Anker SOLIX PS200 review

What Anker lists

Anker's page gives a 200 W total output with a PV output of 48 V at 4.16 A, N-type cells with 25 percent-plus conversion efficiency, and an IP68 rating for water and dust. The spec table lists the weight as 4.8 kg, about 10.6 lb, while a bullet on the same page says just 5 kg including the stand and 10 percent lighter than the previous version. Either way it is lighter than most 200 W folding panels. Anker quotes a 10-year lifespan and a 5-year warranty.

In the box are the panel, two 8.2-foot solar charging cables and a 1.6-foot XT-60i solar charging cable, a quick start guide and a safety card. We read Anker's European page for the specification table; the US listing we track is the same PS200.

Bifacial, and what it is worth

Bifacial means the back of the panel also collects light. Anker claims up to 10 percent more power from dual-sided output when the panel stands over a reflective surface such as snow, sand or concrete. Over grass or a dark deck the gain is small, so treat 200 W as the ceiling on a clear day with the panel angled at the sun, and expect a good deal less in haze or at a flat angle.

Anker's FAQ adds a caution worth reading twice: the IP68 rating covers splashes, but Anker says to avoid exposing the panel to heavy rain or submerging it. Bring it in when a storm arrives; that is also when it is making nothing anyway.

Which power stations it fits

The PS200 ends in an XT-60i connector, the plug Anker's own SOLIX stations use. It will also feed most stations that accept XT-60 or come with an XT-60 adapter, and Anker's 48 V PV output sits inside the input window of most mid-size stations, but check your station's maximum PV voltage and connector before buying; a 12-volt-only input will refuse it. Our solar panel comparison lists each panel's connector.

Anker's own C1000 page names the PS200 among the panels it recommends for best compatibility. On a 1 kWh station such as the Anker SOLIX C1000, 200 W of input is a full recharge in a long sunny day; on the Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 it is about the same. For a 2 kWh station you want two panels or a bigger one.

Weight, size and living with it

Folded, Anker lists 68.5 by 79.2 by 4.5 cm, about 27 by 31 by 1.8 inches, with an aluminum frame and impact-resistant materials. That is a flat package that stores behind a door and carries in one hand. Unfolded it is 137.7 cm long, so plan on about 4.5 feet of ground or railing.

Anker's page does not list an operating temperature range or a kickstand angle, and gives the 5 kg and 4.8 kg weights inconsistently; we have used the spec table. It also does not say whether the panel can charge through a window, so assume not: glass cuts output hard.

Verdict and who should skip it

Buy it if you own a power station that takes XT-60 and you want the lightest 200 W panel we list with a proper water rating and a long warranty. Skip it if your station needs a different connector and you would rather not add an adapter, if your station's solar input is capped well below 200 W, or if you want a panel to leave out on a roof: this is a folding panel for days of sun, not a fixed install. Our power station versus generator guide covers the bigger question of whether solar is the right backup at all.

How much does the Anker SOLIX PS200 weigh?

Anker's spec table says 4.8 kg, about 10.6 lb, while a bullet says just 5 kg including the stand. Both make it lighter than most 200 W folding panels.

Will it work with a Jackery, EcoFlow or Bluetti station?

Only through the right connector. The PS200 ends in XT-60i and outputs 48 V, so a station with an XT-60 input or adapter and a PV window that includes 48 V will accept it. Check your station's spec before buying.

Is it waterproof?

Anker rates it IP68 for water and dust but its FAQ says to avoid heavy rain and never submerge it. Treat the rating as protection against showers and spills, not a reason to leave it out in a storm.

What does bifacial add?

Anker claims up to 10 percent more power from the rear face over reflective ground such as snow, sand or concrete. Over grass or decking the gain is small.