When Briiv debuted in 2020, little did they know the importance of air quality would skyrocket in the three years to come. The pandemic aside, we’ve seen a consistent deterioration in the air quality of our cities in the past three years with really no improvement. For the people who think being indoors is safer, research shows the absolute opposite. While traditionally ‘pollution’ comes from the outdoors, it gets trapped in stale indoor air which can be bad for your health. This is compounded by the fact that cooking food, burning candles, and even having pets around can affect air quality significantly. To counter this, people choose to either rely on air purifiers or on house plants… but the Briiv Pro combines them both into an eco-friendly purifier that simultaneously uses nature and technology to cleanse indoor air. Now more powerful than before, the Briiv Pro relies on what it calls a ‘mini forest’ to purify a 16 sq.m. room (172 sq.ft.) in just 21 minutes. That’s roughly 6900% more effective than house plants, which is remarkable for a purifier that size. It also has the added benefit of looking like a gorgeous tabletop terrarium, unlike those ugly appliances that get passed off as air purifiers these days.
Live healthier, sleep better and breathe as nature intended with AI-powered Briiv Pro
The visual highlight of the Briiv Pro is also its secret sauce. The terrarium-inspired tabletop purifier sports a glass container on its top that reveals its micro-forest filtration system underneath. Unlike most purifiers that use disposable HEPA filters to catch particulate matter, the Briiv Pro relies on a layered trifecta of moss, coconut fiber, and a silk nanofiber matrix with activated carbon. This trio tackles pollutants ranging from pet dander and pollen to dirt, dust, smoke, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) caused during cooking, etc. In essence, it works exactly how a forest does to purify the atmosphere. Leaves help absorb harmful gases and carbon, while also catching dust. The soil, on the other hand, purifies toxins – a natural process that the Briiv Pro borrows from and miniaturizes into a device no larger than an Apple Homepod.
Briiv Pro is 6900% more effective than house plants at cleaning your air
The way the Briiv Pro works is similar to its predecessor, albeit with a few upgrades. Air makes its way through the top of the purifier, passing through the moss and coco fiber where pollen, pet fur, and dust/smoke get trapped and VOCs and odors get neutralized. The air then goes through a medical-grade 98% plastic-free silk nanofiber filter that catches the remaining particles, filtering up to PM2.5 or fine particulate matter. Purified air makes its way out of the bottom of the Briiv Pro, where it gets spread in a 360° radius. The Briiv Pro works at a whisper-soft noise level, purifying 68 cubic feet of air per minute, which means an hour’s worth of use should cleanse an entire bedroom of bad air.
Replace the Moss with Activated Carbon to Remove Bad Smells
The Briiv Pro, however, has two pretty noticeable upgrades from its 2020 version. For starters, it comes with AI-based sensors that allow the purifier to activate the second it detects a drop in air quality. Dubbed the Canary Mode, this feature gives the Briiv Pro air-monitoring features that let it run autonomously so you don’t need to worry about switching your purifier on after checking the air quality on your smart home dashboard. Moreover, a Zen Mode lets multiple Briiv Pro units communicate with each other, so when one switches on, it alerts other purifiers around it to switch on too, ensuring you have clean air in every corner of your house. The second upgrade comes in the form of a tiny chamber where you can add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice; allowing your advanced nature-inspired air purifier to also double as a fragrance diffuser.
A different approach to design. Briiv blends beautifully into your interior
If you want to manually operate your Briiv Pro (rather than relying on AI-powered sensors), it’s as simple as tapping on its side and intuitively reading the LEDs to know what level your purifier is operating at. Alternatively, the Briiv Pro also comes with a free smartphone app that lets you activate your purifier and select its fan speed, and there’s even Alexa integration that lets your purifier connect to your broader smart home network.
Build a network of Briiv Pro air purifiers that work in unison to automatically improve air quality.
