Anker Solix X1: Handsome, Capable, Affordable
By Aniket Bhor on in Solar Battery Information
Most of us know Anker as a popular electronics brand offering headphones, speakers, and portable power banks. But Anker is almost never the first name that comes to mind when someone mentions solar batteries. However, with its Solix X1 battery, the brand seems determined to change this.
This Anker Solix X1 review discusses the good and not-so-good things about the battery, how it compares to other popular batteries, and whether it is a good fit for you. Let’s begin.
Specs
Storage Capacity and Power Output
The Solix, like most home batteries today, is a modular battery. It comes in both DC and AC-coupled versions. Each battery module can store 5 kWh of energy, and a single stack can house three battery modules and a power module. This means a single tower can give you 15 kWh of storage capacity and 6 kW of continuous power output.
Now, while 15 kWh is a big enough capacity, the power output of 6 kW seems a little low. For instance, the Tesla Powerwall 3 offers around 11 kW of power output for a 13.5 kWh battery (upgrading from the Powerwall 2’s 5 kW capacity). Six kilowatts is good enough if you’re just running your lights and a computer in a blackout, but bigger appliances like air conditioners will have to stay switched off.
This is a typical capacity most homes would be aiming for, and it is also similar to what most other brands offer. If you want an even larger capacity, you can have up to three parallel systems for a maximum of 90 kWh/18 kW for a single-phase circuit, and up to 6 parallel systems (up to 180 kWh/72 kW) for a three-phase circuit. In this case, however, you will need the hybrid, three-phase model.
Speaking of hybrid, only the hybrid X1 model supports battery charging from solar in the absence of grid power. At this point in time, it isn’t good foresight to buy a non-hybrid battery, which is why most buyers will probably go with the hybrid model.
Chemistry
Like most modern solar batteries, the Solix uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) chemistry. Unlike the slightly older nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) chemistry, LFP shows much higher thermal resistance, durability, and longevity. This means an LFP battery, such as the Solix X1, is less likely to catch fire or explode, and more likely to last longer.
Warranty
Anker’s warranty for the Solix is pretty ordinary. The battery comes with a 10-year warranty and promises a minimum of 60% of rated capacity by the end of this period. While many other brands offer a warranty of at least 70% of the rated capacity at 10 years, I don’t think this necessarily deems other batteries superior, as there are too many variables deciding how fast a battery degrades.
A notable thing here is Anker’s advertising about the total energy capacity, wherein it says its ‘innovative energy optimizer’ offers about 2,000 kWh of extra energy. It does not provide more context, but I suppose it means 2,000 kWh more over the life of the battery, compared to similar models on the market. This probably compensates for that lacking 10% in the warranty that we discussed above.
Dimensions
The Solix is 67 cm wide, 36 cm tall, and just 15 cm thick. Except for the beautifully thin profile (more about that later), the Solix is similar in dimensions to most other home batteries today.
Features
Fast Switchover
In the event of a power cut, the Solix can power your appliances within 10 milliseconds. This is way, way faster than generators, which take dozens of seconds to power up. However, this is no longer a unique feature, and most newer home batteries have a switchover time of less than 20 ms.
Independent charging and discharging
In a single stack of the Anker Solix, each battery is charged independently, thanks to what Anker calls its ‘innovative energy optimizer’, installed in every battery module. How does this help? Well, in a traditional battery system, the performance of the entire system is limited by the weakest module’s performance. The Solix overcomes this with its independent treatment of each battery.
For example, when discharging, it uses the module with the highest charge level first, leading to a higher energy yield. In the idle state, it also balances the battery charge by transferring energy from the higher-charge modules to the lower-charge ones. But the most impressive benefit of this arrangement is the auto-isolation capability of the device. Keep reading!
Auto Isolating Modules
Thanks to independent charging and discharging, the Anker Solix can simply isolate a faulty battery. In other words, if one of the three batteries in a stack stops working, you will still be able to use energy from the remaining two modules. This is one area where Anker offers a somewhat unique feature, if not completely new.
App-Based Monitoring
It is not a smart battery if it does not offer remote monitoring from your smart devices, and the Solix X1 does offer this feature. Anker’s app not only allows you to monitor your battery, but also your solar power generation and EV charging, provided you have Anker’s V1 smart charger.
