It’s tiny. Like, surprisingly tiny. When you first see the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus, you might actually laugh because it looks more like a chunky transistor radio than a serious piece of power equipment. But honestly? This little orange box is probably the most practical thing Jackery has released in years.
Most people are used to the massive power stations that weigh forty pounds and require a gym membership to lug around a campsite. This isn't that. It’s a palm-sized lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) battery designed for a very specific type of person: the traveler who is tired of their phone dying at 30,000 feet or the remote worker who wants to sit in a park without hunting for a wall outlet. It’s basically a high-end power bank that happens to have the "Explorer" DNA.
The Reality of 99Wh and Why It Matters
Let’s talk about the 99Wh capacity. That number isn't a coincidence. The FAA and TSA have a very strict cutoff for lithium batteries on airplanes—100Wh is the magic limit. Anything over that and you’re begging a gate agent for permission or, worse, watching your expensive gear get tossed into a hazmat bin. The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus sits right at 99.2Wh. It’s built for carry-on luggage. Period.
Is 99Wh enough? Well, it depends on what you're doing. If you’re trying to run a coffee maker, you’re going to be disappointed. Very disappointed. But for a MacBook Air? You’ll get about one full charge. For an iPhone 15? Maybe four or five. It’s a bridge. It’s the thing that keeps your devices alive during an eight-hour layover in Dallas when every charging station is occupied by teenagers watching TikToks.
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Speed is the Secret Sauce
The real flex here isn't the capacity; it’s the speed. Most cheap power banks you buy at the airport drugstore trickle charge your phone. It’s agonizing. This unit supports 128W Dual PD (Power Delivery) fast charging.
What that means in plain English is that you can plug in two USB-C devices and they’ll actually charge at high speed simultaneously. I've seen it juice up a dead laptop to 50% in about thirty minutes. That's a game-changer when you've only got a short window before your next meeting or flight.
Jackery Explorer 100 Plus Design and Durability
The build quality is... Jackery. If you’ve ever touched one of their larger units, you know the vibe. It’s that rugged, matte-finish plastic with the signature orange accents. It feels dense. Not heavy, just solid. It weighs about 2.1 pounds, which is roughly the weight of a thick paperback book.
It’s UL 94V-0 fire-rated, which is a nerd way of saying it won’t turn into a fireball if something goes wrong. Plus, it’s drop-resistant. I wouldn’t recommend throwing it off a roof, but if it slips out of your backpack onto the pavement, it’s probably going to be fine. The corners are reinforced, and the screen is recessed just enough to avoid scratches.
The display is simple. It shows you the input wattage, output wattage, and the battery percentage. It’s bright enough to see in direct sunlight, which is a nice touch. No confusing menus. No Bluetooth apps you’ll never use. Just a button and a screen.
Port Selection (And One Big Omission)
You get three ports on the front:
- Two USB-C ports
- One USB-A port
And that’s it. Notice anything missing? There is no AC outlet. You cannot plug a standard two-prong or three-prong wall plug into this thing. Some people hate this. They want to plug in a small fan or a lamp. But honestly, in 2026, almost everything is USB-C. Adding an inverter for an AC outlet would have made this unit bigger, heavier, and less efficient. Jackery chose to lean into the "Plus" series philosophy of being "all-in" on modern tech.
Charging the Unit Itself
Nobody wants a battery that takes ten hours to charge. That defeats the purpose of "portable."
Because it supports 100W input via USB-C, you can top this thing off from 0% to 100% in about 1.8 hours. That is fast. You can use your laptop’s wall brick to charge it. Or, if you’re actually out in the woods, you can use Jackery’s solar panels. It’s compatible with the SolarSaga series. On a clear day with a 100W panel, you’re looking at a full charge in roughly two hours.
The LiFePO4 battery chemistry is the real hero here. Older lithium-ion batteries would start to lose capacity after 500 charges. This unit is rated for 2,000 cycles while still maintaining 80% capacity. If you used it every single day, it would last you over five years before you noticed any real degradation. That’s a massive win for sustainability and your wallet.
Quiet Power for Content Creators
If you’re a photographer or a drone pilot, the Jackery Explorer 100 Plus is basically a mandatory accessory.
Think about it. Charging drone batteries (like for a DJI Mini 4 Pro) usually requires a proprietary hub or a fast USB-C source. This Jackery fits in the side pocket of a camera bag and can keep your drone batteries cycling all day long.
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And because there’s no cooling fan—it uses passive heat dissipation—it’s silent. Completely silent. No humming, no whirring. If you’re recording audio for a podcast or a video on location, you can have this sitting right next to your mic and it won’t ruin your take.
Comparison: Explorer 100 Plus vs. The Competition
There are plenty of "power banks" out there from brands like Anker or Shargeek. Why buy this one?
Anker makes some great 20,000mAh or 27,000mAh bricks. They are slimmer. They fit in a pocket. But they aren't "power stations." The Jackery has a much better thermal management system. It’s designed to sustained high-wattage output for longer periods without throttling.
The Shargeek stuff looks cool with the transparent shells, but they are fragile. One drop and that pretty plastic is cracked. The Jackery is a tool; the others are gadgets. If you’re actually going outdoors, you want the tool.
The Downsides (Let's Be Real)
It isn't perfect. Nothing is.
First, the price. Jackery usually commands a premium. You’re paying for the brand and the safety certifications. You can find "no-name" batteries on Amazon with similar specs for 40% less. Are they going to catch fire in your carry-on? Maybe. Maybe not. But the price tag on the 100 Plus can be a bit of a pill to swallow.
Second, the shape. It’s a cube. It’s "pocket-sized" only if you’re wearing 90s-era cargo pants. It’s much better suited for a backpack or a glove box than a jacket pocket.
Lastly, the lack of a built-in light. Almost every other Jackery has a flashlight built into the side. This one doesn't. It seems like a small thing, but when you’re digging through a tent at 2 AM, it’s a feature you miss.
Who Is This Actually For?
Don't buy this if you're trying to power a CPAP machine overnight. It won't last.
Don't buy this if you need to run a hair dryer or a heater.
Do buy this if:
- You are a digital nomad who works in cafes.
- You take long-haul flights and your laptop battery is trash.
- You’re a hiker who needs to keep a GPS and a phone charged for a weekend.
- You want a reliable emergency backup for your router during a short power outage.
Actionable Next Steps for New Owners
If you just picked one up or are about to hit "buy," here is how to actually get the most out of it:
- Get a 100W rated USB-C cable. Not all cables are created equal. If you use a cheap cable from a gas station, you’ll only get about 30W of charging speed. To hit that 128W peak, you need a high-quality, E-marked cable.
- Charge it to 100% immediately. Batteries are usually shipped at 30% for safety. Give it a full cycle before you take it on a trip.
- Don't leave it in a hot car. Even though it’s rugged, LiFePO4 batteries hate being over 110°F for long periods. It will kill the lifespan of those 2,000 cycles.
- Test your solar setup at home. If you plan on using panels, plug them in on your balcony or driveway first. Make sure you understand the positioning; even a small shadow on a panel can drop the wattage by 50%.
- Update your firmware (if applicable). Jackery occasionally tweaks their charging algorithms. Check their site to see if there are any recommended practices for the 100 Plus series.
The Jackery Explorer 100 Plus isn't a powerhouse that will save you during a week-long blizzard. It’s a surgical tool. It does one thing—portable, flight-legal, fast power—and it does it better than almost anyone else in the market right now.