When Sean Sykes and James Whitfield set out to design the Briiv, their vision was to condense the effects of a forest into as small a footprint as possible, while testing the theory of building a ‘sustainable’ eco-friendly air purifier. 3 years after the Briiv launched as a crowdfunding campaign (gathering over $1 million USD) in funding, the Briiv Pro pushes that theory to its limits. The Pro variant is just as sustainable as its regular counterpart, with the fact that its filters are entirely compostable/recyclable. The moss filter (which sits right on top) can be washed and reused indefinitely, and Briiv also offers the option of choosing between different moss types to harness different natural properties. Conversely, you can use your own dry moss in the Briiv Pro, allowing you to customize your terrarium/purifier. The silk nanofiber filter that sits within the Briiv Pro is the only filter that really needs replacing (every 3-ish months), and the fact that it’s 98% plastic-free puts it miles ahead of most standard HEPA filters that are manufactured almost entirely out of polymer fibers, making them difficult to recycle.
With built-in sensors you can use the Briiv app to track your air quality in real-time
In the end, the payoff is easy to see. Not only does the Briiv Pro look like a gorgeous terrarium that you’d be proud to keep by your bedside or on your coffee table, it’s designed to be eco-friendly, and as its makers say, 6900% more effective than having house plants. The Briiv Pro comes with multiple design awards under its belt, while also boasting of the smart features you’d expect from leading air purifiers on the market, and a low hourly power consumption of 0.005kWh. Each Briiv Pro is made in the UK and starts at a discounted £349 (roughly $440), which may seem pricey until you realize the roughly hundreds of dollars you save per year on filter replacements. Plus, do I need to remind you of how incredibly gorgeous the Briiv Pro looks in comparison?!
Most fireplaces in older apartments have been decommissioned because of how much of a health hazard they are. However, it’s no secret that fire is one of the most effective ways to generate heat, whether it’s for cooking food or for keeping you warm. While the chances of you having a working fireplace in your home are near zero, the folks at NextNova have designed the next best thing – a terracotta heater that uses a unique airflow pattern to create a tower of fire that heats your home while also optionally distributing a fragrance of your choice.
The Tornado combines the charm of a fireplace with the safety of, say, a scented candle. The terracotta-based heater relies on airflow, along with the thermal properties of baked clay to generate radiating heat for both the indoors as well as the outdoors. On the inside, it burns bioethanol using ceramic wool as a substrate, generating heat without any smoke, ash, harmful chemicals, or bad odors. This means you can use the Tornado inside your home without worrying about triggering the fire alarm!
The Tornado comes from the same folks that designed the Egloo, which we dubbed “the world’s most affordable thermostat” back in 2017. Significantly larger than the Egloo, it stands at 17 inches tall, with an internal chamber that creates a large fire vortex that generates much more heat than you would get from the Egloo. In fact, the makers claim it outputs 7000 BTU (British Thermal Units) of heat, allowing it to do the job of a miniature campfire in your room, heating things up without burning any electricity!
The Tornado gets its name from the uniquely tall flame it creates. Strategically placed openings in the sides of the vertical chamber channel air in to amplify the fire, creating a wind vortex that lifts the flame up to 5x higher than usual. This not only increases the Tornado’s heat production, it also makes for a rather alluring display on the front, allowing you to admire the rising flame in all its glory.
Metal components help absorb excess heat, preventing the terracotta shell from cracking.
Once the flame is roaring, it heats the terracotta shell, which then emanates warmth to heat your home. The Tornado’s designed to be used both indoors as well as outdoors, mimicking the effect of a fireplace without the hazards of smoke or a potential disaster. The flame is contained within the Tornado’s secure and stable design. Just remember not to touch it, because it gets pretty hot!
Aside from heating, the Tornado can be used to diffuse aromas too. Just add a few drops of an essential oil of your choice to the ceramic wool, and the heat causes aromatic compounds to enter the air, working the way a scented candle does!
The strategic openings also serve an important purpose in allowing you to light or extinguish your Tornado. The lighting process first starts by lifting up the top hood to reveal the heat-resistant ceramic tray inside, with ceramic wool substrate. Pour your bio-ethanol in before placing the hood back. The openings on the side then let you place a long-neck lighter in to light the fire, or a flame snuffer to extinguish the fire instantaneously.
The Tornado currently finished crowdfunding on Kickstarter, raising an impressive $88,485 from nearly 500 backers. The backers will now get to choose what color they want their Tornado in, ranging from the classic beige and orange, to even colors like white, blue, red, and black!
