Stepping up from the 521, the Anker 535 PowerHouse doubles the battery to about 512Wh and upped the inverter. The 535 can deliver 500W continuous (1,000W surge). It has a beefier case with four AC outlets (instead of two) plus 3 USB-A, 1 USB-C (60W) and a car port. The front features a small display and an LED light bar for emergencies.
In use, the 535 felt sturdy. It recharged from wall power in roughly 3 hours (using the included 120W charger). Powering the bigger 500W output lets it run devices the 521 couldn’t – for example a 400W air compressor or a full-size mini-fridge for hours. 12V accessories, phones and laptops charge just like on the 521 but twice as long.
The extra size and weight (around 17 lbs vs 8 lbs) is the trade-off. But for home backup or extended camping trips, the 535 brings much more runtime. I liked having the LED light bar—it even switches modes and doubles as a beacon in an outage. Overall, the 535 feels like a “bigger kid” of the 521: still portable, but with enough heft to keep multiple devices alive for a workday.
What You Should Know
- Bigger Battery: ~512Wh LiFePO₄ (about double the 521’s). This means more charging cycles and about twice the runtime.
- High AC Output: 4 AC outlets, 500W output (1,000W surge), so you can run small heaters or pumps. (It can’t handle high-heat loads like toasters or large fridges.)
- Powerful USB-C: One USB-C port up to 60W. Good for fast-charging laptops or phones.
- LED Emergency Light: Built-in LED light bar for camping or outages.
- Fast Recharge: Comes with a 120W adapter. Full recharge in just over 3 hours from AC.
- Rugged & Portable: Hard plastic shell, built-in handle. About 17 lbs and 17×9×12 inches.
Anker 535 vs Anker 521 – Upgrading to a 500Wh Battery (What You Gain)
Moving from the 521 to the 535 is mostly about doubling up. Your battery capacity jumps from 256Wh to around 512Wh (so twice the run time). You also get more outlets: the 521 had 2 AC plugs, but the 535 offers 4 AC outlets. That lets you power more appliances at once. The inverter power also goes up from 300W to 500W, so you can run slightly bigger devices (think space heaters on low or a big slow cooker).
On the other hand, the 535 is heavier (17 lbs vs 8 lbs) and more expensive (around \$500). Its charging still took about 3h due to the larger battery. So you trade a bit of portability and price for improved capacity and output. If you often found the 521 running out too fast, the 535’s larger tank is a big gain. For example, you could run a 50W laptop for ~8–10 hours instead of ~4. Or keep lights and a fan on for a couple of nights straight. In short, the 535 is worth it if you need a serious bump in power and can handle the extra size.
Anker 535 vs Jackery Explorer 500 – Two 500Wh Class Units Head-to-Head
Jackery’s popular Explorer 500 and Anker’s 535 are both in the ~500Wh, ~500W category. The Jackery has 518Wh battery and a 500W inverter, and is quite light at ~13.3 lbs. It offers just one AC outlet, but has three USB-A ports and a car jack. The Anker 535 has about 512Wh (essentially the same) and 500W output, but in a sturdier 17-lb package. Its advantage is 4 AC outlets vs Jackery’s single outlet. That means Anker can run more devices simultaneously.
On charging, both refill in ~3 hours from AC, though Anker’s PowerIQ can push its 60W USB-C faster. Jackery is fanless (silent) and has an LCD display for battery %. Anker has an LED light and two 100W USB-C ports for quick charging. In my tests, both handled small fridges and laptops fine. Jackery’s Explorer 500 is easier to carry and a proven workhorse, but the Anker 535 wins for sheer versatility (more outlets and ports). Choose Jackery for simplicity and weight, Anker for convenience of outputs.