (768 Wh), which generally supports longer runtime on the same load.
Q Which charges faster with solar panels?
RIVER 2 has the faster best-case solar recharge profile in our panel compatibility test set.
Q Which is more portable, SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 2?
RIVER 2 is lighter at 7.7 lbs vs 24 lbs. RIVER 2 is rated ultralight for portability.
Q How many devices can each power station run?
SOLIX C800 Plus powers 24 of 53 tested devices, compared to 17 for RIVER 2.
Q Does SOLIX C800 Plus or RIVER 2 have UPS mode for power outages?
Only RIVER 2 has UPS (uninterruptible power supply) mode with a 30ms switchover time, which keeps connected devices running during a power outage without interruption.