With the Ford’s and the Chevy’s reigning supreme in the country, the Americans love their pick-up trucks. No wonder then that Elon Musk wants to test the waters. He wants to, but not in a routine manner, however, with an angular-designed, stainless-steel Cybertruck instead, which has been more in the controversy than Tesla would want to derive from its immediate and rigorous promotional agenda. Anyway, the Cybertruck launch is a given and we are – like it or not – going to have a, if all is as vouched for, pick-up capable of towing 11,000 pounds on a 340-odd-mile drive on a single charge.
If you’re someone who doesn’t care about what’s said and wants to take the Cybertruck for a spin on arrival, you’d probably want an accessory that would let you stay overnight in the wilderness with your ride that made heads turn on the way. Of course, it would be difficult to trust an aftermarket accessory with a deal like this; Tesla reckons the fact! It is therefore taking orders for a Cybertruck Basecamp Tent, which would turn the Cybertruck bed into a delightful camp on the way.
Created in collaboration with Heimplanet, the Basecamp Tent is Tesla’s solution to make the Cybertruck into a well-crafted camping vehicle. It is made to mount snugly over the truck bed so you get a space for sleeping without it affecting the vehicle’s dive range when you are on the move through rugged terrains.
The Basecamp Tent is made from Kaleidoscope nylon material featuring an ultra-lightweight geodesic airframe design. When you’re at the camp destination of your choosing, you can effortlessly inflate the Basecamp, in minutes, using a provided manual pump and the tent is ready without the installation of any poles or extensions. Within this gray cover crafted with screen windows, you get a mattress for cozying up and access to a truck bed outlet to keep your gadgets juiced up.
The fascinating aspect about the Basecamp still is its extendable awning, which would allow you to spread your living space under a stary night. If the idea of camping in the back of the Cybertruck gets you going, it is the right time to take home the $2,975 Basecamp Tent home. And then to sit back and wait until the Cybertruck hits the market someday!
With the Ford’s and the Chevy’s reigning supreme in the country, the Americans love their pick-up trucks. No wonder then that Elon Musk wants to test the waters. He wants to, but not in a routine manner, however, with an angular-designed, stainless-steel Cybertruck instead, which has been more in the controversy than Tesla would want to derive from its immediate and rigorous promotional agenda. Anyway, the Cybertruck launch is a given and we are – like it or not – going to have a, if all is as vouched for, pick-up capable of towing 11,000 pounds on a 340-odd-mile drive on a single charge.
If you’re someone who doesn’t care about what’s said and wants to take the Cybertruck for a spin on arrival, you’d probably want an accessory that would let you stay overnight in the wilderness with your ride that made heads turn on the way. Of course, it would be difficult to trust an aftermarket accessory with a deal like this; Tesla reckons the fact! It is therefore taking orders for a Cybertruck Basecamp Tent, which would turn the Cybertruck bed into a delightful camp on the way.
Created in collaboration with Heimplanet, the Basecamp Tent is Tesla’s solution to make the Cybertruck into a well-crafted camping vehicle. It is made to mount snugly over the truck bed so you get a space for sleeping without it affecting the vehicle’s dive range when you are on the move through rugged terrains.
The Basecamp Tent is made from Kaleidoscope nylon material featuring an ultra-lightweight geodesic airframe design. When you’re at the camp destination of your choosing, you can effortlessly inflate the Basecamp, in minutes, using a provided manual pump and the tent is ready without the installation of any poles or extensions. Within this gray cover crafted with screen windows, you get a mattress for cozying up and access to a truck bed outlet to keep your gadgets juiced up.
The fascinating aspect about the Basecamp still is its extendable awning, which would allow you to spread your living space under a stary night. If the idea of camping in the back of the Cybertruck gets you going, it is the right time to take home the $2,975 Basecamp Tent home. And then to sit back and wait until the Cybertruck hits the market someday!
If sunset lamps were the hot trend of 2021-22, Gingko’s Amber Crystal Light is what 2023 is all about. Looking like a fortune-telling orb that rests on a wooden base, the lamp comes with intricate designs etched right into the glass orb’s center. When you switch the light on, the etched art scatters light in all directions, creating a wonderful glowing effect that borders on visual magic!
Designer: Paul Sun from Gingko Design
Click Here to Buy Now: $50.15$59 (Use Coupon Code “YANKO-ACL” for an exclusive 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!
Dandelions: The symbol of hope, love, and happiness, the dandelion motif will bring warmth, beauty, and energy to your space.
Galaxy: The mesmerising stars and galaxies in space will add a touch of cosmic beauty to your space and leave you spellbound.
