Best portable power station deal: Save 46% on the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2

SAVE $370: The Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale for $429 at Amazon, down from the standard price of $799. That's a 46% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

The leaves are changing, rainfall totals are adding up, and there's snow in the mountains. We're just a few weeks away from Halloween and fall storms might arrive any day. If you're in need of a way to stay online when the power goes out, you've probably considered getting a portable power station. What's even smarter is buying one that's on sale for nearly half off.

As of Oct. 13, the Anker Solix C1000 Gen 2 is on sale at Amazon for $429, marked down from the standard price of $799. That's a 46% discount and the lowest we've ever seen at Amazon.

The Gen 2 version of the Anker Solix C1000 is a refined and sleek version of the original Solix C1000, which I loved in testing. The Gen 2 has a few notable upgrades and perhaps the most impressive is its recharging time. Holding a Guinness World Record for recharging speed, the Solix C1000 Gen 2 can go from dead to 100% power in just 49 minutes. That pretty much means you can forget that it's dead and get it recharged before you're supposed to leave for the weekend camping trip.

Anker also added some refinements to the overall weight and size of the Gen 2. It's both smaller and lighter than the original Solix C1000, and it impressively weighs a bit under 25 pounds. The Gen 2 also features better USB-C ports since two of the three can handle 140W. The original C1000 tops out at 100W for USB-C. The new Gen 2 also features an updated LCD display that's super user-friendly.

To cut down on weight and size, Anker did remove a few features on the Gen 2 that I love on the original Solix C1000. It's missing the lightbar, which I think is fantastic for both camping and carrying the power station around the house during a power cut. But if you have other light sources, this might not be a deal breaker.

The newer Solix C1000 Gen 2 also lacks expansion ability. You can pair the original with one extra battery to double the capacity, but the Gen 2 is stuck with its 1,024Wh permanent since it lacks the guts and port to accept an extra battery. Again, this might not be a totally acceptable for some folks, and isn't necessarily a downgrade. On the flipside, the Gen 2 has a higher peak output of 3,000W.

Today's sale price of $429 puts the Gen 2 in line with the current sale price on the original C1000, which is $429.99. The model that is best for your needs depends on if you prioritize a lightweight model with super quick recharging and two USB-C ports at 140W. If you want a lightbar and one extra AC port, the original might be your best bet.

In either case, both Solix C1000 models are on sale for under $430 at Amazon. This marks the all-time low price on the Gen 2 and since fall storms could hit any day now, it's wise to prepare.