How Many Times Can the Jackery Explorer 500 Charge a Smartphone?
Updated 2026-10-17 · Yes
The Jackery Explorer 500 can fully charge a smartphone about 28 times. A typical smartphone battery holds 15Wh, and charging it takes roughly 17Wh once losses are included.
The numbers
| Battery capacity | 518Wh (NMC) |
|---|---|
| Usable energy | 477Wh (92% via 12V/USB DC output) |
| Continuous AC output | 500W |
| Surge rating | 1000W |
| Smartphone battery | 15Wh |
| Energy per charge | 17Wh |
| Full charges | 28 charges |
518Wh × 0.92 = 477Wh usable ÷ (15Wh × 1.15) = 27.6 charges
Station specs: source, checked 2026-10-17. See how we calculate runtime.
Adjust the numbers
Check the label on your smartphone and enter its real wattage.
Recharging with solar
The Jackery Explorer 500 accepts up to 100W of solar input. In real conditions that harvests about 375Wh on a sunny day (5 peak-sun hours).
Tips
- Most phones hold 12–19Wh. Charge from a USB port rather than the AC outlet to skip inverter losses.
- Running it from the Jackery Explorer 500’s DC port instead of the AC outlet avoids inverter losses: about 36Wh more usable energy.
- The Jackery Explorer 500 uses NMC cells, which are lighter but rated for fewer cycles (typically 500–800) than newer LFP models.
Other power stations running a smartphone
| Power station | Capacity | Output | Charges | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jackery Explorer 300 Plus | 288Wh | 300W | 15 charges | Yes |
| Goal Zero Yeti 500X | 505Wh | 300W | 27 charges | Yes |
| EcoFlow River 2 Max | 512Wh | 500W | 27 charges | Yes |
| Anker 535 PowerHouse | 512Wh | 500W | 27 charges | Yes |
| DJI Power 500 | 512Wh | 1000W | 27 charges | Yes |
| EcoFlow River 2 Pro | 768Wh | 800W | 41 charges | Yes |
| Anker SOLIX C800 Plus | 768Wh | 1200W | 41 charges | Yes |
| Bluetti AC70 | 768Wh | 1000W | 41 charges | Yes |
FAQ
How long does the Jackery Explorer 500 take to recharge with solar?
With its maximum 100W of solar input it refills in about 6.9 hours of strong sun. A single 200W panel is enough to max out its solar input.