The Amber Crystal Light comes with five different artworks embedded within the crystal orb – a dandelion, a galaxy, the solar system, the planet Saturn, and a motif of Earth as a globe. Each motif captures different emotions, including hope, serenity, curiosity, and a love for nature, space, and science. The intricate dandelions symbolize luck and good wishes, while the galaxy is all about grandiosity. The solar system captures our cosmic home, while Saturn, our distant neighbor with its beautiful rings. The world map is a personal favorite, giving you a glowing globe that you can rotate and admire, while you plan your next international trip to explore this beautiful planet we live on!
Solar System: The intricate design showcasing all the planets will elevate your home decor and make it stand out from the rest. It is sure to make children’s rooms come alive!
Saturn: Packing dominance, power, and change in a crystal ball, this eye-catching motif will take your home’s aesthetics to the next level.
Measuring 12cm in height, the Amber Crystal Light comes with a real crystal ball that sits atop a natural walnut wood base that perfectly complements any interior design. The base features a copper button on the front that allows you to switch between three different light intensity levels, while an array of warm LEDs create a wonderful glow within your interior space. The crystal itself is polished to a high shine, reflecting light and creating a breathtaking effect in any room. All artworks within the crystal are etched using precision lasers, resulting in vivid, three-dimensional, detailed engravings. The walnut base is equipped with a rechargeable battery that can provide up to 16 hours of stunning illumination, and charging is made easy with the USB-C port located on the back.
World Globe: The stunning globe motif makes the lamp look like a work of art and adds a captivating look to the décor.
Lamps remain one of Gingko’s true fortes. The UK-based design studio has enchanted us with some of the most inventive lamps we’ve seen, all with Gingko’s signature use of wooden/natural elements to really make the lamp fit wonderfully into homes. Named after the Gingko Biloba tree (believed to be one of the oldest in the world), the company echoes the tree’s values, prioritizing beauty, longevity, practicality, and a close association with nature. Each Amber Crystal Light is designed in Gingko’s Warwick-based studio, and comes with a 2-year warranty.
Click Here to Buy Now: $50.15$59 (Use Coupon Code “YANKO-ACL” for an exclusive 15% off). Hurry, deal ends in 48-hours!
In the world of innovative design, industrial designer Lea Lorenz has unveiled Tony, a revolutionary portable refrigerator and food container that takes inspiration from an age-old tradition of using clay pots to store fruits and vegetables. Tony represents a modern reimagination of the traditional clay jug cooler, utilizing the power of evaporative cooling to create an eco-friendly and electricity-free solution for preserving perishables.
At the heart of Tony lies its porous raku clay shell, a material that naturally absorbs water from a reservoir. Through the process of evaporation, this unique cooling system brings the interior temperature to a range of 13°C-17°C without relying on electricity. Lea Lorenz explains that this temperature range creates an ideal storage environment for foods that are sensitive to extreme cold, such as fruits and vegetables, which can lose flavor and undergo undesirable post-ripening processes in traditional refrigerators.
To achieve the optimal cooling effect, Lea Lorenz conducted extensive experiments with different types of clay and clay mixtures. The results revealed that a Raku clay shell absorbs water from the tank most effectively. Each Tony clay container comprises a water tank, a food container, and a lid, allowing each section to operate independently with its water supply. The outer wall’s surface is meticulously subtractively machined to increase the surface area for enhanced water evaporation and a quicker drop in temperature inside.
Understanding the impact of external factors like sunlight and nearby heat sources on internal temperature, Lea paired Tony with a wooden stand for increased mobility. This allows users to move the clay cooler around, ensuring optimal storage conditions for fruits and vegetables.
Lea Lorenz addressed the importance of proper fruit and vegetable storage by designing Tony as several rectangular clay containers of varying sizes that can be stacked on top of each other. This innovative approach provides a designated space for each group of produce, contributing to longer freshness and reduced spoilage.
Lea emphasizes the environmental sustainability of Tony throughout its lifecycle. The Raku clay is responsibly sourced from the Westerwald region of Germany, minimizing transport routes and reducing CO2 emissions. The production process involves firing the clay coolers at the lowest possible temperature of 1000°C for minimal energy consumption. Furthermore, Tony is built to last, and if it becomes non-functional, the clay coolers can be recycled by grinding them into fireclay, which can then be used to manufacture new coolers.
