Jackery is taking the portable power-station format in a smaller direction with the Explorer 100D, a 96Wh device that the company says is its smallest power station yet. The new model measures 4.6 by 3.4 by 3.4 inches and weighs 1.87 pounds, placing it much closer to the size and role of a large portable charger than the larger battery boxes usually associated with the category.
The product’s main differentiator is its use of lithium iron phosphate, or LFP, battery cells. Jackery says the cells are engineered for up to eight years of regular use and a 3,000-charge-cycle lifespan. The company first introduced LFP batteries in its portable power stations in 2023.
A compact power station with a 96Wh battery
The Explorer 100D has 96Wh, or 30,000mAh, of battery capacity. Jackery positions that capacity and its compact dimensions as suitable for carrying in hand luggage and charging several devices during a long flight.
Smaller 30,000mAh portable chargers are already available, often at lower prices. The Explorer 100D instead attempts to distinguish itself through the longer-life characteristics Jackery attributes to its LFP cells and by retaining features more commonly found in larger power stations.
The unit includes an integrated handle despite its small size. Jackery also offers an optional shoulder strap, a detail that signals the company is treating the device as a portable energy unit rather than simply a high-capacity battery pack.
Ports and power limits
On the front of the Explorer 100D are two 140W USB-C ports and one 18W USB-A port. The configuration offers modern USB-C charging alongside a legacy USB-A option, allowing several smaller devices to be connected at once.
There is an important limit, however: the product’s total output is capped at 158W. The presence of two 140W USB-C ports does not mean both can continuously deliver their maximum output at the same time. When all three ports are in use, power delivery across them is reduced.
That total-output figure is therefore the more useful measure for prospective users. It describes the overall amount of power the device can provide at once, while the individual port ratings indicate the capabilities that may be available to a single connected device under the right conditions.
For practical use, the design points toward charging personal electronics and other USB-powered equipment rather than serving as a replacement for a larger mains-powered battery station. The 96Wh capacity and USB-only front-panel configuration reinforce that position.
Solar charging in a small format
The Explorer 100D supports up to 100W of direct solar input. Jackery says that, with compatible solar charging available, the unit can reach 80 percent capacity in about an hour.
That feature broadens the product’s role beyond airport or hotel use. A compact battery that can accept direct solar input may be useful where wall power is unavailable, although the source description notes the practical trade-off: a solar panel still has to be carried.
The combination of solar input, USB-C output, and a relatively small battery suggests an attempt to make power resilience more portable. Traditional power stations commonly emphasize high capacity and AC outlets. The Explorer 100D emphasizes reduced size and weight while retaining a charging ecosystem designed around USB devices.
LFP moves into smaller portable devices
LFP chemistry is often associated with durability and longevity in energy-storage products. Jackery’s stated 3,000-cycle lifespan is central to the Explorer 100D’s pitch, especially against conventional lithium-ion power banks that may be smaller or less expensive.
The claim does not make the device universally better for every buyer. People who want the smallest possible 30,000mAh battery may still find lighter or cheaper alternatives. Those who need more total stored energy, AC power, or greater continuous output will likely need a larger power station.
But the Explorer 100D shows how the category is changing. As USB-C charging becomes the standard connection for more personal electronics, a compact unit with high-power USB-C ports can cover a wider set of everyday needs without the bulk of a conventional power station.
Availability and price
Jackery says the Explorer 100D will be available through Walmart beginning November 15 for $99. It is already available at Costco in a two-pack priced at $179.99.
At that price, Jackery is asking buyers to weigh more than capacity alone. The product’s value proposition rests on its size, LFP-based longevity, multi-port USB charging, and solar-input support. Its release is a sign that portable power stations are being reshaped into devices that fit alongside everyday travel gear rather than requiring a dedicated carry case.
The result is a small, clearly bounded power product: it cannot deliver unlimited power through every port simultaneously, and it does not erase the need to choose capacity based on the equipment being charged. Yet its dimensions, 96Wh battery, and LFP cell design give it a distinct place between a standard power bank and a larger portable power station.
This article is based on reporting by The Verge. Read the original article.
Originally published on theverge.com