If you do have Anker’s smart charger, along with solar panels and the X1 battery, it creates a complete ecosystem that may offer efficiency benefits. Specifically, the brand claims that its ‘Anker Intelligence’ syncs data from solar panels, X1, and V1, and claims to save up to 30% more every year. This is a bold claim, but if true, 30% savings are certainly handsome!
As a plus, you can also save about 25% on installation costs if you buy both the X1 and V1 together.
Six Energy Modes
The Solix has six different energy modes, three of which are for power management, while the remaining three can enhance your efficiency.
Here’s a list of the available modes:
- Self consumption
- Time of use
- Off grid
- NEM 3.0
- Storm guard (based on national weather service alert)
- Generator backup/hybrid/failover
The first three modes help decide the purpose of your battery’s usage. Of the next three, the NEM 3.0 mode refers specifically to California’s net metering system, and does not apply here in Aotearoa New Zealand.
The storm guard mode tracks alerts from the National Weather Service related to storms and other natural disasters, and prepares the battery for an outage. Lastly, the generator backup mode allows you to charge the battery using a gas or diesel-powered generator if the grid and solar power are both insufficient.
Durability
In terms of durability, the Solix has an IP66 rating and is protected against rain, splashed water, and dust. It can also withstand harsh weather of -20 to 55°C. Anker even made a cool video proving the battery’s durability, subjecting it to all sorts of torture such as dragging it through rough sand, driving an SUV over it, shooting fireworks at it, and putting it in an icy chamber.
Anker also stresses the battery being corrosion-proof, with the tagline of ‘built for coastlines’. In truth, however, most batteries are. Compared to the Tesla Powerwall 3, the Solix may in fact be less convincing, as the PW3 has an IP67 rating and can sustain submersion in water for a while.
Design
If I had to talk about just one aspect of the X1, I would choose to rave about its design. While Anker does not reinvent the home battery’s design, it certainly reimagines it to make it one of the most stylish battery products available today.
Unlike the snow white color that most brands use for batteries today, Anker goes with a darker grey. It is also visibly metallic, when so many batteries look plasticky.
But the best parts of its design lie in the following three elements:
- Recessed light
- Proximity sensing display
- 15 cm thickness – or should we say, thinness?
The front panel on the top module of the Solix bends inwards and makes space for a thin strip of recessed light. It casts a soft glow on the top panel, and has three colors: white for on-grid operation, blue for off-grid mode, and red means there is an issue with the battery that needs addressing.
At the very top of the battery stack is a sleek black portion with a piano black finish. This part houses a seven-segment display that shows key information such as state of charge and power consumption. The best part, however, is that the display remains hidden until you walk close enough for it to sense you, lighting up to show the real-time details.
From a purely utility perspective, this may not be a groundbreaking feature, but it's cool nevertheless.
Lastly, the battery’s thickness: at just 15 cm thick, it is one of the thinnest batteries on the market. The only other big-brand product that’s as thin is the Huawei Luna. So if you’re planning on installing the battery in your lobby or on an outer wall, where it will be visible to your guests, it would look quite pleasing.
It’s also important to note that the battery won’t be the only thing you’ll be installing. You also need the backup controller, a separate box that houses the electronics necessary to provide your home with power during an outage, or to charge your battery using a generator, among other things.
Pricing
Like most other batteries, the X1’s price will vary based on several factors. However, a typical 15 kWh setup should cost anywhere between $15,000 and $20,000 with installation, which is quite competitive.
Should You Buy the Anker Solix X1?
Whether you should buy the Solix depends on what matters most to you. For instance, if style and affordability are top on your list, this battery may just be perfect for you, as it offers all the same great features as any big-brand battery, offers sleek aesthetics, and is priced well.
If brand history is an important concern for you, perhaps Anker may not feel too reassuring, as it started making residential batteries just two years ago (2023). That said, new doesn’t always mean bad, and Anker has plenty of industry experience in consumer electronics (15 years, to be precise).
If you are planning on using Anker’s smart EV charger, it would be wise to choose the Solix, as it can offer more savings, as the brand promises.
Overall, we think buying Anker’s Solix X1 would generally be a great decision, considering its numerous pros and virtually no cons. In closing, how good a fit the Solix is for you will depend on several factors, and we recommend speaking to multiple installers about your requirements to get a better idea.