Tony by Lea Lorenz is not just a functional and aesthetically pleasing design; it represents a thoughtful and sustainable solution to food storage. By marrying traditional methods with modern technology, Tony offers an eco-friendly alternative to conventional refrigeration, promoting food longevity, reducing waste, and contributing to a more sustainable future.
There are days when all you want to do when you get home is light up a candle or turn on your diffuser, relax with a book or by listening to music, and just let all the day’s stresses melt away. Self-care has become such an important buzzword the past few years so we get a lot of products now that let ordinary folks have their own destressing rituals without spending so much. After all, we need to find the “silver lining” in whatever situation we’re in.
Designer: Adaption Design Studio for SUMSEI
This is probably one of the reasons why this new product from Korean brand SUMSEI is called the Silver Lining Warmer. They say that this is in reference to the beam of light that shines through the clouds, which is what the product wants to be for those who need a bit of relaxation at home. Basically it’s a candle warmer but with the added bonus of a halogen light to make your room even more comfortable and calming.
The main purpose of the warmer is to diffuse the scent of the paraffin candles as they’re melting from the halogen lamp. But the Silver Lining Warmer also has a halogen lamp that would flicker as you use it to give you a spa-like atmosphere as you enjoy the scents and scenes while probably having sounds in the background as well. The warmer uses heat-resistant resin so that it would still be safe even with the heat from the halogen lamp.
It uses a pretty minimalist design with just black and white color options available so it should go well with any aesthetic. As someone who enjoys diffusing smells and sometimes candles at home while reading or just resting my eyes while listening to music, this is the kind of addition to my routine that I’ll welcome.
If you’ve watched any movie or TV show that features lifestyles of the rich and famous, there is almost always a scene where all sorts of beautiful people riding all sorts of expensive looking water vehicles and toys. For those of us who will probably never have that lifestyle, we can just live vicariously through these videos and dream about jet skiing, yachting, or any other glamorous water activity.
Personally, I dream riding one of those cool looking closed capsule vehicles like this 2024 version of the Jet Capsule Super Sport. I’m afraid to fall in the water but I’d also like to speed on the water, so this seems like the perfect compromise. This new version is way lighter than its predecessor as the lightweight construction has reduced it to just 3200 kg which is 500 kg lighter. The single engine propulsion has a range of 570 hp to 850 hp and is able to reach 38 knots in 12 seconds so you could say it’s built for speed.
The upper structure of the jet capsule is made from carbon fiber which is made through vacuum-infusion molding, hence the lighter and more adaptable water vehicle. Inside you get a space that can seat up to 10 passengers but it is also fully customizable and can even fit in a dinette, bathroom, and beds if the customer wishes to have these optional features. There is a sunbed on the rooftop in case some visitors would like to sunbathe and it can be accessed through a rear ladder.
The Jet Capsule Super Sport can be used as support for several water sporting activities like parasailing, kiteboarding, wakeboarding, etc. It can also be used just to speed along the waters or even enjoy some quality time in the middle of the ocean as it can switch to jet-drive while slowing down and full electric mode if you’re low-speed cruising. Again, this will remain a fantasy for people like me but if you can afford it, it seems to be an enjoyable toy to have on your vacation.
Have you ever wished your mood or thoughts could be broadcasted to the world and people just understood you without you having to say a word? The T-Shirt TV is here to turn that imaginative concept into a stylish reality, making it a groundbreaking upgrade for introverts and expressive individuals alike. Move over plain white tees; this wearable tech isn’t just a fashion statement; it’s a dynamic canvas that transforms your clothing into a medium of expression.
The T-Shirt TV takes the ordinary and turns it extraordinary with a sleek, 10-inch HD screen seamlessly integrated into the fabric. This high-tech addition is not only lightweight but also unobtrusive, ensuring that your fashion-forward look is not compromised. The result? Your outfit becomes a moving, talking spectacle, delivering a visual narrative that transcends traditional clothing.
With the T-Shirt TV, you have the power to showcase anything from art and activism to personal branding and entertainment. The 10-inch screen allows for stunning clarity, turning your tee into a portable canvas for your chosen visuals. Imagine carrying your message, digital creations, or even your favorite sports team’s highlights with you wherever you go.
Uploading content is a breeze; simply connect a USB to transform your tee into a looping showcase of videos, images, and audio. The T-shirt comes equipped with 2 GB of storage and a battery life of two to four hours, extendable with an extra battery. This ensures that your dynamic display keeps going as long as you do.
The T-Shirt TV is not just a party accessory; it’s a powerful medium for creatives and communicators of all kinds. Artists can display their digital creations, activists can amplify their messages, and sports enthusiasts can flaunt their team spirit. In essence, it’s a mobile billboard, a personal gallery, and a conversation starter—all wrapped up in a stylish package with sleeves.
Once reserved for media giants like 20th Century Fox and CNN for promotions and events, the T-shirt TV is now democratizing expression. Through a new Kickstarter campaign, this innovative wearable is being offered to anyone with a vision to share. Now, individuals from all walks of life can embrace this wearable canvas and make their statements heard, seen, and experienced.
AC coupling capabilities make the Anker Solix F3800 a revolutionary next step in sustainable home power, but paired with its massive 6,000W output, wide range of connections, and expandable capacity, this power station is the most future-proofed on the market.
Almost three years ago, a winter storm blew through my town, knocking out power lines and rendering roads impossible to navigate. As a result, my family and I spent a full week (well, five days) rummaging around for crackers and water, lighting candles, and wrapping ourselves in blankets for simple warmth through the duration of the total blackout. Despite keeping a decent fire going in our backyard for a couple of days, it was impossible to stay focused on anything, and working in those conditions wasn’t viable. Enduring those freezing temperatures would’ve been far more convenient with a backup power source, and I wish I’d had Anker’s newest portable power station: the Anker SOLIX F3800, which — despite being the very first of its kind I’ve ever owned — is clearly a revolutionary next step in the growing landscape of backup power solutions. It features a maximum 6000W AC output, 120V/240V dual-voltage (meaning it can do what a gas generator does, power several appliances at the same time, and even power a house!). It even supports AC coupling when pairing with the Anker SOLIX Home Power Panel, and, used sparingly, its 3.8kWh (expandable up to 53.8kWh) capacity would’ve been just enough to sustain a handful of comforts through the winter freeze.
Before we get started with the nitty gritty details about the Anker SOLIX F3800, it’s worth mentioning Anker provided a functional prototype to Yanko Design for the purpose of this review. It includes all the features of the official launch product, but its appearance and craftsmanship does not reflect the final build quality, which is supposed to be much better than the prototype shown in this review.
For a modular power station designed to provide backup power storage for homes and RVs, make solar power more accessible for all, and potentially replace gas generators — the Anker SOLIX F3800 is relatively compact. It’s also quieter than any regular gas generator, and since it doesn’t emit any smoke, you can safely run it indoors. Because of a sizable but effective fan system, you’re going to hear a little noise, around 45dB if you’re standing within a meter, but it’s no louder than a PlayStation 4 running on full blast. YMMV, but I imagine it’ll be a better fit for regular outdoor use during non-emergency situations — particularly, once summer rolls back around and I can use it to power indoor gadgets like musical instruments and gaming consoles underneath the patio rather than inside the house.
The F3800’s subdued aesthetic style — it being a big gray rectangular box on wheels with an LCD display, a pull-out handle, and visible outlets on the front and both sides — allows it to blend in naturally with other electrical equipment, but it may get in the way of any aesthetic style not complementary to dark gray. I wouldn’t stick it in a kitchen, though it’s an attractive addition to a garage, and you might get away with planting it in your office.
After all, it’s essentially a big suitcase full of electrical equipment. No, it’s not as compact as, say, the Anker 767 Portable Power Station. But it still gets the job done, and it doesn’t take up all that much space. Right now, my SOLIX F3800 is tucked in-between a coat rack and a couple of shelves in my office, where it’ll stay until I need to stroll it back out again, and I genuinely love how easy it is to set up.
Utilitarian design pervades the layout of the Anker SOLIX F3800, and, I mean, yeah — you’re definitely not getting a $3,999 power station to make a fashion statement — but what it lacks in artistic appeal, it more than makes up for in functional design. Its predominantly matte finish, easy-to-navigate exterior, exposed fan grills, and conveniently-placed handles and wheels make it exude a sense of durability and reliability.
Ergonomics/Comfort
I had a rough time getting the SOLIX F3800 off my porch and into an area where I could comfortably unbox it, set it upright, and wheel it around. Granted, I’ve been needing to hit the gym lately so my inability to carry it around without immediately wanting to place it back on the ground again could be a “me” issue. But, just so you know, this thing is an absolute unit. It’s rated to weigh 132 lbs, though the package mine arrived in was a bit heavier than that — around 143 lbs in total. If you’re planning to order one of these to your house from Anker’s online store, make sure you have a pallet or some sort of luggage dolly on standby, as well as a second pair of hands to help you transport/set it up.
At least there’s a solid handle built into the SOLIX F3800’s chassis, as well as a pull-out trolley handle that unfolds with the tap of a bright blue button. Once the pull-out trolley handle came out, this thing suddenly became a lot easier to maneuver around. This is because its 65 mm back wheels and additional front wheels are more than sufficient to push and pull the thing around on smooth surfaces, and it even seemed to have no trouble with some rocky terrain as well. If you wanted to carry the Anker SOLIX F3800 around like a cooler (if you have the physical strength, that is), you’d be in luck; there is an additional handle located on the bottom, allowing you to two-hand-carry it.
Everything important information-wise is located on the front LCD panel, though you can also connect your smartphone to the device via the Anker App. It’s a simple enough process getting it set up; all you need is an Anker account and a smartphone with Bluetooth, and you can tell the app to sync with the SOLIX F3800 as long as it’s powered on, and as long the Bluetooth mode is activated. You can do that by tapping the Bluetooth button on the front of the device itself, neatly located right next to the display. Once it’s all set up, you can watch the flow of energy coming into and going out of the SOLIX F3800 directly from the Anker App. This is a neat and convenient way to stay on top of your energy usage, especially when you need to conserve energy during a blackout.
One thing I love is how easy it is to get the Anker SOLIX F3800 set up and going as a portable generator. Plugging it into my wall outlet, getting it fully charged, and powering on the unit itself was a really simple and rather quick process. On paper, it will take less than 3 hours to charge the power station to full from a wall outlet, as long as it is getting full power and not charging under extreme temperatures. Once I was ready to use it, I only had to tap two buttons: the power button on the front of the power station next to the display, and a separate AC outlet button on its right side (conveniently located next to its array of six 120V 20A outlets and two 240V 25A plugs).
Performance
From a performance standpoint, the Anker SOLIX F3800 breaks through the ceiling and into a whole new tier. Electric portable power stations simply don’t do what the Anker SOLIX F3800 does, and before now, there’s been little reason to get rid of the gas generator altogether. If you want to use it as a backup generator, you can. If you want to expand it with the Solix Home Power Panel and make it the storage battery in a far more sophisticated power setup that balances grid and rooftop solar power through the main electrical panel, you can set it up that way as well; and it’s made even easier to manage if you use the Anker App.
Boasting a power load capacity ranging from 6,000 to 12,000 watts (the latter is only possible if you hook up a second F3800), it flies high above other portable power stations from EcoFlow or Jackery — as well as anything Anker has ever placed onto the market previously. Its 240V 25A NEMA 15-40 outlets grant it the ability to power RVs and recharge electric vehicles, making it extraordinarily versatile, and common sense indicates that if you need to power something, you probably can. This alone makes the SOLIX F3800 the heaviest-hitting portable electric power station around. The question is whether or not you can power something for a long time.
Luckily, the Anker SOLIX F3800 is also one of the most scalable power stations in existence. It comes with a base storage capacity of 3.8kWh, which is generally enough to power a 1500W space heater for about two and a half hours. Of course, that’s not enough to sustain heat throughout a multiple-day blackout like the one I experienced, but unlike other power stations, this device can be upgraded to 26.880kWh with all six expansion batteries installed. That’s at least enough to power the same heater for over a day.
If you wanna go even further and reach a staggering 53.8kWh of power storage capacity, you can go all-in and connect a second Anker SOLIX F3800 via the Anker SOLIX Double Power Hub. Alternatively, you can link two F3800 units together via the Home Power Panel. That sets the F3800 apart from its predecessor, the F2000, which had a comparatively meager capacity of 2kWh with only one slot for an expansion battery, totaling 4.09kWh. Just note you’ll need to invest in 12 expansion batteries to make the most of this system, and that could run you well into the tens of thousands.
Sustainability/Repairability/Durability
Anker is a respectable brand with a lot going for it, and that’s because it’s constantly pushing out high-quality, durable power banks and power stations. Its LiFePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) battery makes it notably longer-lasting than conventional lithium ion-based batteries used in older portable power tech; Anker promises at least 3,000 charge cycles up to 80% before this thing starts to die. That also enhances its sustainability rating by avoiding the use of cobalt and nickel. Plus, when you compare it to much larger and more expensive home power systems, it’s obviously a far more sustainable choice.
The need for separate hardware and additional batteries to get the absolute best utility out of the F3800 could absolutely be considered a drawback in terms of sustainability. But again, that’s not such a big deal when you realize a fully-upgraded Anker SOLIX F3800 system wouldn’t do nearly as much harm to the environment as legacy solutions with the same power output.
In terms of repairability, the F3800’s construction is complex and full of parts I don’t understand, and so I wouldn’t attempt to service it myself during a system failure. There are a few silver linings here: it comes with a 5-year warranty and is rated to work for 10 years or longer. Plus, it’s advertised as being simple for an electrician to set up and work with when coupling it with a house.
Value for Money
I’m iffy about making a hard call on the SOLIX’s value for its $3,999 MSRP (though there is currently a substantial discount of up to 35% off on Kickstarter on a number of Anker SOLIX F3800 deals — dropping the price of the standalone unit to $2,599, and giving excellent value on bundles including Anker’s 200W and 400W solar panels). On one hand, it’s pricier than the smaller generators, even though having the Anker SOLIX F3800 in my possession opens up more lifestyle options. The other reason is solar panels are still not widespread enough, even though you don’t really need solar panels to get the maximum value out of the F3800. Going in on an Anker SOLIX F3800 is making an investment into the future — especially since its heaviest-hitting feature is its ability to store a large quantity of solar power and convert that power into 240V AC output for home, RV, and EV usage.
While its initial price is eye-watering (at least, for me), the potential benefit of saving money over a much longer time with a fully-equipped SOLIX system, solar panels and all, could make the expenditure worthwhile. Especially for those actually living in RVs and tiny homes where utilities are significantly more important to stretch out. And, even in the much shorter term for a suburban house dweller like myself, the SOLIX F3800 is a sturdy backup power source — its base 3.8kWh storage capacity and 6,000W AC output are enough to make camping trips and natural disasters more bearable.
Even if there’s no emergency need for power, and even if you don’t plan to upgrade your Anker SOLIX F3800 with all the extra bells and whistles, you can still roll it outside during a sunny day and use it like any portable generator. Plus, you don’t necessarily need a fully-equipped SOLIX system (with the home power panel and all) to recharge the F3800 with solar energy either. The home power panel is just a tool to help the F3800 access larger rooftop solar panels, and you don’t even need that to make good use of the SOLIX system. In fact, if you bring the F3800 outdoors, as long as you also bring a portable solar panel to recharge it, you can have sustainable green power to do virtually anything you’d use power for. This is because the F3800 can be recharged by connecting to almost any rigid or portable solar panel available on the market.
Verdict
The Anker Solix F3800 is a revolutionary next step in sustainable home power, though it may not become a daily power source until you start buying solar panels. Thankfully solar is getting cheaper, and that’s certainly not the only reason you’d want to get one. This is the most future-proofed portable power station on the market right now, thanks both to its incredible portability for a home power system as well as its overwhelmingly strong performance. I love its 6,000W~12,000 and 120/240V AC output capabilities, its 53.8kWh maximum power capacity, and its ability to recharge itself via solar panels (up to 2,400W via XT-60 input) and then channel that same power into a house, an RV, an electric vehicle, or just about any appliance I can think of. That all means it meets the electricity needs of many day-to-day users, and its ability to provide a large dose of backup power during a disaster makes it a critical piece of equipment to have around. Plus, it’s simple and easy to use — requiring zero technical knowledge to charge it from a wall outlet or begin using it as a portable backup power generator. That all represents a meaningful push into the future, especially considering its first-in-class 240V AC power coupling makes it a direct competitor to home power systems that weigh significantly more and are significantly less portable. But when you want to use it like a portable backup generator, you can power it with any electricity source and it produces no emissions. That makes it a standout choice for homeowners seeking a reliable backup power source that’s both portable and versatile.
